Wei Linglong is a former SWAT officer from the modern era who transmigrated into the body of a frail three-year-old girl in the Great Liang Empire. Raised by her grandmother in Yongzhou, she has spent sixteen years hiding her combat skills while maintaining the facade of a delicate noble lady. The narrative begins as she travels north to the capital with her grandmother to reunite with her biological parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Yongding. During the journey, their merchant vessel is ambushed by water bandits. While her guards and maid struggle, Wei Linglong reveals her true capabilities, dispatching attackers with lethal efficiency until soldiers led by Xiao Chengyu, the Prince of Chu, intervene and save them.
Upon arriving at the Yongding Marquis Manor, Wei Linglong discovers a household in disarray. Her parents had sent her away fifteen years ago, allegedly due to a fortune teller's prophecy, and instead raised Wang Bingyan, the daughter of her mother's brother, as their own legitimate daughter. Wang Bingyan has occupied the prestigious Wutong Courtyard and holds the status of the eldest miss. The old madam, Wei Linglong's grandmother, is furious at the disrespect shown to the true heir and forces Wang Bingyan to move to a lesser courtyard. Wei Linglong, however, remains composed, viewing the family dynamics with the cold calculation of a modern operative.
The central conflict revolves around Wei Linglong's childhood betrothal to He Yu, the son of the Prime Minister. He Yu is notorious for his debauchery and lack of virtue. When he harasses Wei Linglong on the street, she defends herself with the help of her maid, only for Prince Chu to arrive and scatter the crowd. Later, He Yu attacks again, leading to a physical altercation with Wei Linglong's second brother, Wei Mingyang. The Prime Minister arrives to apologize, but Wei Qingshan uses the incident as grounds to demand the annulment of the engagement. The Prime Minister, backed by his sister Noble Consort He, refuses, seeking to ally the Marquis with the Jin Prince faction through marriage.
Wei Linglong's life is further complicated by her secret identity as the owner of Longxiang Hotel, a prosperous business empire she built with Han Muyun, another transmigrator she met in Yongzhou. This financial independence allows her to operate outside the traditional constraints placed on noblewomen. She attends a palace flower-viewing banquet hosted by Noble Consort He, where she is intended to perform and secure her engagement. Instead, Wei Linglong plays the suona, a traditional instrument rarely performed by noble ladies, delivering a powerful performance that captivates the court. Prince Chu joins her with a sword dance, creating a moment of intense connection between them.
During the banquet, Noble Consort He attempts to force the marriage through an imperial decree. Wei Linglong openly refuses, stating she would rather die than marry He Yu. Both Prince Chu and Prince Jin, the latter of whom has also taken an interest in her, oppose the forced union, though for different reasons. The Emperor decides not to intervene, leaving the matter to the families. The story concludes with Wei Linglong having successfully broken the engagement publicly, asserting her autonomy against the political machinations of the court and her own family, while the romantic interest of the powerful Prince Chu becomes an undeniable factor in her future.
