Shen Qingyan disguises herself as a man to take the imperial examinations. At the palace examination, the emperor personally names her the top third-place graduate, and she smoothly enters the court as an official.
She diligently serves in the Hanlin Academy for three years, until the emperor suddenly dies. Prince Yan's attempted coup fails, and he is captured by the Crown Prince's faction.
Shen Qingyan's superior is a supporter of Prince Yan, so she is implicated and thrown into prison.
With the support of Xie Yan, head of the Xie family, the Crown Prince successfully ascends the throne. Trapped in the imperial prison, Shen Qingyan has no choice but to seek Xie Yan's help if she wants to survive.
In a room lit by dancing candle flames, she bows low and kneels for a long time, her words earnest: “I beg you to take pity on me, my lord!”
Xie Yan, who has always been cold and aloof, watches Shen Qingyan for a long while before finally nodding.
“I'll help you.”
Theme: Where there's a will, there's a way
