Modern orthopedic surgeon Lin Yan collapses from overwork and transmigrates to the Ming dynasty, during the Jiajing reign, as an impoverished scholar. He owns nothing but exceptional orthopedic skills and the literary talent left behind by the original owner of his body. He also takes in a timid orphan named Xiao Yuan.
At home, his wives and concubines compete for his favor, and the household is in constant chaos. Unable to bear it, he happens to hear of Su He, a woman doctor with miraculous healing skills who lives in Qinghe Valley outside Qinghe Town. Seeking peace and a stable life for Xiao Yuan, he hides his identity and slips into the medicinal valley, earning his keep by copying medical texts and drawing illustrated guides.
He uses steel needles to set broken bones, while she uses herbs to restore vitality. His anatomical drawings are so precise they seem alive, while she reads the subtle patterns of the body’s qi and blood. The clash between Western and Chinese medicine turns from bitter opposition to seamless cooperation, and affection quietly takes root amid the scents of herbs and ink.
But under the Jiajing reign, hidden currents run deep. Powerful ministers dominate the court, corrupt local officials covet the valley’s resources, and an epidemic suddenly sweeps through the land. He and Su He must use their medical skills to save countless lives while contending with those in power. When steel needles and herbs at last stand side by side against life and death, and he prepares to ask for her hand in marriage as a scholar, that familiar wave of dizziness strikes again. The surgical lights come on, and the fragrance of herbs in Qinghe Valley and her smiling face become the aching warmth that lingers in his palm.
Was it all a dream, or does their bond across time remain unbroken?
