In Imperial China during the Ming Dynasty, a young scholar and a noble warrior must navigate political intrigue and assassination attempts on their journey to the capital for the imperial examinations, but when the warrior is revealed to be the long-lost heir to the throne, the scholar is faced with a difficult choice between loyalty to their friend or duty to the empire.
Protagonist: A young scholar who dreams of passing the imperial examinations and becoming a government official; Deuteragonist: A skilled warrior from a noble family who is assigned to protect and assist the protagonist on their journey.
The protagonist and deuteragonist must navigate through treacherous political intrigue and assassination attempts as they travel to the capital for the imperial examinations, testing their loyalty and trust in each other.
In the end, the protagonist successfully passes the imperial examinations and becomes a government official, while the deuteragonist is appointed as their loyal bodyguard. Together, they work to root out corruption and bring justice to the Ming Dynasty, solidifying their bond and friendship in the process.
Twist: The deuteragonist is revealed to be the long-lost heir to the throne, and the protagonist must decide between loyalty to their friend or their duty to the empire.