Xiao Luoning, a three-year-old girl, travels back in time from five years in the future to prevent her father from breaking off his engagement. Her father, Xiao Lin, is the Regent King of the Great Qian Empire, a cold and ruthless military commander known as the King of Hell. Her mother is Pei Qingci, the talented and noble daughter of the Duke Zhen Country Estate. In the original timeline, Xiao Lin was bewitched by Su Yuyao, a transmigrated villainess who specialized in seducing male leads and destroying relationships. Su Yuyao manipulated Xiao Lin into annulling his engagement with Pei Qingci, which would have prevented Xiao Luoning from ever being born. Determined to save her existence and her parents' marriage, Xiao Luoning intercepts the Regent King's procession on Vermilion Bird Street, declaring herself his future daughter and blocking his path to the Duke Zhen estate.
Xiao Lin initially dismisses the child as a beggar and orders her to be thrown into the river. However, Xiao Luoning manages to sneak into his carriage and later follows him to the Duke Zhen estate. There, she uses an explosive device created by her future father to destroy the dowry chests intended for the engagement annulment ceremony, causing chaos and preventing the ritual from taking place. After the explosion, she flees but is eventually captured and brought before Xiao Lin. To prove her lineage, she undergoes a blood test with Xiao Lin. The two drops of blood merge in water, confirming a biological connection. This irrefutable evidence shocks Xiao Lin, who had never consummated a relationship with Pei Qingci, leaving him bewildered about the child's origin.
Su Yuyao, feeling threatened by the sudden appearance of the little princess, attempts to harm Xiao Luoning by pinching her face during a meal. Xiao Luoning dramatically fakes injury and cries, causing Xiao Lin to punish Su Yuyao by confining her for a month. Despite the blood test confirming paternity, Xiao Lin remains skeptical and cold toward Xiao Luoning. He struggles with the absurdity of having a daughter from the future while still being entangled with Su Yuyao's schemes. Xiao Luoning, however, is persistent and uses her childish charm and cunning to win over her father. She clings to him, demands attention, and manipulates situations to keep him away from Su Yuyao.
One night, Xiao Luoning refuses to sleep alone, claiming fear of the dark, and convinces Xiao Lin to stay with her. This prevents Su Yuyao from seducing him that evening. The next morning, Xiao Luoning confronts Su Yuyao and Xiao Lin at breakfast, accusing her father of being bewitched by the villainess. Enraged, Xiao Lin orders her out of the manor. Xiao Luoning runs to the Duke Zhen estate to find her mother, but is turned away by guards who do not believe her claims. Inside, Pei Qingci hears of the incident and orders the guards to let the child in if she returns, showing a flicker of maternal instinct despite not knowing the truth.
Xiao Lin, realizing Xiao Luoning is missing, personally searches for her. He finds her in the market, about to eat a bun given by a kind old man. He pays the man generously and brings his daughter back. Instead of punishing her, he indulges her with her favorite foods and allows her to accompany him to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager. At the palace, Xiao Luoning calls the Empress Dowager "Grandmother" and reveals that Pei Qingci is her mother. The Empress Dowager is furious, as she had planned for Xiao Lin to marry Pei Qingci. When Xiao Lin attempts to break off the engagement, both he and Xiao Luoning are interrupted by the Empress Dowager's anger. The chapter ends with Pei Qingci arriving to pay respects, unaware that the little girl waiting to meet her is her future daughter.
