The salted fish concubine only wants to farm every day

Shu Ruohua, a modern agricultural graduate student, transmigrates into the body of the Crown Princess of Tianqi Kingdom, a woman who is overweight, mute, and currently exiled to the Cold Maple Pavilion. The original host had been framed for using witchcraft against Side Consort Yang, resulting in her demotion and severe physical abuse. Upon waking in this new identity, Shu Ruohua finds herself in a desperate situation, surviving on wild weeds while being systematically starved by palace eunuchs loyal to the Empress and Consort Yang. Realizing that waiting for the Crown Prince, Xiao Che, to clear her name is a death sentence, she attempts to escape the palace with her loyal maid, Qian Ning.

During her escape, Shu Ruohua is intercepted by Xiao Che, who is disguised as a low-ranking imperial guard. Unaware of his true identity, she mistakes him for an obstacle and later blames him for her failed flight. After collapsing from malnutrition, she is taken back to the Cold Maple Pavilion by Xiao Che, who secretly orders medical care and food for her. Shu Ruohua, retaining her modern personality, treats Xiao Che with casual familiarity, offering him food and referring to him as "boss" or "big brother" in an attempt to secure supplies. Her lack of fear and strange behavior pique Xiao Che’s curiosity, leading him to provide her with potatoes and other necessities under the guise of a helpful attendant.

Shu Ruohua utilizes her agricultural knowledge to plant the potatoes in the courtyard, discovering that the water from the palace well has miraculous healing and growth properties. This spiritual water accelerates the crop’s growth and heals her wounds rapidly, giving her a significant advantage in her harsh environment. Meanwhile, Xiao Che investigates the frame-up and uncovers that Side Consort Yang orchestrated the plot using a maid named Xiao Yu. He captures Xiao Yu and forces a confession, but chooses to keep the evidence secret to avoid direct confrontation with the Empress, who holds more political power than he currently does. Instead, he places Consort Yang under house arrest as a warning.

The tension escalates when assassins attack both Lengfeng Pavilion and the imperial hunting grounds. During the attack at the pavilion, Shu Ruohua shields Xiao Che from a sword strike, an act that deepens his complex feelings toward her. At the hunting grounds, Xiao Che is targeted again but manages to survive, later saving Consort Jing from an arrow during the banquet. These events highlight the ongoing threats against his life and position. Shu Ruohua, unaware of the political intricacies, continues to focus on her survival and the cultivation of her spiritual water, occasionally interacting with Xiao Che, who remains in disguise.

As the story progresses, Shu Ruohua begins to lose weight and regain her health due to the spiritual water and improved diet. She discovers that she has regained her voice, a fact that alarms Xiao Che, who suspects she may have faked her muteness. Despite the growing danger and the political maneuvering around them, Shu Ruohua remains focused on her immediate needs, often treating Xiao Che with a mix of gratitude and casual indifference. The narrative sets the stage for further conflict as the Empress and Consort Yang scheme to eliminate Shu Ruohua, while Xiao Che struggles with his duty to the throne and his growing attachment to the unconventional Crown Princess.