Set against the backdrop of China's early Reform and Opening-Up era, the story spans the years leading up to the 1997 revisions of the Criminal Procedure Law and the Criminal Law. The central characters, Chen Yizhong, Yu Gaoyuan, Zhang Lihui, Xia Yingjie, and their fellow law school graduates, embark on careers in different branches of the justice system after graduation. Through the fast-paced evolution of judicial practice, they witness history, help shape it, adapt to the changing times, and grow both professionally and personally. Coming from different backgrounds and possessing distinct personalities, the group experiences the highs and lows of work and life over more than a decade, ultimately following very different paths. Told from the unique perspective of China's evolving judicial system, the drama brings together judges, prosecutors, police officers, and legal professionals to depict the sweeping history of the country's rule of law, while weaving together the intertwined fates of its characters amid a transformative era.