Dominion and Devotion: A Crossdressing Empress and Her “Eunuch” — Li Geyang Broke Me

Dominion and Devotion (权宠), another title from Fortune Writer director Zhang Zhiwei, stars Li Geyang and Huang Haoyue. At first glance, it might seem like just another short-form historical romance, but it quickly proves otherwise. It brings an original script and a daring blend of court intrigue and female empowerment. Set in the fictional Da Ning dynasty, the story follows the sharp-witted “eunuch” Pei Shenzhi and the puppet ruler-turned-powerful Empress Ning Jinyi. [SPOILERS AHEAD]

That Ending Hit Hard

As many expected, this power-laced drama was never going to have an easy ending. Pei Shenzhi’s noble sacrifice—taking thousands of arrows to the heart—left Ning Jinyi ruling alone. Her journey was impactful, from an unfavored prince (when she’s actually a woman disguising as a man), really growing into a ruler. But the final scene tore at our hearts. It felt inevitable that the birth secret—why the “prince” was a princess—almost led to their ruin. Ning Jinyi was actually the real princess from the previous dynasty, whose survival was a threat to the current regime, while Pei Shenzhi, the true fifth prince, not only kept his identity hidden but took the fall to protect her.

Impressions

A crossdressing female emperor and a power-wielding eunuch might not sound like the most compelling setup—but surprise, he’s not truly a eunuch—and the drama delivers one intense, emotional ride. What begins as a battle of wits slowly unravels into a layered story shaped by sacrifice, strategy, and shared ideals. Dominion and Devotion is thankfully getting the praise it deserves from anyone who’s watched it, but at the same time, it’s still criminally underrated considering how good it is. The show may be over, but fans are still reeling from the emotional blow.

The Bonus Scene We All Needed

And then came the surprise: an extra scene dropped on Tencent with a hint of new beginnings. Our female ruler being presented her selection of male harem—and Li Geyang returning as a man that looks suspiciously like Pei Shenzhi, minus the signature mole. A clever Easter egg or emotional bait-and-switch? Some still interpret it as Pei Shenzhi really died and this is either an imposter or a what-could’ve-been scenario. But for someone who needs happy endings like me, I’ll take this one. Yes, Pei Shenzhi is alive. And why he doesn’t have a mole—that’s a question I need answered. Please make Season 2.

Li Geyang and Huang Haoyue Delivered Big

From the tightly woven political plot to its core, Ning Jinyi wasn’t just another “strong female lead”—her journey felt so tightly woven and refreshingly complex. Pei Shenzhi, meanwhile, gave everything—his identity, his future, and ultimately, his life—for a cause larger than himself.

Despite being in a short drama, the two stars seriously delivered big. Many remember In Blossom as Liu Xueyi’s breakout role, but Li Geyang as the second lead then also broke me. And given the chance now as male lead, he surely gave a performance that counts. Similarly, co-star Huang Haoyue—whom I first saw from her supporting role in Heroes (another very underrated gem, so this makes two) is definitely someone I’ll be looking out for in the future. That said… as convincing as her performance was, I still couldn’t quite believe she’d pass for a man—she’s just way too pretty! The supporting cast brought even more depth, especially the older generation actors. The godfather? He’s sinister—but the story wouldn’t be the same without him.

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