Chen Pan’er, a poor village girl, is chosen as a sacrificial bride for the River God because her family cannot afford to bribe the local magistrate. She attempts to escape but is captured and imprisoned with other young women, only to discover that the so-called ritual is a cover for human trafficking. Determined to fight back, Pan’er leads the girls in an escape attempt. Meanwhile, Wen Su secretly infiltrates the magistrate’s office to collect evidence of corruption and uncovers the trafficking operation. Mistaken for an enemy, he struggles to rescue the girls, but most are brutally killed. To save Pan’er from execution, Wen Su wounds her in a way that only appears fatal, allowing her to survive.

After being rescued, Pan’er realizes she has nowhere to return. Hoping to leave money for her sick mother, she sells herself into servitude and renames herself Chen Baoyin. She becomes a maid in the Wen household and is shocked to discover that Wen Su is the eldest son of the family. When the Princess Royal attempts to summon the handsome Wen Su, Baoyin cleverly helps him avoid her attention. Soon after, Wen Su tops the imperial examination, but the Wen family is falsely accused of treason and arrested. Before being taken away, Madam Wen entrusts Baoyin with protecting her younger daughter.

Baoyin takes the young Miss Wen to her married sister for shelter, only to be rejected out of fear of political repercussions. Keeping her promise, Baoyin raises the girl herself under the new name Baozhu. With the help of Luo Teng, a kind kitchen worker, they find a place to stay. Baoyin earns a living by selling food on a boat along the river and eventually learns that the Wen family is still alive in prison, though Wen Su has disappeared. During the Lantern Festival, she unexpectedly sees Wen Su serving as one of the Princess Royal’s male companions, leaving her stunned.

Misunderstandings between Baoyin and Wen Su are cleared when they reunite at a temple, where Wen Su is secretly carrying out a dangerous mission. When the Princess Royal unexpectedly arrives, Baoyin improvises by pretending they are lovers breaking up, hoping to protect him. Suspicious of their relationship, the Princess orders Wen Su to kill Baoyin, but the temple abbot intervenes and saves them. Although spared for the moment, both realize the Princess has begun to suspect their connection. Later, she surprisingly allows Wen Su to visit his imprisoned family, making her true intentions even harder to predict.

While visiting the imprisoned Wen family, Baoyin earns their gratitude for her unwavering loyalty. Wen Su, burdened by the humiliation of serving the Princess Royal to protect his family, falls into despair after overhearing his father’s hopes for him. Drunk and emotionally broken, he seeks comfort at Baoyin’s home. Baoyin encourages him not to lose faith and reminds him that all his sacrifices are for the people he loves. Sharing their deepest fears and hopes, the two grow much closer, and their mutual affection quietly begins to blossom.

After an embarrassing dream about Wen Su, Baoyin struggles to hide her feelings. Luo Teng mistakenly assumes Wen Su is Baoyin’s future brother-in-law, making Wen Su unexpectedly jealous. Meanwhile, Baozhu is bullied at school, and Baoyin fearlessly defends her, attracting the attention of the academy’s head. She is invited to the residence, only to discover that the mysterious head is actually the Princess Royal herself, setting the stage for another dangerous encounter.

At the Princess Royal’s residence, Baoyin witnesses the humiliating life Wen Su endures as one of her favored companions. Impressed by Baoyin’s courage and independence, the Princess offers her a position in the palace, but Baoyin refuses. Amused and angered, the Princess forces Baoyin and Wen Su into a cruel game involving random punishments. With Wen Su’s life at stake, Baoyin keeps her composure and succeeds in winning their freedom through her own skill. Although she leaves unharmed, the experience leaves a deep emotional scar on both of them. That night, Wen Su is forced to remain by the Princess’s side, further highlighting the sacrifices he continues to make.

Shaken by recent events, Baoyin decides she must become stronger and more independent. She sells her boat and invests everything in a risky pearl-trading venture on the eastern coast. Meanwhile, Wen Su secretly sells his treasured belongings to support Baoyin and Baozhu, only to learn that Baoyin has already left. Worried about her safety, he leaves a message asking her to hang a red ribbon by the river upon her return. After a successful journey, Baoyin rushes to the agreed meeting place. Though they narrowly miss each other at first, the two are finally reunited, sharing a heartfelt moment that reveals how much they have come to care for one another.

Baoyin and Wen Su argue over her dangerous decision to risk her life for financial independence, but their disagreement only reveals how deeply they worry about each other. Using her earnings, Baoyin opens her own seafood wonton shop and proudly begins a new chapter as a businesswoman. Wen Su, still trapped in the Princess Royal’s service, can only watch her success from afar. At the same time, political tensions grow as debates over war and diplomacy divide the court. Late at night, Wen Su visits the shop, and the pair strengthen their bond while discussing their hopes, responsibilities, and future ambitions.

As unrest grows within the kingdom, Wen Su becomes increasingly concerned about both national affairs and Baoyin’s safety. Baoyin’s troublesome younger brother discovers Wen Su’s secret relationship with the Princess Royal and attempts to blackmail her. Meanwhile, Wen Su uncovers evidence that the Princess is secretly conspiring with foreign forces as part of a scheme against the Crown Prince. Rumors of treason begin spreading through the city, causing public outrage and provoking the Princess’s fury. Facing pressure from every direction, Wen Su devises a plan to deal with Baoyin’s brother while continuing his dangerous mission against the Princess.

Following Wen Su’s strategy, Baoyin tricks her greedy brother into believing that becoming one of the Princess Royal’s companions is a path to wealth and power. His attempt to approach the Princess ends in public humiliation and punishment, finally putting an end to his blackmail. Relieved, Baoyin and Wen Su grow even closer and promise to trust each other completely. Baoyin invites him to celebrate the Qixi Festival with her and Baozhu, while Wen Su secretly prepares a silver bracelet as a gift. However, their happiness is cut short when news arrives that the Emperor is critically ill, and the Crown Prince orders Wen Su to closely monitor the Princess. Soon afterward, the Princess summons Wen Su to return with her to the capital.

Forced to choose between love and duty, Wen Su leaves with the Princess and distances himself from Baoyin in order to protect her. Meanwhile, Baoyin learns that Lord Wen has fallen gravely ill in prison and desperately searches for Wen Su’s help, only to discover he has already left. Determined to see him, she chases after his convoy and confronts him. Knowing the dangers ahead, Wen Su deliberately breaks her heart with harsh words, hoping she will forget him. Devastated, Baoyin returns alone and falls ill after an accident. While she suffers through fever and heartbreak, Wen Su travels toward the capital beside the increasingly ambitious Princess, powerless to turn back.

Recovering from her illness, Baoyin gradually accepts that she must move on from Wen Su. She learns that the Princess has ordered Lord Wen’s release and suspects Wen Su was responsible, yet his silence only deepens her disappointment. In the capital, the Princess attempts to seize greater political power while the Crown Prince’s allies resist her ambitions. Political tensions escalate until a royal amnesty unexpectedly restores several imprisoned officials. Soon after, the Emperor grants a general pardon, and the Wen family is finally released. Reunited with Lord and Madam Wen, Baoyin shares in their joy, though her feelings for Wen Su remain unresolved.

The Princess grows suspicious of Wen Su’s loyalty and discovers the silver bracelet he intended for Baoyin. To prove his devotion, Wen Su is forced to destroy it himself, though he later retrieves the broken pieces in secret. As Baoyin welcomes the freed Wen family into a new home, she receives a letter claiming her mother has recovered and wishes to see her. Returning to her hometown, Baoyin discovers she has been deceived—her mother has already died, and her father and brother intend to force her into marriage. Refusing to be victimized again, Baoyin turns the tables and has them arrested, demonstrating how much she has changed.

After arranging a proper funeral for her mother, Baoyin finally gains closure and breaks free from the control of her family. Meanwhile, Wen Su uses knowledge he learned from Baoyin to drug the Princess and secretly obtain an imperial decree naming the Crown Prince as the rightful successor. Soon afterward, news spreads that the Emperor has died and the Princess is attempting to seize the throne. As chaos erupts throughout the capital and many of the Princess’s former allies are executed, Baoyin rushes to the city. There, she is horrified to see Wen Su imprisoned and awaiting death.

With help from the temple abbot Fahui, Baoyin learns the truth about Wen Su’s secret mission. Disguised as a palace official, she risks her life to visit him in prison. However, the Princess discovers the deception and uses Baoyin as leverage to force Wen Su’s submission. Realizing there is no other way to protect both Baoyin and the hidden imperial decree, Wen Su kisses her goodbye and appears to take his own life. Before dying, he secretly tells Baoyin where the decree is hidden. Determined to honor his sacrifice, Baoyin relays the information to Fahui and collapses from grief and exhaustion.