A soul-transmigration story with a full character-growth arc.
Shang Jinyan, the daughter of the chancellor of the Southern Kingdom, was beautiful, talented, kindhearted, and gentle. She married Emperor Wen, Li Jiaxiang, and became his empress.
But her younger sister grew jealous and hateful. Before poisoning her to death, she revealed the whole truth: Xuan'er's death and the discord between Shang Jinyan and the emperor had both been her sister's doing.
Perhaps Shang Jinyan died with regrets, or perhaps Heaven had not forsaken her. Her soul transmigrated into the body of a female guard who looked exactly like her. She was rescued by Song Yi'an, Duke of Song, who had narrowly escaped death.
This time, she was no longer the gentle, soft-hearted daughter of the chancellor. She became Madam Yue, a socially adept woman with a silver tongue.
She returned to the capital as the owner of a flower boat on the Huaiyang River, making pipa lutes for the daughters of the capital's officials and teaching them how to play.
With the help of Wenren Shao, a business prodigy, the pipa lutes personally crafted by Madam Yue aboard her flower boat became coveted by the capital's elite.
Over time, Shang Jinyan made money with her own craftsmanship and skill. She became the wealthiest woman in the capital, and her composition, Memories of Empress Shang, caught Emperor Wen's attention.
Shang Jinyan was summoned to the palace, where she played for the emperor day and night. Little did he know she was also waiting for a chance to take revenge.
Emperor Wen's extravagance and incompetence left the country in ruins. Northern Qi invaded, and the people suffered terribly.
To exact her revenge and save the country, Shang Jinyan began recruiting soldiers and gathering resources. With military power in her hands and her keen intelligence and independent judgment, she defeated Northern Qi in a crucial battle and protected her homeland.
Who could have guessed that Li Jiaxiang would recognize Shang Jinyan, then shamelessly begin his long road to winning back his wife...
Reading guide: HE, with a devoted, puppy-like male lead.
Theme: Women should stand on their own feet and be strong, not lose themselves in false affection
