The long-lost eldest daughter of the Prince of Zhenbei's household, Zhaoming, has been found.
After so many years, there is no place for her in the household anymore. Zhaoming is in an awkward position, with a scheming stepmother above her and younger siblings eyeing her hungrily. Having grown up in the countryside, she knows nothing of the rules of the wealthy, aristocratic households and spends all day practicing with weapons.
Xie Chen is a trusted aide to the emperor and has risen to a high position at a young age. Ruthless and always thinking a hundred moves ahead, he is someone no one at court dares to offend.
At a spring banquet, he uses drunkenness as an excuse to slip away from the crowd. As he avoids the others, he overhears a young noblewoman gossiping about that uncouth country girl, Zhaoming.
But what does that have to do with him?
Xie Chen carries out his original plan, plunging into the pond and waiting for his hidden guards to rescue him. He never expects someone to interrupt his plans and pull him out first.
The last thing Xie Chen sees before losing consciousness is Zhaoming's breathtakingly beautiful face. But when he wakes up, he discovers that...
That face is now his own!
Zhaoming had merely rescued someone on a whim. The next morning, she wakes up having switched bodies with yesterday's unlucky soul who fell into the water. At her wits' end, she dutifully plays the role of Xie Chen, terrified someone will discover the truth.
Xie Chen is furious that Zhaoming ruined his plan, but accidentally discovers her secret. It turns out that during her years wandering the world, the young woman built up quite a following in the martial world. Perhaps he can put it to use.
So he puts on a mask, dealing with petty squabbles in the inner household while coaxing Zhaoming into working for him, pushing her onto the board to become his most dangerous piece.
She's only a chess piece, he tells himself.
But when he sees her leave him without a second thought to reclaim lost territory on the battlefield, Xie Chen is overcome with anguish and wishes he could go with her. Neither tears nor pleas can make her stay.
Only then does he finally understand: Zhaoming has been using him all along. He is the one who has been completely played.
But by then he has already fallen too deeply in love to escape.
Theme: Love is so great
