Episode 1 recap: Jiang Xue Ning was reborn at the age of eighteen.

Xie Wei successfully rebelled, and as the Empress, Jiang Xue Ning, adorned in a phoenix crown and a flowing robe, listened to the sounds of the army outside and felt a myriad of emotions. She had worked hard to ascend to the position of Empress, but everything had turned into smoke and mirrors. When Xie Wei entered, she made a request to him.

Throughout her life, the person she felt most guilty towards was the upright official Zhang Zhe. Therefore, she hoped that Xie Wei would spare Zhang Zhe. If he agreed to this condition, she would willingly admit that she had killed the Emperor. In doing so, regardless of whether Xie Wei chose to become the Emperor himself or support another puppet, it would be justifiable.

After Xie Wei agreed, Jiang Xue Ning took out her sword and ended her own life. By the time Yan Lin, the person who had always loved her, arrived, she had already passed away. Yan Lin looked at Jiang Xue Ning's lifeless body and angrily questioned Xie Wei if he had truly killed her. Xie Wei did not answer Yan Lin's question because Jiang Xue Ning's death had also left him feeling somewhat uneasy.

The author, Jiang Ning, stopped writing the novel at this point and couldn't help but call the editor, Quan Bian Ji. Jiang Ning couldn't accept Jiang Xue Ning's death, so she made it clear to Quan Bian Ji that if Jiang Xue Ning had to meet such a fate, she would rather not continue writing the novel. Quan Bian Ji had no choice but to agree to let her write according to her own wishes.

Jiang Ling decided to give Jiang Xue Ning a chance to live again and change her own destiny, thus giving rise to the story of Jiang Xue Ning's rebirth. When Jiang Xue Ning was reborn, she thought she was still the Empress and found Xue Ye, the son of the Duke of Dingguo, lying beside her. Unable to control her anger, she slapped him and shouted boldly. Hearing Jiang Xue Ning's furious roar, Yan Lin, who was sleeping next to Xue Ye, thought that Xue Ye had assaulted her and drew his sword against him. Xue Ye was bewildered by the situation and couldn't help but mutter that they were all men, so there was no way he could have assaulted her. Hearing Xue Ye's words, Jiang Xue Ning quickly looked in the mirror and realized that she was disguised as a man. Only then did she realize that she had been reborn, and from her current appearance, she must have returned to the year when she was eighteen and disguised herself as a man to go out and study.

After realizing her rebirth, Jiang Xue Ning hastily returned to the Jiang Residence. Yan Lin and Xue Ye watched her departing figure with curiosity but didn't chase after her. It was almost time for class, and if they were late, Xie Wei, their teacher, would surely punish them.

Fortunately, they arrived on time. Yan Lin was the young master of the Marquis's family, and his classmates were all from prestigious backgrounds. During class, Xue Ye got into an argument with one of his classmates and was punished by Xie Wei to stand. While Xue Ye stood there, Yan Lin walked over and started chatting with him. They talked about the events of the morning. Xue Ye couldn't understand why he had reacted so strongly that morning, so Yan Lin revealed that Jiang Xue Ning was actually a girl and her true identity was the second daughter of Jiang Tianyou, the Minister of Revenue. Xie Wei eavesdropped on their conversation and was extremely surprised upon learning this news.

Jiang Xue Ning returned to the Jiang Residence, and when Lady Jiang, Meng Shi, saw her dressed as a man, she scolded her for lacking manners. Jiang Xue Ning looked at Lady Jiang and suddenly remembered the scene from four years ago when she was brought back to the Jiang Residence. Jiang Xue Ning was raised by Wan Niang, who was Jiang Tianyou's concubine. She was expelled from the residence by Meng Shi at an early age. Originally, Jiang Xue Ning was Meng Shi's biological child, but Wan Niang's daughter, Jiang Xuehui, was born at the same time. In order to make her own daughter the legitimate child, Wan Niang secretly exchanged the babies. When this matter was revealed, Meng Shi, in a fit of anger, ordered Wan Niang to be killed and had Jiang Xue Ning brought back. When Jiang Xue Ning returned four years ago, she was despised by Lady Jiang because she lacked knowledge of etiquette.

To educate Jiang Xue Ning, Lady Jiang, just like four years ago, ordered Yang Ma to whip her with a whip. However, as soon as Yang Ma raised the whip, Jiang Xue Ning grabbed her wrist and snatched the whip away. After infuriating Lady Jiang, Jiang Xue Ning pondered her current situation and realized that among the entire Jiang Residence, only her two maids, Lian'er and Tang'er, sincerely treated her.