It's time for the young Emperor's marriage so the Grand Councellor, who arranges everything and holds actual power, arranges that for him. Duan YunZhang agrees to the marriage but is still blindsided on the wedding day.
Now named Liu JinFeng, she begins to meet the people in the palace. Her lack of etiquette is on display and her directness is a shock to everyone. The Dowager Empress is dismayed as she expected Liu BaiYu to be the new queen.
After a mishap puts the whole palace into a panic, JinFeng is admonished before the Dowager Empress. When it is revealed that she doesn't even know the etiquette for apologizing she is grounded.
JinFeng displays what she has learned but finds out she has been tricked. The culprit is repentant so JinFeng suggests an alternate punishment. The Emperor is disappointed that JinFeng didn't try to assassinate him.
Duan YunZhang is mystified by JinFeng's behavior but continues to try to test her. He notices how much she misses her mother. A trip to the mountains and a fake attack leads to a real one before JinFeng surprises him yet again.
The Queen performs well at the banquet and is relieved. YunZhang uses his son-in-law status to invite JinFeng and her parents, including Liu Xie, to a hot spring. YunZhang plans an assassination.
After always believing in YunZhang, JinFeng confronts him. He reveals the truth and sends her to find the proof at Liu Xie's residence. JinFeng is heartbroken but Liu Xie refuses to let her leave.
Since her love and regard are not reciprocated, JinFeng decides to make a public announcement. YunZhang tries to run her out of the palace by overwhelming her with duties. Liu Xie remains absent.
JinFeng fights back but eventually decides divorce and leaving are her best options until she thinks someone is after the Emperor. Saving him becomes her priority.
Not being invited to the birthday coronation banquet, JinFeng decides to renovate the cold palace and have a party there. YunZhang forces Liu Xie's hand by making him perform the coronation personally.
Determined to leave the palace, JinFeng wants to pair Liu BaiYu and YunZhang. While he thinks she is over-reacting out of love, she tries to direct his attention and sympathy toward BaiYu. YunChong is jealous.
YunZhang admonishes JinFeng not to set him up with BaiYu anymore. A kiss startles JinFeng. Liu Xie openly manipulates his daughter about the Imperial Exam. Both YunZhang and JinFeng make vows to the God of Culture and Literature.
The Empress Dowager is angry at the Emperor and Queen for sneaking out of the palace. JinFeng uses a candle to make sure that YunZhang falls asleep the night before the exam. Meanwhile, his cronies desperately try to help him cheat.
The second prince figures out who forged his handwriting and caused the trouble. YunZhang finishes the punishment with JinFeng on his back. JinFeng finds out her placement and is surprised when she sees who came last.
JinFeng confronts the fact that she has fallen for YunZhang again but ChangYa warns her that with power, his behavior and attention will change. JinFeng concocts a plan.
YunZhang misinterprets a scene he witnesses and bans JinFeng from his hall. JinFeng decides to try to play hard to get but just confuses YunZhang further. Liu Xie bribes his daughter to collect information on all the people in the palace.
YunZhang rescues JinFeng from the Empress Dowager's wrath - but JinFeng is curious who actually got her in trouble. A marriage arrangement is submitted to the Emperor but JinFeng objects.
Liu Xie wants a tax increase to fund the military but YunZhang is against it philosophically. Liu Xie challenges his notions. They make a bet. YunZhang surprises JinFeng when he admits to being jealous. YunZhang utilizes gossip.
Rumors make for an awkward confrontation with Liu Xie. YunZhang finds a way to win the bet. The Empress Dowager decrees that the royal couple should get busy making grandchildren but misunderstandings and interference ensue.
A well-entrenched spy delivers a message to ChangYa. ChangYa and JinFeng discuss hunting for the formula. The Empress Dowager thinks JinFeng is pregnant. The imperial couple is attacked.
Lanterns are lit and the sky scene evokes memories for several people. A conundrum is presented for the Emperor to consider and is echoed in the question the Queen asks him later. BaiYu's mother tries to undermine JinFeng's relationship.
Stories dragging up the past and insinuating misdeeds worry the Dowager Empress. JinFeng tells YunZhang stories about her mother while YunZhang wonders about his.
Liu Xie coaxes his wife to attend the banquet. YunZhang sends over a special gift to make JinFeng more comfortable. BaiYu's mother conspires to publicly ruin JinFeng's reputation. JinFeng doesn't wake up.
People in the palace donate a scrap from their clothing to create a patchwork robe for the Queen. A lie is told to make her happy but she sees through it clearly. A mother goes missing and the only advice is "Everyone desires beauty".
ChangYa and YunZhang both risk themselves to rescue JinFeng but she gets mad at YunZhang and demands an apology. Later, understanding that he just doesn't understand, she presents the situation to him clearly.
BaiYu and YunChong find they had more in common than previously thought. JinFeng is impressed by her father's romantic gestures so YunZhang feels pressured to perform, but YunChong keeps stealing his thunder.
YunZhang discovers that romance does not have to be grandiose. A marriage is proposed. The neighboring empire sends a prospective bride, a dowry and a threatening presence to prod the Emperor and the Grand Chancellor.
The Queen takes matters with Xiyue into her own hands and rides off to the military camp they established. Worried, YanZhang calls on Liu Xie to help him figure out what to do. The Emperor of Xiyue remains aggressive.
The Dowager Empress is poisoned and Yu ChangYa is implicated. His real identity is uncovered but it is an unexpected accomplice who helps him escape, even though the Queen is blamed. JinFeng's necklace intrigues Liu Xie.
Liu Xie decodes the list of spies in the palace and finds an important name at the end of the list. ChangYa says goodbye to JinFeng but when she returns to the palace, YunZhang demotes her to a commoner and evicts her.
The rebellion begins, or does it? JinFeng is prevented from returning to the palace by her mother. Planted spies are told to act. Liu Xie and YunZhang clear up the past and present. YunZhang asks his ministers for advice.
YunZhang goes to JinFeng's village to try to coax his wife back but is mistaken for a conniving landlord by the villagers. Meanwhile, ChangYa has kidnapped JinFeng and prepared a wedding. A plague affecting men breaks out in the village.
The two Emperors work together to figure out the plague in the village. Old customs and stories are entrenched but YunZhang finds a way to put a positive spin on them for future generations.