Mei Zhuyu, a calm and reserved nobleman from a lesser branch of the Mei family, arrives in Chang'an as an official at the Bureau of Mystic Investigations. During a banquet, he meets Wu Zhen, the bold and unruly younger sister of the Empress and secret Guardian of the Demon Underworld. Both hide their true identities. Wu, a half-demon striving to keep peace, and Mei, a skilled demon slayer, seek the truth behind the fire 18 years ago. As bone demons rise and unrest grows, they fight side by side, forming a bond that deepens into love until the Changxi Palace launches a purge, forcing them to face each other's secrets and the past they share.

During China's Song Dynasty, a mysterious murder occurs at Chancellor Quin Hui's palace after meeting delegates from the neighboring Jin Dynasty. The members become embroiled not just in a murder mystery, but a larger conspiracy concerning the fate of the empire.