Meng Qianqian married into the Lu family five years ago as a child bride to bring good fortune during her great-grandmother's illness. Her husband, Lu Lingxiao, departed for the battlefield by imperial decree before they could meet. She received news of his death in battle and lived as a widow for five years, secretly writing over a hundred letters to him while learning to read and write. Meanwhile, the Lu family, though appearing prosperous, was deeply in debt and survived on Meng Qianqian's substantial dowry. When Lu Lingxiao unexpectedly returns alive with the title of General of Zhenbei, he brings with him Lin Wan'er, a mute woman he claims to be caring for because her father and brother died saving his life. Lin Wan'er is pregnant with his child, and Lu Lingxiao declares his love for her, stating he will never love another woman—not even his legal wife.
Meng Qianqian's reaction is strikingly different from what Lu Lingxiao expects. Rather than weeping or protesting, she remains calm and indifferent, even eating fried pastries in her courtyard. She burns the hundred letters she wrote over five years, declaring them "a heart full of sincerity fed to a dog." When Lu Lingxiao takes an osmanthus cake meant for her and gives it to Lin Wan'er, Meng Qianqian refuses to yield, arguing that if she yields now, she will have to yield everything. She publicly announces she will abdicate her position as Eldest Young Madam to Lin Wan'er, shocking the entire family.
The story introduces Lu Yuan, the Grand Governor—a notorious treacherous official who controls the court and commands the Imperial Guards. During a rainstorm, Meng Qianqian witnesses Lu Yuan killing people in an alley, including a young woman. He forces her to hold his infant daughter, threatening to kill both if the child cries. Meng Qianqian obediently follows him, and he later leaves the child with her, instructing his guards to kill her if the child sheds a tear. She returns the child safely, and that night, Lu Yuan visits her bedroom, revealing he knows her identity and family history. He makes her feed his daughter, establishing a strange connection between them.
Back at the Lu residence, Meng Qianqian begins asserting her authority. She suspends the allowances for Maple Courtyard (Lin Wan'er's residence) and Songzhu Xuan (Lu Lingxiao's residence), refusing to pay for Lin Wan'er's expensive bird's nest and fabrics. The Old Madam, who dotes on Lin Wan'er because she is carrying Lu Lingxiao's child, becomes furious. Meng Qianqian also confronts her bully cousin Lu Linglong, slapping her twice when the girl attempts to grab her hair. Throughout these conflicts, the Old Madam consistently protects Lin Wan'er and her unborn great-grandson, while Meng Qianqian faces increasing hostility from the Lu family for her defiance. The narrative establishes a complex dynamic where Meng Qianqian, once timid and obedient, transforms into a woman who refuses to be manipulated, while her relationship with the dangerous Grand Governor Lu Yuan develops into an unexpected alliance.
