Transported back in time to an unfamiliar imperial dynasty, modern historian Ethan Carter falls victim to deceit and finds himself pressed into service as a palace eunuch. Despite the perilous conditions of the royal court, Ethan relies on his modern intellect and strategic cunning to survive. His big opportunity arrives when a hostile northern delegation challenges the realm to an intricate poetry contest, leaving the court scholars trembling in disgrace. Stepping forward, Ethan uses his twentieth-century knowledge to outwit the foreign dignitaries, winning imperial acclaim and gaining the direct patronage of the Empress. As he uncovers her deepest private secret, Ethan maneuvers dangerous factional plots to become the realm's most influential counselor.