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

Yingluo watched Bai Ruiji leave Changchun Palace and sent a voice message to Rongyin. Then she immediately walked out of the Empress's bedchamber and said to Zhao Yitai, Chen Fu, and Li Hai, who were already waiting at the entrance of the Empress's bedchamber: "The opportunity to receive your reward has arrived. It's up to you eunuchs now."

After sending the message to Bai Ruiji, Xiao Miao slipped into a secluded passageway.

This job is really difficult! He sighed inwardly.

He was originally a cleaning eunuch in Shou Kang Palace. After Miss Bai entered Changchun Palace, he was sent by Fu Jia to deliver messages to Changchun Palace.

He had heard that Changchun Palace had two capable head maids, Mingyu and Yingluo, and that the palace was as secure as an iron barrel. Furthermore, the Empress had bestowed generous rewards upon them, making it difficult to bribe the maids and eunuchs. Therefore, he made an agreement with Bai Ruiji before she went to Changchun Palace: they would imitate cat meows near the palace as a code, so that Bai Ruiji could find a way to leave Changchun Palace and then deliver things or messages to her.

These past few days have seen thefts, and now there are rumors circulating. Changchun Palace is under even tighter control, yet Aunt Fujia has only now asked him to send a message to Bai Ruiji, urging her to take action.

He had been loitering around the area for the past few days, and it wasn't until today, when the Empress went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see the Emperor, that he finally found an opportunity to deliver the message to Bai Ruiji.

Anyway, he finally got the job done, and he could collect his reward today! He was happily planning how to spend the money when suddenly a sack was placed in front of him. He struggled desperately, but the crowd on the other side outnumbered him and immediately carried him away.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Rongyin calculated the time in her mind and waited for the emperor, who was still looking at the list, before speaking: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. A palace servant in my palace said that she saw someone give a small package to Miss Bai outside Changchun Palace."

The emperor looked up and asked, "What's going on?"

Rongyin said, "I am not sure either. Perhaps Miss Bai left something behind in the South Mansion and had it sent over. Perhaps the ointment was not enough and the Imperial Pharmacy sent someone to send it over. I do not want to summon Miss Bai to the main hall for questioning based on some unverified rumors, as that would be disrespectful to Miss Bai."

The Emperor said, “The Empress is being too cautious. If she sends something or medicine without first informing the Empress, then she is simply ignorant of the rules. The Empress should reprimand her if necessary.”

The Empress said, "Miss Bai's complexion hasn't been good these past few days. She wears a veil every day and seems to be in a bad mood. I'll ask her about it again once she's feeling better."

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

At this moment, Li Yu suddenly came to report: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Miss Bai has arrived. She is crying and making a scene, demanding that Your Majesty intervene on her behalf. This servant says that Your Majesty is currently speaking with Her Majesty the Empress, and Miss Bai still refuses to leave. This servant dares not stop her and has come to request Your Majesty's instructions."

The emperor felt impatient and puzzled. What was Bai Ruiji up to at this moment?

But since she was already there, and since she was someone the emperor desired to bring into the harem, he still allowed her to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Bai Ruiji entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation wearing a veil, her face bare, her eyes red and brimming with tears. She bowed softly to the Emperor and Empress.

When the Emperor saw how pitiful she looked, and remembering what the Empress had said about her injuries not yet healing, he softened a bit. But he was also a little puzzled, so he asked, "What happened? Even if you were slapped twice, you should be better by now."

Bai Ruiji removed her veil, revealing redness and swelling on her face, with some even showing signs of ulceration.

The emperor was startled.

Bai Ruiji was on the verge of tears: "This servant cherishes her appearance and dares not displease the Emperor by ruining her face. It is my fault for offending the Consort. I have endured the beating, but I have been eating a light diet and taking my medicine on time. However, my face is still getting worse and worse."

The Empress said, “Miss Bai is indeed careful about what she eats. I invited her to have some Sachima a few days ago, but she declined. Given that her injury has worsened, it shouldn’t be due to improper diet or her own negligence.”

Bai Ruiji continued, "I am both flustered and afraid. I dare not face the Emperor. I wanted to appeal to the Empress, but Yingluo, who is by the Empress's side, told me not to cause any trouble."

The Empress said in a deep voice, "Miss Bai, since you have come here today to ask the Emperor to make a decision for you, it must be because of the worsening of your injuries, not to speak ill of Yingluo, right?"

The emperor went straight to the point: "What medicine did you use?"

Bai Ruiji replied, "The medicine was obtained from the Imperial Hospital. It was prescribed by the Empress after she consulted with an imperial physician."

The emperor asked, "Did you bring the medicine?"

At this moment, the Empress reminded him, "Your Majesty, if there is a problem with the medicine, should we summon the imperial physician to examine it?"

The emperor then summoned Qi Ru, who had just prepared a tonic prescription for himself and was now preparing the prescription in the side hall.

Qi Ru sniffed the medicine and replied, "Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with this ointment, but it has the smell of aconite, and there are also some fine black powders in it, which should be aconite powder. Aconite is a highly poisonous substance..."

The emperor's face darkened, and he interrupted Qi Ru: "Aconite is a highly poisonous substance, how could it be mixed into Miss Bai's ointment?"

Bai Ruiji clutched her chest and wept bitterly, like a frightened little animal: "Your Majesty, I don't know who I have offended, that they would want to harm me like this!"

The Empress knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, such a thing happened because I failed to properly manage the harem. Please forgive me."

The Emperor said, “Empress, please rise and sit down. I know in my heart that the Empress is virtuous.”

He never suspected the Empress was involved. The Empress was a magnanimous and kind woman who had spoken up for Bai Ruiji before, so why would she harm her? Besides, as the Empress, she wouldn't bother with a mere girl in her own palace who was learning etiquette.

Even if the Empress did do it, she should have felt guilty and tried to cover it up. How could she openly talk about Bai Ruiji's unhealed injuries in front of her and even suggest that the imperial physician come to examine her?

The Empress sat down and said, "Since there is a problem with the ointment, I will inquire in detail about the palace servants who have entered and left Changchun Palace in the past few days, especially those in Miss Bai's bedroom. In addition, should we thoroughly investigate the Imperial Pharmacy?"

Seeing that the Empress was about to steer the conversation towards the palace servants and the Imperial Pharmacy, and worried that the many people in Changchun Palace might lead the Empress to investigate and uncover the matter of the Empress Dowager passing things to her, Bai Ruiji immediately pretended to remember something and said, "This servant remembers now. That day, Consort Xian went to the Imperial Pharmacy to fetch medicine for Noble Lady Hai, and we traveled the same way. Consort Xian did indeed open the ointment that day. The medicine Consort Xian fetched that day also contained aconite. Could it be Consort Xian?"

The emperor raised an eyebrow.

The Empress said, "Miss Bai, you should be careful with your words in front of the Emperor and not make hasty conclusions based on your doubts."

I remember that when Ye Xin, a maid of Consort Hai, was going to fetch medicine, Consort Xian said that she would go and fetch it herself, and that she would go with you to fetch the medicine. It was just a coincidence that the medicine she was going to fetch contained aconite. How can you conclude that Consort Xian was the one who poisoned the medicine because of this?

The Emperor and I know you're young and outspoken, so we let it go. But if others overhear, and it turns out Consort Xian is innocent, you might be accused of framing a concubine.

Seeing that the Empress's words were logical and she could not argue with her, Bai Ruiji steeled herself and began to sob and whine: "But, with such a coincidence, don't Your Majesty and the Empress suspect Consort Xian?"

"I know my birth is lowly, and I have only gained the Emperor's favor by chance. So many people in this palace would love to devour me. Consort Xian holds the rank of Consort; if she were to do something to me, and if the Emperor doesn't stand up for me, I truly don't know what to do..."

When the Emperor saw Bai Ruiji lamenting her past and crying so pitifully, he felt a pang of pity and said, "Then summon Consort Xian to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for questioning. If there is nothing wrong, it would be good to clear Consort Xian's name."

While Bai Ruiji removed her veil and wept in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Consort Chun was talking with Ruyi in the Yanxi Palace.

Yanxi Palace has recently been plagued by rumors and is considered an ominous place, resulting in a sudden drop in visitors.

Only Consort Chun and Consort Xian, who were on good terms, were worried about Noble Lady Hai, so they came to Yanxi Palace to visit her today.

After exchanging pleasantries, Consort Chun said, "Why did Consort Xian go to the trouble of crashing into Xianfu Palace?"

Ruyi said, "I can't bear to see Hailan suffer such injustice."

Consort Chun said, "Hailan is innocent, but Xiangyun actually swore to commit suicide on the spot, and her death was strange and ominous. The Emperor and Empress can't investigate further, so they can only give Consort Gui a way out."

Ruyi nodded, sniffed, and wiped her nose with her finger.

Consort Chun said, "But you, with your dizziness and stuffy nose, should burn some Tibetan incense. This agarwood incense is too light and dark. In the whole palace, you're the only one who likes to use it."

Ruyi stroked a large piece of agarwood and smiled faintly, "I just have a particular fondness for the scent of agarwood. Agarwood is like a steadfast stone. If one's heart can be like agarwood, then no matter how chaotic the outside world is, one will not be afraid."

Aruo thought to herself: Is this the reason why you don't care about the rumors about our palace, which could almost be compiled into a story of Dou E's injustice?

At this moment, Su Xin came in and reported, "Noble Lady Hai has woken up and her fever has subsided."

Consort Chun wanted to go see Consort Hai.

Su Xin said that Consort Hai kept the curtains drawn even in broad daylight, so she probably wouldn't want to see anyone. Consort Chun thought that Consort Hai had suffered and been frightened, and indeed should rest more, so she let it go. She bowed and took her leave.

Ruyi said, "I'll go see Hailan." She stood up with the help of Suxin and A'ruo.

As she walked, she said, "I feel that Ye Xin alone is not enough to serve us, and we dare not use the people assigned by the Imperial Household Department. We can't have another person like Xiangyun."

Su Xin said, "Don't worry, Master, I've already assigned Ze Zhi there. She's someone we've been using in the Prince's residence for a long time."

A'Ruo said, "What's the use of worrying about others? In my opinion, Xiangyun is usually quiet and reserved, but I don't know who has bribed her to risk her life to frame you and make you fall into rumors. We must never have someone like that in our palace."

Ruyi replied, "Besides the two of you and Sanbao, everyone else needs to be carefully watched."

Entering Hailan's bedchamber, Ye Xin found her huddled on the bed, with medicine beside her. "My lady, please drink your medicine," Ye Xin urged.

Ruyi stepped forward and placed her hand on Hailan's hand.

Hailan looked up in fright, and Ruyi comforted her, "It's me, Hailan."

Upon seeing Ruyi, Hailan felt slightly relieved, but then said in a panic, "Sister, why did they do this? I'm so scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see Xiangyun, she's just looking at me, and so many other eyes, all watching me being framed..."

As she spoke, she threw herself into Ruyi's arms and burst into tears.

Ruyi helped her up and said, "Hailan, we're in this palace now, and we have to learn as we go. What haven't people in the palace suffered? What tricks haven't they tried? When I was kneeling in the snow that day, I felt so much hatred, but what good was hatred?"

Everyone thinks I've been wronged at Xianfu Palace, but I refuse to be wronged. If something is unbearable, I'll grit my teeth and endure it first, then figure out a solution later.

If you take it too seriously, everyone will laugh at you; if you just ignore it and don't care, no one can do anything to you.

Hailan shook her head: "I can't do it. I can't do it, sister..."

She burst into tears again.

At this moment, Sanbao came to deliver a message: "My lord, the Emperor summons you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Aruo said happily, "It must be that the Emperor knows that you have been wronged these past few days and wants to ask you to come over and comfort you."

Ruyi asked Sanbao, "Did you tell him what it was about?"

Sanbao said, "The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree looks unfamiliar. He only said that there was an urgent matter and that he wanted you to come over immediately."

Ruyi turned to Hailan and said, "Hailan, I've said everything I need to say. I could save you that night, but that doesn't mean I can save you every time. Think it over." Then she instructed Ye Xin, "Serve Consort Hai her medicine."

Ye Xin thought to herself: Was it Consort Xian who saved our mistress? It was the Empress who investigated the case and dealt with Shuangxi. What did you do besides kneeling with her? If you say that Consort Xian is not in charge and therefore cannot help more, then don't just steal everyone else's credit with a few words!

She didn't dare say it aloud, so she simply replied, "Yes."

Ruyi got up and went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.