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

The emperor only sent Li Yu to Yanxi Palace to deliver a few words of comfort, but he also favored Consort Gao for several days in a row, showering her with gifts as he went into Xianfu Palace.

These past few days, Jinzhong has been going to the Imperial Household Department more frequently to collect rewards for the emperor.

When Yingluo came to the Imperial Household Department to find Qin Li, she saw Jinzhong saying goodbye to Qin Li from afar. Qin Li gave Jinzhong a small box, which was inconspicuous and did not seem like a reward.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with Jinzhong in the passageway before passing by.

Yingluo came to Qin Li for two reasons: first, to inquire about Xiangyun's funeral arrangements; and second, to ask Qin Li for a favor.

Seeing that Bai Ruiji's face hadn't healed after several days, Lüzhi advised her to see the imperial physician again. Bai Ruiji, however, declined, saying she didn't want to cause trouble and would apply the original ointment for a few more days. Lüzhi knew that Bai Ruiji was definitely not the type to avoid trouble, and sensing something was wrong, she secretly observed and discovered that Bai Ruiji was using more than one box of ointment.

While Bai Ruiji was learning etiquette, she secretly opened the two boxes of ointment, scraped a little from each, and presented them to Yingluo.

Therefore, Yingluo came to Qin Li to ask if she could find a eunuch from the Imperial Pharmacy to check if there was anything unusual about the ointment.

Yingluo recounted everything that happened that night for Qin Li's reference. Qin Li also told Yingluo what happened at the mass grave. He then smelled the ointment and said, "Both of these ointments are common swelling-reducing medicines, but one of them has the smell of aconite."

Aconite is a poisonous substance and must be processed before it can be used medicinally. Processed aconite becomes brittle and easily broken, leaving some fragments. Even after processing, aconite remains toxic; improper ingestion can be fatal, and applying it to the skin can cause numbness.

Yingluo said admiringly, "You even know about this!"

Qin Li said with some pride, "I used to work at the Imperial Pharmacy for a while, and later I gained experience at the Guangchu Division. These things are a piece of cake."

Yingluo said, "It seems you're wasting talent in the Imperial Household Department. You're really suited to the Ministry of Justice."

After saying that, he casually remarked, "The Emperor has bestowed many gifts these past few days, and Eunuch Jinzhong has been visiting frequently as well."

Qin Li knew she was testing him, so he laughed it off. Remembering the covetous look he had seen Wang Qin give Yingluo, he added, "There's going to be a good show coming up, just wait and see."

These past few days, the emperor seemed to be indulging in the music of the imperial concubine's pipa every night, but in his heart, he was not at ease.

The case of the stolen hairpin, from its shocking revelation in the dead of night to its resolution, took only two days. But this incident, like a pebble thrown into a lake, created ripples that spread from the inner palace to the outer court.

The commotion at Xianfu Palace and Yanxi Palace that night was heard throughout the six palaces. Xiangyun's death was too strange, and with Consort Jia secretly stirring things up, even though the Empress gave the investigation and punishment results as quickly as possible, the rumors, which were half true and half false, still spread throughout the six palaces through word of mouth among the palace servants.

Some say the theft was a lie, but the curse was real. After the two ladies of Yanxi Palace failed in their plot, they pinned the blame on the palace maid Xiangyun, who then committed suicide to appeal. Others say that Xiangyun stabbed herself in the neck with a hairpin, but her body was bloodless, like snow falling in June. What they say must be true...

People were terrified of Yanxi Palace and avoided it at all costs.

In the Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager was smoking a water pipe.

Fu Jia stood beside the Empress Dowager and asked, "Empress Dowager, do we really want to spread what Cheng Han said? But the Emperor is, after all, your adopted son. His fate is intertwined with yours!"

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes briefly: "I will not participate in Niohuru's schemes. However, if I want to use officials like Neqin to build momentum in the court, I must give them the information. Only when the Emperor suffers setbacks will he remember that he still has his mother."

She took a few more puffs of her cigarette and said, "It's the same in the harem. Only when the waters of the harem are murky can I legitimately take charge. The Emperor has been staying at Xianfu Palace lately, and there's been no news from Lady Bai. Go and send a message to Lady Bai, urging her to act as soon as possible."

The rumors circulating in the inner palace reached the imperial court.

The resurfacing of curses and strange phenomena—two matters that emperors throughout history had always kept secret—was not good news for the newly enthroned emperor. Although Zhang Tingyu, Gao Bin, and Zhao Hui stood by the emperor, strongly advocating against the rumors and demanding severe punishment for those who spread them, many others chose to protect themselves and remained silent.

Prince He, who accompanied Prince Xian to the palace for an audience, brought news that was even worse than the worst outcome the emperor had anticipated.

“These past few days, Prince Li has been inviting me to his residence for small gatherings every day. I told him that I was in mourning for myself, and Your Majesty, guess what? When Hongsheng, Hongjiao, and Hongchang came to deliver the funeral gifts to me, they also mentioned that Prince Li had prepared a generous gift for me as well. I couldn’t refuse, so I had no choice but to come here to hide.”

The emperor's face turned pale.

Amidst the rampant rumors of the previous dynasty, Hongxi is now attempting to befriend members of the imperial clan and even plans a secret gathering at his residence! Is he trying to solidify the rumors, claiming that I am an immoral emperor who cannot distinguish right from wrong and protects his concubines, and that this strange occurrence is an omen of divine punishment, thus justifying his ascension to the throne?

Seeing the Emperor's unpleasant expression, Prince He carefully presented a white packet: "Your Majesty, I have left this funeral gift for Prince Li here. My funeral is over, and now that I have been reborn, may I go to the Southern Palace and exchange skills with the pipa players?"

Emperor Qianlong said irritably, "Get out of here! All you do all day is do those ridiculous things!"

Prince Xian came to see the emperor on behalf of Princess Hengti.

"Now that the princess is growing up, I wonder if we should send her back to the Empress Dowager so that she can raise her herself, so that the mother and daughter will not become estranged in the future."

Prince Xian spoke earnestly, but the emperor knew that this young prince also understood the current uncertain situation, which was why he wanted to send the Empress Dowager's second daughter back to prevent the emperor from associating him with the Empress Dowager and the Niohuru clan behind her.

It seemed that Prince He and Prince Xian, these two members of the imperial clan, were still on his side, at least not on Hongxi's side. The emperor's expression softened slightly.

He said he would consider it, gave a perfunctory reply, and then let Prince Xian leave.

In the afternoon, the Empress arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The Empress has come to apologize.

"Your Majesty, I am incompetent and failed to suppress the rumors immediately, which has led to the current uproar in the harem. I am guilty of dereliction of duty."

The emperor thought that the empress would quickly find out the results and punish those involved, but the rumors still spread widely, mostly spread by traitors from the empress dowager's side or his own inner circle.

He helped the Empress up and said, "The Empress has always been conscientious and responsible. This incident happened suddenly, and it was also due to the gossip of fools. It is not the Empress's fault. However, as the head of the six palaces, the Empress should properly discipline the people in the six palaces and prevent them from acting recklessly."

The Empress lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, apart from not visiting Shou Kang Palace for fear of disturbing the Empress Dowager's peace, I have been tracing the source of the rumors among the palace servants in the other palaces. This is the list I have prepared, please take a look."

The Emperor took the list presented by the Empress and began to read it.

At the same time, in Changchun Palace.

Bai Ruiji sat in front of the dressing table and removed her veil.

The sight of my reflection in the mirror—red, festering sores on my cheeks—was horrifying.

She took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and stood up, putting her veil back on.

A voice suddenly came from behind: "Miss Bai, where are you going?"

Bai Ruiji turned around in surprise, and Yingluo was standing in front of her bedroom.

Bai Ruiji angrily retorted, "Yingluo, even if you are the Empress's head maid, you cannot enter my bedchamber at will!"

Yingluo bowed and said, "Please forgive me, Miss Bai. I just wanted to remind you that going to the Emperor to complain might backfire."

Bai Ruiji exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know...?"

Yingluo said, "Miss Bai, there should be two boxes of ointment in your dressing table, right?"

Seeing that her secret had been exposed, Bai Ruiji braced herself and said, "What are you talking about?"

Yingluo smiled gently: "Besides the medicine you received the day the Consort beat you, someone also gave you a box of ointment, saying that something was added to it so that your face wouldn't heal for a while; and that you should find an opportunity to complain to the Emperor, is that right?"

Bai Ruiji was filled with doubt and suspicion. Yingluo took in her flustered expression and continued calmly, "The Emperor won't do anything to Consort Gao if you take a few slaps for him, but if you are slapped and then treated with a tainted ointment, making the injury even more severe, the Emperor will feel sorry for you and become angry, and Consort Gao will find it difficult to stay out of it."

Besides the Imperial Concubine, you went to the Imperial Hospital with Consort Xian. The medicine Consort Xian obtained contained poisonous ingredients such as aconite. If there is a problem with this medicine, we can use this opportunity to implicate Consort Xian. Your injuries have worsened in Changchun Palace, and the Empress may also be implicated. And if you can gain the Emperor's favor because of this, you will become even more favored.

If I'm right, by simply humiliating yourself, you can implicate the Empress, Consort Gao, and Consort Xian all at once. That's quite a scheme.

Bai Ruiji was startled when her thoughts were exposed, and then became furious and embarrassed: "What nonsense are you spouting, you audacious servant!" As she spoke, she raised her hand to hit Yingluo's face.

Yingluo raised her hand to restrain Bai Ruiji and continued, "The waters of the harem are murky, and naturally some people will take advantage of the chaos, but that person will not be you. Have you ever thought about the person behind you who is giving you advice, even at the cost of you harming your face to achieve her goals? Has she really considered your safety?"

If the Emperor dislikes you because of your current disfigured appearance, or if your face cannot be restored, or if the Emperor dislikes troublemakers, how will you handle yourself? Have you thought about these things?

Bai Ruiji was stunned for a moment, then raised her head and said, "What His Majesty dislikes most is that I am bullied at will because of my lowly birth! His Majesty will stand up for me! Whether I have one more or one less box of ointment doesn't prove anything at all. You are falsely accusing me. I will not hold it against you for the sake of the Empress. Get out of my way!"

She had intended to use her assertive demeanor to mask her unease, but to her surprise, Yingluo loosened her grip, actually giving her a way out: "Is this how the person behind you taught you? Then this servant has no choice but to respectfully comply. But this servant will give you one last piece of advice: when you have plenty of resources behind you, you forget to withdraw; when you have nowhere in front of you, you want to turn back. It's not too late to stop now. If you still insist on going, then please go ahead."

Bai Ruiji snorted coldly and walked out the door. Her cloak was whipped up by the cold wind, making a rustling sound.