The first year of the reign of Yongle Emperor was a turbulent one and plagued by rumors that Jianwen Emperor has disguised himself as a Buddhist monk to escape death. Jian Wen Emperor's supporters were hunted and killed including Jing Qing and his wife. With the help of Vice Captain Sun Yu, their eldest daughter Ruo Wei manages to escape the massacre unscathed. Their second daughter Man Yin is rescued by the Crown Prince Zhu Gao Chi.
The two sisters lead disparate lives - one growing up in the palace and the other in the pugilistic world. Ruo Wei plots to kill Yongle Emperor while her younger sister marries into the imperial family. Along the way, Ruowei crosses paths with Zhu Zhan Ji, the emperor's grandson and bears witness to the complicated affairs between those in power.