Fu Shen, the renowned general of the Northern Yan Army, has long served as Great Zhou’s shield against foreign enemies. When he suffers grievous injuries during an ambush, his days of glory come to an abrupt end. The emperor, long wary of his general’s influence, seizes the opportunity to recall him to the capital.

Yan Xiaohan, the imperial inspector of the Feilong Guard, is a court flatterer as famous for his ruthlessness as his bitter feud with Fu Shen. So when the emperor grants the pair a marriage intended to strip Fu Shen of his power and bind him to the emperor’s lackey, the court braces for catastrophe. Yet there is more to Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan’s animosity than meets the eye—a secret history known to them alone.

As the two rivals confront the idea of their forced union, conspiracies swirl beneath the surface. Someone orchestrated the attack on Fu Shen—and their game is far from over.