Lin Shu, an eighteen-year-old woman from a privileged family, wakes from a nightmare in which she and her entire family perish during a period of political turmoil. In her previous life, she had been the ex-wife of Shen Huai, a man who would later rise to great power. After their divorce, Lin Shu was subjected to relentless denunciations and public humiliation. Her father died during a struggle session, her eldest brother was buried alive in a mine collapse, her sister-in-law froze to death while clutching food for her son, and her nephew was abducted. Unable to bear the suffering, Lin Shu took her own life, only to realize that her existence had been used as emotional seasoning to deepen the bond between Shen Huai and his second wife. Upon regaining consciousness, she finds herself back on her wedding night with Shen Huai, having reclaimed her body from a wandering ghost that had possessed her after her coming-of-age ceremony. During that possession, she had witnessed the tragic future of her family through a mirror, which ultimately led to the ghost’s soul scattering and her own return.
Lin Shu recognizes that Shen Huai is her key to survival. He is currently a deputy battalion commander and the "live-in son-in-law" of her family, a status that serves as a political burden for his career. In her past life, he eventually divorced her to marry a peasant woman with a clean background, which allowed him to reach the highest ranks. However, at this moment, he still harbors some affection for her, despite her previous coldness and disgust toward him. Lin Shu decides to manipulate this lingering feeling to secure her family’s safety. She changes her demeanor from hostile to vulnerable, telling Shen Huai that she dreamed their whole family died and that he no longer wanted her. This emotional appeal disarms him, leading to a passionate reconciliation that solidifies their marital bond and buys her time.
The following day, Lin Shu interacts with her sister-in-law, Jiang Jie, with a gentleness that surprises everyone. In her previous life, she had been spoiled and temperamental, but now she acts with calculated grace. Her goal is not to maintain the marriage for love, but to delay the inevitable divorce until her family can survive the upcoming confiscation and exile to the Great Northwest. She plans to sever ties with Shen Huai once her family is safe, ensuring he can advance his career without the stigma of her background. However, her plans are immediately threatened when she suffers a nosebleed and sees a confiscation list appear before her eyes. The list details the crimes of her father, Lin Tianlun, and indicates that the confiscation is scheduled to happen three months earlier than she originally remembered.
This revelation forces Lin Shu to accelerate her preparations. She must destroy all evidence in the house that could be used to convict her family before the authorities arrive. The timeline is tighter than she anticipated, and the margin for error has vanished. Lin Shu must navigate the delicate dynamics of her marriage with Shen Huai while simultaneously managing the household to prevent the impending disaster. She knows that Shen Huai’s political future depends on his distance from her family, so she must maintain the appearance of a devoted wife while secretly dismantling the assets that will soon become liabilities. The story follows her struggle to outsmart fate, using her knowledge of the future to protect her loved ones from a brutal historical period that claimed their lives in her previous timeline. As the date of the confiscation draws nearer, the tension mounts, and Lin Shu must ensure that her family not only survives the exile but also avoids the tragic fates that befell them before.
