Ye Qingwan, the daughter of a scholarly family in Jiangnan, falls on hard times and goes to the capital as a concubine to make ends meet. She marries Xiao Yichen, the frail second son of the Marquis of Anyuan. From a concubine treated with cold disdain to a confidante who stands by his side through thick and thin, the two endure infighting in the marquis’s household, political framing, and the fires of war along the frontier. They also uncover the truth behind the massacre that wiped out the Ye family twelve years ago. With her intelligence and talent, Ye Qingwan rises from the inner chambers to the royal court, clearing her husband’s name and purging traitors from the realm. In the end, she becomes the Crown Prince’s tutor and a Protector of the Nation. Together with Xiao Yichen, she ushers in an era of peace and prosperity. After accomplishing all they set out to do, they retire to Jiangnan and finally enjoy a quiet, peaceful life.
