Poster of Mu Jia Feng Yun

Among the many highly popular television drama series depicting palace intrigues one stands out, not only for its superb cinematography and beautiful locations, but also for its convincing plot and characterizations that are almost Shakespearean in context and substance.

The rebellious prince in Mu Jia Feng Yun, which literally translated means Tempest in the House of Mu, is a complex lead character in the Shakespearean mold, although he is eventually redeemed by the magnanimity of his nephew the king instead of falling on his own or his enemy's sword.

The plot revolves around the ruling Mu family in Lijiang, Yunnan province, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At that time the region was inhibited by various ethnic groups. The largest was the Naxi to which the Mu family belong. and although a vassal to the Ming court the fictional Mu family rules with absolute power in the region.

The aging patriarch of the family has two sons. The peace-loving elder son, who is the heir apparent, is a devoted admirer of Han culture and a scholar of Han classics. His younger brother on the other hand is tempestuous and paranoid. Although he has gained control of the army, he lives in constant fear that his elder brother is plotting to kill him.

At the center of the seething family feud is a survivor of the ruling family of a tribe subjugated by the Naxi in a clan war. Masquerading as a lowly servant, this avenger gains the confidence of the younger Mu and uses his influence in the Mu's household to plot his revenge together with his young and beautiful niece.