After the substitute marriage, the exes created a chaotic scene everywhere

Ling Zhenli, once the daughter of a low-ranking magistrate, suffers the execution of her entire family on charges of treason. The raid is led by Xiao Chongheng, the Duke of Yan, who is revealed to be the son of the powerful Princess Wuyang. Traumatized and orphaned, Ling Zhenli is forced into the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, an official courtesan house. Despite her status, Xiao Chongheng claims her exclusively, keeping her in seclusion at Zuixian Pavilion. Over the course of a year, their relationship evolves from cruel domination to genuine affection, and Ling Zhenli becomes pregnant. However, the pregnancy ends in a miscarriage triggered by the news that Xiao Chongheng is marrying his cousin, Princess Roujia. Heartbroken and believing herself discarded, Ling Zhenli resolves to survive by climbing the social ladder through another powerful man.

Following the wedding procession of Xiao Chongheng and Princess Roujia, Ling Zhenli performs at a banquet in the pavilion. Her striking beauty and musical talent catch the attention of Xue Haoting, the son of Prime Minister Xue Wenmian. Xue Haoting is obsessed with his younger sister, Xue Yingyue, who bears a strong resemblance to Ling Zhenli. Xue Yingyue had recently eloped with a jianghu hero after being forced into an engagement with the Crown Prince, causing a scandal for the Xue family. Xue Haoting purchases Ling Zhenli for the night, intending to use her as a substitute for his sister. Instead of rejecting him, Ling Zhenli plays along, displaying a sharpness and cunning that intrigues him.

Prime Minister Xue Wenmian arrives at the pavilion and reveals a hidden connection to Ling Zhenli’s father, claiming he was a loyal subordinate who took the blame for the Prime Minister’s political enemies. He offers to redeem Ling Zhenli and adopt her as his daughter, Xue Run, who died recently. The Prime Minister proposes a dangerous scheme: Ling Zhenli will assume the identity of Xue Run and marry the Crown Prince, Pei Xuanlin. This union would place her in a position of power, allowing her to seek revenge against Princess Wuyang, the woman responsible for her father’s death. Driven by a desire for vengeance and survival, Ling Zhenli agrees to the arrangement.

Ling Zhenli is taken to the Prime Minister’s residence, where she undergoes rigorous training in etiquette and noble conduct to replace the late Xue Run. She must conceal her past as a courtesan and pretend to be a pure, untainted noblewoman. Meanwhile, Xue Haoting continues to visit her at night, demanding she call him "big brother" and using her as a proxy for his forbidden desires. He mocks her as a counterfeit while simultaneously showing possessive tenderness. Ling Zhenli endures the humiliation, knowing it is the price for her revenge. She learns that the political landscape is treacherous, with Empress Dowager Yang and her faction holding significant power, and that her new role as Crown Princess is fraught with peril.

As the wedding date approaches, Ling Zhenli prepares to enter the Eastern Palace. She has mastered the mannerisms of a noble lady, impressing the Prime Minister and his wife. The narrative highlights the complex web of relationships and political alliances surrounding the imperial family. Ling Zhenli’s journey from a grieving courtesan to a disguised noblewoman sets the stage for a confrontation with the powers that destroyed her family. Her beauty, which once brought her suffering, becomes her primary weapon in the high-stakes game of court politics. The story ends with Ling Zhenli poised to begin her new life as Xue Run, ready to navigate the dangers of the imperial court while harboring deep-seated hatred for the Duke of Yan and Princess Wuyang.