The story is set in a world resembling an ancient feudal dynasty. The realm has only recently been unified, but beneath the surface, power struggles roil within the palace. Tao Mo was born into a poor family and had no status to speak of, yet a twist of fate brought him into the imperial palace. When the Palace Intrigue System activates, it sets him on a path to rise from the bottom.
Tao Mo faces one obstacle after another from the forces led by the Noble Consort. Wary of his growing prominence in the palace, she repeatedly schemes to frame him. If Tao Mo fails to complete the System's missions, however, he will lose its support and with it his chance to change his fate and break free of the constraints of his low birth. The missions set by the System are extraordinarily difficult. Earning the emperor's absolute trust in a short time, for instance, is all but impossible for Tao Mo, a newcomer with few connections.
In the complex world of the palace, Tao Mo must contend not only with power struggles but also with the limits of his own abilities. Lacking connections makes every mission difficult, while the rival factions force him to choose sides with caution. On an emotional level, he is torn between the System's demands and his conscience. Other consorts often spread rumors about him, causing the emperor to misunderstand him.
The System's missions come with strict deadlines, and missing one brings punishment. The palace is a treacherous place where the struggle for power constantly threatens Tao Mo's survival. But with his intelligence and ambition, and the skills and items granted by the System, he manages to overcome one crisis after another. In the end, he reaches the pinnacle of power, making those who once looked down on people of humble birth lay the “foundation” for a new dynasty, and completing his spectacular rise from a poor commoner to a powerful court official.
