No one wants to choose Ai Ling. And, despite the shame for her family, she is glad that she can become free, and not marry a stranger and find herself locked within four walls. But something still came to her. A frightening force she doesn't understand. And as the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, Ai Ling realizes that her journey to the Dream Fragrance Palace to save her beloved father will turn out to be something more dangerous than she imagined. Courage, intelligence, the will to fight - she will need it all. And also a new strength that is only blossoming in her. And she needs help. Help from Chen Yong, who finds her barely alive on the shore of a deep lake. Some evil was trying to drag her there. And Chen Yun offers his help and something more.