The year is 1030AD, the 8th year of the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. As he attempts to solidify his rule and bring greater strength, influence, and stability to the empire he must also contend with drama inside the Imperial Palace. Political challenges from upstart nobles, corruption among civil servants and eunuchs, and petty schemes between his concubines all threaten to thwart his ambitions. How might those loyal courtiers navigate the web of deceit and serve the Son of Heaven and his Empire?
The air in the Hall of Supreme Harmony hangs heavy with the scent of sandalwood incense and polished lacquer, mingling with the faint, acrid tang of ink from scrolls unrolled across low tables. Dawn light filters through silk screens embroidered with dragons coiling through clouds, casting long shadows over the assembled courtiers. It is the eighth year of Emperor Renzong's reign, and the palace buzzes with the quiet urgency of a hive—eunuchs glide silently between pillars, their silk robes whis