The Boundless Mountains and Rivers

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the start of the Ming, the land is in turmoil, with warlords vying for supremacy. The newly founded Great Yin Dynasty has just been established, and Xiao Yuan ascends the throne. Though he ushers in the promise of a golden age, his suspicious nature leads him to secretly lay a vast network to monitor the court and beyond, establishing the Directorate of Shadow Guards to keep watch over officials' words and deeds. Meanwhile, the "Sand Wolf Army," hailing from the northwestern desert, gathers beyond Shuofeng Pass under the banner of restoring the Yuan Dynasty, frequently raiding the border. Its leader, "Sha Lie," has a mysterious past and is rumored to have secret ties to the former royal house, making him a major threat to Great Yin's frontier defenses. Prince Xiao Jing has already reached an agreement with the Sand Wolf Army through secret channels used by desert caravans: Xiao Jing will provide them with grain, weapons, and maps of the border defenses, while the Sand Wolf Army will launch a feint from the northwestern frontier when Xiao Jing raises his forces, tying down Xiao Yuan's main border troops. They have agreed to divide Great Yin's territory between them once they succeed, and Xiao Jing has promised Sha Lie the title of "King of the Northwest." Former dynasty officials lie low, waiting for a chance to restore their rule; Xiao Jing secretly recruits troops and plots to seize the throne; and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and the Eastern Palace are tangled in a web of competing interests. Palace maids, eunuchs, and generals all harbor secrets. In this turbulent age, an intricate drama of power, loyalty, and love quietly unfolds.