Marrying the Imperial Uncle

Gu Qingyi, a modern woman who transmigrated into the body of the Gu Family’s eldest daughter, has spent ten years in the Great Jin Dynasty concealing her true intelligence. Her family, once powerful founding dukes, has been suppressed by the Late Emperor and forced into obscurity. Gu Qingyi pretends to be an empty-headed beauty, while her brother Gu Yishu hides his scholarly brilliance. Their engagement to He Runsheng, a military upstart from a commoner clan, was arranged by the Late Emperor. However, He Runsheng has long been secretly involved with Lady Fu Liu and views Gu Qingyi as an obstacle to his ambitions. Upon his triumphant return from crushing the Yuwen Tribe invasion, He Runsheng seeks to annul the engagement to marry into the noble Fu family.

The core conflict ignites when He Runsheng publicly demands the annulment in court, trading his military merits for the Emperor’s permission and slandering Gu Qingyi’s character as that of a “straw bag.” The Regent, Imperial Uncle Song Fengyu, grants the request but hints at a deeper humiliation awaiting He Runsheng. Gu Qingyi, far from being devastated, sees this as an opportunity. She orchestrates a public confrontation at her family estate, inviting the Imperial Uncle as a witness. There, she forces He Runsheng to return lavish gifts exchanged over the years, exposing his stinginess and the fact that he had given away her family’s precious jade vase to his lover. The public spectacle strips He Runsheng of his dignity, turning the tables on his attempt to elevate his new beloved at Gu Qingyi’s expense.

Following the broken engagement, Gu Qingyi decides to re-enter high society to restore her family’s prestige. She attends a riverside banquet hosted by Lady Fu Liu’s ally, Liang Xiangning, intending to settle scores openly. At the banquet, she encounters gossip and mockery from other noblewomen but counters them with sharp wit and undeniable authority, reminding them of the Gu family’s ancient noble status. Her confidence and eloquence shock those who knew her only as a silent, simpleton figure. Meanwhile, the Imperial Uncle Song Fengyu observes her with growing interest, recognizing the intelligence she has carefully hidden for years.

Gu Qingyi possesses a secret “golden finger”—a mystical jade sapling that appeared in her palm ten years ago when she first encountered the unconscious Song Fengyu. The tree provides calming leaves for incense and medicine, and its warmth signals danger. This connection to the Imperial Uncle suggests a deeper bond between them. As Gu Qingyi begins to shed her disguise, she navigates the treacherous political landscape of the capital, where the young Emperor is a puppet and the Imperial Uncle holds absolute power. Her actions challenge the social hierarchy and attract the attention of powerful figures, including the renowned young masters of Huikang. The story moves toward a complex interplay of romance, political intrigue, and family restoration, as Gu Qingyi transforms from a concealed daughter into a formidable force in the imperial court.