In the second year of Yongzhao, Xingyuan Prefecture, a woman named Shen Qing, formerly Imperial Concubine Chen of the reigning emperor, is quietly released from the palace. The young emperor, deeply devoted to the empress, dismisses his harem, and Shen Qing is given a new identity: Su Ningxin, the eldest legitimate daughter of the third branch of the Xuanning Marquis Manor. This identity was prepared because the real Su Ningxin died at age three, and her parents, Third Master Su and his wife, lied to the family that she was sent to a nunnery to avoid the shock of her passing to the old matriarch. Now, with the emperor’s covert arrangement, Shen Qing steps into this role, leaving the palace with only two trusted maidservants, Shuanghua and Shuangbai, and Madam Lin.Shen Qing, who had been a concubine’s daughter in the Enping Earl’s Mansion before becoming a consort at fourteen and then imperial consort at fifteen, is pleased with this transformation. Seven months after her sixteenth birthday, she is set to have a coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, effectively becoming two years younger. She sees this as a fortunate trade. Third Master Su feels uneasy traveling with her, but Shen Qing is calculating her future, planning to use her palace connections to her advantage.When the carriage arrives at the Su Manor, Shen Qing wears a veiled hat and is greeted with firecrackers and a crowd. She quickly steps out, hinting to Third Master Su about a possible transfer to Jiangning Prefecture, a wealthier region, implying that the emperor might reward him. Third Master Su is stunned, realizing his acceptance of Shen Qing has opened doors. Shen Qing knows the transfer was already set but uses the information to secure his cooperation.Inside the manor, Shen Qing first meets the Old Madam, who is overjoyed. The Old Madam introduces her relatives, including a concubine aunt who flatters her appearance, but Shen Qing sees this as a clumsy attempt to stir jealousy among the sisters. She stays composed, presenting modest gifts to her younger siblings. The Old Madam, satisfied, sends her to rest.Shen Qing’s assigned courtyard is Tinghuating Pavilion, previously occupied by a concubine’s daughter. Her maidservants complain about its shabbiness, but Shen Qing is unfazed, knowing the family will move to Jiangning soon. She sets up a small Buddhist hall to maintain appearances, but secretly reads travelogues.Third Madam visits to deliver the coming-of-age clothing and a box of gifts accumulated for the original Su Ningxin over the years. Shen Qing thanks her gracefully and notices Third Madam’s discomfort. After Third Madam leaves, Su Jiaxin and Su Lanxin, her younger sisters, come to chat. Su Lanxin’s polite, careful words remind Shen Qing of palace manners. She receives them warmly.The story follows Shen Qing’s integration into the Su family. She is fully aware of her advantageous position: as the eldest legitimate daughter with a hidden palace background, she can navigate the family’s internal frictions. The concubine aunt’s earlier slight, the sisters’ cautious visits, and her mother’s guardedness all hint at potential conflicts, but Shen Qing remains confident. She expects a comfortable life and eventual relocation to Jiangning, where she will start fresh. No major crisis emerges in the provided opening, only Shen Qing’s strategic entry into her new world. She solidifies her role by behaving meekly yet shrewdly, leveraging her knowledge to steer Third Master Su’s loyalty. The text ends with her settling into the courtyard, ready for the coming-of-age ceremony and the days ahead.
