While other women in the harem compete for the emperor’s favor, Su Wanning grows vegetables in the courtyard.
She transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking concubine who entered the palace on the military merits of her father and brothers. She lives in the most remote Frostflower Courtyard and receives the smallest allowance.
She has only three rules for survival: don’t seek favor, don’t make enemies, and don’t cause trouble.
The man who tumbles over the wall into her courtyard is covered in blood. She takes one look and tells the young eunuch to carry him away.
“Middle of the night + woman alone + an injured stranger with no known background. Pick him up = endless trouble.”
She knows better.
But the man she tosses out like trash turns out to be none other than Emperor Xiao Jingyan.
He investigates her in turn and confronts her, leaving her nowhere to hide.
He says, “In my life, I’ve met plenty of women. You’re the first to save me and then throw me away like trash.”
Once she’s forced to play along, her real adversary finally steps into the light: Consort De, Zheng Wanqing, a woman who rose to the rank of one of the four highest consorts within five years of entering the palace. She never kills anyone with her own hands, but she gets rid of every rival by using someone else to do the dirty work.
When she is framed for treason, Su Wanning, who once only wanted to grow vegetables, finally realizes that even if she avoids trouble, others have no intention of leaving her alone.
From Frostflower Courtyard to Fengyi Palace, from him tumbling wounded over the wall to standing side by side and watching the world go by. Time proves one thing: you make your own life.
