When a young Chinese woman is murdered within the British Quarter of the foreign legation, Inspector Gong is ordered by the Imperial Court to solve the crime before the incident escalates into war between China and the foreign powers. The only problem? Inspector Gong doesn't speak English. And he is hardly the type of man to be accepted by the British elite living in Peking.
Once again, he must turn to the one woman who can help him. The woman he can't stop thinking about. Lady Li is trying to forget about Inspector Gong. He's a danger to herself, her position, and her children's future. But when he comes once again knocking on her door and asking for her assistance in solving a case, she can't resist, despite her better judgment. Lady Li's language and diplomatic abilities allow her to freely enter the world of the Western visitors, but tensions between the foreigners and local people are increasing by the hour. Will Lady Li and Inspector Gong be able to solve the crime without the answer leading China to war?