Zhao Qingning, a modern woman, transmigrates into a novel she was reading, inhabiting the body of the villainous female supporting character who shares her name. The original host was an arrogant and tyrannical noblewoman who bullied the story's female lead, Jiang Zhiyi, and ultimately met a gruesome death at the hands of the future tyrant, Lu Jinghan. Realizing her precarious position, Zhao Qingning resolves to change her fate by altering her behavior and avoiding the tragic endpoints dictated by the plot. Her first challenge arises when Princess Yongjia, her mother and a powerful military princess, returns home furious about Zhao Qingning's recent misconduct at the Virtue and Abundance Academy. Instead of arguing as the original host would have, Zhao Qingning sincerely apologizes and accepts punishment, surprising her mother and beginning to mend their distant relationship.
At the academy, Zhao Qingning encounters Lu Jinghan, a boy known as the Little Wild Seed, who is being brutally bullied by Chen Jinbao and other nobles. Lu Jinghan is actually the ninth prince, born of a consort who committed adultery, and was cast into the Cold Palace to suffer. The original Zhao Qingning had taken him from the palace to serve as her personal servant, subjecting him to severe abuse. Recognizing him as the future tyrant who would execute her family, Zhao Qingning decides to protect him, intervening to stop the bullying and providing him with better living conditions and clothing. She renames him Xiao Jiu to shield his identity while ensuring his safety.
Zhao Qingning also attempts to reconcile with Jiang Zhiyi, the female lead and fellow transmigrator, by offering apologies and gifts. However, Jiang Zhiyi, driven by jealousy and a sense of injustice, rejects Zhao Qingning's overtures, interpreting her kindness as condescension. This misunderstanding deepens the rift between them, forcing Zhao Qingning to navigate the social landscape with caution.
As Zhao Qingning cares for Lu Jinghan, she discovers the extent of his suffering, including self-inflicted wounds and sleep deprivation caused by malicious servants. In a pivotal incident, a vicious guard dog attacks Lu Jinghan after being provoked by ivy pollen he had secretly applied to his own clothes to frame a bullying eunuch. Zhao Qingning rushes to save him, sustaining a head injury in the process. Lu Jinghan kills the dog with a dagger, displaying a chilling ruthlessness that alarms Zhao Qingning, who fears his psychological deterioration. Despite this, she continues to support him, sending him books to guide his moral development.
Meanwhile, Zhao Qingning uncovers a conspiracy within her household. Her father, Zhao Junyuan, a hypocritical official who resents his wife's military prowess and status, has been manipulating their daughter to create discord between mother and daughter. Zhao Qingning discovers that her maid Chunlan is an accomplice to Zhao Junyuan, leaking information and plotting against her. With her father's true nature revealed and her mother's trust earned, Zhao Qingning must now navigate the treacherous political landscape of the capital, balancing her efforts to reform Lu Jinghan while protecting her family from Zhao Junyuan's schemes.
