After transmigrating into the Yongzheng Emperor's Consort Nian, Nian Chichi reaches three conclusions:
Her brother, Nian Gengyao, is a celebrated general with power over the court, but he'll soon be sentenced to death for his arrogance and abuse of power.
After her brother falls, she'll be like a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by the concubines in the palace before dying of a serious illness.
Since she won't live long anyway, she might as well cause as much trouble as she can. She'll die as boldly as possible and make the most of her short life.
The empress wants to cut the concubines' monthly allowances because of the palace's extravagant spending. The concubines are trembling with fear.
Nian Chichi: How much can the concubines possibly spend? Isn't someone in the Imperial Household Department lining their pockets?
Yongzheng: Good! I've been wanting to investigate the empress dowager's and empress's trusted people in the Imperial Household Department. Chichi understands me perfectly.
Nian Chichi: ?
At the empress dowager's birthday banquet, Prince Fourteen and his consort present Buddhist relics they found in Tibet, gleaming and radiant, truly divine treasures.
Nian Chichi: So the empress dowager likes bright things. Quickly, light the spectacular fireworks I've prepared.
The fireworks illuminate the entire sky, and everyone in the Forbidden City gazes up in wonder.
Prince Fourteen, holding the Buddhist relics: ...
Yongzheng: For the first time in my life, I beat Old Fourteen in front of Mother. I'm going to reward Chichi twice over!
Just as Nian Chichi is "riding the waves" in the imperial harem, a military report arrives: after taking Qinghai, her brother has handed over his general's seal, quit his job, and given up!
After offending the empress and empress dowager, Nian Chichi laughs three times, then lies in bed, pretending to be on her last breath and terminally ill, waiting to die on the spot.
Yongzheng: Suspend court immediately! I'll care for her myself. I absolutely cannot lose Chichi!
Unexpectedly, her brother soon opens a sea trade route, and silver pours into the treasury from abroad. Yongzheng is moved to tears.
Nian Chichi pushes away Yongzheng, who is personally feeding her medicine, leaps like a hare, and prepares to cause more trouble.
Yongzheng: ?
Nian Chichi: I'm fine again!
Empress Dowager, Empress: ...
Later, Nian Chichi holds foreign curios sent by her brother in her left hand and the phoenix seal she never wanted in her right, with princes and princesses gathered around her knees.
She's very satisfied with her life now and decides to keep stirring things up until she's eighty.
Her only headache is that Yongzheng visits her palace too often. Once again, she doesn't want to spend the night with him today.
Theme: In life, it's enough to be happy
