Beyond the Realm of Conscience (2009)

Imperial Household Bureau is responsible for managing and directing all household services to the Emperor and the Imperial family in Tong Dynasty. It is comprised of four departments, namely Jewels, Attire, Food and Furnishings. Lan Sam Ho and Yiu Kam Ling are introduced into the bureau in their tender age and brought up in the disciplines of the palace. The two girls are diligent. Yuen Tsui Wan, Head of the Jewels, and Chung Suet Ha, Head of the Attire, are both very fond of Sam Ho for she is a kind-hearted young girl. Soon, they start fighting for the fellowship of Sam Ho. Sam Ho always remembers her mother’s words left to her before she passed away, that she was told, ‘Doing good deeds, Speaking good words, Showing goodwill’. She lives her life of being gracious and kind-hearted in the palace. On the other hand, Kam Ling believes her survival in palace is achieved through cruel and calculating tactics. She cheats and schemes her way to the top and finally becomes the concubine. Though she realizes that Sam Ho has fallen in love with the chess master Ko Hin Yeung, her jealousy still arouses by Sam Ho’s attraction to the Emperor Lee Yi. Fearing that she is losing power, she ruthlessly makes up a false allegation against Sam Ho for murdering the Empress and condemns her to death. No matter how clever she is to scheme, things do not go the way she planned. By using a strong comparison of the two distinctive characters, Sam Ho and Kam Ling, the message of the drama is that “benevolence” is the only way to gain final victory.