Ying Luo manages to foil two plots against her and the Empress in episode 21 while helping turn the Empress into the Goddess of the River Luo or Luo Shen which enthralls the Emperor. Not only that, the Empress's turn as the goddess creates a wave of imitators in the palace as maids all hope for beauty and good fortune but to deadly results.
Emperor Qian Long contracts scabies and the Empress volunteers to tend to her husband. Wei Ying Luo, trying to find more information about her sister's death, also agrees to come along. The Emperor turns into a pouting child as he tries to combat his illness and is "bullied" by Ying Luo in an effort to cure him. At the Emperor's birthday, the women of the Imperial Harem present their gifts. The Empress, a painting. Noble Consort Gao, a western orchestra. Noble Lady Shu, a Buddhist relic. The Emperor is very pleased with all of his gifts. However, trouble stirs for Ying Luo and the other palace maids.
The 5th prince is ultimately saved from pending death after a local doctor is summoned by the Emperor to reveal that the newborn simply had jaundice and could be cured easily. This diagnosis and additional evidence brought forth by Consort Chun turns the tables against Noble Consort Gao who is confined to her palace as punishment. After a degrading visit by her father, Noble Consort Gao refocuses her energy on the Emperor with a stunning rendition of the Drunken Concubine to recapture his attention.
Noble Lady Yu gives birth to a son while the Empress is away but her son is born with golden pupils. Noble Consort Gao who arrived just as the child is born, claims that this is a terrible omen and orders the child to be buried alive. Why would that be? There is a ton of history that Cathy explains in this episode so be sure to check it out!
Wei Ying Luo successfully enacts revenge on the arrogant Prince Yi at the Sharing Prosperity by Sharing Meat ceremony. However, Fu Heng catches onto her ploy and avoids punishment. He promises Ying Luo that he wasn't involved in her sister's death. With the death of her family, Consort Xian finally snaps and cleverly enacts revenge on Concubine Jia. She is no longer the sweet and serene consort but a calculating and cunning woman. Meanwhile, the Empress seeks the aid of Consort Chun to help her get pregnant again. Rumors begin flying around in the palace of an "improper" relationship. What really happens? Listen to find out!
Consort Xian experiences life-changing events after learning that her father participated in bribery. Her brother and mother also both passed on the same day. Given this event, she vows to become more powerful in the palace. Meanwhile, Prince Yi, cousin to the Emperor, decides to help Noble Consort Gao in eliminating Yingluo with little success.
Noble Consort Gao's dog is the star of these episodes as it first was used by Concubine Pin to scare Noble Lady Yu in hopes of causing a miscarriage. That fortunately failed but the dog became the center of attention once again after Ying Luo used it to misdirect the Emperor's ire when it was revealed that the lychee trees he specifically gifted to the Empress was destroyed. Elsewhere, Consort Xian's desperately seeks money to save her brother who fell in in prison.
Ying Luo is summoned to work for the Empress at Chang Chun palace which was her plan all along in order to create opportunities to speak to Fu Heng, the Empress's brother about her deceased sister. But now at Chang Chun palace, she must engage with the likes of Noble Consort Gao more frequently. Elsewhere, Consort Xian has to decide what to do after finding out her brother has been embroiled in a corruption scandal.
In episode 6, the Empress's birthday draws near and the Embroidery Department was tasked with making a Phoenix Robe using a precious peacock thread. Wei Ying Luo got the honors to sew the robe. Unfortunately, a thief stole the thread, plunging the whole department into chaos. Ying Luo miraculously finds a solution and gains favor with the Empress. In episode 7, the eunuchs try to catch the thief. The naïve Ji Xiang gets framed for the crime and suffers a horrible punishment. To avenge her friend, Ying Luo plots to lure out the real thief and seek justice. Does she succeed? Listen to find out.
