Ming Yueni is the concubine-born third daughter of the Duke's Mansion, living in misery under the abuse of her legitimate elder sister, Ming Yuelan. In her past life, Yueni was forced to serve Yuelan during the selection for Crown Princess. The Crown Prince, Bei Chenjing, forcibly took Yueni's virginity and then cast her aside as a lowly concubine, while Yuelan became the Crown Princess. Yueni's mother was sold to a brothel and beaten to death, and her brother was mutilated and killed by dogs. Dying in a well, Yueni was reborn to the day before the incident.
Determined to change her fate, Yueni orchestrates a scheme. She lets Yuelan believe the Crown Prince prefers powder blue, leading Yuelan to wear that color. When the drunken Crown Prince arrives, he embraces Yuelan, thinking she is the one who sought him out. Yueni then deliberately runs into Liu Yingwu, the daughter of the Great General and another candidate, causing a scene that exposes Yuelan's "infidelity" with the Crown Prince in the imperial palace. Liu Yingwu, enraged, attacks Yuelan, ruining her reputation and ending her chances of becoming Crown Princess.
With Yuelan disgraced and the Crown Prince's reputation tarnished, Yueni needs a powerful protector. She stages a suicide attempt by hanging in front of the Emperor, Bei Chenyuan. The Emperor, who has ruled for ten years without an heir and is rumored to be infertile, is intrigued by her boldness. He saves her and takes her to the Chen Palace, his private residence. Yueni claims she admires the Emperor and wishes to serve him, successfully gaining his favor.
Yueni is assigned to serve in the Imperial Study, grinding ink and serving tea. She navigates the dangerous court politics while secretly seeking revenge. When the Duchess of the Duke's Mansion comes to the palace to demand Yueni's submission, Yueni slaps her in self-defense. The Emperor, rather than punishing Yueni, protects her and orders the Duchess to be punished. He also reveals that he knows Yueni is scheming but finds her pitiful and cute, deciding to keep her under his watch to prevent her from being destroyed by others.
Yueni's mother and brother, who were living in squalor in the stables, are moved to better quarters due to the Emperor's intervention. Yueni continues to play the role of the obedient, timid maid while secretly manipulating events. She encounters Yuelan again, who is now a low-ranking concubine in the Eastern Palace. Yueni provokes Yuelan, leading to a confrontation where the Emperor intervenes again, punishing Yuelan's maid and warning Yuelan to behave.
The Emperor's attitude toward Yueni grows more complex. He is attracted to her beauty and cunning, yet he is also aware of her schemes. He spanks her when she disobeys, establishing a dynamic of dominance and submission. Yueni, in turn, uses his affection to protect herself and her family. She discovers that the Emperor is not infertile, which changes her strategy from merely gaining his favor to potentially securing her position through pregnancy.
As the Crown Prince's wedding to Liu Yingwu approaches, Yueni continues to serve the Emperor, navigating the treacherous palace environment. She faces threats from Yuelan and other concubines, but the Emperor's protection keeps her safe. Yueni's ultimate goal is to save her family and take revenge on those who wronged her, using the Emperor's favor as her weapon. The story follows her journey from a abused concubine-born daughter to a favored servant of the Emperor, as she plays a dangerous game of intrigue and survival in the imperial palace.
