By imperial decree, Shen Yueyao, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue's household, is ordered to marry Xiao Zhi, the "deposed crown prince." Shen Yueyao would rather die than wed the frail, sickly prisoner of the Eastern Palace. Her stepmother, Madam Lin, resorts to threats and enticements, forcing her half-sister, Shen Yunshu, to don the wedding dress and take her place as the substitute bride. The world thinks Shen Yunshu timid and easy to bully, unaware that she secretly commands extraordinary medical and poison skills and is the mysterious "Barehanded Guanyin" of the martial world. After marrying into the Eastern Palace, she plans to keep a low profile and wait for a chance to escape.
But the Eastern Palace is far more sinister than she imagined. The frail crown prince coughs through the night, yet always appears just in time when she is in danger. Why does her gloomy, reclusive husband have eyes as sharp as an eagle's? One conspiracy and test after another follows, forcing Shen Yunshu to reveal her skills, wielding silver needles as blades and fragrant medicines as shields. Xiao Zhi watches coldly from the sidelines. This seemingly timid substitute bride can actually neutralize his deadly poison and turn the tables on assassins? With her unexpected arrival, his world begins slipping out of his control.
As the truth behind the substitute marriage comes to light and danger in the imperial palace closes in at every turn, two clever people, each with secrets and a mask to hide behind, must choose: expose one another and strike a fatal blow, or lower their guard and join forces to fight their way to survival in this vortex of power? The silver needles in her hands can save lives, but also take them. Can the schemes he has laid in the Eastern Palace give her a place to shelter?
