Shen Yan was once the son of a scholarly family. When his family fell on hard times, an old debt of gratitude owed to his ancestors secured him a marriage to Qin Zhao, a female marquis charged with protecting the nation. Thus began his life amid the treacherous currents of her household and the imperial court.
He is gentle and refined, yet hides a sharp edge. Within the marquis’s household, he wins over the servants with kindness. When danger strikes, he risks himself to aid Su Qingyuan, a female physician, and uses his remarkable intelligence to bridge the distance between himself and the marquis.
From factional struggles at Qingyun Academy, to strategic battles on the frontier, to political maneuvering at court, Shen Yan advances one careful step at a time. He transforms from a poor family’s live-in son-in-law into the powerful Marquis of Zhenbei, commanding a mighty army, and ultimately becomes the power behind the empire.
He shoulders the fate of his family and country, yet also cares for the many women in his life: the gentle Su Qingyuan, the charming Liu Qingxu, the loyal Xiao Yue, and even the empress herself. All of them fall for him.
In the end, Qin Zhao sets aside her armor and defenses, joining the other women at his side.
