Fourth Princess – Han Ziqing
Fourth Prince – Jun Bei Yue
Qin Master – Lige – Crown Prince of Dongling
Second Prince – Jun Bei Chen
In the modern era, Han Ziqing and her team are navigating a strange jungle on a corporate mission. She heroically rescues her teammates from an enormous snake, showcasing her badassery reminiscent of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. Venturing into a cave, she tumbles down a pit and discovers a map, with a stunning blade displayed prominently before it. As a subtle qin melody plays in the background—a detail easily missed without context from future episodes—she retrieves the blade, unsheathes it, and then everything goes dark.
She finds herself awakening in a different realm, surrounded by people clad in ancient Chinese attire. As she lies there, whispers and gossip swirl around her. A woman attempts to demean her, but Ziqing remains unruffled, the epitome of calm. It soon becomes clear that this woman is her stepmother. The stepmother schemes to tarnish Ziqing’s reputation, yet our heroine observes quietly. When the stepmother dispatches men to apprehend her, Ziqing effortlessly displays her exceptional combat skills, defeating each one.
Water is splashed on Ziqing, triggering memories of her ancient past. She remembers her sister, Xier, getting her intoxicated and abandoning her in a hotel room. Concurrently, it’s revealed that Ziqing’s father holds the position of Chancellor. Ziqing, followed by a crowd eager for scandal, brings SM to her residence. Finding the original Ziqing’s situation lamentable, she resolves to humble her tormentors. (Go girl!) Moreover, it’s disclosed that her sister is vying to be chosen as a Prince’s consort. The Chancellor arrives, and Ziqing engages in a composed confrontation with her family. It becomes apparent that she was deliberately made drunk and left in a hotel room with a man, Chen Xu, who claimed intimacy, all orchestrated by Xier to tarnish Ziqing’s reputation and eliminate her from the bridal selection.
After the show concludes and the crowd disperses, a scene unfolds at a window. Three men are observed observing from this vantage point (they are later revealed to be Bei Yue, his physician, and his shadow). The physician remarks that she has withstood the moxun poison.
Following a family gathering, Ziqing retreats to her room, which is quite bare compared to others—a Cinderella story in the making. She remembers her mother’s affection and her skill with the qin. The memory of a blade, the one that led her to this point, tucked among her mother’s belongings, surfaces. Compelled by the recollection, she begins to search for the blade.
The Fourth Prince, Bei Yue, is summoned to the palace and arrives late. Upon his arrival, the Second Prince, Bei Chen, is visibly shocked. The Queen and Bei Chen are puzzled about how Bei Yue survived the poisoning by Moxun. The Second Princess arrives and recounts the events that transpired at the Chancellor’s residence. Their relief is palpable, as the scandal involving the Chancellor’s daughters diminishes their suitability as political pawns, thereby eliminating a potential support to Bei Yue’s power. (who wants a princess that was part of a scandal)
