In the lavish and opulent Imperial Palace of China during the Tang Dynasty, the Emperor returns from his expeditions, bringing unforeseen turmoil to his complex family. The Empress, suffering from a mysterious illness, finds herself embroiled in a deep-seated conspiracy against her. With the Emperor's indifference towards her growing, she secretly starts an affair with Prince Wan, her stepson, who harbors his own forbidden desires. The palace, a golden symbol of the family’s power, becomes a gilded cage of secrets, lies, and hidden agendas. Amidst this, the Emperor enacts a cruel plan involving the Empress’s medication, adding layers of deception and intrigue within the royal family.

The Emperor’s three sons, each with their distinct ambitions and roles within the empire, find themselves caught in the web of their parents’ machinations. Prince Wan dreams of escaping the palace with his true love, who is unaware of his royal blood. The youngest, Prince Yu, naïve yet ambitious, finds himself at the center of a power struggle he barely understands. Meanwhile, Prince Jai, the loyal and strong-willed, becomes an unwitting pawn in the Empress's desperate bid for power, as she seeks to secure her place and protect her station at any cost. The fracturing royal family must navigate the treacherous waters of loyalty, love, and power, leading to a climax that threatens to bring their dynasty to its knees.