In the Dayin Dynasty, imperial power and the influence of noble clans are intertwined. After Emperor Xiao Jingyan ascends the throne, he holds a grand selection of consorts to fill the harem and balance the imperial court. The Weiyang Palace appears resplendent on the surface, but beneath it, hidden currents surge: the Empress, of the Tong clan, controls the military, while Consort Shen is the sister of a leading civil official. Each faction stops at nothing to win the emperor’s favor and preserve its family’s prestige. The palace’s Directorate of Palace Affairs oversees its many duties, but a mysterious legend of a “blood pact” circulates in secret: it is said that anyone aided by forbidden witchcraft can control people’s hearts and turn the tide. Whenever the new moon comes, eerie singing drifts from the Jiaofang Hall, while rumors that the late emperor’s vengeful spirit is claiming lives spread among the palace maids and eunuchs, casting an ominous shadow over the harem’s struggles.
