In 1118 in Kyoto amid the time of confusion, Taira no Tadamori, the heir of the Taira clan, spends days doing dirty works to capture robbers under orders of the Imperial Court. One day, he encounters a pregnant woman named Maiko, who is on the run to protect her unborn baby, a child of the cloistered Emperor Shirakawa (who although retired is still the most powerful,) from being murdered. Tadamori secretly provides shelter to Maiko, while shaking off the pursuit from Minamoto no Tameyoshi, the head of the Minamoto clan, who is searching for her under Emperor Shirakawa's order. Maiko eventually gives birth to a baby boy, Heita, who later becomes known as Taira no Kiyomori.
１１１８年京都。３００年の平安を誇った貴族の世も乱れ、武家・平氏の嫡男である平忠盛（中井貴一）も、朝廷の命令のまま盗賊の捕縛という汚れ仕事を行っていた。そんなある日、忠盛は物乞い姿のひとりの女と出会う。その女・舞子（吹石一恵）は、時の最高権力者・白河法皇（伊東四朗）の子を腹に宿していた。不吉な子として殺されることを恐れ逃げてきた舞子を、忠盛は納屋にかくまう。その腹の子こそが、後の平清盛であった。
