The novel is set in eighth-century China during the
Tang dynasty. 16 years ago, close friends
Duan Guizhang and Shi Yiru had
arranged a marriage between their children – Duan Keye and Shi Ruomei – and sealed the pact by exchanging a pair of
hairpins. Both men had died during the
An Lushan rebellion, leaving their children to unknowingly inherit the promise. Duan Keye, upon learning of his background, sets out to find his fiancée. Meanwhile, Shi Ruomei is adopted and raised by
Xue Song under the name "
Hongxian". When they first meet, Duan Keye and Shi Ruomei have deep misunderstandings towards each other which are later resolved with help from Shi Ruomei's childhood friend
Nie Yinniang. Meanwhile,
Tie Mole, the protagonist of the first novel, is nominated to be chief of the
wulin, but he faces competition from a rising star, Mou Shijie, whom he concedes to in order to avoid a power struggle like
the one between the Dous and Wangs. As the story progresses, Mou Shijie reveals himself to be a power-hungry hypocrite. The heroes work together to thwart his schemes, culminating in a final confrontation where his treachery is exposed and he commits suicide. In the aftermath, Tie Mole becomes the new chief of the
wulin, while Duan Keye and Shi Ruomei are married, fulfilling the pact sealed by their parents. == Principal characters ==