Drawing on the life of Lü Kuutao, the mother of Yang Jian, founding emperor of the Sui dynasty, whose story is shrouded in historical mystery, and the turmoil of the late Northern Dynasties, this work blends historical records, folk legends, and plausible artistic invention. It focuses on a woman from the lowest rungs of society and the wisdom she uses to survive, as well as her spiritual transformation amid the chaos of war.
