Dreams of Splendor: Love in a Golden Age follows Su Yao, eldest legitimate daughter of the Su family, through life in the imperial harem. The story is full of twists, tangled emotions, and power struggles:
1. Family troubles and the selection of palace consorts: The Su family of Jiangzhou is framed by villains, driving their business into bankruptcy and leaving them buried in debt. To save her family, Su Yao has no choice but to travel to the capital for the imperial selection. There, she meets Lin Wanqing, and the two are chosen as palace consorts. Su Yao is granted the rank of Changzai and moves into a side hall of Jingren Palace. Soon after entering the palace, her beauty and bearing draw the hostility of Attendant Li, but Emperor Chu Yixuan comes to her rescue. Consort Liu, jealous that Su Yao has won the emperor's favor, secretly orders a palace maid to plant a witchcraft object in Su Yao's quarters and frame her. Su Yao is sent to the Cold Palace, but Chu Yixuan believes in her innocence. After an investigation uncovers the truth, Consort Liu is punished and Su Yao's rank is restored.
2. One harem struggle after another: Su Yao and Chu Yixuan grow closer, provoking the jealousy of even more consorts. Consort Hui fabricates evidence that the Su family accepted bribes, hoping to bring Su Yao down. Chu Yixuan secretly investigates and clears the Su family's name, while Consort Hui is sent to the Cold Palace. After that, Su Yao faces anonymous threats, a dancer who deliberately falls and spills dirt on her clothes at a banquet, and many other acts of harassment. She handles them all with intelligence and composure. Later, Su Yao discovers that Lady Shen has been ordering eunuchs and palace maids to stir up trouble, so she seeks the empress's help. Enraged, Lady Shen bribes a eunuch in the palace kitchen to poison Su Yao's food. Su Yao is poisoned, and after a thorough investigation, Chu Yixuan sends Lady Shen to the Cold Palace. Su Yao gradually builds a power base in the harem, strengthening her position by helping consorts who are vulnerable.
3. Crises in the court and harem intertwine: Some court officials are dissatisfied with Chu Yixuan...
