Open Your Eyes and Kill; What’s the Point of Dawdling When You’re Reborn?

Yan Zhuxing dies on a battlefield after sacrificing herself to save the Prince of Yong’an, Xie Yining. In her final moments, she reflects on her life as the fake heiress of the Dingyuan Marquisate, having usurped the position of the true daughter, Yan Mingyue, for over a decade. Upon death, her soul returns to the manor, where she overhears her mother, Wen Rushuang, and brothers discussing how to exploit her corpse further. Her second brother plans to shatter her soul to prevent her from haunting Yan Mingyue, while her eldest brother proposes a ghost marriage to the late Grand Tutor Lu’s grandson to secure political ties. Realizing her family views her only as a tool for gain, Yan Zhuxing vows revenge and is reborn to the day she was first bullied by Yan Mingyue’s maid, Mo’er.

In this second chance, Yan Zhuxing kills Mo’er by freezing her head in a basin of water and proceeds to the main kitchen to assert her dominance. When the kitchen staff refuses her food, she violently fights back, injuring several servants with burning firewood and scalding soup. Yan Mingyue attempts to frame Yan Zhuxing for murder, leading to her arrest at the Metropolitan Prefecture under Judge Pei Mingjing. Yan Zhuxing exposes the abuse she suffered, showing bruises and tattered clothes, which sways public opinion and forces Pei Mingjing to investigate the Marquisate personally. He discovers her dilapidated living conditions, threatening the family’s reputation.

Back at the mansion, Yan Zhuxing confronts her family, stabbing her mother’s hand with a hairpin and forcing her to swallow a pill she claims is poison. She demands to remain the eldest daughter and move back to her original courtyard. Meanwhile, Xie Yining, having survived his own death in a previous timeline, recognizes Yan Zhuxing as the woman who saved him. He secretly observes the confrontation and orchestrates a fire at Yan Mingyue’s courtyard to distract the family. Yan Zhuxing slaps all three siblings—Yan Mingyue, Yan Mingyuan, and Yan Mingxiu—defying their authority and securing her return to a better residence.

The Empress Dowager, moved by Xie Yining’s reports, sends imperial gifts and an invitation for Yan Zhuxing to teach the Tenth Princess the Battle Formation Dance at the upcoming Ice Frolic Banquet. Imperial Physician Ji examines Yan Zhuxing and diagnoses severe malnutrition caused by years of neglect. Yan Zhuxing uses the Empress’s favor to demand better treatment, including a private kitchen and new clothes, while secretly planning her revenge. She reclaims her loyal maid, Shuangli, and begins training in martial arts to protect herself.

Yan Mingyue falls ill with a fever, haunted by guilt and resentment. Yan Zhuxing exploits this opportunity, continuing to consolidate her power within the mansion. Xie Yining, determined to protect his savior, sends his servant Tingyun to monitor the Marquisate and ensure Yan Zhuxing is not bullied further. He becomes increasingly obsessed with her well-being, neglecting his own health concerns. Yan Zhuxing, aware of the political landscape, aligns herself with Pei Mingjing and the royal family to dismantle the Dingyuan Marquisate from within. Her ultimate goal is to make her family pay for every ounce of suffering they inflicted upon her, using their own greed and hypocrisy against them.

As the Ice Frolic Banquet approaches, tensions rise within the Marquisate. Yan Zhuxing prepares to perform in the palace, gaining visibility and protection from the imperial family. She carefully navigates the treacherous court politics, balancing her desire for revenge with the need to survive. Xie Yining continues to support her from the shadows, providing resources and information. The story sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation where Yan Zhuxing will expose the Dingyuan Marquisate’s crimes and reclaim her true identity and status.