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

While everyone in Changchun Palace was in a tense standoff, Yanxi Palace remained calm.

After Jinzhong delivered the imperial decree, he deliberately walked through the passageway near Yanxi Palace, pretending to look up casually, and saw Sanbao supporting a person with mobility issues as they walked in through a side door.

Jinzhong chuckled inwardly, glanced to the side, then straightened his back and walked solemnly through the passageway.

A young eunuch emerged from the shadows and quietly crouched down in a corner next to Yanxi Palace.

In Yanxi Palace, after hearing the imperial edict, Ruyi simply sat silently at the door, picking out mugwort.

At this moment, Sanbao helped Li Yu in.

Ruyi insisted that Li Yu get closer, and then made Li Yu roll up his trouser legs to reveal his bloodstained knees.

Ruyi sighed softly and asked, "How long have you been kneeling?"

Li Yu replied, "I knelt on broken tiles, and then I knelt on iron chains."

Ruyi asked, "Why?"

Li Yu said, "I reported to the Emperor about your trip to Xianfu Palace, and Vice Chief Eunuch Wang was displeased. That gave him the opportunity to punish you severely."

Su Xin was puzzled. Wasn't it Yingluo who reported that matter to the Empress? But when she saw Ruyi take out the medicine powder, she knelt down to help without saying a word.

Li Yu raised her hand to stop her: "Master Xian..."

Ruyi said, "This is the finest white powder from Yunnan, it's the best for stopping bleeding and removing blood stasis."

Li Yu said, "Your Highness is so noble, you cannot do such a thing for a servant."

Ruyi only said, "If you want to serve the Emperor tomorrow, then obediently apply the medicine."

Xin chimed in, "Look how lucky you are."

Li Yu said gratefully, "Thank you very much, Master Xian."

As Ruyi sprinkled medicine powder on Li Yu's wound, she said, "No need to thank me, I should thank you more. If you hadn't informed the Emperor that night, I don't know what kind of situation I would have ended up in."

Li Yu simply said, "That's what a servant should do."

Ruyi said, "Li Yu, Wang Qin is senior and holds a high position. Since you are subordinate to him, don't show your cleverness. Especially since those above you are intolerant of others. When you go back later, don't show any resentment. Just flatter Wang Qin, after all, you are still working under him."

Li Yu: "Thank you for your guidance, Master Xian."

Ruyi handed over the medicine powder: "Take this medicine back and apply it carefully. Be careful when serving the Emperor, and keep your wits about you."

Li Yu said, "This servant understands. This servant will take his leave now."

As he spoke, he propped himself up to stand up, only to find that both of his legs were injured. Ruyi had only applied medicine to one side, while the other leg was still in great pain, causing her to gasp in shock.

Sanbao and Xinxin helped him out the door.

Ruyi leaned against the door, lost in thought for a while. When Su Xin returned, she said with relief, "Your Highness, you've finally taken it to heart."

Ruyi said, "How can we not be careful? A series of traps have been set up, and we won't even know when we'll die. We need to be careful of Wang Qin."

Xin nodded and said, "Li Yu is an honest person. Yingluo from Changchun Palace is also a kind-hearted person."

Ruyi picked up a small basket of mugwort: "Give this mugwort to Consort Hai. She will need it for her illness."

Su Xin said yes and went to Hai Lan's bedroom.

Ruyi leaned against the door, the setting sun on the horizon was like blood. She was stunned, and tears suddenly fell down her cheeks.

The Emperor does have feelings for her. His recent favoritism towards Consort Gao is merely out of respect for her father. Giving the Empress more power is simply because her maternal family is powerful and she is relatively capable. The Emperor needs a strong right-hand woman in the harem to help him with his affairs. The true bond between the Emperor and her is that of childhood sweethearts.

If it weren't for her aunt's sudden fall from power, she would have almost become the primary consort. If she had been the primary consort back then, she would naturally be the empress now. The emperor could openly protect and favor her, instead of having to restrain himself from openly showing her unconditional favor and trust in order to maintain balance in the harem. She can only condescend to ingratiate herself with a mere imperial eunuch.

Even though the emperor had to temporarily neglect her due to various concerns, there were still so many eyes watching her in the harem, so many open and covert attacks, conspiracies and schemes, waiting for her somewhere.

Thinking of this, Ruyi felt a mix of emotions, and tears streamed down her face.

As she walked along, Su Xin pondered. In the harem, Consort Gao had prestige, and the Empress had substance. Fortunately, her mistress had finally cheered up and started to plan for herself.

As she walked into Hailan's courtyard, she saw a palace maid kneeling in the courtyard. Upon closer inspection, she recognized her as Ye Xin.

Ye Xin was kneeling on the broken tiles, her legs trembling, the tiles already stained crimson. Despite the freezing cold, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and she clenched her teeth, clearly enduring intense pain.

Su Xin exclaimed, "What's wrong?"

Ye Xin gritted her teeth and said irritably, "Su Xin, you are Consort Xian's maid. I, Ye Xin, cannot accept your concern."

Su Xin wasn't offended, but asked anxiously, "What exactly happened?"

At this moment, Zezhi came out to greet her and said with a smile, "Sister Xinxin, what brings you here?" She walked up and affectionately took Xinxin's arm, pulling Xinxin inside while whispering, "Don't worry about this one who's siding with outsiders."

Su Xin was still holding the mugwort in her hand and couldn't shake off Ze Zhi, so she could only follow her inside while asking in a low voice, "Ye Xin has always been loyal to Consort Hai, why was she suddenly punished so severely?"

Zezhi said nonchalantly, "Isn't it because she's siding with the Empress?"

Su Xin was completely confused, so she had no choice but to go into the bedroom first to see Hai Lan.

Hailan was still the same as when she stormed into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, with disheveled hair and no makeup, but she showed none of the timidity she had displayed there, her expression as cold as ice.

After explaining her purpose, Hailan instructed Zezhi to accept the gift, and then sighed deeply, "My sister was almost wronged. I didn't help much, yet she still cares about me so much. I really..."

Su Xin comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress is discerning and wise. Our mistress is blessed with good fortune, so naturally she will be fine. Consort Hai is deeply devoted to our mistress, and we servants have all seen that." Then, she cautiously asked, "May I be so bold as to ask you, what wrong has Ye Xin committed?"

Hailan closed her eyes and said heavily, "This afternoon, when I saw that my sister hadn't returned, I became worried and wanted to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to check on her. But Ye Xin stopped me, saying that I hadn't fully recovered and that Her Majesty the Empress wouldn't wrong anyone. In the end, Zezhi scolded her and accompanied me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. How can I not punish her for blindly trusting the Empress and disregarding my sister's safety!"

Su Xin was startled and carefully advised, "Ye Xin is only doing this because she cares about Consort Hai, which shows her loyalty. Besides, she is not wrong. You are indeed not well enough to move around. Her Majesty the Empress is always fair and just, and she will naturally clear our mistress's name."

"Please forgive Ye Xin this time. Kneeling in the wind in the dead of winter, kneeling on roof tiles—how can a young woman like her endure that?"

Hailan said, "Suxin, I know you mean well, but now that the Empress and the Imperial Concubine are in power, my sister's life is already even more difficult. If Yexin is so biased and doesn't punish outsiders, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be another Xiangyun."

Su Xin had no reply and could only take her leave first. She went outside and whispered to Ye Xin, "I'll go back and get some medicine for you."

Ye Xin simply gritted her teeth and silently shook her head.

Su Xin went back to see Ruyi and told her about Ye Xin's punishment.

Aruo sighed upon hearing this, "This noble Hai is usually quiet and reserved, but he can be ruthless when it comes to punishing people."

Su Xin then said to Ruyi, "Your Highness, Consort Hai doesn't have anyone useful around her right now. Should we go and plead on her behalf?"

Ruyi said calmly, "Hailan used to be weak, and there were treacherous servants like Xiangyun under her command. Letting her be punished will at least establish her authority, which is not bad."

Meanwhile, in Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager, upon hearing the imperial edict, angrily threw her teacup to the ground: "That useless Bai! I sent her to cause trouble to muddy the waters and weaken the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and the Consort Xian, but what happened? She didn't manage to bring down any of them; instead, she made the Empress's power even greater and her position even more secure!"

Fu Jia advised, "Your Majesty, please calm down. We have a long life ahead of us, and we can make plans later." As she spoke, she handed over a water pipe.

The Empress Dowager took a couple of puffs of her water pipe to calm herself down, but she was still not satisfied: "The Empress looks respectful and gentle, but she is actually very cunning. Ever since the Emperor ascended the throne, whenever I want to do something, she has repeatedly interfered, keeping me trapped in this Shou Kang Palace and alienating me from the Emperor and his son. She is truly hateful!"

Fu Jia could only advise, "You have devoted yourself to helping the Emperor ascend to the throne. How could the Emperor truly be alienated from you?"

The Empress Dowager scoffed: "It's easy to remember the kindness of raising someone, but difficult to remember it for a lifetime! The Emperor is now elevating the Empress, which is clearly an attempt to rival me. My status is already precarious, and now I'm afraid I'll lose even the Emperor's filial piety and respect, as well as my power in the harem."

I have two more daughters. Hengchu has already married far away, and Hengti is being raised in the Prince Xian's residence. I don't want her to end up like her sister, married off to a remote and desolate place, nor do I want to be left without any means to help them should anything happen to them.

Fu Jia asked, "Empress Dowager, what are your plans?"

The Empress Dowager propped her head up, took a couple of puffs of her water pipe, and said slowly, "The Empress is difficult to deal with, and Bai Shi is useless. I can only look for other pawns. Fu Jia, tell that little Miao who was passing the message to Bai Shi that he doesn't need to go there anymore."

Fu Jia responded with a "yes," and then said, "Your Majesty, Consort Jia has sent you a top-quality Korean ginseng, saying it's a gift for you to nourish your body."

The Empress Dowager scoffed, "She used to cling to Consort Gao every day, and now she's remembered this old woman? There's no such thing as a free lunch. Very well, if she has something to ask of me, I can use her. Let her come to Shou Kang Palace to pay her respects in a few days."

When the news reached Qixiang Palace, Jin Yuyan smiled and said, "It seems that the first step has been successful."

Zhenshu said from the side, "As the saying goes, wealth moves people's hearts. The Empress Dowager is naturally happy that the master has given such a generous gift."

Jin Yuyan said, "Our Empress is not a fool, and now she is favored by the Emperor. If we don't rely on the Empress Dowager, how can we compete with her?"

If I climb higher, and my son, who has the blood of the Yu family, becomes the crown prince of the Qing Dynasty, the Yu family will have more support, and the future of the heir will be more promising.

"Zhenshu, stop that medicine. Now that the Emperor has his eldest son Yonghuang and his legitimate son Yonglian, I must make my son the first son after the Emperor's ascension to the throne. With this honor, he will have a better chance."

Thinking of her maternal clan and the crown prince, her heart grew even heavier. Now, the Yu clan was in turmoil due to the old prince's policies of pacification, and the power and glory of her maternal clan, the Jin clan, were being divided up by other noble factions.

The Crown Prince was not favored by the old prince before, but he gradually improved his relationship with the old prince by sending her to the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, the Crown Prince has high hopes for her and hopes that she can establish good relations between the northern tribes and the Qing Dynasty, so that the old prince will pay more attention to the Crown Prince.

For the sake of her maternal clan and for the sake of the crown prince, she had to climb the social ladder at all costs and become the most beautiful flower blooming in the Qing Dynasty's harem.