In 1910s China, nineteen year old Xie Xiang follows in her deceased brother's footsteps and enrolls in military school disguised as a man. She befriends her fellow cadets and and earns the respect of her instructors during the intense training. However, when the unfortunate arrival of the Imperial Japanese troops creates a web of distressing conspiracies, the batch and their allies are forced to prove their courage and resilience.

During the Ming Dynasty, Lin Shaochun, the daughter of a disgraced official, joins a performing troupe to survive. Determined to restore her family's honor, she disguises herself as a man to take the civil service exams. Along the way, she meets Sun Yulou, a wealthy heir who falls for her and defies his family to support her ambitions. However, as she uncovers the truth behind her family's downfall, she must choose between love and justice.