Who's the Real Queen?

The new Emperor has decreed that the woman who once saved his life will be his empress, and the woman named is Flora's sister. On the wedding day the bride insults the couple who took the Emperor in when he had nothing, and the story of the rescue falls apart in front of everyone. The one who had actually pulled him out of danger was Flora, and he brings her into the palace instead. Years earlier the crown prince had been ambushed and had gone over a cliff. He came out of it with no memory and was raised by a merchant family in a county town under a different name. Flora, the county magistrate's daughter by a woman outside his marriage, saved him when he was in danger there. Her sister claimed the deed and got an engagement out of it. When the merchant family lost its money the sister broke the engagement off. His memory came back, he took the throne, and he sent for his rescuer on the strength of the sister's lie. Inside the palace the empress dowager sets herself against Flora. A rival at court lays traps for her and poison turns up in her tea, and manufactured omens name her as a woman who brings disaster. The whole country turns on her. To quiet the anger she leaves the palace of her own accord, to pray for an end to a drought, and out there the people who want her gone seize her. The Emperor goes after her himself.