In the Kingdom of Xingyue, the throne had always been passed down to men, who ruled the nation, and most government officials were men as well. Women stayed home to support their husbands and raise their children. But Emperor Xingxuan had no son to inherit the throne, and as he grew older, he had no choice but to abdicate. He passed the throne to his only daughter, Xing Jing.
After Emperor Xingjing took the throne, she wanted to ensure that talented women would not go unrecognized, and to find capable allies for herself. So she proposed, for the first time, that men and women should be equal and take the examinations together, with the best candidates selected for office.
A girl named Xin Yue had suffered greatly after her family fell into hardship when she was young. Just as she was losing hope for the future, the announcement of the examinations gave her hope of finding a way out of her desperate circumstances. She knew this was the only lifeline for her and her family. After overcoming countless difficulties and taking the examination in the capital of the New World, she finally earned Emperor Xingjing's favor. From then on, she and her family lived happily.
