Meng Tingyue, daughter of the Meng family, lost her mother at age six and was raised by her stepmother Madam Meng and stepsister Meng Qingjiao. In her previous life, Madam Meng and Meng Qingjiao conspired to switch marriage partners on the wedding day, forcing Meng Tingyue to marry the ailing Fifth Prince while Meng Qingjiao wed the Crown Prince. Believing the Fifth Prince’s promises, Meng Tingyue sought prescriptions for his illness, helped him become the new Crown Prince after the original Crown Prince’s death, and later the Emperor. On the eve of her coronation as Empress, the Fifth Prince gave her poison and a white silk, blaming her for the marriage swap that prevented his early union with Meng Qingjiao. She died in agony from burning poison and suffocation. Rebirthed at the moment before meeting the Crown Prince, she understands the truth: Meng Qingjiao herself refused to marry the dying Fifth Prince and plotted the swap, yet Meng Tingyue was made the villain. Madam Meng urges Meng Tingyue to yield the Crown Prince to Meng Qingjiao, claiming being a Crown Princess is too hard for her weak health. Meng Tingyue hides her contempt and feigns agreement. She also realizes that Meng Qingjiao likely possesses the same rebirth memories, as Meng Qingjiao openly declares she will marry the Fifth Prince instead of the Crown Prince. Sensing her enemy’s foreknowledge, Meng Tingyue resolves to act first. She suspects her lifelong illness may be slow poisoning, likely orchestrated by her stepmother. She secretly has her maid test the medicine residue and seeks to investigate her mother’s death. When the Crown Prince Shen Yunheng arrives, Meng Tingyue deliberately puts on a charming and respectful demeanor. She invites the Crown Prince to accompany her to the Peach Orchard outside the city, explicitly including Meng Qingjiao to force her hand. Meng Qingjiao, terrified of the Crown Prince’s impending death in the previous life, feigns fainting. Meng Tingyue sees through the ruse and secretly presses painful acupoints, but no physician finds anything wrong. The Crown Prince, instead of leaving midway as in her past life, stays in the carriage with Meng Tingyue during the entire ride. Meng Tingyue behaves cautiously, admiring his achievements while concealing her scheme. She understands that she must secure the position of Crown Princess, use the Crown Prince’s power to expose the Fifth Prince’s hypocrisy and her stepfamily’s crimes, and avenge her own death. The Peach Orchard outing becomes the first real step in her campaign, where she must navigate the Crown Prince’s intimidating aura and the interference of her reborn sister. Her goal is to survive, reverse her fate, and deliver justice to all who wronged her.
