Shen Weixi, the discarded daughter of a modern-day family, wakes up to find she has become a deposed empress banished to the cold palace. On the very day she transmigrates, her family is celebrating as they send her legitimate elder sister into the palace to become a consort, while she, the “disgraced” empress, has been forgotten by everyone in a dilapidated palace courtyard.
Facing their mockery and schemes, Shen Weixi gives a quiet laugh. “The imperial seal? I’m tired of it already.”
She rolls up her sleeves and gets to work growing tomatoes. She waters and fertilizes them, catches pests, and builds trellises. Life in the cold palace is thriving.
Until one night, after her elder sister is favored by the emperor, she kneels in tears and begs Shen Weixi to “yield her place.” The emperor only rebukes her coldly: “Since when has anyone else been allowed to tell my empress what to do?”
He personally helps Shen Weixi back to the phoenix throne, but she burns the imperial seal in front of everyone and presents him with a bowl of bright red tomatoes.
“Your Majesty, the fruit in the cold palace is ripe. Would you like to try some?”
