Zhiwei is the daughter of a minor fifth-rank official. By chance, she performs at a palace banquet, and her unusual composure and sincere gaze catch the attention of the young emperor, Xiao Heng. There is no grand, passionate beginning: a decree brings her into the imperial harem, where she is initially given a low rank.
At first, Xiao Heng is merely curious. But he soon discovers that amid heavy political duties and the palace's endless scheming, Shen Zhiwei's side is the only place where he can truly relax. Her palace, Lanyue Pavilion, becomes his one and only refuge. He dislikes the ostentation behind the title of “favored consort.” He prefers to call her “A Yuan,” her familiar name, intimate and uniquely theirs.
