In the Qin Dynasty, the Prime Minister rebels, leading to the death of the Emperor and forcing the Empress to jump off a cliff. The only survivor, the Crown Prince Qin Wentian, narrowly escapes. After ten years of enduring hardship, Qin Wentian finally reclaims the throne. He unexpectedly learns that his mother, the Empress, is still alive. Disguised as a commoner, he sets out to find her, only to discover that a commoner named Chu Yingying has been helping her adoptive mother impersonate the Empress in order to deceive others for money. Just as Qin Wentian plans to leave, he is mistaken by the local governor for an imposter and is thrown into prison.