Transmigrated as the Tyrant's Short-Lived Favored Consort

Jing Xin, a modern painter and baker, transmigrates into the body of Jing Xin, a vicious and short-lived favored consort in the novel Strategy to Conquer the Emperor. Upon waking, she realizes she is moments away from the original owner's death, which occurs after she attempts to defect to the rebel Prince Zhou's camp. In the novel, the original Jing Xin is tortured, imprisoned, and eventually devoured by a tiger after revealing a pregnancy to the tyrannical Emperor Qi Shen. Determined to survive, Jing Xin abandons the plan to meet Prince Zhou and instead returns to the palace to confront Qi Shen directly.

Qi Shen, a cruel and intelligent ruler who rose to power through brutality, has long suspected the original Jing Xin of betrayal due to her past connection with Prince Zhou. When Jing Xin arrives at his palace, she claims she returned because she missed him and successfully uncovered Prince Zhou's secret hidden army. She offers this intelligence in exchange for her life, claiming she was assaulted by the rebel lord during her visit. Qi Shen remains suspicious but accepts her information, ordering the execution of all witnesses in the hall to maintain secrecy. Jing Xin narrowly avoids death, but her position remains precarious as she knows the original plot will eventually lead to her demise.

A mysterious voice in Jing Xin's dream informs her that she must guide Qi Shen to become a benevolent ruler, or she will die. This mission forces her to navigate the dangerous political landscape of the Liang Dynasty. She identifies two loyal officials, Grand Remonstrator Wen Boyuan and Grand Historian Guan Zong, who have long sought to reform the tyrant. Jing Xin fabricates a story about a divine sign from a thunderstorm to gain their trust, presenting herself as a consort who wishes to steer the Emperor toward virtue. She also begins using her modern knowledge of baking to create desserts like cream puffs and chiffon cake, aiming to win Qi Shen's favor through novelty and sweetness.

The political situation escalates when Qi Shen orders the demolition of City God Temples across the empire, offending public sentiment and angering the loyal ministers. Jing Xin uses this crisis to further her influence, secretly coordinating with Wen Boyuan and Guan Zong to gather support. She invites the Emperor's cousin and chief minister, Qin Wuheng, to discuss the matter, deliberately injuring herself to appear vulnerable and desperate. Qin Wuheng, who is secretly plotting against Qi Shen alongside the novel's female lead Shen Qingyue, refuses to intervene, revealing his true allegiance to the rebel faction.

Jing Xin then persuades Qi Shen to visit a City God Temple scheduled for demolition. During the visit, she manipulates the situation by highlighting the presence of abandoned children in the temple, knowing that Qi Shen's own traumatic past as an abandoned infant makes him sensitive to such issues. When the Emperor orders the demolition to halt, Qin Wuheng realizes Jing Xin has outmaneuvered him. Qi Shen, however, becomes enraged upon realizing Jing Xin orchestrated the entire event. He accuses her of trying to read his mind and banishes her from Ziyan Palace, forbidding her from ever returning.

Despite the banishment, Jing Xin continues her efforts to change the Emperor. She discovers that Qi Shen's attachment to soft ornaments hanging from his waist stems from a subconscious desire for the comfort he never received as a child. This insight deepens her understanding of his psyche. She also takes in a stray kitten named Yun Juan, finding solace in the companionship. The story concludes with Jing Xin having secured a fragile foothold in the palace, having prevented the immediate tragedy of the original plot while facing the continued hostility of Qin Wuheng and the unpredictable wrath of Qi Shen. Her mission to reform the tyrant has only just begun, fraught with political danger and personal risk.