Nirvana in Fire is based on an Internet novel by author Hai Yan, who was invited to pen the screenplay for the television adaptation. Often called the Chinese version of The Count of Monte Cristo, the story revolves around a gifted young man named Lin Shu (Hu Ge), whose father serves as a general in the army. Already a high-ranking military officer by his teenager years, Lin Shu enjoyed a close friendship with Prince Xiao Jingyan (Wang Kai) and was even engaged to Princess Nihuang (Liu Tao).
琅琊榜改编自海宴的网络小说，海宴也被邀请执笔该电视剧本的改编。这部小说常被称为“中国版基督山伯爵”，整个故事围绕着一个叫林殊(胡歌饰演)的天才年轻人展开，他的父亲是军中的将军，林殊在十几岁的时候便已是军中高级将领，与皇子萧景琰友谊深厚，曾与霓凰郡主有婚约。
At age 17, however, Lin Shu’s life turned upside down when his father’s army was framed and obliterated by a scheming political rival. Thanks to his loyal soldiers, Lin Shu escaped death, but due to the cold environment, his body became weak and frail, and he lost his martial arts abilities. From then on, his face was permanently pale and his fingers always ice-cold.
然而，在林殊17岁的时候，他父亲的军队被诡计多端的政治对手所陷害，以致全军覆没，林殊的生活也从此天翻地覆。多亏忠诚的下属，林殊才得以逃离死亡的魔爪。但在严酷的环境下，他的身体变得非常虚弱，失去了一身武功。从那时起，他变得终年肤色惨白，手指僵硬。
After twelve years, Lin Shu returned to his country’s capital with a new name, Mei Changsu, and a new identity, the leader of the Jiang Zuo Alliance. He then became the strategic adviser for his friend, Prince Jingyan, who had been exiled by the king. Despite the efforts of Prince Xiao Jingheng and the crown prince to win the throne for themselves, Mei Changsu succeeds in paving the road for his friend to take over as king, as well as the avenging the injustices dealt to his troops many years before.
12年后，林殊更名改姓，以江左盟主梅长苏的新身份回到大梁，他变成了他儿时好友皇子景琰的谋士。尽管誉王萧景桓和太子全力拼争，但是梅长苏还是成功的帮景琰铺平了路，夺取了皇位，并昭雪了多年前赤焰军所遭沉冤。
Like the original novel, Nirvana in Fire will not be set in any particular dynasty. However, the production company, Shandong Entertainment Media, revealed that the costumes will be based on the pre-Tang Dynasty style.
如同小说原本一样，琅琊榜将不预设其发生的朝代。但是出品公司山东影视传媒集团表示，戏中服装将走前唐风。

《琅琊榜》英文预告片：