S1, E3: In the fictional Eastern Liang dynasty, circus performer Ye Ningzhi enters the palace to celebrate the empress dowager's birthday. Framed by the grand princess, she's saved by strategist Wei Guang, falling in love at first sight. Two years later, as the empress's maid, Ye Ningzhi refuses to sacrifice her conscience for power and crushes grand princess's plot to usurp the throne with Wei Guang.