In the 27th winter of the Chengping era, as the emperor fell critically ill and court sessions were halted, the Cavalry General Song Mo supported King Qing. Under the pretext of attending to the emperor’s illness, he launched a night assault on the capital. His aim was to vindicate Duke Dingguo, who had been unjustly accused, and to trap the Crown Prince, forcing him to abdicate. The Crown Prince, knowing Song Mo’s true intentions, chose to commit suicide rather than concede. Before his death, he warned Song Mo that he had avenged the wrong person, leaving Song Mo confused.
Lady Dou Zhao, wife of Marquis Jining, had long anticipated that King Qing and Song Mo would stage a rebellion. She meticulously arranged everything in the household ahead of time. However, outside, Song Mo’s soldiers mercilessly killed many, creating fear among the household staff. Some servants attempted to steal and flee but were caught and severely punished by Dou Zhao. Marquis Jining, Wei Tingyu, also reprimanded the servants, warning them against gossiping about the volatile situation.
Meanwhile, Song Mo led his men into the palace, intending to meet King Qing. He was stopped by the eunuch Wang Ge, who claimed that King Qing was in discussion with the emperor and could not be disturbed. Wang Ge advised Song Mo to leave the imperial seal behind as a gesture of loyalty, promising to credit him for his efforts. However, Song Mo insisted that his only objective was to redress the wrongs done to Duke Dingguo. Taking the imperial seal with him, he withdrew his troops to the outskirts of the city and camped there, vowing not to leave until King Qing met him. This stalemate prevented King Qing’s ascension, plunging the situation into greater chaos.
Dou Zhao, determined to protect the Jining Marquisate, struggled to maintain control of the household despite her deteriorating health. She ordered a wooden coffin to be placed in the courtyard, pretending that she was gravely ill and required constant care. This strategy allowed Wei Tingyu to remain indoors, avoiding the outside chaos and securing temporary peace.
Dou Zhao’s health worsened, and she began coughing up blood. Her maid, Tuo Niang, felt distressed and blamed Wei Tingyu for not caring about Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao, however, showed no resentment and continued to manage the household with dedication. When she stepped outside to admire the blooming flowers, she noticed the smell of herbs in the air. Realizing it was Tuo Ming brewing medicine for her, Dou Zhao felt comforted and went to the kitchen to check. To her shock, she discovered Tuo Ming having an affair with Wei Tingyu. Eavesdropping on their conversation, she learned that Wei Tingyu harbored no affection for her and hoped she would die soon so he could marry Tuo Ming.
Heartbroken, Dou Zhao overheard further revelations: Tuo Ming’s mother and Dou Zhao’s mother had been sworn sisters, but her father’s affair with Tuo Ming’s mother had led to her mother’s death. Dou Zhao was devastated to learn that her diligent efforts to manage the household had paved the way for others. In a fit of grief and rage, Dou Zhao instructed Tuo Niang to spread the word that there was a fire in the kitchen. When everyone gathered to extinguish it, Dou Zhao exposed Tuo Ming and Wei Tingyu’s affair and confronted Tuo Ming about her mother’s death.
Dou Zhao then set fire to their clothing, trapping them inside and publicly announcing their betrayal to the servants. Declaring that she was no longer the lady of the Jining Marquisate, Dou Zhao severed all ties and left. Tuo Ming, humiliated, regretted not following her mother’s advice to poison Dou Zhao earlier.
Dou Zhao, now on her own, distributed food to the displaced citizens in the streets, moved by their plight. As snowflakes fell, mirroring her sorrowful mood, she recalled her mother’s death. She questioned Tuo Niang about anything suspicious from that time. Tuo Niang revealed that during the year Dou Zhao’s father became a jinshi (successful imperial examinee), it coincided with Tuo Ming’s birthday. Dou Zhao’s mother had sent Tuo Niang and Tuo Ming to report the good news to her uncle Zhao Si. Shortly after, Dou Zhao’s mother fell ill and passed away, and Wang Yingxue entered the household.
Suddenly, a child appeared in front of the carriage. Dou Zhao hurriedly instructed Tuo Niang to rein in the horses, causing the carriage to overturn. Fortunately, Song Mo arrived in time to catch Dou Zhao. Recognizing Song Mo from his white hair and long spear, Dou Zhao found him less terrifying than the rumors suggested. Song Mo calmed the frightened child with a few words before letting him go.
At this moment, a monk named Ji Yong arrived and advised Song Mo to stop committing atrocities, given his ability to pacify a child. Annoyed by the monk’s remarks, Song Mo dismissed them, while Dou Zhao explained she was returning home. Her coughing prevented her from saying more, prompting Ji Yong to mockingly suggest she was rushing to the afterlife.
Under Song Mo’s arrangements, the group found shelter. Curious about Song Mo’s white hair, Dou Zhao inquired about it. Song Mo, coughing up blood, avoided answering, remarking that as a dying person, it didn’t matter. Dou Zhao, feeling her own impending death, felt a sense of camaraderie. Ji Yong cryptically remarked that their fates were intertwined, though Dou Zhao dismissed his words.
At that moment, Wang Ge and Wei Tingyu arrived with soldiers to surround Song Mo, accusing him and Dou Zhao of conspiring. They demanded the return of the imperial seal and ordered Song Mo to commit suicide. Song Mo, unfazed, coldly stated that King Qing was already dead, which Wang Ge dismissed as a bluff. Amid the standoff, Ji Yong helped Tuo Niang and Dou Zhao escape.
The ensuing battle was brutal. Wei Tingyu grew fearful, realizing they were encircled by Song Mo’s forces, but Commander Chen Jia insisted that killing Dou Zhao would seal Song Mo’s fate as a criminal. Chen Jia’s troops caught up to Dou Zhao and Ji Yong, killing Tuo Niang and Ji Yong. As Chen Jia was about to attack Dou Zhao, Song Mo arrived, saving her but sustaining injuries. Dou Zhao, guilt-ridden, explained that she was unaware of Wei Tingyu’s schemes. Song Mo reassured her, blaming himself for involving her.
Ji Yong handed them a book titled Chronicles of the World, urging them to change their fates before dying. As Song Mo and Dou Zhao attempted to flee, they were ambushed. Song Mo shielded Dou Zhao from an arrow, but both fell into a ravine. As Dou Zhao saw the book floating toward her, time seemed to rewind.
Dou Zhao awoke to find herself as a child again. A young boy teased her for hitting her head on a mirror while engrossed in a book. Seeing her mother and Tuo Niang alive, Dou Zhao embraced them emotionally. From their conversation, she learned it was the 8th year of the Chengping era.
Dou Zhao realized she had relived an entire lifetime and vowed to change her fate. Meanwhile, a young Song Mo awoke from a long coma, vaguely recalling a dream he could not fully remember. As their paths crossed in the temple, both felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Dou Zhao resolved to prevent the tragedies recorded in Chronicles of the World and take control of her destiny.
