The new emperor Yan Qing was faced with internal and external troubles when he first ascended the throne: above the court, powerful ministers were in power, and all forces were ready to move; in the harem, concubines and concubines were competing for favor, and undercurrents were surging; outside the borders, foreign enemies were watching eagerly. Yan Qing worked step by step amid numerous crises. On the one hand, he wanted to eradicate dissidents and consolidate imperial power. On the other hand, he wanted to stabilize the government and appease the people. In the process, a gap arose between him and Queen Su Jin, and a rift also appeared between him and General Xiao Yan. The restoration plan of Murong Ke, the orphan of the previous dynasty, brought a huge threat to Yan Qing. In the end, Yan Qing relied on his wisdom and methods to quell the civil strife, repel foreign enemies, and successfully consolidated imperial power. However, in the process of power struggle, he also lost a lot and became more lonely and cold. The story shows the cruelty of the power struggle, as well as the struggle and alienation of human nature in the power whirlpool.
