Shen Qiu, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquis family in the Great Yin Kingdom, enters a political marriage with Ye Chen, the youngest Duke in the kingdom. On their wedding night, Ye Chen, consumed by resentment because Shen Qiu's grandmother used her friendship with Ye Chen's grandmother to secure the match, treats Shen Qiu with brutal hostility. He bites and bruises her body, viewing the marriage as a theft of his chance to marry Gu Ruojin, the woman he has loved for years. Shen Qiu, aware that her family is in danger and that she is merely a protective charm for her relatives, endures the abuse in silence, preparing to drink birth control soup to avoid pregnancy. However, Ye Chen wakes from a nightmare and violently stops her, claiming the man she married was a madman and that he is now the real Ye Chen. He applies medicine to her wounds and promises to never hurt her again, though Shen Qiu remains deeply suspicious of his sudden transformation.
Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Ye Chen has returned to this specific night after living through a tragic future. In his previous life, he ignored Shen Qiu's devotion, pursued Gu Ruojin, and only realized his love for Shen Qiu after she died by arrows meant for Gu Ruojin. Devastated, Ye Chen spent ten years in madness and self-harm before dying. Waking on his wedding night, he is determined to make amends, protect Shen Qiu, and erase the pain of his past life. He burns the portrait of Gu Ruojin he had hidden in his study and insists on sharing a bed with Shen Qiu, though she keeps her distance.
The next day, Ye Chen publicly displays his affection and respect for Shen Qiu during the tea ceremony with the family elders. He corrects the narrative that he favors Gu Ruojin, shocking his relatives who had anticipated his continued obsession. He presents Shen Qiu with a valuable pearl headdress gifted by his grandmother and ensures she is treated with dignity. Later, he takes Shen Qiu to his parents' memorial garden, where he swears an oath before their tablets that his change is genuine, breaking down in tears as he pleads for her trust. Shen Qiu, seeing his sincerity and recalling a childhood memory where Ye Chen saved her from bullies, begins to lower her guard.
Ye Chen uses his political influence to investigate Shen Qiu's family, discovering that her second uncle has been committing treason by passing information to remnants of the previous dynasty. He ensures that only the guilty party is punished, sparing the rest of the Shen family from collective execution, which deepens Shen Qiu's respect for him. During a visit to the imperial palace, Ye Chen demonstrates his close, informal relationship with Emperor Chu Jie, his uncle, highlighting his high status and favor. Upon returning to the Shen family estate for the traditional homecoming visit, Ye Chen openly dotes on Shen Qiu, repelling her cousin Shen Rouyun, who had attempted to flirt with him. Shen Qiu's mother advises her to trust Ye Chen, noting his genuine care.
Back at the Duke Manor, Ye Chen continues his efforts to win Shen Qiu's heart by sharing intimate details of his life and family history. He explains the emotional trauma behind his grandfather's paralysis and expresses his desire for children to heal the family's sorrow. Shen Qiu, though still cautious, begins to accept his affection, marking the start of a tentative reconciliation. The story follows their journey as Ye Chen works to repair the damage of his past life while navigating political conspiracies and family dynamics, all while Shen Qiu learns to trust again.
