Shenyuan Forest is 30 li away from the Zhou Palace.

In the enchanting land of the Zhongyuan region, where rivers flow like whispers and mountains stand like ancient guardians, the one and only Princess Mei Ling of the Zhou Dynasty finds joy in the vast gardens of the imperial palace. But her heart yearns for something beyond the lavish silks.

On her seventeenth birthday, the princess decides to travel further afield, and asks her servant to drive her carriage to Shenyuan Forest, 30 li from the palace.

As the carriage arrives, she first hears the melodious strains of a zither, drifting through the air like a gentle breeze.

Curious, Mei Ling tells her servant to wait at the edge of the forest and follows the sound until she reaches a deserted clearing where the sun dapples the ground with golden patches. There, sitting under an ancient cherry tree, sits a Confucian scholar, his fingers dancing gracefully over the strings of his zither. His face was hidden in shadow, but the music mesmerized her, speaking to parts of her soul that had long lain dormant. Little did she know, this was Prince Wei of Zhao, a vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty, renowned for his intricate compositions and profound philosophical insights.

As the days turned into weeks, Mei Ling continued to listen from the darkness, her heart filled with emotions she had never known. The sound of the zither became her lifeblood, filling her dreams with visions of love and happiness.

One day when Princess Mei Ling dared to go and greet the Confucian scholar, he was no longer there. Days passed without the man she loved appearing, and the princess became restless and yearned to discover the identity of the scholar who had captivated her heart.

She was determined to find him at all costs and win his love for herself.