The legitimate daughter of a general's household enters the palace as a consort, only to be framed and have her entire family executed. She is also falsely accused of faking a pregnancy and ultimately banished to the Cold Palace.
Fortunately, another woman in the Cold Palace, the bewitching consort who ruled the palace thirty years ago, passes on all her skills to her. The consort was once the most famous courtesan in the capital, renowned throughout the city. She excelled at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her dance on her hands was peerless. Most extraordinary of all was her ability to beguile men.
She lies low in the Cold Palace and trains hard for three years, carefully laying her plans. At last she regains favor, and enjoys ten years of imperial affection.
After enduring for years, she finally poisons the wretched emperor to death. To put her adopted son on the throne, she gives herself to the regent in exchange for his support.
To secure her adopted son's throne, she takes power into her own hands. In the end, she ruthlessly poisons the regent as well.
She thinks her suffering has finally ended and better days are here, but her adopted son kills her with a cup of poisoned wine.
Lin Qingcen dies with her eyes open, swearing that she'd rather be a venomous woman, cruel as a snake or scorpion, than soften her heart even a little.
But when she opens her eyes, she has returned to her girlhood...
