Su Yao is the daughter of a fallen noble family, with barely enough to get by.
She has a noble title in name only. In reality, she’s worse off than a commoner, and her only way out is to marry a farmer and spend the rest of her life that way.
Su Yao: “I’m not following this script!”
She burns incense, ties up her hair, and dons a scholar’s robe. From that day on, the world has a brilliant scholar of humble origins named Su Yao.
On the imperial examination trail, she beats up jealous classmates and outwits villains who try to drug her. Then she makes a stunning impression in the palace exam, becoming the youngest top scorer in history.
She thinks she’s finally on the path to success, only to discover that the powerful chief eunuch beside the Dragon Throne has fixed her with a probing gaze...
When the top scorer of years past stands in court and removes her headwear, her long black hair cascades down, stunning every official in the hall.
She smiles faintly. “Today, I have come to purge the court of those who mislead the emperor.”
