Xu Bai, known affectionately as Sui Sui, is the granddaughter of a former military commander whose family has fallen from grace. Her father, Changfang, squandered the family fortune, pawned their estates, and eloped with a female opera singer, leaving Xu Bai, her mother, grandmother, and two younger uncles to live in a cramped, dilapidated building in the city. Despite her family's poverty and social disgrace, Xu Bai holds a prestigious engagement to Xiao Heng, the young marshal of the Grand Marshal's Mansion. However, the engagement is under severe strain. The Marshal's wife, Xiao Heng's mother, has publicly repented of the match and is pressuring the couple to cancel it. She has selected Luo Qi, the wealthy and politically connected daughter of the richest family in Nancheng, as a more suitable bride for her son. Xiao Heng has been evasive, telling Xu Bai that his mother is merely joking and that he is too busy with military affairs to address the issue directly, which leads Xu Bai's close friend Feng Ran to accuse him of shirking responsibility.
The narrative tension escalates during a birthday banquet for Feng Ran at the Pengyue Building. Xu Bai and Feng Ran retreat to the third-floor private boxes to escape the noise below. Suddenly, a violent confrontation erupts on the second floor. Xiao Lingqi, the Fourth Master of the Xiao family and a ruthless military figure, has arrived to settle a dispute regarding the Jinzhou arsenal. Feng Ran's eldest brother, Feng Tuanzuo, is among those held at gunpoint. Xu Bai observes Xiao Lingqi, a man of imposing stature and cold demeanor, who displays brutal efficiency in handling his enemies. When Xiao Lingqi notices Xu Bai, he is struck by her calm presence and the faint scent of osmanthus she carries. He orders his men to find her, indicating a sudden and intense interest. Meanwhile, Xu Bai attempts to negotiate with Xiao Lingqi, reminding him of her grandfather's former status and asking him to show mercy to the Feng family, but he remains indifferent and cruel, threatening further violence.
Following the incident, Feng Ran is distraught, having witnessed the brutality firsthand. Xu Bai, however, remains resolute in her decision to end her engagement to Xiao Heng, believing it is the only way to protect herself from the volatile political environment of the military government. She contacts Xiao Heng to formally request the annulment, offering him two rhubarb fish as a gesture of goodwill, but he refuses to agree. Instead, he arrives at her family's home, confronting her relatives who have been mistreating her mother. He publicly silences the second and third aunts, asserting his desire to marry Xu Bai and dismissing rumors that he wishes to break the engagement. He then takes Xu Bai to his residence for a private dinner, where he firmly rejects her request for a divorce, stating that he intends to marry her regardless of her objections.
The story delves deeper into the complexities of Xu Bai's family dynamics. Her relatives, particularly the second and third aunts, resent her for being the sole link to the family's former prestige. They blame her mother for their current misery, taking out their frustration on the women and children while the men, including Xu Bai's uncles, have failed to restore their status. Xu Bai confronts her third aunt, defending her mother and pointing out that the true culprit is their father, who stole their wealth. This confrontation highlights Xu Bai's strength and her role as the protector of her vulnerable family members. Despite the hostility within her own home, she maintains a dignified exterior, aware that her engagement is the only shield her family currently possesses against further degradation.
Xiao Heng's refusal to cancel the engagement forces Xu Bai into a precarious position. She is caught between her desire for independence and the practical necessities of survival for her family. The arrival of Xiao Lingqi adds another layer of danger and intrigue. His interest in Xu Bai is not merely romantic but appears tied to her family's political legacy and her personal resilience. The contrast between Xiao Heng, who is bound by duty and family expectations, and Xiao Lingqi, who acts on impulse and power, sets the stage for a complex romantic and political drama. Xu Bai must navigate the hostile environment of the Xiao family mansion, the scheming of her own relatives, and the dangerous attention of the Fourth Master, all while trying to maintain her dignity and secure a future for her mother and grandmother in a society that values wealth and power above all else.
As the chapters progress, the power dynamics in Nancheng become increasingly apparent. The military government is a web of alliances, betrayals, and hidden agendas. Xu Bai's grandfather was a significant figure, and his death has left a power vacuum that others seek to fill. The Jinzhou arsenal dispute involving Feng Tuanzuo and Xiao Lingqi illustrates the violent nature of these political struggles. Xu Bai's engagement to Xiao Heng was originally a strategic alliance between her grandfather and the Xiao family, designed to secure military support for the Xu clan. Now that her grandfather is dead and her family has fallen, the alliance is seen as a liability by the Marshal's wife. However, Xiao Heng's insistence on the marriage suggests that he sees value in the alliance or perhaps in Xu Bai herself, independent of her family's diminished status. The presence of Luo Qi as a rival candidate introduces a class conflict, as she represents the new money and political connections that the Xu family lacks. Xu Bai's intelligence and multilingual abilities, which Feng Ran highlights, are assets that may prove crucial in the high-stakes environment she now inhabits.
The emotional core of the story lies in Xu Bai's internal struggle. She is not a passive victim of circumstance but an active participant in her own fate, albeit one with limited options. Her bitterness at her father's abandonment and her family's weakness is palpable, yet she does not succumb to despair. Instead, she channels her energy into protecting her mother and standing up to her abusive relatives. Her interaction with Xiao Lingqi is charged with tension, as he represents a dangerous allure that contrasts with the more conventional, albeit strained, relationship with Xiao Heng. The osmanthus scent that captivates Xiao Lingqi becomes a symbol of Xu Bai's unique identity, setting her apart from other women in her social circle. The story promises a trajectory where Xu Bai must leverage her wits and resilience to survive the political machinations of the Xiao family and the broader military government, potentially finding an unexpected ally or adversary in the ruthless Xiao Lingqi.
