During the empress's enthronement ceremony, the empress dowager, who has ruled behind the curtain for twenty years, is about to return power to the emperor when she unexpectedly hears the thoughts of her unborn little imperial grandson. Only then does she realize that the empress before her is a wicked woman who faked her pregnancy to claim credit, while Shen Qinghe, the woman who truly saved the emperor, has been shackled and branded a mad servant girl, despite carrying royal blood. The empress dowager immediately halts the ceremony and uses decisive measures to investigate the poisonous incense, reopen old cases, determine the true imperial heir, and execute treacherous ministers. When powerful officials threaten to force the palace into submission, she personally takes charge of the court and quells the rebellion, vowing to protect her true grandson, purge the inner palace and the imperial court, and restore peace and prosperity to Great Qi.