Niohuru Xiyue, born into a family of scholars, excels at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She and her childhood sweetheart, Nalan Yichen, are in love, but family honor forces her to enter the selection. By a twist of fate, the emperor chooses her, bestowing the title of Noble Lady Yue and granting her residence at Yonghe Palace. On entering the palace, she treads carefully, befriends the low-ranking Noble Ladies Yu and Li, and quietly bides her time. Her childhood sweetheart, Nalan Yichen, enters the palace as an imperial bodyguard, becoming her secret comfort in the depths of the palace.
After being summoned to the emperor's bed, she conceives his child, but Noble Consort Ru and Consort Li join forces to plot against her. Fortunately, Imperial Physician Liu, who secretly loves her, protects her in secret, and she escapes danger. After giving birth to the third princess, she is promoted to Concubine Yue and begins to show her strength, standing up for those around her. When Consort Li frames her as a bringer of misfortune, she joins forces with people outside the palace to gather evidence, successfully strikes back, and regains her freedom.
During the emperor's southern tour, she takes a sword meant for him and is promoted to Consort Yue. After becoming pregnant again, she joins forces with Imperial Physician Liu to foil Noble Consort Ru's scheme and gives birth to the seventh prince. She petitions for titles for her palace sisters to win their support, but her cousin, Noble Lady Yi, conspires with Noble Consort Ru to frame her, and she is demoted to the rank of concubine. In her darkest hour, the Empress Dowager comes to her aid. Together with Consort Zhuang, she exposes the truth and regains her rank as noble consort.
After enduring Consort Shu's false accusations, the empress murdering her mother and stealing her child, and other upheavals, Xiyue establishes herself in the inner palace. When the emperor falls critically ill, she and Nalan Yichen work together to foil the empress's coup and help the seventh prince ascend the throne, making her Empress Dowager. Looking back, love and hate have become distant memories. She gently protects the peace of the imperial harem, lives out her natural lifespan, and leaves behind a legendary tale of palace life.
