Schemes in the Song Dynasty

During the Jingyou era of Emperor Renzong's reign in the Northern Song, the empire's fortunes are shifting in unpredictable ways. The Cao family rises to prominence. Its head, Cao Yi, is the grandson of Cao Bin, a founding general. Courtesy name Gongbo, he passed the imperial exams during the Tiansheng era and steadily climbed the ranks to become Privy Councilor. At this time, Xiao Tianyou's influence is growing in the Liao, Dali and Western Xia are secretly joining forces, and Tibet is often in turmoil. Cao Ju, the Cao family's fifth son, was originally Zhu Rui, a 21st-century civil servant, before an accident caused him to transmigrate into Cao Ju's body. With his Governing and Conception Vessels naturally open, he practices the esoteric Buddhist art Dragon-Elephant Prajnaparamita. Cunning and quick-witted, he becomes the head of the Cao family's covert intelligence organization, the Gale Pavilion, and a candidate to become the next family head. Armed with his wit and martial skills, Cao Ju navigates both the imperial court and the martial world. In matters of the heart, he finds himself developing feelings for several women, including Xiao Tianyou's adopted daughter, the Liao's grand marshal, a descendant of a renowned Dali scholar, and a Song princess. At the same time, he must face power struggles within the Cao family, conflicts among Song, Liao, Dali, and Western Xia, and interference from the Ming Cult, esoteric Buddhist sects, and various martial arts factions. Amid this tangled situation, he grows step by step and writes a legend of his own.