The story takes place in an imaginary dynasty, though its political system will generally be modeled on those of the Tang and Song dynasties.
The heroine is the daughter of a powerful minister and has been raised from childhood to become an imperial consort. When the new emperor ascends the throne, she is selected to be his empress. On the day before she enters the palace, disaster strikes her family, bringing them close to annihilation. Sensing something amiss, she begs the emperor to appoint her as a court historian. Determined to record the truth, she uses her own strength to solve cases and hunt down criminals in both the imperial court and the inner palace, seeking to restore the truth to history while gradually closing in on the truth behind her family's downfall.
