The Splendor of the Zhenyuan Era

In the twenty-fourth year of the Jiahe era, the Great Zhou dynasty had reached the middle of its reign. Emperor Jiahe had been on the throne for twenty-four years, and as his sons came of age one after another, the transition of power gradually began. The princes' factions steadily infiltrated every department of the court. Forces vied for the position of crown prince, and the court was rife with intrigue.

The Gu clan of Wu Commandery lived in the prosperous, fertile Jiangnan region, a land of fish and rice. The family passed down its traditions through poetry and books, and its sons entered public life through the imperial examinations. The Ning clan of Huozhou, in the Central Plains, had a long military tradition and was a family of generals. Their tenth-generation ancestor had joined the founding emperor of the Great Zhou on his campaigns to the east and west, earning outstanding military honors and the title of Duke Who Guards the Nation.

The heroine, Gu Yuanhua, is one of the many who transmigrated. From childhood, she disguises herself as a boy and bravely enters officialdom. In the Great Zhou dynasty, she is determined to use her modern knowledge to improve ancient farming and handicrafts, raise productivity, and become a good official who works for the people's welfare. Together with Ning Yanzhou, she drives back the barbarians and strengthens the frontier defenses. As the court is swept up in turbulent struggles over succession, they choose a worthy ruler and usher in the flourishing era known as the Zhenyuan Renaissance.