Xiao Jue, the ruthless Prince of Jing of the Great Jing, is ordered to keep watch over Shen Qingci, a hostage prince from Beilin. At first, they test each other and make life difficult for one another. But through one court struggle after another, clashes between their nations, and brushes with death, they gradually glimpse the tenderness and resilience within each other, and their flirtation blossoms into a love they both embrace.
Together, they investigate the death of Xiao Jue’s mother and uncover the mystery of Shen Qingci’s origins. They put down the Crown Prince’s rebellion and Beilin’s internal turmoil, and resolve the conflict between their nations. In the end, they leave power and hatred behind to live together in seclusion, finding salvation in each other.
