As a concubine-born daughter, Shen Yuqing suffered constant humiliation in the Duke’s household, and her mother, Qin Xiaoniang, was murdered. To take revenge, she disguised herself as Xiyan, a courtesan at Meixiang Pavilion, and approached the regent Pei Ji. With her beauty and wit, Xiyan gradually won Pei Ji’s trust and affection.
In secret, she plotted to expose the conspiracy between the Duke’s household and the Empress Dowager, while also protecting her child, Pei Zhao. Joining forces, Xiyan and Pei Ji fought against their powerful enemies, enduring life-and-death trials. To shield Xiyan and their son, Pei Ji sacrificed himself as bait to lure the enemy into a trap.
Believed to be dead, he allowed Xiyan to retreat with Pei Zhao into seclusion, where she opened a medical clinic at the frontier. In truth, Pei Ji had faked his death, and in the end, he was reunited with Xiyan and their son, the family finally living a peaceful and happy life.
