The disgraced Consort Shen Zhaoyi returns from the dead and finds herself once again at fifteen, on the day she first entered the palace. She watches the currents of court intrigue from the sidelines, cool and composed. To her surprise, the once-cold Emperor Xiao Jingheng falls for her at first sight, and his pursuit of her is fraught with danger at every turn. Her younger sister Su Wanru secretly plots to restore their fallen state, the talented courtesan Liu Ruyan weaves a web of intrigue, Imperial Guard Han Zhao still seeks vengeance for his blood feud, and Noble Consort Yuan quietly switches sides. She makes the palace her chessboard, advancing one careful move at a time, all to topple this cruel empire. But when the emperor kneels outside the palace gates, she finally realizes that in this life, she wants more than revenge: she wants true freedom.
