It was during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty.

In Jingzhou, there lived a man named Hong Mu, the Vice Minister of Rites. Though his family flourished and his wealth was vast, he was constantly distressed by the lack of an heir. One day, his wife, Lady Yang, dreamt of a fairy in colorful robes descending from the heavens into her arms, and she soon gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Gyewol.

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When Gyewol was but five years old, the rebel Jang Sarang incited an uprising in the north and invaded the imperial capital, forcing Hong Mu to lead his family into exile. However, in the chaos of the flight, they encountered a band of brigands and were scattered. Young Gyewol, separated from her parents, was left all alone. Then, the bandit Jang Maenggil seized the child and cast her into the river, her life flickering like a candle in the wind.

How could Heaven forsake the life of such a hero?

Floating down the river, Gyewol was by chance rescued by a virtuous man named Yeo Gong, who lived in Mureungpo. Seeing that the child's features were extraordinary and her frame sturdy, Yeo Gong took pity on her and raised her. From that day forth, he renamed her Pyeongguk and dressed her in boy's clothing, allowing her to live as a man.

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Years passed, and Pyeongguk entered the tutelage of Master Gwak alongside Yeo Gong's son, Boguk. There, they studied military strategy and swordsmanship. Her talent grew more brilliant by the day, and she mastered her teacher's lessons in an instant, surpassing even Boguk, who studied by her side. When the two came of age, they sat for the civil service examinations together, passing as the first and second top scholars, respectively, and making their names known throughout the court.