Jiang Li, the sole surviving member of the wealthy Jiang family, dies after fifteen years of exploitation by her husband's family, the Yins. Having married while holding the spirit tablet of the deceased First Young Master, she devoted her life and dowry to supporting her in-laws, only to be discarded and left to die when she fell ill. Upon rebirth, she finds herself on the second day of her wedding, facing her mother-in-law Madam Fan, father-in-law Master Yin, brother Yin Chengzhou, and sister Yin Shuangshuang, all of whom wear masks of affection while secretly coveting her family's assets. A system binds to her, rewarding her for making those who harmed her in her past life regret their actions.
Jiang Li immediately shifts her strategy, refusing to serve the Yin family with her previous blind devotion. When her mother-in-law demands she invite the renowned Divine Doctor Bai to treat her headache, Jiang Li deliberately offers only a low-quality ginseng root provided by the Yin family storehouse, knowing the Divine Doctor values high-grade medicinal ingredients. The Divine Doctor, who had long been concerned about her marriage to a spirit tablet, rejects the gift and refuses to see the Yin family, signaling his approval of her newfound resolve. Jiang Li also begins to dismantle her financial support for the Yin family, halting the delivery of her remaining dowry and secretly spreading rumors that the Jiang family businesses are failing.
The core conflict escalates when Yin Chengzhou is expelled from the academy for gambling away his tuition fees. In her past life, Jiang Li had covered his debts and secured his education, only to be cursed by him. This time, she refuses to lend the two hundred taels of silver Master Yin requests, claiming her funds are tied up in the shops. The Yin family, realizing her dowry is not as vast as they imagined, grows anxious but cannot force her to pay. Jiang Li also discovers that her loyal maid Bai Zhi was framed for theft in her previous life and clears her name, strengthening her inner circle.
A key turning point occurs when Jiang Li learns of the abduction of County Princess Baoqing, the daughter of the Eldest Princess, an event that devastated the princess in her past life. Disguised as a servant, Jiang Li intercepts the princess, who is lured into a trap by human traffickers. Using her martial arts skills and a young girl named Agua who was coerced into helping the traffickers, Jiang Li captures the entire ring of kidnappers and rescues the princess. She anonymously delivers the criminals to the authorities and ensures the princess is safe.
The Eldest Princess, grateful for the rescue, invites Jiang Li to a floral viewing banquet. At the banquet, Jiang Li dresses modestly while Yin Shuangshuang, borrowing clothes from her, dresses ostentatiously. Yin Shuangshuang attempts to seduce Wei Zizhang, a disreputable royal nephew she would later marry in her past life, but Jiang Li deliberately does not intervene, allowing Yin Shuangshuang to expose her own lack of etiquette and social standing. Meanwhile, Jiang Li encounters Pan Shiyan, the top scholar, and learns that Agua claims he is her father, though he insists he was separated from his family before coming to the capital. Jiang Li begins investigating Pan Shiyan's past while continuing to withdraw her support from the Yin family, setting the stage for their eventual ruin and her own path to divorce and independence.
