In her previous life, Shen Qingyan was a virtuous, refined daughter of a prominent family in the capital. After marrying the top scholar, Xiao Jingyuan, she kept her brilliance hidden, only to be betrayed by him and her maid, Su Lian’er. Her newborn son was smothered and buried under a peach tree. The “son” she raised for eight years, Su Lian’er’s illegitimate child, eventually offered her poisoned wine. Meanwhile, Xiao Jingyuan framed her family for treason. Her parents died tragically, her maternal grandfather lost command of his troops, and as she burned alive, she swore through her tears of blood to take revenge.
Reborn, she returns to the age of fifteen, before her betrothal. She exposes evidence that the seemingly frail Su Lian’er has been sleeping with a servant, and has her beaten and driven out. As for Xiao Jingyuan, who pretends to be kind, she sets a trap that gets him caught cheating in the imperial examinations, destroying his official career for good.
With her father’s and maternal grandfather’s influence behind her, she settles accounts with the enemies from her previous life, having them dismissed from office, exiled, or executed. At the same time, she studies political strategy and takes charge of the household. She helps her father govern and relays military intelligence for her maternal grandfather, earning the emperor’s praise as “a talent fit to be both general and minister.” She declares plainly, “I want power to protect my family, not a good husband.” In the end, she becomes the Great Jing dynasty’s first female Censor-in-Chief, protects her family, and brings every one of her former-life enemies to ruin.
