Tan Yunxian is born into an elite family, raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations-looking, listening, touching, and asking-something a man can never do with a female patient. From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, but when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from practicing medicine.