Empress Xie Lanyin and Shen Zhaoning have been sworn enemies since childhood, constantly competing with each other. After Shen Zhaoning marries the great general, her family falls into decline, her husband is presumed killed in battle, and she is abused by her in-laws until she is near death. Upon hearing the news, Xie Lanyin rushes to the general's residence and rescues Shen Zhaoning and her daughter, bringing them into the palace. As she cares for them, the two gradually reconcile and move beyond their old rivalry. When Xie Lanyin discovers that Shen Zhaoning's husband, Xue Huaian, did not actually die in battle but faked his death to escape, she spares no effort in tracking him down and ultimately captures him. To evade punishment, Xue Huaian retaliates by falsely accusing Shen Zhaoning of having an affair with the Grand Tutor. Xie Lanyin and Shen Zhaoning fight back in court, exposing his embezzlement of military funds and his crimes of deceiving the emperor.