Shen Yanci, a poor scholar from Jiangnan, is blessed with the talent to govern the world, yet trapped in humble circumstances. By chance, he catches a glimpse of the mature charms of Lady Liu, the prefect's wife, and a secret desire takes root in his heart: he wants both a path to the top and a beautiful woman by his side.
In the imperial examinations, one policy essay shatters the stale views of the pedants, taking him from the lowest degree to third place in the palace exam and lifting a poor scholar to dizzying heights. At court, he uses the reformist faction to eliminate the imperial in-laws, then allies with the eunuchs to destroy the great clans, breaking the deadlock between the three powers with an iron hand. On the frontier, he commands troops as a civil official to put down a rebellion, then marches west and wins the princess of a fallen kingdom. In the end, he becomes the Grand Secretary, second only to The Outcast.
His life is a feast of power: the triumph of toppling political rivals, the swagger of commanding armies, the pinnacle of holding the court in his hands. Every step delivers a rush.
His life is also surrounded by beauties: Lady Liu, the gentle and virtuous widow of a prefect, passes him intelligence and willingly becomes his mistress; Su Ningshuang, a fiery and fearless martial heroine, risks her life to protect him and ultimately becomes his legal wife; Lady Su, the dignified and clever wife of a minister, entrusts herself to him and becomes his informant; Qin Wanqing, the alluring wife of a salt merchant, gives him a fortune to help build his business empire; Lin Chuchu, a seductive imperial concubine, infiltrates the inner palace and stirs up a storm for him; and Aisha, the resilient princess of Loulan, wields a blade to keep him safe.
With their voluptuous figures and captivating eyes, each with her own charm, his preference for mature women becomes the most dazzling adornment on his road to power. When ambition and desire intertwine, will he remain true to his original purpose, or lose himself at the summit? See how Shen Yanci navigates the whirlpool of political intrigue, surrounded by beauties, and carves out a path to power that dazzles the entire court!
