Overnight, Lin Yanyu became a destitute scholar whom anyone could bully. Burdened with crushing debt and treated with contempt, he kept his talents hidden and studied hard. Though his rivals repeatedly framed him, he overcame every obstacle and claimed all three top honors in the imperial examinations. Refusing to curry favor with the powerful, he ventured alone into the political arena. Through the twists and turns of his rise, he found love by his side and held fast to both his principles and his affections amid the chaos of a troubled age.
