During the Jing'an era of the Great Liang, the fires of war still rage along the northern frontier, while undercurrents stir in the imperial court. Shen Du, the Northern Garrison General, is framed, and the 100,000 soldiers of the Shen Army are trapped at Yanhui Pass with their supply route cut off. The peace faction in court, led by Chancellor Wei Chong, urges ceding territory to sue for peace, intending to abandon the Shen Army.
An imperial decree of marriage orders Wei Zhao, the chancellor's daughter, to wed Shen Du, who has returned to the capital to seek aid.
Everyone assumes this is a political marriage: the chancellor will use it to keep Shen Du under surveillance, while Shen Du will use it to secure support at court. But no one knows that Wei Zhao has long grown tired of her father's power plays. She never wanted to live as a pawn.
