Mistaken for a Virtuous Wife

Xie Lanqi is a modern woman who transmigrated into the body of the second miss of the Marquis of Jing'an in the Great Yue Dynasty. Having studied relentlessly in her previous life to escape poverty, she now possesses a master's degree and a successful career, only to wake up as a sickly noblewoman with six years remaining before she can return home. Her primary goal is to survive peacefully until she turns twenty-four. However, her life is complicated by a childhood betrothal to Zhao Jin, the Heir of the Marquis of An Yuan. Zhao Jin is known for his arrogance and wild nature, and he is rumored to love another woman, Xia Zhenling. The Marchioness of An Yuan, Lady Luo, despises Xie Lanqi due to her frail health and has long sought to break the engagement.

The central conflict erupts at Youfu Temple, where Lady Luo publicly accuses Xie Lanqi of being sterile. A witness, Zhang Wu, testifies that three years prior, the Marquis of Jing'an used a musk-laden prescription to cure Xie Lanqi's grave illness, rendering her unable to bear children. This scandal threatens to ruin both families. In a previous timeline, this event led to Zhao Jin's humiliation and the eventual downfall of both houses. However, Zhao Jin has also transmigrated and remembers his past life. In that life, he mistreated Xie Lanqi, leading to her tragic death during his exile. Reborn with this knowledge, Zhao Jin races to the temple to prevent the engagement from being broken, realizing that Xie Lanqi is the virtuous wife who stood by him in his darkest hours.

Upon arriving, Zhao Jin stops the public humiliation by violently subduing the witnesses and noble ladies gathered by Lady Luo. He publicly declares his refusal to cancel the marriage, kneeling before Lady Liang and begging for Xie Lanqi's hand. Xie Lanqi, unaware of his internal realization, is furious at his interference, as she desperately wanted the engagement broken to avoid a life of scheming in the An Yuan household. She attempts to cut her hair and become a nun, and later tries to throw herself against a pillar, but Zhao Jin prevents her, insisting on the marriage. The Emperor, aware of the elders' wishes and Zhao Jin's changed demeanor, refuses to allow the cancellation, effectively trapping Xie Lanqi in the union.

Following the temple incident, Zhao Jin takes decisive action to protect his future wife and secure his position. He exposes Zhang Wu's true nature by facilitating the prosecution of the physician's brother for bullying a widow, thereby destroying the witness's credibility in the eyes of the public. He also brutally beats Xue San, a nobleman who insulted Xie Lanqi, demonstrating his ferocity and loyalty. The Emperor, impressed by Zhao Jin's knowledge of the law and his decisive nature, appoints him to the Five Armies Judicial Office. Meanwhile, the Jing'an Marquis household faces a new crisis when an imperial censor accuses the Marquis of illegal land seizures and tax evasion. Zhao Jin assists Xie Lanqi in preparing the defense, utilizing her meticulous management of her dowry lands to prove their innocence.

As the story progresses, the dynamic between the two protagonists shifts. Zhao Jin, driven by guilt and love from his past life, becomes increasingly attentive and protective, though Xie Lanqi misinterprets his actions as calculating and manipulative. She remains detached, viewing him as a stranger and focusing on her goal of returning to her original world. The narrative sets the stage for a complex court intrigue involving Prince Zhou and Prince Lu, with the An Yuan and Jing'an households caught in the political crossfire. Xie Lanqi's ignorance of the true stakes and Zhao Jin's secret burden create a tension that drives the unfolding drama.