the empress episode 1 who is the mother watching

Tia Bailey bears an ugly scar on her face, keeping a promise to her late mother to not stand out too much. She's been a housewife for nearly three years and while her mother-in-law and husband's family like her, her husband Herman Aldridge finds her repulsive and is cold toward her, harboring feelings for his idealized first love. After much painful consideration, Tia decides to file for divorce.

Ten years ago, Shawna Stewart was left in the mountains and then taken in by a fool, Cherry. After being bullied for years because of Cherry, Shawna ran away and met her real mom Mindy Stewart. Mindy couldn't accept her daughter's adoptive mom was a fool, so she tried to take Shawna away. However, they accidentally found out that Cherry turned out to be the War Goddess, the Phoenix Legion's former commander.

To repay the kindness of her savior Trevon, Anya Sharp agrees to a mysterious old gentleman's request: to work as a live-in maid for six years, caring for Blake Huber and his young son. During those six years, Anya quietly endures the Huber family's cold treatment and the constant scheming of Blake's ex-wife, Keira. She keeps her head down, waiting patiently for the agreement to end. But when Keira suddenly returns, the favoritism and betrayal from both father and son shatter Anya's resolve. Heartbroken and disillusioned, she walks away the moment her contract ends—and reunites with Trevon who has finally recovered. Only after losing her does Blake realize what she truly meant to him. But by then, it's too late. When the long-buried truth finally comes to light, Blake suffers a life-threatening injury protecting Anya. In the end, Anya chooses to move forward with Trevon, leaving the pain of the past behind.

Eliana, the daughter of the Elliott family, plans to get pregnant to reclaim her mother's company. At an exclusive club, she sets her sights on Keaton Massey, unaware he's a billionaire tycoon in the city. After Keaton gets into a car accident causing amnesia, he and Eliana accidentally begin a relationship. In truth, Keaton had been deeply in love with Eliana for years. While concealing his recovered memories, he helps Eliana reclaim her mother's company. As their feelings deepen, they fall in love and eventually welcome triplets together.

Rosy Lewis, a gold digger with a heart full of ambition, had meticulously plotted her way into Southville's most prestigious family, the Hobsons, ready to ascend to a life of luxury and power. But on the very day of her grand wedding, disaster struck. After hearing rumors of her fiancé's infidelity, she stormed in with a group of her closest allies, ready to confront the supposed mistress. In a shocking twist, Rosy mistakenly accused her fiancé's mother of being the other woman, setting off a scandal that shattered her carefully crafted dream of becoming the distinguished bride of a powerful family.

Margaret sacrificed everything to raise her two sons, only to have her "dead" husband Channing show up at their graduation with his mistress in tow. The truth hit hard: he'd faked his death, and "her" boys were actually his love children with Vivian. The shock killed her. Then she woke up in the delivery room. She reborned. Game on.

Whitney Young fell in love with wealthy Yves Howard and became pregnant. Forced by family pressure, Yves married noblewoman Megan Stewart on the same day Whitney gave birth to their daughter. She left her daughter Rose a bracelet and raised her for four years. When Megan couldn't conceive, the Howard family took the child. Despite being frail, Whitney chased them but was kidnapped and sold. Rescued by Shawn Lewis with selfish motives, she lived a miserable life. Years later, Rose sought her biological mother. In worries, Megan followed Rose to Whitney's home. Then she saw...

Eva Washington is a billionaire heiress who hides her identity to support her husband Kevin as he works up the ranks. However, just as he’s about to sign a big contract, Kevin cheated with a mistress and kicked Eva to the dirt. In her grief, Eva married Ryan Jones, who needed a contract wife, but had no idea that Ryan was actually a secret billionaire himself! All of Eva’s tormentors will pay the price for their foolishness.

Irene Chandler is a dedicated doctor who, on her wedding anniversary with Sylvan Hendricks, works late into the night performing surgery. Left feeling neglected and frustrated, Sylvan turns to alcohol and ends up in a reckless affair with Azalea Davenport. When Azalea gives birth to a daughter with a congenital heart condition a few months later, Sylvan shifts the blame to Irene, accusing her of failing as a wife and mother. Yet, the real truth is that Sylvan’s infidelity has brought about a karmic twist of fate, revealing his own shortcomings.

Jones Sean witnessed her beloved daughter fall from the building and die. The culprit was her ex-husband. To avenge her daughter, she changed her identity and transformed into a female entrepreneur worth over a hundred million. In this way, she manipulated those driven by greed.

The renowned businesswoman Freya retired and went into seclusion after her company became the largest enterprise in the city and went public. She adopted three children, including Wendy. After the three graduated from college, Freya planned to reveal her true identity to them. However, she suffered an unexpected brain hemorrhage. During her illness, Wendy stood by her side, working hard to save money for medical expenses. After Freya recovered, she helped Wendy solve various challenges.

In the 1980s, Vikki Sean got into a prestigious secondary vocational school, which everyone envied. She gave up her studies to take care of her family, only to suffer her husband's betrayal and infidelity. Her son was kidnapped, and her daughter was poisoned to muteness. Years later, she was framed by her husband and his mistress, but her son, Ian Grant, the Grant Group's CEO, saved her. He helped her confront her lousy husband and the mistress. Eventually, she turned the tables.

Fifteen years ago, an earthquake struck, trapping the young Yara Grant and Miles Grant. Facing an impending aftershock, their mother made the heart-wrenching decision to save Miles over Yara. Fortunately, a scavenger named Dick Harris found Yara and rescued her. He adopted her and renamed her Claire Harris. Now, fifteen years later, Claire unexpectedly reunited with her biological parents, setting off a series of twisted yet touching events. What decisions will Claire and her family make? Where will Claire's future lead?

Jane Arnold was imprisoned on her wedding day after being falsely accused of killing Francis Wooten's sister Jennifer Wooten. Jane gave birth to her daughter Bunny in prison. Years later, Bunny reunites with Francis but faces harassment and schemes from Francis' admirer, Sonia Thompson. By chance, Bunny meets her mother Jane Arnold, who now goes by Jean Smith. Mother and daughter work tirelessly to uncover the truth and clear their names, discovering that Sonia was the real killer. However, Sonia kidnaps Bunny. To save her daughter, Jane must agree to Sonia's unreasonable demands, but Sonia secretly plans to kill them both. Fortunately, Francis arrives in time to save the mother and daughter.

A dance of fate defies the centuries, weaving a love that even death could not erase. In the halls of a forgotten era, Harrella, the dazzling courtesan, loved with a passion that burned brighter than the stars—until betrayal shattered her heart. Reborn into a fragile modern life, she finds herself a servant in the opulent Hawley household, her survival hinging on a costly surgery. But destiny has not forgotten her. Sherard Hawley, the icy heir who shuns love, stands in her path—a ghost from her past, a flame she cannot resist. Will history repeat itself, or will this time, their souls finally dance to the same rhythm?

Five years ago, Malcolm of Shaw Group had an unexpected encounter with fallen heiress Zelia, leaving her a jade pendant. When he returned, she was gone. His search led to twins, victims of a scheme by Clara, the Murray family's true daughter, who faked their deaths out of jealousy. Years later, the children's intuition reunited them with Zelia, and despite Clara's interference, Malcolm uncovered the conspiracy, saving Zelia and reuniting their family.

With a stroke of luck, Eric Clark's life took a drastic turn. He transformed from just a deliveryman to a master in both medicine and divination. Armed with his new skills, he seeks to exact revenge on those who had bullied him in the past.

Shelley Radcliffe is framed by her stepmother and runs away in anger, where she encounters Heron Fenwick, who is being kidnapped. In an effort to help Heron retrieve his amulet, Shelley loses the use of her hand for playing the piano and the cello. However, Heron mistakenly identifies Elysia Radcliffe as Shelley. Five years later, when Heron returns to the country, he pursues Elysia wholeheartedly, only to once again find himself in a series of misunderstandings…