The Legend of Hao Lan

The series is set during the later years of the Warring States Period, when the Qin state and Zhao state vie for dominance and are caught up in fierce conflicts and constant warfare. In Handan City of Zhao, the State Censor Li He’s daughter, Li Haolan, is set up by her stepmother, losing her family and prestige. She even ends up being sold, whereupon an unfulfilled merchant named Lu Buwei buys her. Lu Buwei is contriving a scheme to support Prince Yiren of Qin, who has been sent to Zhao as the hostage prince and peace insurance. Lu Buwei therefore offers Haolan to Ying Yiren.

After entering the Zhao palace, Lu Buwei and Li Haolan wisely repel all the conspiracies against them, successfully nullifying Princess Ya’s malicious scheme towards them due to her love Yiren. The two eventually becomes entrusted by King Xiaocheng of Zhao and Haolan marries to Yiren.

As the hostage prince, Yiran’s life is put in danger by the Qin’s massacre of the Zhao troops. Meanwhile, Princess Ya’s scheme against Haolan fails and costs her her life. This however causes resentment between Haolan and Yiren. As everybody in the Zhao palace feels insecure, Lu Buwei uses Haolan to sows discord in the court of Zhao while helping Yiren return to Qin. Back in the Qin state, a vicious rumor breaks out, maligning Haolan’s son, Ying Zheng, is actually fathered by Lu Buwei instead of Yiren. But after Yiren dies of severe illness, Ying Zheng nonetheless ascends the throne.

As the King of Qin, Ying Zheng however believes that Lu Buwei has been involved in his father death and even starts to resent Lu Buwei’s enormous power over the state affairs. He consequently banishes Lu Buwei. Haolan pleads with her son to spare Lu Buwei’s life. In the end, Lu Buwei and Li Haolan reunite in Luoyang, where they once met for the first time.