In the second year of Yongning, a new emperor takes the throne. Chang'an seems prosperous on the surface, but undercurrents churn beneath. Shen Yan, a former top palace graduate whose father was unjustly convicted and demoted, is unexpectedly summoned back to serve as a judge at the Court of Judicial Review, returning to this treacherous imperial capital.
As soon as he takes office, a string of bizarre murders unfolds. Every case is entangled with secrets of the court and a shocking plot in the princes' struggle for the throne. Shen Yan pursues the killer through corpses and case files, yet repeatedly finds himself in dire straits.
Su Weiwan, a mysterious female physician, sometimes saves him and sometimes arouses his suspicions. Amid their mutual distrust, feelings gradually grow between them. The road ahead is shrouded in the haze of truth, while behind them lie blades and bloodshed. Shen Yan must clear his father's name, but also navigate the political game step by step, safeguarding justice and those by his side, until he finally uncovers the ultimate truth behind the dynasty's fate in the darkness.
