The Day the Crown Prince Took His Own Life, I Flipped the Chessboard

Transmigrating into the least favored concubine-born daughter of the Marquis's household, Shen Zhaoning finds herself in a dead-end from the start: she drugged the Crown Prince, got slapped by the Empress, and now the Crown Prince has drawn his sword to kill himself, while the entire court waits to laugh at her.

Everyone thinks she's a pawn to be discarded.

Until she retracts her confession in open court at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, brings down the Noble Consort, gets the Crown Prince sent to the Imperial Clan Court, and throws the Fourth Prince's plans into chaos.

The Crown Prince says, "You're nothing but a blade in my younger brother's hand."

The Fourth Prince says, "Shen Zhaoning, will you join forces with me?"

The Noble Consort says, "I will trade your life for Shen Zhaoyue's."

Shen Zhaoning smiles. "You all treat me like a chess piece, so this game is mine to play."

Later, the Crown Prince is deposed, the Noble Consort falls from power, the Empress Dowager shuts herself away, and the Fourth Prince gives up the throne for her.

He waits beneath a crabapple tree in Jiangnan to have tea with her. She says, "Come. Come every year."