Yunzhi is a woman who has been reborn in the Great Zhou Dynasty for over a decade, retaining her modern mindset and professional medical knowledge from her previous life as a clinical doctor. To survive in this ancient society, she has spent years pretending to be a gentle, virtuous, and submissive noble lady, hiding her true nature as the powerful and feared Dark Emperor and a master of both medicine and poison from the Medicine King Valley. She marries An Xiuyuan, the Marquis of Dingyuan, in an arranged union. However, on their wedding day, An Xiuyuan receives news of a woman he loves and abandons Yunzhi to find her, leaving their marriage unconsummated for over a month. When An Xiuyuan finally returns to the capital, he brings with him Wang Yuzhen, the woman he has loved for years, and a five-year-old boy, Ming, who is his illegitimate child. The Marquis’s mother, Old Madam Wang, is overjoyed by the arrival of her grandson and the return of her son, marking a stark contrast to her usual stern demeanor toward Yunzhi.
Upon entering the main courtyard, Yunzhi immediately perceives the hostility and the true nature of the situation. Wang Yuzhen attempts to assert dominance under the guise of politeness, claiming her close relationship with An Xiuyuan and framing Yunzhi as the outsider. An Xiuyuan, believing Yunzhi to be a weak and easily manipulated woman due to her merchant-raised background, demands that she demote herself to a concubine to make way for Wang Yuzhen as the legitimate wife. Yunzhi, however, refuses to submit. She coldly rejects the demotion, pointing out that she has committed no faults warranting divorce and that An Xiuyuan’s actions could damage his political standing with the Emperor. Her sudden display of authority and sharp wit shocks everyone, particularly An Xiuyuan, who had expected her to be compliant.
The Old Madam, driven by greed for Yunzhi’s substantial dowry brought from her wealthy maternal family in Jiangnan, conspires with Wang Yuzhen to eliminate Yunzhi. They attempt to poison her, but Yunzhi, utilizing her expertise in identifying toxins, detects the poison in her meal. Instead of exposing the attempt directly, she turns the tables by threatening to serve the poisoned food to An Xiuyuan, Wang Yuzhen, and the child, forcing the Old Madam to concede to a divorce to avoid scandal and death. Yunzhi presents pre-written divorce papers, which An Xiuyuan signs in haste, eager to marry Wang Yuzhen. Yunzhi then proceeds to pack her dowry and belongings, leaving the Marquis mansion with her loyal maids and servants.
As Yunzhi returns to her natal Yun family home, she learns that her mother, Mrs. Xu, and her brother, Yun Feng, have barred her from entering. They intend to force her into a nunnery to protect the marriage prospects of her younger sister, who is considered the family favorite. Furthermore, they plot to confiscate Yunzhi’s dowry, claiming it as compensation for the family’s lost face. Yunzhi publicly denounces their hypocrisy and greed in front of a crowd of onlookers, declaring that she severs all ties with the Yun family. She then departs for her own residence, a separate courtyard she had prepared in the capital.
Upon settling into her new home, Yunzhi experiences a sudden and dramatic turn of events. A handsome man, Dongli Lucang, falls from the sky into her courtyard, critically injured and poisoned. Yunzhi recognizes his condition and, despite initial hesitation, decides to save him using her rare and valuable antidotes and acupuncture skills. As Dongli Lucang recovers, he reveals that he is a figure of significant power, referring to himself as a King. During his recovery, he witnesses Yunzhi practicing swordsmanship and realizes with delight that she is the person he has been searching for. Meanwhile, Yunzhi’s former in-laws and family begin to regret their actions as they realize the extent of her independence and the loss of her dowry. The story concludes with Yunzhi establishing her autonomy, treating Dongli Lucang’s injuries, and the two forming an alliance, setting the stage for her to reclaim her true identity and power in the capital.
