Qing Ni, a modern woman, transmigrates to the Qin Dynasty with a System bound to her consciousness, appearing as a snow ferret. Her primary objective is to gain the favor of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, to secure her position and alter the course of history. Lacking resources or identity documents, she spends a year trapping a bull and a cow in the wild near Mount Tai. Using a Child-Bearing Pill from her Newbie Gift Pack on the cow, she ensures the birth of a calf that will trigger divine phenomena, allowing her to pose as an immortal. With 281 days remaining until the Emperor's Fengshan Ceremony, she prepares elaborate illusions and props, including lightning rods and self-cleaning costumes, to stage a miraculous encounter.
During the ceremony, a violent storm interrupts the proceedings. Confucian scholars, led by San Bai, seize the opportunity to criticize Qin Shi Huang, claiming Heaven is angry at his arrogance and demanding he apologize and restore traditional rituals. The Emperor, defiant and surrounded by loyalists like Wang Ben, marches into the storm to confront the heavens. At the summit, Qing Ni stages her appearance as Xuan Nu, the Divine Maiden. She uses System technology to disperse the storm with purple qi and ice flowers, impressing the Emperor and his court. By acknowledging Qin Shi Huang as the Human Emperor, a title she claims is superior to the Son of Heaven, she validates his authority and positions herself as a state preceptor rather than a mere consort.
The Emperor appoints her as the State Preceptor, granting her immense influence. However, Qing Ni accumulates a massive debt of points for the props and costumes used during her performance. To manage her new role, she attends a banquet in Qufu, where she struggles with the bland, salty food of the era but maintains her divine persona. The political landscape shifts as ministers like Li Si analyze her impact, realizing she could be a pivotal force against the Confucian scholars who oppose Legalism.
In a private audience, Qing Ni deepens her manipulation by fabricating a history where the last ruler of Shang, King Zhou, was a benevolent Human Emperor betrayed by Heaven and the Zhou dynasty. She claims that the Zhou sacrificed the title of Human Emperor to serve the Heavenly Emperor, thereby diminishing mortal rulers. This narrative resonates with Qin Shi Huang, whose ancestors served King Zhou, and reinforces her status as an immortal with knowledge of ancient secrets. She further elevates her standing by claiming, while intoxicated, to be the disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the successor to Haotian Shangdi.
When the Emperor asks about immortality, Qing Ni falsely claims he lacks a Spiritual Root and that the only path requires castration, causing him to retreat in shock. Despite this failed romantic advance, her political and spiritual authority is solidified. The Emperor, convinced of her divine lineage and power, orders the investigation and elimination of any descendants of King Zhou to remove potential rivals to the title of Human Emperor. Qing Ni continues to navigate the treacherous court, using her System's resources to maintain her facade while planning to expand Qin's influence and prevent its eventual collapse.
