Xue Dongyu, a modern woman with no ambitions who lived a comfortable life as a rent-collecting homebody, dies in a car accident and transmigrates into the body of Hong Xiapei, an insignificant concubine in the Song Dynasty harem of Emperor Renzong. The original owner, a timid girl from a declining family, had entered the palace to survive and was granted the low title of Hong Xiapei after a single night with the Emperor. She died shortly after when a decorative object fell on her head. Xue Dongyu wakes up in a dilapidated room, relying on the kindness of her cousin, Consort Meng, who resides in Pifang Hall. Despite her desire for a quiet life, Xue Dongyu finds herself in a precarious position within the imperial harem, where status is determined entirely by the Emperor's favor.
Her situation changes dramatically when Imperial Physician Lin discovers that she is three months pregnant. In a dynasty where the Emperor has no surviving sons and many children have died young, this pregnancy is a matter of state importance. Consort Meng, overjoyed, immediately reports the news. Emperor Renzong, who is desperate for an heir and currently distracted by the illness of his most favored consort, Consort Zhang, is delighted by the news. He visits Pifang Hall and, mistaking Xue Dongyu’s shy smile for missed affection, grants her the title of Jianning Jun Furen, a significant promotion that elevates her status above many other consorts.
Xue Dongyu attends her first morning greeting at Zhengyang Palace, where she witnesses the volatile nature of the harem. Consort Zhang, heavily pregnant and accustomed to absolute privilege, slaps Noble Lady Zhao for a minor slight, displaying blatant disrespect toward Empress Cao. The Empress, plain and unfavored, endures the humiliation silently, her dignity shattered. Emperor Renzong, however, imposes a light punishment on Consort Zhang—confinement for a month—while rewarding Noble Lady Zhao with pearls and the privilege of riding a sedan chair, balancing the factions without truly curbing Consort Zhang’s power.
Later that night, unable to sleep, Xue Dongyu wanders into the palace gardens to admire the full moon. She falls asleep on a stone, where Emperor Renzong finds her. He covers her with his cloak and they share a quiet moment under the moonlight. Xue Dongyu, recalling a modern literary anecdote, tells the Emperor that the beautiful moonlight is a subtle way of expressing love. The Emperor, who has lived through history and returned to this moment with foreknowledge of the dynasty’s decline, is intrigued by her innocence and lack of political ambition. He feels a rare sense of relaxation in her company, distinct from the calculated flattery of other consorts.
As her pregnancy progresses, Xue Dongyu is promoted to Cairen and moves to Yanhui Hall. She begins to understand the harsh realities of palace life, realizing that without favor, rank, or offspring, survival is nearly impossible. She decides to shed her passive nature and actively navigate the treacherous environment. Meanwhile, Emperor Renzong, aware of the future tragedies that befell his family and court, uses his second chance to correct past mistakes. He suppresses the rise of his maternal relatives, a decision that diverges from his previous life, and observes Xue Dongyu as an unpredictable variable in his carefully managed existence. The Empress, seeing an opportunity to secure an heir, considers adopting Xue Dongyu’s child, but Xue Dongyu remains focused on protecting her own status and the child in her womb, unaware of the deeper political currents swirling around her.
