Modern chef Su Yao finds herself traveling to a novel as a neglected palace concubine, caught in a cycle of rebirth. Determined to survive, she decides to win the emperor's favor. Starving and frustrated with the palace meals, she sneaks into the imperial kitchen to cook, attracting Emperor Xiao Yan—whom she mistakes for a guard. Adopting the alias "Tangyuan," she slips away, prompting Xiao Yan to launch a cooking contest to track her down. Su Yao stirs up a storm with her instant noodles, eventually reuniting with the emperor. With everyone able to hear her thoughts, her exciting life in the palace is just beginning.