In 1980s China, the country is beginning to reform and workers who had been moved with their families to the provinces in the 60s now long to return to Shanghai. For one displaced family a conflict arises when their 19-year-old daughter finds love with a local boy, threatening their chance of a return to the city.

When a foreign spy organization sabotages China-U.S. peace talks through assassination and tech theft, National Security officer Yang Guang launches a covert investigation. As he closes in on the culprits, a mysterious woman frames him, forcing Yang to fight for both justice and his innocence in a deadly game of espionage.

When a foreign spy organization sabotages China-U.S. peace talks through assassination and tech theft, National Security officer Yang Guang launches a covert investigation. As he closes in on the culprits, a mysterious woman frames him, forcing Yang to fight for both justice and his innocence in a deadly game of espionage.

The stories of four couples reflect Chinese views on love and marriage.

The plot is vaguely reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada. The heroine is a new fashion editor who has to deal with her female boss and boyfriend, an arrogant young painter who has a chaotic past with other girls.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of three generations of men, depicting a family's four decades rooted in the northeastern land. The family has experienced both good and bad times, swirling in love and hate, fortune and misfortune. Even when fate plays tricks on them, they never give up their deepest protection for each other and this homeland.

两千七百年前，华夏民族进入了凡有血气、皆有争心的大争之世，谦谦上古贵族君子风的春秋时代落下帷幕，攻掠征伐、尸横遍野的战国时代隆重登场。时为西北边陲蕞尔小国的秦国饱受六国摧残挞伐，而今已在灭国边缘。秦献公身死战场，年纪轻轻的仲公子渠梁（侯勇 饰）在危难时刻即位，他深藏屈辱，在六国夹攻下苟延残喘，发誓变法崛起。秦孝公渠梁广招天下贤能之士，天不亡秦，曾在魏国并不得志的卫鞅（王志飞 饰）辗转来到秦国，并凭借一身才学和对天下局势的清醒认识而得到秦孝公重用。卫鞅在秦国掀起了影响深远且饱受争议的变法，一代强秦由此崛起……
本片根据孙皓晖的同名历史小说的第一部改编。