宋朝中期，美女村。自幼丧母的凌云与打铁为生的父亲凌铁相依为命。为了不想因出嫁而离开父亲，能侍奉左右，凌云故意把自己的美丽容颜隐藏起来，以丑陋的面目示人，在美女村中一直被嘲弄歧视。凌云在村中最好的朋友楚楚，却是真的奇丑不堪。楚楚极为刻薄自私，更对自己的相貌一直耿耿于怀。一年一度的游园会，凌云无意中救了微服出游的皇帝，皇帝目睹了凌云了真实面容，两人一见钟情。对凌云念念不忘的皇帝，开始在民间大举寻访凌云的芳踪。心生嫉妒的楚楚不顾多年好友情分，暗中让江湖“变脸”魔术师萧涛互换了自己跟凌云的面貌。两人的命运从此逆转，险恶的后宫争斗就此开始。真真假假，谁才是真正的东宫娘娘，真相又是否能水落石出呢？

Larine and Jojo have been friends since childhood. They have both been chosen to be mistresses to the emperor because of their beauty. Larine's mother died a long time ago. She pretends to be ugly when the government officials visit in order to stay with her father. However, during one festival, she saves the plain-dressed emperor, without realizing who he is. He cannot put her aside when he gets back to the palace and decides to marry her. Jojo is jealous of her. She lies to her and takes her to a gypsy, who switches their faces. From then on, their fates change...