Story of Kunning Palace

Jiang Xue Ning is an Empress seeking redemption for her past sins; however, this is not the story that Jiang Ning really wanted for the heroine in her book, so she begins writing what she believes should have happened. Jiang Xue Ning re-awakens as her 18-year-old self and decides to change her fate by making different choices.

Xie Wei gains the Emperor’s trust concerning a political matter. Yan Lin continues to pursue Xue Ning, biding his time before he asks for her hand in marriage. Xue Ning attends the You Mansion party in order to meet and save You Fang Yin, whom she remembers from her past life. Although Xue Ning attempts to evade Princess Le Yang, who was her study partner in her past life, their paths still cross.

An assassin targets Xie Wei, and Xue Ning inadvertently gets entangled in the scuffle. Wary of Xie Wei, she tries to avoid him and probes Yan Lin for information about their connection. Though Yan Lin professes his feelings to Xue Ning, she does not reciprocate, knowing their turbulent relationship in her past life. She instead focuses on how to right a wrong that happened to his family.

Xue Ning subtly threatens Zhou Yin Zhi to stop his collusion with Duke Xue to frame the Yan family. Despite her attempts to not be the Princess’ study partner, Yan Lin and the Princess work hard to get her admitted. The noble women are given etiquette tests to see if they are worthy of staying at the palace, and though Xue Ning tries to fail miserably, the Princess finds her attempts endearing.

Xue Ning overhears You Yue giving Yao Xi advice on slandering Zhang Zhe so she can break off her engagement with him. Angry, she confronts them, calling them out for slandering an upright gentleman. Determined to fail the literature test by Xie Wei, Xue Ning gives the other women advice on how to pass the test and does the exact opposite. Much to her surprise, Xie Wei is not fazed by her tricks.

Yan Lin confronts his father about burning a letter from King Ping Nan and learns that his cousin, previously thought to be dead, could still be alive. Xie Wei meets with King Ping Nan’s chancellor, who reminds him of his promise to bring the Emperor down. After Duke Xue receives the information that his transport ships have sunk, he puts pressure on Zhou Yin Zhi to get evidence implicating the Yan family.

Zhang Zhe breaks the engagement with Yao Xi, citing his precarious position, making Yao Xi admire his upright manner. The Ministry of Justice provides the Emperor with Duke Xue’s transport dealings, causing him trouble. Gong Yi uses Xie Wei’s spies in the palace to cause him trouble.

The study partners of the Princess learn about the story of the 300 loyal souls. The Jade Ruyi sceptre was, in fact, planted by Gong Yi to put suspicion on Xie Wei. Xue Ning overhears a conversation between Xie Wei and his spy from the Imperial palace but is caught by Xie Wei.

Yan Lin discovers that Duke Xue has a large army encampment, so he and his father investigate him. Knowing the Yan family is being targeted by Duke Xue, he begins to distance himself from Xue Ning to protect her. Xue Shu is becoming increasingly jealous after seeing Xue Ning and Shen Jie constantly interacting. She instigates Wang Jiu, the senior teacher at Hanlin Academy, to teach Xue Ning a lesson.

Xue Ning and Xie Wei work together to get Duke Xue’s cronies expelled from Hanlin Academy, angering Xue Shu. Yan Lin’s father rushes to the palace to report Duke Xue’s private army but is ambushed and severely injured on his way. A paper indicating collusion with the rebels is found in Xue Ning’s room, but she cleverly maneuvers the investigation to be headed by the Ministry of Justice so the Yan family is not implicated if she is found guilty.

Zhang Zhe from the Ministry of Justice is meticulous in his investigation, finding the maid of the perpetrator who framed Xue Ning. She thanked him personally, and he told her he was breaking his engagement with Yao Xi. Duke Xue discovers the connection between Xie Wei and the Yan family and begins to target him.

The princess’ classmates go home for a break, so Xue Ning meets with her father to clarify what happened at the palace and that her efforts are to help the Yan family. Duke Xue gets his hands on half of a letter between Lord Yan and King Ping Nan. The Emperor confines the Yan family to their mansion while the Ministry of Justice investigates. Zhang Zhe is tasked to lead the investigation.

You Yue comes home and immediately targets Fang Yin by publicly humiliating and abusing her. Fed up, Xue Ning comes up with a plan to help Fang Yin deal with You Yue once and for all. Xie Wei approaches Xue Ning so they can begin working together to help the Yan family. Xue Ning decides to help both Xue Hui and Shen Jie realize their feelings for each other.

Yao Xi is angry seeing Xue Ning and Zhang Zhe at the jade shop, blaming Xue Ning for causing the breakup of her engagement with Zhang Zhe. Knowing her sister and Shen Jie have affection for each other, Xue Ning asks the Princess if her sister can come to the palace to be a study partner. Xue Shu soon realizes that her real target should be Xue Hui and not Xue Ning.

Zhang Zhe suspects the Xue family is trying to frame the Yan family, but there is no clear evidence yet. Xue Ning gives Yan Lin a special birthday surprise at his coming-of-age ceremony. Xue Ye becomes drunk at Yan Lin’s party, then provokes him into fighting against the Xingwu guards. Xie Wei and Lord Yan arrive just in time to stop things from becoming worse.

Duke Xue arrives at the coming-of-age ceremony with an imperial edict to arrest Yan Lin and his father due to their army's rebellion. He’s been working with King Ping Nan to insert rebels into the Yan family’s army so they can instigate a rebellion and implicate the Yan family. Zhang Zhe stops the arrest on a technicality, which Duke Xue eventually overcomes. He also confronts Xie Wei on his incomplete ceremonial speech to Yan Lin.

Duke Xue arrests and imprisons Lord Yan and Yan Lin, then searches their mansion for evidence of collusion with the rebels. Xie Wei meets with the Emperor and instils fear that the Yan family seal has not surfaced. The Empress Dowager learns that Consort Qin is pregnant, so she comes up with a plan to harm both the Consort and Xue Ning.

Xie Wei returns the Yan family’s army seal to the Emperor and then asks that they be exiled as punishment. Xue Ning is upset that Xie Wei is not protecting the Yan family, so confronts him, only to find a bloody scene. Xie Wei confided in her as to why he recommended exile, but she decided to gather resources to help the Yan family.

To infiltrate King Ping Nan’s strongholds, Xie Wei suggests a risky plan to the Emperor, to which Minister Gu immediately signs on Zhang Zhe due to his suspicions of Xie Wei. Xue Ning schemes with Zhou Yin to recover the other half of Lord Yan’s letter to King Ping Nan, leaving a trail for Xie Wei to follow. A fake Xue Ding Fei is sent by Lord Ping Nan to look for Gong Yi.

King Ping Nan’s subordinates plan to rescue Gong Yi from prison after a contingent of the prison guards leave to escort Yan Lin and his father to exile. Before Yan Lin leaves, Xue Ning visits him to bid farewell but is suddenly caught up in the prison chaos that ensues. She bumps into Zhang Zhe, who is waiting for King Ping Nan’s subordinates to convince them that he is Du Jun, the Hermit who works for King Ping Nan.

Realizing Xue Ning is with Zhang Zhe, Xie Wei tries to find a way to remove her from the dangerous situation safely. Xue Ning pretends to be Zhang Zhe’s sister, but the rebels remain suspicious of them. Xie Wei and Duke Xue, by order of the Emperor, follow the rebels to Tongzhou to eliminate them. Xie Wei utilizes his spies to help quell the rebels’ suspicions about Zhang Zhe, but this causes Zhang Zhe to suspect him in the process.

Zhang Zhe discovers the gunpowder that General Feng has buried in the mountain and the trap he has set for Duke Xue. Xue Ning disregards Xie Wei’s instructions to stay put at the inn and instead entreats the Yan army to go with her to the mountain to save Zhang Zhe. It is a battle to stop General Feng from issuing the command to blow up the mountain.

The explosions on the mountain have blocked off all the roads, so they are all stuck until the roads are cleared. Xue Ning questions her feelings for Zhang Zhe and re-examines her relationship with Xie Wei. General Yan requests Zhang Zhe to investigate the military arms issue linked to Duke Xue. Meanwhile, Lu Xian tries to help Fang Yin deal with her scheming family.

Xie Wei plans a birthday celebration for Xue Ning but doesn’t attend it. Zhang Zhe begins expressing more of his affection to Xue Ning, but she is confused by her feelings. Duke Xue confirms Ding Fei is his son and begins plotting. Xie Wei announces that Ding Fei will go back to the capital, which puts Duke Xue on edge.

Ding Fei is presented to the imperial court, and Duke Xue is forced to acknowledge him as his son due to the crescent scar on his left ear. Zhang Zhe’s mom passes away while trying to understand why her son was imprisoned. He feels guilty and blames himself for her death. Xue Ning tries to put the blame on herself so that Zhang Zhe can continue living unshackled from guilt.

Fang Yin and Lu Xian share their happy but unexpected news with Xue Ning and Xie Wei. Minister Gu and Xie Wei convince the Emperor to exempt Zhang Zhe from the 3 year mourning period so he can help find evidence against Duke Xue. Though Shen Jie wants to take Xue Hui as his consort, she is heartbroken to hear that the Empress Dowager will make Xue Shu his consort instead.

Shen Jie promises to make Xue Hui his consort if she is willing to put her name on the consort list, which angers Xue Shu. Rumors were circulating about Xue Ning and her “escapades” in Tongzhou as she was a lone woman surrounded by many men. Xie Wei and Zhang Zhe team up to save her reputation, while her father decides to take drastic steps against Duke Xue.

The state of Yue is causing problems at the border. The Emperor doesn’t want to send Duke Xue, as he is being investigated for crimes, nor Lord Yan, for fear of his military power. As a potential marriage alliance is explored, public opinion shifts to Xue Shu as the bride. Feeling backed into a corner, she forces her hand to protect herself from a bleak future.

The princess is forced to marry to quell the tensions with Yue. Xue Ning entreats Xie Wei to help her save the princess from the looming marriage. Xue Shu uses her newfound status to disparage both the princess and Xue Ning. Due to forces not under his control, Shen Jie makes a surprising decision.

Xue Shu takes advantage of her position and severely punishes Xue Ning. Luckily, Xie Wei is able to come to her rescue. Tensions arise between Xue Nina’s father and Xie Wei. Duke Xue becomes suspicious of Zhou Yin Zhi and forces him to reveal his backer. At Shen Jie’s wedding, Zhang Zhe notices Xie Wei acting strange.

Xie Wei is upset to hear that Xue Ning wants to leave the capital and return to the countryside. She claims she wants her freedom back but also fears that Xue Shu will continue to target her and her family if she stays. The Yue envoy kills the Princess’ entourage and holds her captive. Xie Wei proposes a plan to the Emperor, and Xue Ning decides to go with him to help her.

Before leaving, Xue Ning and her mother make peace with each other. She then meets up with Xie Wei, but they are suddenly ambushed by Duke Xue’s assassins. They flee to escape, taking refuge in a cave. As it begins to snow, fever and illness descend upon Xie Wei and he dreams about the 300 Loyal Souls incident. Xue Ning begins to question his identity.

Xue Ning reunites with Yan Lin, and Xie Wei finally reveals his true identity to his uncle and cousin. King Ping Nan emerges at the capital and decides to teach Xie Wei and Ding Fei a lesson. Xie Wei, Yan Mu, and Yan Lin work together to rescue Princess Zhi Yi from the grasp of Prince Da Yue, but there is a trap waiting for them.

Duke Xue alerts the Emperor that Xie Wei has written a false edict and has gained the support of Lord Yan and Yan Lin to fight against the Yue people. Xie Wei forces Xue Ning to confront her deep-seated feelings for him, but it comes at a high price. King Ping Nan shows up unexpectedly and captures what’s near and dear to Xie Wei’s heart.

While being held captive by King Ping Nan, Xie Wei convinces Xue Ning to play along with him so he can regain King Ping Nan’s trust. Meanwhile, Lord Yan and Yan Lin are confused by Xie Wei’s order to attack the main cities of Qian. Duke Xue tries to convince the Emperor that Xie Wei and the Yan family are rebelling, but the Emperor, instead, sends Zhang Zhe to investigate.

While Xie Wei recuperates from the injuries he sustained in the battle with King Ping Nan, Zhang Zhe arrives with the Emperor’s edict. They are being asked to return to the capital to get their rewards, but they are unsure about what really awaits them. Xue Shu feels threatened by Consort Qin’s pregnancy, so she realigns her loyalty to Duke Xue. Xue Ning begins to realize her true feelings towards Xie Wei.

The Emperor’s health suddenly deteriorates quickly as Xie Wei, Zhang Zhe, Yan Lin, and Xue Ning rush back to the capital to save Fang Yin from Zhou Yin Zhi. Duke Xue has set a trap for them to fall easily into his hands as they enter the capital to meet the Emperor.

Upon realizing Duke Xue has set a trap for Xie Wei, Yan Lin, and Zhang Zhe, Xue Ning and Dao Qin hurry to the palace to try to save them. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s life lies in the hands of Xue Shu. All seems lost in the chaos of the rebellion…