Ashes of Pingcheng

Legend has it that the black mandrake of the Western Regions' desert can grant people's wishes, but the price is the life of whoever makes the offering.

Manduo, burdened by a deadly poison and a blood feud, traveled from the Western Regions to Great Wei, entering the imperial palace and getting caught up in the struggle for power.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the imperial princes drew their blades against one another for the throne. A sealed case from the past concealed a shocking conspiracy behind the grievances of the Cui family. Crown Prince Tuoba Huang pushed forward new policies to adopt Han customs, shaking the foundations of the Xianbei aristocracy step by step. The court was rife with deadly danger, and truth was hard to distinguish from lies.

In disguise, Manduo moved between love and hatred, caught up in schemes. She had only wanted to use the chaos of the age to take revenge, but she never expected to become entangled in a love that had gone astray.

The palace burned in flames, and power turned to ashes. When every layer of conspiracy was finally laid bare, would she be willing to fulfill the obsession in her heart and accept the death pact made by the mandrake?