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立志凭科举入仕、改写底层命运的孤女孟廷辉因意外结识微服私访的少年新帝英寡，二人联手铲除沙州官匪，英寡赏识其胆识智谋，暗中助力她赴京赶考。孟廷辉入京后遭科举舞弊构陷，凭智勇自证清白，被英寡破格任命为察闻院主事，清查虎啸帮、晚香阁等黑恶势力，逐步牵出血月会复国阴谋与朝堂权斗。二人从君臣知己渐生情愫，历经身世谜团、朝堂阻力与边境战乱，最终平定叛乱、整肃朝纲，携手共护江山万民。
英寡出手救下孟廷辉
孟廷辉雨夜助英寡脱身
孟廷辉雨夜助英寡脱身
英寡孟廷辉骑马同游
英寡孟廷辉调查会试舞弊案
英寡救下命悬一线的孟廷辉
英寡破戒和孟廷辉一同饮酒
英寡任命孟廷辉为察闻院主事
孟廷辉敲锣悬赏虎啸帮线索
圣上发怒将孟廷辉下狱
Meng Tinghui is ambushed in prison, but the shadow guards arranged by Ying Gua appear just in time to rescue her. That is when she realizes that her imprisonment and the attack on her were all a trap set by Ying Gua to lure out the enemy.
Meng Tinghui and Ying Gua become suspicious of Xingrong Gambling House and go undercover to investigate. They discover it is a den where innocent female students are imprisoned and trafficked.
Vice Minister Zheng of the Court of Judicial Review shields the culprit and falsely accuses Meng Tinghui of taking bribes. When Meng Tinghui unexpectedly notices the red jade thumb ring and bite mark on his hand, she realizes he is the true culprit behind Yue's murder.
Left Chancellor, Xu Ting's son, Xu Runze hears of Meng Tinghui's achievements and falls for her. He shows up with betrothal gifts to propose to her at Bofeng House in front of everyone.
Xu Ting, Wen Tao, and other court officials demand that Meng Tinghui be severely punished and the Censorship Bureau be dissolved. Ying Gua then reveals a shocking secret: he was the one who rescued Meng Tinghui in Shazhou 10 years ago.
In order to distance Ying Gua from Meng Tinghui, he sends Wen Tao's daughter, Wen Ruomei, into the palace. He schemes to get Wen Ruomei close to Ying Gua and create a scandal that will mislead the court and the public.
The Blood Moon Society's Mr. Shangguan discovers that the Tiger Roar Gang is selling contraband drugs. He decides to join forces with them to distribute the Boundless Pill, a more potent and highly addictive drug, in a scheme to manipulate the powerful and wealthy.
Influenced by Gu Qin, Shen Zhili begins to question Meng Tinghui's "act first, report later" approach. The two clash repeatedly during discussions, causing a rift in their relationship.
To investigate the source of the Boundless Pills, Meng Tinghui disguises herself as a man and infiltrates Wanxiang House, only to encounter Ying Gua, who is also there incognito to investigate.
Ling Yunfei's letters of challenge fill the sky at Changle Street. He threatens a bloodbath in the capital using the Boundless Pills if the Imperial Court doesn't hand Meng Tinghui over by nightfall.
