Shen Tingyun, the daughter of a disgraced official, hides in an opera troupe, performing as a dan actress and asking for nothing but a peaceful life for ten years. At the Duke of Guo's birthday banquet, her performance of The Palace of Eternal Life leaves the audience spellbound, but catches the eye of the cold-faced Duke Lu Yan. He quietly investigates the old case for her and uncovers hard evidence, moving carefully at every step. Yet on the night the imperial edict arrives, he personally has her dragged into the imperial prison on charges of deceiving the emperor.
