At eighteen, Chu Yuan feels immense pressure to demonstrate his capability as the newly crowned ruler of Chu State. He must tread cautiously, especially amid the volatile tensions along the borders with Xinan. Yet the crisis is resolved when Duan Baiyue, the youthful king of Xinan, personally quells the uprising. His intervention saves Chu Yuan from profound sorrow, and the citizens of Chu now celebrate Duan Baiyue as their savior.
Two years on, Xinan"s sway expands, fueling whispers that Duan Baiyue plans to seize control of Chu State. While standing before a winter plum tree, an enraged Chu Yuan is uncertain and remembers a vow from years past. The strain escalates when a visiting duke of Ahnu, an ally of Chu State, is discovered dead in the streets of Chu amid a political landscape that threatens to unravel the balance of power and the future of Chu hangs in the balance.
