Ye Qingyu, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Qingyuan, lives a tragic life defined by her blind devotion to Shen Mingxiu, the Fourth Prince. She sacrifices her family’s military support to help him ascend to the throne, only to be betrayed when he seizes power. Accused of treason, her entire clan is executed before her eyes. Her father strikes her from the family registry to prove loyalty, and her half-sister, Ye Qianqian, claims Shen Mingxiu’s affection. Ye Qingyu is ultimately killed by Shen Mingxiu’s sword while pregnant, dying in despair and hatred.
She awakens in the past, reborn on the day her tragedy began. Her carriage breaks down near Nanhua Temple, a event that previously led to her near-abduction and her fateful meeting with Ye Shuwen, a distant relative she would later adopt as a brother. Remembering the future, Ye Qingyu refuses to take the shortcut and instead drives the carriage herself to the official road. There, she encounters Prince Chu, a powerful figure she regrets not approaching sooner. She boldly requests his protection, and he rescues her from the bandits who were waiting on the side path. This intervention prevents the initial chain of events that led to her downfall.
Upon returning to the Marquis estate, Ye Qingyu faces her family, who are already manipulating the situation. Her father, Marquis Ye, and grandmother, the Old Madam, attempt to force Ye Qingyu to kneel and thank Ye Shuwen for saving her, despite the fact that she was rescued by Prince Chu. Ye Shuwen and his mother, Chen Yinyin, have conspired with the carriage driver, Sun Er, to claim credit for the rescue. Ye Qingyu, supported by her maternal aunt Madam Xu and cousin Gu Huaizhi, exposes the lie. She demands the truth be investigated by the magistrate, leading to the arrest of Sun Er and Ye Shuwen. The investigation reveals that the bandit attack was a staged plot orchestrated by Marquis Ye to damage Ye Qingyu’s reputation and force her into a compromising situation, all to benefit Ye Shuwen.
Ye Qingyu retreats to the Duke’s estate, her maternal family’s home, where she is cherished by her second and third aunts and her cousin Gu Huaizhi. Determined to change her fate, she focuses on protecting her family and ruining her enemies. She attends the coming-of-age ceremony of Zhao Qianxue, where she anticipates a scheme to frame Gu Huaizhi. In her previous life, Gu Huaizhi was drugged and placed in bed with Zhao Qianmei, ruining his reputation and exam prospects. This time, Ye Qingyu warns Gu Huaizhi to avoid wine and sends her maid to monitor Zhao Qianmei. When the scheme unfolds, Ye Qingyu has already swapped the drugged man with Zhao Qianmei’s secret lover. The frame-up fails, exposing Zhao Qianmei’s illicit affair and saving Gu Huaizhi’s honor.
Back at the Marquis estate, the Old Madam attempts to coax Ye Qingyu home with gifts. Ye Qingyu agrees to return only after demanding the full inventory of her late mother’s dowry, which the Old Madam had been embezzling. Securing her financial independence, Ye Qingyu returns to the Marquis household with her assets intact. She faces further pressure to forgive Ye Shuwen, who is released and reinstated as a guest. Ye Qingyu refuses to show weakness, maintaining a cold distance while plotting her revenge. She begins to manage her mother’s dowry properties, laying the groundwork for her future power. The story follows her strategic maneuvers as she navigates court politics, family betrayals, and romantic entanglements, determined to protect her loved ones and destroy those who wronged her in her past life.
