Exiled After a Substitute Marriage, the Shizi’s Consort Grows a Bei Da Granary

Sang Zhixia, a Ph.D. in agronomy, transmigrates into the body of a concubine-born daughter who was drugged and forced to substitute for her legitimate elder sister in a marriage to Xu Ao, the Young Lord of the Jiaxing Marquis. On their wedding day, Xu Ao, furious at the deception, serves her a divorce letter and attempts to cast her out. However, imperial guards arrive immediately to confiscate the Xu family estate due to treason charges against the Marquis. The family is sentenced to exile in the harsh northwest, and Sang Zhixia, unable to leave without the divorce papers which are then torn up by a eunuch, is forced to accompany the exiled household as a convicted criminal.

During the grueling three-thousand-li journey, Sang Zhixia navigates the hostility of the Xu family, particularly the scheming Second Aunt and the resentful Old Madam, who blame Xu Ao for their downfall. She uses her wits to protect herself, notably stripping her arrogant elder sister of jewelry when the woman attempts a cruel farewell. Xu Ao, initially distant, reveals a resilient nature, carrying his unconscious grandfather and later collapsing from internal injuries caused by suppressed rage. Sang Zhixia, utilizing her knowledge of medicinal herbs, saves his life, establishing a tentative alliance between them.

Upon arriving in the desolate Dingxi County, the family faces poverty and infighting over living quarters. Sang Zhixia steps up to manage the household, confronting the greedy relatives and securing basic shelter for the widows and orphans. She and Xu Ao work together to repair their dilapidated home, with Xu Ao displaying unexpected martial prowess and domestic willingness despite his noble upbringing. When Sang Zhixia falls critically ill from exposure, Xu Ao sells his only heirloom jade buckle to pay for a physician, defending her status as his lawful wife against the family's disdain.

As they settle into their new life, the power dynamic shifts. Sang Zhixia applies her agricultural expertise to the barren northwest land, while Xu Ao handles external threats and family disputes. Their nominal marriage begins to transform into a partnership based on mutual survival and respect. The story follows their struggle to rebuild their lives from ruin, facing not only the physical hardships of exile but also the lingering political dangers and internal family conflicts that threaten to tear them apart.