On her wedding day, Chu Jiuling discovers her uncle, the Emperor, killed her father. Betrayed and nearly assassinated by her husband, she is rescued by a physician and takes on a new identity as Jun Jiuling. Using her medical skills and wit, she aids a noble family, infiltrates the capital, and uncovers political corruption while winning the people’s trust.
Episodes
During Chu Jiu Ling’s marriage to Lu Yun Qi, she accuses the newly appointed Emperor of killing her father, the late Emperor. Jun Ying Wen and his daughter Jun Zhen Zhen help an imprisoned Jiu Ling escape, but they pay heavy consequences. Jiu Ling is forced to take on Zhen Zhen’s appearance and become her to survive and avoid suspicion. Her goal is to one day expose Emperor Chu Rang for killing her father.
Zhen Zhen navigates the contract marriage her father and Lord Ning had arranged, causing her to make enemies. On his way to the capital, Jiu Ling’s childhood sweetheart, Zhu Zan, discovers she committed suicide in prison by setting herself on fire. He does not believe this, so he seeks out Zhen Zhen to get more information about her father’s and Jiu Ling’s whereabouts.
Zhen Zhen meets Fang Cheng Yu, the sickly heir of the Fang family. She suspects his illness is not really what it seems and convinces his mother and grandmother to allow her to help him. While getting his medicine, she is repeatedly bullied by Fang Yu Xiu. Zhu Zan continues to hound her for information, so she confirms that both her father and Jiu Ling are dead, thereby crushing his last remaining hope.
Cheng Yu’s condition is getting better due to Zhen Zhen’s medicinal interventions. To prevent the enemy from catching on, she decides to marry Cheng Yu so that she can continue his treatments privately, and grandmother Fang agrees. She persuades Cheng Yu to go to the Lantern Festival with her to help lift his spirits, while Zhu Zan begins investigating the death of the late Emperor and the possible connection with De Sheng Chan.
Zhen Zhen has a chance encounter with Ning Yun Zhao as they battle chess head-to-head, but Zhen Zhen leaves before telling him her name. The chess lantern she made was hit, as many could not solve the logic problem. However, curiously, an unexpected person does. Yun Yan schemes to make trouble for Zhen Zhen.
Shopkeeper Su believes the marriage between Zhen Zhen and Cheng Yu is so that she can get pregnant and produce an heir before Cheng Yu’s certain death. They hatch a plan to get rid of Zhen Zhen by making it look like an accident. Yun Yan sets up Zhen Zhen to ruin her reputation, but Zhen Zhen catches on and devises a plan of her own.
Zhen Zhen uses a special technique to best Yun Zhao, which makes Zhu Zan suspect her true identity. Assassins go after Zhen Zhen, and though Zhu Zan is able to protect her, he flees to evade the Martial Moral Ministry. Yun Yan finally learns a lesson, while Zhu Zan confronts Zhen Zhen about her true identity.
Zhen Zhen gets to work on the final curing treatments for Cheng Yu soon after the wedding. Shopkeeper Song finds excuses to check on Cheng Yu’s health, so Zhen Zhen devises a plan to not only enable her to continue the treatments in privacy but to also lure out who is trying to hurt the Fang family. Zhen Zheng hires Zhu Zan and Master Lei to escort her to Ru’Nan.
Zhen Zhen is in a precarious position while trying to pluck the Immortal Violet Blossom on the cliff face. After arriving in Ru’nan, Zhen Zhen is forced to give up the Jun ancestral home, deciding to keep the plaque instead to start a medical clinic. To gain a foothold, she offers free consultations for the first month and guarantees to cure all illnesses. Zhu Zan seeks out a person from Zhen Zhen’s past.
Shopkeep Song falls into Zhen Zhen’s and Grandma Fang’s trap, but they realize the mastermind runs higher up the chain of command. As the Zhen Zhen and the group head back to Zhezhou, they are ambushed multiple times. Master Lei deduces that the assassins are the same ones he encountered when the late Lord Fang was attacked and killed.
Zhen Zhen sees, then follows eunuch Yuan Bao, only to discover he is targeting the Fang family. Zhu Zan comes to her aid when she is almost captured by Yuan Bao. Her disappearance causes concern for the Fang family, so they petition the magistrate to look for her, revealing their connection with Emperor Chu Rang. She decides to head back to the capital to finish her mission, while Cheng Yu absolves their marriage.
After entering the capital, Jiu Ling sees Zhu Zan, who goes to her burial site to mourn. He is confronted by Lu Yun Qi who battles him in a duel. Eunuch Yun Bao appears and takes Zhu Zan to the palace. Ruminating about Zhu Zan’s predicament on her way back to the inn, she encounters Yun Zhao, who is happy to hear that her marriage to Cheng Yu was not real.
Zhu Zan is tried by a tribunal of the Ministry of War, Martial Moral Ministry, and the High Court to determine if his actions in postponing his entry to the capital are justified. Jiu Ling tearfully watches her older sister marry Yun Qi and her younger brother crying in sorrow at her leaving him. She opens her medical clinic near the noble houses, hoping to gain their favor, but she has a rough start.
Jin Xiu is slowly adapting to being independent and selling sugar figures with Chen Qi. Jiu Ling struggles initially as a wandering physician to build her medical clinic’s reputation, but soon gains a following after helping Madam Zhou. Zhu Zan watches from the sidelines, while Yun Zhao goes out of his way to try to help her.
Jiu Ling invites Jin Xiu to the capital to help manage her medicinal clinic’s accounts, so Cheng Qi decides to accompany her. As Jiu Ling’s reputation increases in the city she becomes both popular and targeted by the Imperial Physicians. She soon hears about her brother’s illness and asks Zhu Zan to help understand why the physician tending to him has not been able to cure him.
Jiu Ling is taken to Lu Yun Qi’s residence to treat the third madam’s voice, which oddly resembles Chu Jiu Ling’s voice. Although she is able to help the third madam, Yun Qi commands her to change her name and the name of the clinic. Her brother Rong’er is getting sicker by the day, and the Imperial Physicians plan to use his incurable illness to tarnish Jiu Ling’s reputation.
Yun Qi barges into Jiu Ling Hall to break the name plaque, but Jiu Ling and Zhu Zan stop him. To prevent Yun Qi from coming back to break the name plaque, Jiu Ling gives him an unexpected surprise. Rong’er’s health is rapidly deteriorating, so the Imperial Physicians beg the Emperor to allow Jiu Ling to treat him, in hopes that she will fail, thereby tarnishing her reputation.
Jiu Ling begins treating her younger brother Rong’er, whilst a suspicious Yun Qi keeps a close eye on her. She enjoys the time with her older sister and younger brother, though is saddened that she cannot reveal who she really is to them, yet. Though she is able to save Rong’er, it angers the Emperor and draws attention to her. Cheng Yu sends her the Fang family’s handwritten edict from the Emperor, which further angers the Emperor.
Smallpox runs rampant in the capital and surrounding areas, causing much concern for the Emperor. The Imperial Physicians use this opportunity to try to bring Jiu Ling down once again. They recommend that all infected people be moved to an area outside of the capital so that Jiu Ling can treat them all. The Emperor gives her 1 month to cure smallpox.
Jiu Ling, the physicians, and the infected people are all quarantined in Qingshan court. To show the Emperor’s support for curing the people, Zhu Zan, the heir apparent, is also sent to the Qingshan court. Jiu Ling and the physicians keep trying different iterations of medicine but to no avail. She tries a far-fetched idea that the physicians don’t agree with.
More people are dying from small pox, which prompts the Emperor to give Jiu Ling only 7 days to find a cure. She uses the scabs from the cured cows infected by smallpox as a potential inoculation to save the people, but it must first be tried on a willing subject. Zhu Zan volunteers, worrying Jiu Ling as she cannot predict the effect on him and that it may result in his death.
Jiu Ling is successful in curing the infected people in Qingshan Court, but must now face political dangers for doing so. She is invited to meet with the Emperor to be bestowed a reward, but the Imperial Physicians use this opportunity to secure the inoculation for their own benefit. Jiu Ling must maneuver through the political intricacies in order to protect herself and the Fang family.
Jiu Ling administers the smallpox inoculation to Rong’er and stays the night to watch over him. Jiu Li begins asking Jiu Ling questions that seem to get at Jiu Ling’s true identity. Though she desperately wants to tell her and Rong’er who she really is, Jiu Ling must wait until it is safe for her to do so. Yun Qi is convinced that Jiu Ling is Princess Jiu Ling, sending her betrothal gifts to be his concubine.
Rong’er is mad at Jiu Ling for driving his older sister away since Yun Qi wants her as his concubine. Jiu Ling wants to tell Rong’er her true identity but doesn’t, though it pains her to no end. Yun Qi sends the betrothal gifts back to Jiu Ling but is stopped by Zhu Zan. Yun Zhao also interferes to help prevent Jiu Ling from becoming Yun Qi’s concubine.
Yun Qi is making this difficult for Jiu Ling by targeting all the nobles that she helps with her medical services. Wan Qing exacts revenge on Lord Huang for murdering her family. Jiu Ling is forced to make a difficult decision, but Zhu Zan has plans of his own that land him in jail. Jiu Ling ponders how to help him before it is too late.
Yun Qi takes advantage and severely tortures Zhu Zan while he is imprisoned. Jiu Ling works with Prince Xian to help Zhu Zan get out of prison. She then makes an agreement with Yun Qi to ensure Zhu Zan stays alive whilst inside the prison. Yun Zhao heads home to his family in Zezhou to clarify his engagement with Jiu Ling.
Cheng Yu is ecstatic to see Jiu Ling but is hesitant to reveal his true feelings towards her. Yun Zhao acknowledges his affection for Jiu Ling to his family, severely upsetting his mother. His father, however, is in favor of re-negotiating their marriage now that Jiu Ling has made a name for herself. Meanwhile, Northern Qi troops are amassing at the border, prompting Zhu Zan to head north to help his father.
Yun Qi monitors Jiu Ling’s whereabouts, with plans to capture her once she has resolved the children’s death resulting from the inoculation. Lord Huang colludes with Northern Qi to kill Duke Cheng and Zhu Zan, who escapes the camp of Lord Huang to help his father. On her way to help the people in the north, Jiu Ling encounters Madam Yu who is being ambushed by bandits.
At the advice of Lord Huang, the Emperor decides to negotiate a peace treaty with Northern Qi, leading to the loss of three territories. Though the land is lost, Madam Yu and Jiu Ling decide that the people can still be saved, so execute a plan to save them. To ensure Jiu Ling gets the support of the northern nobles and officials, Madam Yu introduces her as the soon-to-be wife of Zhu Zan.
Duke Cheng is trapped by the Northern Qi army, but Jiu Ling finds a way to help him break through and escape. He is ordered by the Emperor to return to the capital, so Jiu Ling and Zhu Zan decide to return in advance to help prepare for any traps set by Lord Huang. Zhu Zan’s mother encourages him to move past his love for Princess Jiu Ling and recognize his present feelings for Jiu Ling.
On their way back to the capital, Jiu Ling reveals her true identity to Zhu Zan. They are suddenly ambushed but are able to plan for the difficulties Duke Cheng will face on his way back to the capital. Though Duke Cheng is able to overcome the obstacles set forth by Lord Huang, he is detained at the capital gate by the Third Prince.
Duke Cheng entered the capital at the command of the Emperor. He relinquishes control of the Northern military army to the Emperor, who is taken aback. Jiu Ling enters the capital as the wife of Zhu Zan and finally reveals her true identity to him. Yun Qi is upset with her new marital status, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to own her. Yun Zhao tries to meet with Jiu Ling, but she is upset with him and the rumors surrounding his praise for the Emperor.
Lord Huang hatches a plan, using Rong Er, which Yun Qi supports, in order to entrap Jiu Ling. Duke Cheng and Jiu Ling must play their cards carefully. The Emperor discovers that the Fang family supported the northern refugees and is now calling on Cheng Yu for a visit. Duke Cheng recommends Jiu Ling receive the merits in order to protect her now that the Fang and Duke Cheng families will be connected by marriage.
Cheng Yu meets with the Emperor and requests his calligraphy in lieu of the late Emperor’s written edict. Now that the Emperor has gotten hold of the last remaining evidence of his misdeeds, he decides to target the Fang family once more. A sudden calamity befalls Cheng Yu on his way back to Zezhou.
Jiu Ling meets with grandmother Fang and discovers the hidden silver the Emperor hid to frame the late Emperor. She reveals her true identity to her, and together, they come up with a plan to help protect the Fang family. Jiu Ling and Zhu Zan travel back to the capital. Meanwhile, the Emperor accuses Duke Cheng of maintaining military power with the northern troops via secret messages.
Duke Cheng leaves the capital after being stripped of his military and noble status. Zhu Zan goes with him to ensure his safety. The Emperor falsely accuses Duke Cheng of treason and orders him to return to the capital for execution. Jiu Ling is kidnapped and hidden away by Yun Qi. Though Yun Zhao knows this, he is powerless to save Jiu Ling and bides his time along with Jiu Ling Hall.
Northern Qi attacked Lord Qinghe’s army as a diversion so their main army could bring down the capital. Duke Cheng comes to his rescue whilst Zhu Zan tries to head off the Qi army heading to the capital. The Emperor flees in a panic with no regard for the people. Jiu Ling rallies Prince Xian to help protect the capital and its people.
Due to the people’s fear that they are being used as fodder for the Qi army, Prince Xian and Jiu Ling ask Rong’er, the son of the revered late Emperor, to stand with the people to protect the capital. As the Qi army mercilessly attacks the capital, Jiu Ling and her crew all scramble to get the people organized and to fend off the onslaught. Zhu Zan is severely injured and looks to Cheng Yu for help.
The Northern Qi army is about to break through the capital walls when news of their Emperor dying reaches them. To prevent internal conflict and strife, the Northern Qi general withdrew and retreated. Knowing Jiu Ling, Duke Cheng, Zhu Zan, and Lord Qinghe have saved the capital, the Emperor returns with another plan to get rid of Jiu Ling.
The Emperor returns to the capital, preparing to have Jiu Ling assassinated. However, the tables turned when Jiu Ling, Zhu Zan, Duke Cheng, and Cheng Yu confronted the Emperor, accusing him of his crimes. Jiu Ling finally reveals to him and the imperial court who she really is, while Yun Qi finds redemption.
