To escape a forced marriage, Zhou Yao flees on her wedding day and slips into an envoy bound for the Western Regions. Four years abroad bring her plenty of rewards, along with one walking disaster: an irrepressible beagle. When bandits strike, Zhou Yao conceals herself, ready to take them all down in one fell swoop. At the crucial moment, her beagle goes werwerwer, promptly drawing the enemy's attention and giving away her position. Yet the mishap turns into a blessing; the beagle's adorably dopey looks win over more than a few hearts. Through her own efforts, Zhou Yao recreates the art of glassmaking. After her wares become a runaway success, she launches a brand-new business in Chang'an: a beagle café. As her ventures flourish, Zhou Yao gradually comes to see just how low women's status is and how difficult their lives are, while corrupt officials run rampant both inside and outside the imperial court. Unwilling to stand by, she dreams of a world where every woman can study to her heart's content and live the life she chooses. So Zhou Yao expands her businesses step by step until she can single-handedly cover the daily expenses of a school for women, all while recruiting followers and gathering talent to her side. Then, one night, she makes a daring decision. She will overturn every injustice and build a realm where women reign supreme. As her commercial empire grows, Zhou Yao becomes an imperial merchant. Little by little, she monopolizes the markets for glassware and perfume, forging close ties with the powerful and influential. She roots out every corrupt official, only for the old emperor to suddenly die, leaving the throne vacant. At dusk, Zhou Yao stands atop the palace wall, gazing out over a sea of lights. She turns to Qi Yanhan behind her and says, "Now that Father Emperor is dead, we can't very well leave the throne empty forever, can we?"