Su Yuewu is the eldest daughter of Director Su Chengyuan and the late Madam Jiang. Two years prior, she was selected into the Eastern Palace as a companion to the Crown Prince, Shen Heng. Despite her seductive beauty and the Crown Prince's initial affection, she left the palace after he was assassinated and survived with a disfiguring facial scar, which she found unbearable. Her family, particularly her father and half-sister Su Yuewan, viewed her departure as a loss of status and a blemish on the family reputation. Now seventeen, Su Yuewu unexpectedly enters the Imperial Selection, much to the shock of her family and the court. Her sister Su Yuewan is jealous, hoping to replace her, while their mother, Concubine Yun, schemes to marry Yuewu off to her worthless nephew to secure family interests.
During the selection, Su Yuewu confronts her past and the current Emperor, Shen Heng. Despite his cold exterior and the scar that marks his face, he recognizes her and, in a surprising move, selects her as a Consort of the Fifth Rank, a high position for a new entrant. This decision baffles the Empress Dowager and enrages those who believed Yuewu was discarded. Upon returning home, Yuewu faces her father's anger and Concubine Yun's attempts to force the marriage. She reveals her selection, shocking the family, and uses the imperial edict to assert her authority. She demands that Concubine Yun hand over household management, which she does after falling ill from the stress.
Yuewu's relationship with her family is strained. Her legitimate brother, Su Yuan, who once protected her, has grown distant and aligned himself with Concubine Yun and Su Yuewan. He criticizes Yuewu for being heartless and arrogant, but she reminds him that their bond was broken years ago when he chose to side with the women who caused her mother's death. Yuewu also interacts with her half-brother Su Yuze, a timid scholar who was wronged by Concubine Yun in the past. She encourages him to pursue the imperial examinations, offering him a path to redemption and status.
As Yuewu prepares to enter the palace, she navigates the complex dynamics of her family. She secures the loyalty of her mother's former maid, Concubine Feng, and ensures the well-being of her former servants. The story highlights her strategic mind and resilience as she transforms from a spoiled noblewoman into a calculated consort ready to face the dangers of palace life. Her entry into the palace marks the beginning of her journey to reclaim her power and seek revenge against those who wronged her and her mother.
