The Great Jing Dynasty has only just emerged from war. The court and countryside seem peaceful, but powerful clans and the imperial in-laws are deeply entrenched, while the path to office grows ever harder for those from humble backgrounds. The female chancellor Su Qingwan, driven by a desire to set the world right, seeks out and takes in two young men, Su ChenyAN and Su Yanfeng. ChenyAN is levelheaded and strategic, suited to serving in court; Yanfeng is brave and fierce, suited to defending the frontier. The two study together at Guanwei Academy, growing up side by side.
Reform faces fierce resistance, and undercurrents roil the court. Lu Mo, the Marquis of Wen'an, and his faction collude with powerful forces to control the grain transport routes and form cliques for personal gain, while another unseen hand harbors sinister intentions. The three teacher and students enter the game, doing what they can to clean up officialdom and bring stability to the realm. They pass through advanced studies at the academy, an educational trip to Luoyang, graduation troubles, and power struggles among various factions at court. Drawing on what they have learned, the two brothers join forces to dismantle every scheme of the villains, clear corrupt officials from the court, eradicate the roots of chaos, and safeguard the Great Jing Dynasty's peace for years to come.
Once the turmoil is quelled and the government is in good order, the three do not leave the court. Each takes up an important post, overseeing only core affairs and declining pointless social engagements. In their free time, the teacher and students often keep one another company, playing the qin, discussing books, and strolling through the courtyards. Amid their duties and responsibilities at court, they preserve a little peace and leisure, staying together year after year and quietly enjoying tranquil days.
Theme: With earnest hearts, the young join forces to root out treachery at court and use their learning to protect their homeland's peace. Even in troubled times, warmth and companionship endure.
