The Changchun Palace team travels back in time to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

After winter set in, Su Xin, worried that Shui Zhi would be harassed when she went to the Imperial Household Department to collect her belongings because Qin Li had previously treated Yanxi Palace poorly, and also because she had some personal concerns, decided to go with her. Su Xin deliberately chose a route close to the women's residence, and sure enough, they encountered Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin on his way to examine the women's pulses.

Jiang Yubin and Su Xin were from the same hometown, but their hometown suffered a disaster when they were young, and they were separated for many years. Unexpectedly, they met again in the palace, which made them feel that it was fate. The two secretly went to a secluded place to talk. Su Xin knew that Jiang Yubin had no qualifications or apprenticeship, so he had to sit on the sidelines. She could only comfort him: "Although we come from humble backgrounds and can't help you, having real skills is the most important thing."

The two could not linger, and after exchanging words, they parted ways. Shuizhi inquired, and Suixin recounted how she and Physician Jiang had known each other since childhood, adding, "He and I are both servants, but if we are diligent, we may still have a chance to rise in rank. Were any of the princes and ministers of the previous dynasty not the emperor's servants? Earning a living through one's own abilities is what truly matters."

Just then, a group of musicians carrying pipa (a type of Chinese lute) walked by.

When Shuizhi saw these people, she said, "Sister Ruixin, I heard that the Emperor has been summoning the pipa musicians from the Nanfu Palace to play music at the Yangxin Hall recently."

Su Xin only asked, "If we're talking about playing the pipa well, who can compare to the Imperial Concubine? Why doesn't the Emperor summon her?" But since this matter was none of her concern, she only mentioned it briefly and then let it go.

The two arrived at the Imperial Household Department, where Qin Li was directing his men to select the furnishings and fabrics. Upon seeing Su Xin, he said solicitously, "Miss Su Xin! I was just on my way to deliver the monthly allowance to Yanxi Palace. Why did you arrive first?"

Su Xin asked in surprise, "Why is Eunuch Qin Li being so polite today?"

Qin Li thought to himself, "Isn't it because Miss Yingluo said it was useless? I think she's smart enough to not be influenced, so I'll trust her this once!" He feigned panic and said, "Oh, Miss Suixin, why didn't you say so earlier? The Emperor sent this calligraphy to be inlaid on a plaque, and it's about to be sent to Yanxi Palace. Hehehehe. You see, it's my fault for neglecting Yanxi Palace. When you go back, please put in a good word for me."

Su Xin smiled helplessly and was about to reply when A Ruo's voice came first: "Su Xin, why haven't you gone back yet after half a day? I heard there was a plaque to be sent to our Yanxi Palace, but I haven't seen it." Her tone was quite smug.

Qin Li immediately replied, "Isn't this just what I was about to send over? Look, there's more, the red charcoal by the door, the finest brocade, and these furnishings and ornaments. And look at this purse, they're all top-quality items, just about to be sent over!"

A'Ruo snorted, "I can let everything else go, but this purse makes me furious!" She held up the purse, "Last time, they dared to send us inferior goods! This time, even if it's a better one, we won't take it! Don't think that the people in Yanxi Palace are easy to fool!"

Qin Li smiled ingratiatingly and said, "No, no! Look at this time, it's all good stuff! Such beautiful brocade, this color and that color, just as beautiful as Miss A'Ruo, I'll send it over right away!"

A'Ruo said, "These things are still acceptable! Our mistress is a concubine. Even if the phoenix has its feathers pecked off for a time, with the Emperor's favor, it can immediately fly back to the clouds! I'm telling you, don't you think about what the Emperor meant by bestowing this plaque upon our mistress!"

As he spoke, he gestured in front of the plaque, saying, "Praise the beautiful sound! This sound is the origin of the marriage between the Emperor and our master!"

Qin Li was startled. Although these four words had nothing to do with music, A'Ruo, as the head maid of Consort Xian, spoke so confidently about how "sound" originated from marriage. What did this have to do with the "chaotic music" that his master chanted in his dream? On his face, he dared not show any doubt, and only nodded obsequiously, "Yes! That's right! That's correct!"

Seeing him like this, A'Ruo became more and more excited as she talked, completely unaware that Mingyu was approaching. Ruixin, with her sharp eyes, saw Mingyu coming and quickly stepped forward to take A'Ruo's hand: "Good sister, we should go!"

Aruo was pulled off her feet by Suxin, still saying, "The Emperor treats our mistress so differently! You all need to be more discerning!"

Seeing Mingyu getting closer and closer, Xinxin anxiously shook Aruo's hand and said, "Sister Aruo, stop talking! The master doesn't like these things!"

Aruo flung Su Xin's hand away and pointed at Qin Li, saying, "I want them to know not to look down on others!"

Qin Li waved his hand: "No, absolutely not!"

Mingyu, who was already standing at the door, said: Wow, you're even more arrogant than I used to be. You're really brave.

Aruo finally finished speaking and left satisfied. Before leaving, she finally saw Mingyu. She bowed to Suxin and greeted her, "Aunt Mingyu."

Mingyu nodded and watched the two leave.

Qin Li breathed a sigh of relief, saw Mingyu, and asked, "Aunt Mingyu, what are your instructions?"

Mingyu said, "There are some things I'd like to ask you, Father-in-law. You've really worked hard just now. What's so special about a plaque? Everyone has one, why are you making such a fuss about it?"

Qin Li: "It's not hard work at all. My master taught me that when dealing with the masters of the various palaces, you can keep your hands close to theirs, but you must also smile obsequiously."

"Aunt, what is it you wish to ask? I wouldn't presume to do so, but if there's anything I, Qin Li, can do to help, I will certainly answer to the best of my knowledge. I also have something I'd like to ask Aunt Mingyu. Please come in, Miss Mingyu."

The two entered the hall, and Qin Li first asked Mingyu, "May I ask what brings you here, Aunt?"

Mingyu asked, "Does Eunuch Qin know much about Eunuch Wang, who serves the Emperor?"

Qin Li recalled the day the plaque was bestowed, when he saw Wang Qin and Yingluo talking from afar, and then Wang Qin walking away with an unhappy expression. He understood and replied, "This Eunuch Wang was originally the chief eunuch in charge of reporting matters during the late emperor's reign. Before the emperor ascended the throne, he served well, so the emperor kept him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation as the deputy chief eunuch. He served the emperor closely, so naturally he was very powerful. The Hall of Mental Cultivation is an important place, so Eunuch Wang is naturally stricter with his apprentices. A strict teacher produces outstanding students."

He lowered his voice and leaned closer, saying, "There is one thing, though. Sometimes he would ask people from the Imperial Household Department to find a way to get some... medicine from outside the palace."

Mingyu asked, puzzled, "What medicine?"

Qin Li said helplessly, "Oh, my dear Aunt Mingyu, what kind of medicine do we rootless eunuchs need? Don't you think of that?"

Mingyu blushed instantly and changed the subject, saying, "Alright, alright, let's talk about what you want to ask me."

Qin Li asked, "Do you know what it means when Miss A'ruo says that a marriage is predestined?"

Although Mingyu didn't know why she suddenly asked this question, she still replied, "Well, when Consort Xian was still in the Prince's residence, she liked to listen to operas, especially 'Over the Wall,' and she would shake mushroom, egg, and sausage in front of the Emperor all day long. This sound is probably from that opera."

Qin Liqi said, "Bai Pu's 'Over the Wall'? Consort Xian is also the emperor's favorite concubine, and she is young and beautiful. If it were excerpts from 'The Romance of the Western Chamber,' 'The Peony Pavilion,' or 'The Tale of the Sea of ​​Sin,' such as 'Thinking of the World' or 'Going Down the Mountain,' although they are not serious plays, it would be fine if a young woman liked such plays because she was in love. But how could she like a play about a woman eloping with a man, being abandoned, being separated from her child, and then being forced to reconcile?"

Mingyu said, "How dare I ask about my master's affairs? Perhaps it's a matter of personal taste. Why did Eunuch Qin suddenly ask this? What does this have to do with the strange occurrences at the Imperial Household Department?"

Qin Li said, "I can't be sure either. If we're talking about opera, then the Southern Palace naturally puts on and performs plays in the palace. The Southern Palace..." He lowered his voice again and said, "Speaking of the Southern Palace, His Majesty has been frequently summoning the pipa players from the Southern Palace to the Hall of Mental Cultivation lately."

Although Mingyu knew that the world was in a state of moral decay, she was still slightly shocked to hear that music was being performed during the mourning period for a monarch. After all, during the Kangxi era, Hong Sheng, a student at the Imperial Academy, was imprisoned and stripped of his student status for watching actors perform his play "The Palace of Eternal Life" during the mourning period for Empress Tongjia, thus ending his hope for an official career. Now, the emperor was directly summoning musicians to perform in the Hall of Mental Cultivation during the mourning period for the late emperor... This... this...

Mingyu remained calm and asked, "What are Eunuch Qin's plans?"

Upon hearing Mingyu's words, Qin Li felt even more strongly that his master's words "the sounds of Zheng and the chaos of music" in his dream had a hidden meaning. However, his dream was so bizarre that he was afraid no one would believe him if he told them. So he still answered evasively, "To say that there is any connection between these things is too far-fetched. Never mind, let's investigate these people in the Southern Prefecture. If there are really no problems, we can rest assured."

At that moment, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor was listening to music with his eyes closed when he suddenly said, "Stop. There's a wrong note. Who is it?"

A musician stood up and said sweetly, "It is this servant."

The Emperor said, "The performance is not skillful enough."

The musician was not alarmed and replied, "I was distracted and made a mistake because I was worried about my skill. However, if one is not proficient in the pipa, one may not be able to hear it. I am willing to accept the Emperor's reprimand."

The emperor looked up and saw that the musician was pretty and delicate, her words were impeccable, and she even subtly flattered him. He felt a little pleased with her. He said, "You are praising me; my hearing is exceptional."

The musician laughed and said, "If the music is wrong, Zhou Lang will notice."

"Are you comparing me to Zhou Yu, who was a master of music?"

The musician replied, "His Majesty has the demeanor of Zhou Yu, and his magnanimity far surpasses that of Zhou Yu. He will surely forgive this servant for misplaying the pipa."

The emperor sat up: "Are you perhaps trying to win Zhou Yu's favor by constantly misplaying the strings? Come here."

The musician obediently stepped forward and knelt down. The emperor looked at her youthful face and asked, "What is your name?"

"My surname is Bai, and my given name is Ruiji."

The emperor lifted her chin: "She is delicate and lovely, and her name is also beautiful."

Bai Ruiji smiled slightly.