Shen Zhaoning, the current Mingyi Princess, fell in love at first sight five years ago with Xie Jin, the legitimate son of the Minister of Rites who was disguising himself as a poor scholar. She gave up her status as a princess, broke ties with her family, and spent five years selling duck meat in the eastern market of the capital, saving up 300 taels of silver to buy a house and marry Xie Jin. Unexpectedly, Shen Zhaoning discovered the truth—Xie Jin was actually the legitimate son of the Minister of Rites and had long been betrothed to Liu Shuyao, the daughter of the Prime Minister, while she was merely a "plaything for amusement." Even more cruelly, Xie Jin humiliated her in public, and Liu Shuyao smashed the jade pendant gifted to her by the Empress. In her despair, Shen Zhaoning was saved by Xiao Lin, the heir to the Dingbei Marquess who had secretly loved her for years, and she returned to the palace. Three days later, in her capacity as a princess, she held a banquet, summoned Xie Jin and Liu Shuyao to the palace, and ordered them to kneel in front of everyone, beginning her path of revenge.
