Meng Lijun is an unparalleled literary talent. Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful, she is also gifted and accomplished in poetry, literature, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But her fate is full of misfortune. She was meant to marry her childhood sweetheart, Huangfu Shaohua, but the jealous and scheming minister Liu Kuibi framed them, bringing disaster upon both families and preventing their marriage.
After a series of upheavals, Meng Lijun decides to disguise herself as a man to escape persecution, uncover the truth, and clear her family’s name. Taking the alias Li Junyu, she leaves home and embarks on the imperial examination route. Thanks to her extraordinary intelligence, she eventually earns the top rank in the examinations. The emperor takes notice of her and entrusts her with important responsibilities, making her a powerful figure at court.
Meanwhile, Huangfu Shaohua also enters the imperial court for various reasons and becomes Meng Lijun’s subordinate, though she is now living as Li Junyu. The two are close at hand, but because Meng Lijun is concealing her identity, Huangfu Shaohua does not recognize his beloved. Along the way, Meng Lijun uses her intelligence to help Huangfu Shaohua and the forces of justice time and again, gradually exposing the scheming minister’s true nature.
After many twists and turns, Meng Lijun’s true identity is finally revealed. With the emperor’s pardon and everyone’s help, she is able to resume her life as a woman and reunite with Huangfu Shaohua. Her family’s name is cleared, and the lovers are finally together.
