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宁安如梦
A fallen queen, Jiang Xuening who aspired to have the highest power and authority in her life was held hostage by rebels after the king, Shen Jie was poisoned. In this life, she used everyone around her to reach the authority of the queen but in the end, she remained under house arrest and Xie Wei slaughtered the entire city. Later, she received the decree to be buried with the emperor. She got a second chance to change her fate by not entering the palace but when she woke up after rebirth, she was already messing around. Even though she vowed not to enter the palace, a certain turn of events again entangles her with the palace and Xie Wei whom she hated the most.
Jiang Xue Ning is an Empress seeking redemption for her past sins; however, this is not the story that Jiang Ning really wanted for the heroine in her book, so she begins writing what she believes should have happened. Jiang Xue Ning re-awakens as her 18-year-old self and decides to change her fate by making different choices.
Xie Wei gains the Emperor’s trust concerning a political matter. Yan Lin continues to pursue Xue Ning, biding his time before he asks for her hand in marriage. Xue Ning attends the You Mansion party in order to meet and save You Fang Yin, whom she remembers from her past life. Although Xue Ning attempts to evade Princess Le Yang, who was her study partner in her past life, their paths still cross.
An assassin targets Xie Wei, and Xue Ning inadvertently gets entangled in the scuffle. Wary of Xie Wei, she tries to avoid him and probes Yan Lin for information about their connection. Though Yan Lin professes his feelings to Xue Ning, she does not reciprocate, knowing their turbulent relationship in her past life. She instead focuses on how to right a wrong that happened to his family.
Xue Ning subtly threatens Zhou Yin Zhi to stop his collusion with Duke Xue to frame the Yan family. Despite her attempts to not be the Princess’ study partner, Yan Lin and the Princess work hard to get her admitted. The noble women are given etiquette tests to see if they are worthy of staying at the palace, and though Xue Ning tries to fail miserably, the Princess finds her attempts endearing.
Xue Ning overhears You Yue giving Yao Xi advice on slandering Zhang Zhe so she can break off her engagement with him. Angry, she confronts them, calling them out for slandering an upright gentleman. Determined to fail the literature test by Xie Wei, Xue Ning gives the other women advice on how to pass the test and does the exact opposite. Much to her surprise, Xie Wei is not fazed by her tricks.
Yan Lin confronts his father about burning a letter from King Ping Nan and learns that his cousin, previously thought to be dead, could still be alive. Xie Wei meets with King Ping Nan’s chancellor, who reminds him of his promise to bring the Emperor down. After Duke Xue receives the information that his transport ships have sunk, he puts pressure on Zhou Yin Zhi to get evidence implicating the Yan family.
Zhang Zhe breaks the engagement with Yao Xi, citing his precarious position, making Yao Xi admire his upright manner. The Ministry of Justice provides the Emperor with Duke Xue’s transport dealings, causing him trouble. Gong Yi uses Xie Wei’s spies in the palace to cause him trouble.
The study partners of the Princess learn about the story of the 300 loyal souls. The Jade Ruyi sceptre was, in fact, planted by Gong Yi to put suspicion on Xie Wei. Xue Ning overhears a conversation between Xie Wei and his spy from the Imperial palace but is caught by Xie Wei.
Yan Lin discovers that Duke Xue has a large army encampment, so he and his father investigate him. Knowing the Yan family is being targeted by Duke Xue, he begins to distance himself from Xue Ning to protect her. Xue Shu is becoming increasingly jealous after seeing Xue Ning and Shen Jie constantly interacting. She instigates Wang Jiu, the senior teacher at Hanlin Academy, to teach Xue Ning a lesson.
Xue Ning and Xie Wei work together to get Duke Xue’s cronies expelled from Hanlin Academy, angering Xue Shu. Yan Lin’s father rushes to the palace to report Duke Xue’s private army but is ambushed and severely injured on his way. A paper indicating collusion with the rebels is found in Xue Ning’s room, but she cleverly maneuvers the investigation to be headed by the Ministry of Justice so the Yan family is not implicated if she is found guilty.
Zhang Zhe from the Ministry of Justice is meticulous in his investigation, finding the maid of the perpetrator who framed Xue Ning. She thanked him personally, and he told her he was breaking his engagement with Yao Xi. Duke Xue discovers the connection between Xie Wei and the Yan family and begins to target him.
The princess’ classmates go home for a break, so Xue Ning meets with her father to clarify what happened at the palace and that her efforts are to help the Yan family. Duke Xue gets his hands on half of a letter between Lord Yan and King Ping Nan. The Emperor confines the Yan family to their mansion while the Ministry of Justice investigates. Zhang Zhe is tasked to lead the investigation.
You Yue comes home and immediately targets Fang Yin by publicly humiliating and abusing her. Fed up, Xue Ning comes up with a plan to help Fang Yin deal with You Yue once and for all. Xie Wei approaches Xue Ning so they can begin working together to help the Yan family. Xue Ning decides to help both Xue Hui and Shen Jie realize their feelings for each other.
Yao Xi is angry seeing Xue Ning and Zhang Zhe at the jade shop, blaming Xue Ning for causing the breakup of her engagement with Zhang Zhe. Knowing her sister and Shen Jie have affection for each other, Xue Ning asks the Princess if her sister can come to the palace to be a study partner. Xue Shu soon realizes that her real target should be Xue Hui and not Xue Ning.
Zhang Zhe suspects the Xue family is trying to frame the Yan family, but there is no clear evidence yet. Xue Ning gives Yan Lin a special birthday surprise at his coming-of-age ceremony. Xue Ye becomes drunk at Yan Lin’s party, then provokes him into fighting against the Xingwu guards. Xie Wei and Lord Yan arrive just in time to stop things from becoming worse.
Duke Xue arrives at the coming-of-age ceremony with an imperial edict to arrest Yan Lin and his father due to their army's rebellion. He’s been working with King Ping Nan to insert rebels into the Yan family’s army so they can instigate a rebellion and implicate the Yan family. Zhang Zhe stops the arrest on a technicality, which Duke Xue eventually overcomes. He also confronts Xie Wei on his incomplete ceremonial speech to Yan Lin.
Duke Xue arrests and imprisons Lord Yan and Yan Lin, then searches their mansion for evidence of collusion with the rebels. Xie Wei meets with the Emperor and instils fear that the Yan family seal has not surfaced. The Empress Dowager learns that Consort Qin is pregnant, so she comes up with a plan to harm both the Consort and Xue Ning.
Xie Wei returns the Yan family’s army seal to the Emperor and then asks that they be exiled as punishment. Xue Ning is upset that Xie Wei is not protecting the Yan family, so confronts him, only to find a bloody scene. Xie Wei confided in her as to why he recommended exile, but she decided to gather resources to help the Yan family.
To infiltrate King Ping Nan’s strongholds, Xie Wei suggests a risky plan to the Emperor, to which Minister Gu immediately signs on Zhang Zhe due to his suspicions of Xie Wei. Xue Ning schemes with Zhou Yin to recover the other half of Lord Yan’s letter to King Ping Nan, leaving a trail for Xie Wei to follow. A fake Xue Ding Fei is sent by Lord Ping Nan to look for Gong Yi.
King Ping Nan’s subordinates plan to rescue Gong Yi from prison after a contingent of the prison guards leave to escort Yan Lin and his father to exile. Before Yan Lin leaves, Xue Ning visits him to bid farewell but is suddenly caught up in the prison chaos that ensues. She bumps into Zhang Zhe, who is waiting for King Ping Nan’s subordinates to convince them that he is Du Jun, the Hermit who works for King Ping Nan.
