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

The Northern tribes have lived in a land of ice and snow for generations, where even in February, snowstorms rage. If the entire small world can be maintained, perhaps a few hundred years from now, an official over sixty years old could still run through snowy nights, scale high walls, and influence the court, but that would be a distant future.

At this time of year, the royal family and most of the yangban (aristocratic officials) reduce their outings due to the cold weather, only attending necessary court assemblies and handling some important and urgent documents. The recent birth of a son by the Queen of Qing and the passing of the Queen Mother have added to the chaos in the court; the worsening of the Crown Prince's illness and ailment has further delayed state affairs.

The old prince, dragging his frail and ailing body, handled state affairs, habitually scolding, "This is all because of the immorality of the small court!"

The "small court" refers to the Crown Prince acting as regent. The old prince had long criticized the Crown Prince, but after the Mountain Tiger Society's failed assassination attempt on Fengtian officials over two years ago, which instead brought trouble to the Northern tribes, the old prince believed the Crown Prince was more of a hindrance than a help, and his dislike for the Crown Prince intensified. Furthermore, the Crown Prince's affair with Park Byung-ae, a maid in the Queen Mother's needlework room, during the winter solstice, and his subsequent bringing her back to the Eastern Palace after the Queen Mother's death, was exposed, causing a major uproar. Even the Crown Princess, who had always been favored by the old prince, was reprimanded for concealing the affair, and her father, Hong Bong-han, was dismissed from his post for the Crown Prince's advice, which angered the old prince.

As a result, the prince lived in constant fear, and his madness worsened. He spent all his time with Bing'ai, and would beat and kill servants at the drop of a hat. The corpses of fortune tellers, doctors, and servants were thrown out of the palace every single day.

The Crown Princess and the other concubines were largely neglected. The Crown Princess was always unfazed by favor or disgrace, but for the others, this neglect was a relief.

After the Northern tribes submitted to the Qing dynasty, they also imitated the Qing court's custom of paying respects to the emperor morning and evening. Therefore, every day, everyone would go to the Hong Palace early to pay their respects to her.

Lin Liangdi was the first concubine taken by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess after their marriage. She also gave birth to a son, Yu Yin. Therefore, although she was not favored, she was the most respectable among them. She sat on the ground closest to Hong Shi, and the other concubines sat down in order.

Seeing that the last seat was empty, everyone had different thoughts.

The Crown Princess pretended not to see it, and only said some routine, polite words before asking about Yu Yin's recent situation.

Consort Lin replied respectfully, expressing her gratitude for the concubine's concern.

The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly broken by a woman's voice.

"Oh, little sister, you're late."

Bing'ai entered the palace wearing a rose-red embroidered short top, with a pipa-shaped embroidered floral vest over it, trimmed with gold brocade, and a pale yellow silk skirt. Her braid was coiled at the back of her head and adorned with a long silver hairpin inlaid with amber.

The fusion of Northern and Qing styles, while magnificent, hinted at the person's unusual origins. Such attire was considered luxurious even among the Northern tribes, and would not be excessive even for the Crown Princess or the Queen Dowager. In comparison, not to mention the attire of Consort Lin and several other ladies-in-waiting and sobriquets present, even the Crown Princess's milky-white embroidered round-shaped shirt paled in comparison.

The concubines present all looked rather unwell, but the Crown Princess remained calm and said, "It's Park Soo-je. Please have a seat."

Bing Ai hid her resentment beneath a smile, picked up her skirt, and sat down.

Lin Liangdi snorted coldly: "Is Park Soo-cheol really that lazy? Even when he's paying respects to the concubine, he's so unpunctual. Isn't that a bit disrespectful?"

Bing Ai smiled and said, "I served the young master wine last night, so I stayed up a little late. I hope you won't mind, Liangdi."

Everyone looked astonished.

Bing'ai felt a strange sense of pleasure in her heart, thinking that everyone was surprised by her favor and indulgence.

The Crown Princess remained calm and composed: "In that case, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Park Soo-je."

Bing'ai tried to find a trace of unease or jealousy beneath her calm expression, but heard her say calmly, "It's just that the Crown Prince has been quite troubled lately, so Park Soo-jeol should be careful about the safety of his servants. Even the maids who are not by his side for the time being, please be careful."

These words struck Park Byung-ae like a thunderbolt.

She was about to ask the Crown Princess whether she had discovered anything when she heard the Crown Princess say, "Alright, everyone, please go back."

After everyone said their goodbyes and left, the Crown Princess practiced archery in the courtyard again—this was her recent hobby.

After putting away the bow and arrows, the maidservant beside Lady Hong said indignantly, "Park Soo-je is so arrogant! Look at her clothes, is that something a sixth-rank official should wear? Doesn't she know that it is precisely because of her extravagant nature and insatiable demands that the Imperial Household Department could not hide the extra expenses, which is why it attracted the King's attention!"

"The Crown Prince's mingling with the Queen Mother during her mourning period is already against etiquette, and his failure to conceal it has brought trouble upon you, Consort!"

Madam Hong calmly said, "With the Crown Prince's palace in such a state, the inner palace is also in chaos. Countless eyes are watching, and even if she doesn't live extravagantly, the King will find out sooner or later."

The maid was still indignant: "Golden Lady is the same. Back then, she was sent back to the Northern Tribe by the Qing Dynasty. If it weren't for the concubine's rescue, she would have been beaten to death by the Crown Prince! In the end, she didn't even remember your kindness. She delivered messages for the Park family and did such a thing to deceive the emperor, thus burying her own life in vain!"

Hong said, "Kindness is like ice that melts away with time, while affection is like a long, flowing river. This is the way of the world. What's more..."

She suddenly chuckled: "Who said Jin Neiren is already dead?"

The maid was startled. Hong Shi's attendant had already come over without anyone noticing and whispered something in her ear.

Hong said softly, "Let's go."

Park Byung-ae returned to her palace, where the Crown Prince was still asleep among a pile of wine jars, with bloodstains on the unsheathed sword beside him.

After the crown prince kills someone, he always sleeps more soundly.

She changed into an inconspicuous dress, put on a cloak, and quietly went out.

She walked toward a seemingly ordinary house on the outskirts of the capital and knocked on the door.

In the small courtyard, a woman was using crutches to move her feet with difficulty.

Park Byung-ae witnessed this scene as she entered the room.

She strode forward and helped the woman who was about to kneel down, saying with concern, "It's so cold, why are you getting up?" She then took off her cloak and wrapped it around the woman's body.

The woman appeared to be enduring immense pain; her face was pale, yet she still managed a forced smile: "Master..."

Park Byung-ae helped her through the door, her voice low but filled with dissatisfaction: "Don't call me 'Master'! Jeong-sook, we've already returned to the Northern Tribe. Those people in the Qing Palace, calling me 'Empress' and 'Master' all they do, only they know how filthy their hearts are. I never want to think back to those days again."

Zhenshu let out a barely audible sigh before changing her words, "Ayan. I'm much better now. With more practice, I'll be able to walk more steadily in the future."

Park Byung-ae, or perhaps she should be called Kim Ok-yeon at this moment, looked at Jung-sook's legs with heartache, a surge of resentment rising in her heart: if it weren't for the old prince's relentless pressure on the crown prince to hand her over, how could Jung-sook have been punished in her place by the old prince! After being flogged, Jung-sook was almost on the verge of death. Those who did their job carelessly abandoned her in a mass grave in the suburbs. It was only then that Kim Ok-yeon found an opportunity to secretly bring her back, and with the help of Princess Ok-wan, she was settled here. However, she had suffered cruel torture in the Qing Dynasty more than two years ago, and her muscles and bones had old injuries. This beating had crippled her legs, and she could no longer walk like a normal person.

She carefully helped Zhenshu back to her room and insisted that she lie down in her bedding.

She tucked the blanket around Zhenshu before asking, "Has anyone come looking for you these past few days?"

Zhen Shu said, "No."

Jin Yuyan was finally relieved.

She gently placed her hands on her abdomen, hesitating whether to bring up another important matter, when Zhenshu suddenly sat up, listened carefully, and then her expression changed as she said, "Ayan, get out of here, quickly!"

Just as Jin Yuyan was about to ask what was going on, a soft laugh came from outside the door: "I've heard that people who study martial arts have more sensitive ears than ordinary people, and it seems that's true."

Hong and her mistress stood at the door, taking off their shoes. The two servants, a man and a woman, in the courtyard had already been subdued by the men she had brought.

Jin Yuyan recalled Hong's words from earlier that day, and her face instantly turned ugly. She said resentfully, "Is the Crown Princess setting a trap for me?"

Zhenshu had already thrown off the covers and turned over, kneeling on the ground despite the pain in her legs.

Hong ignored her words, walked in through her cotton socks, and sat down, saying, "Even in an ordinary household, a guest who has braved the cold should be offered a cup of hot tea. Park Soo-cheol, why don't you pour me a cup first? Or perhaps Lady Kim could do it for me?"

Jin Yuyan knew the visitor meant no good. Hearing her mention Zhenshu, she was both shocked and furious. She said, "What do you want? If you dare to lay a hand on Zhenshu, I'll smash my head against the Crown Prince's chest and die! Crown Princess, I'm three months pregnant now. Even if you are the Crown Prince's legal wife, you can't bear the consequences of harming the royal heir!"

Jung-sook was startled and looked up sharply, but Madam Hong's expression remained unchanged: "I thought Park Soo-cheol was pregnant but kept it a secret because he thought I would harm your child. It seems that's not the case."

A seemingly ordinary sentence caused Jin Yuyan to be greatly alarmed.

Lady Hong looked at her and smiled, “What, does Park Soo-cheol think that by persuading the Crown Prince, she can keep it a secret perfectly? But the Crown Prince hasn’t really managed the concubines for many years. I’m in charge of the inner palace, from top to bottom. Now that Park Soo-cheol has brought it up herself, she needs more people to take care of her. Lady Kim, since you’re an old acquaintance of Park Soo-cheol, why don’t I arrange for you to go back to Park Soo-cheol’s side to take care of her? The Crown Prince dotes on Park Soo-cheol so much, I’m sure he’ll be more lenient with Lady Kim who took the blame for Park Soo-cheol.”

Kim Ok-yeon felt she had been cornered by the Hong family and was about to lash out when Jeong-sook spoke up, "Your Highness must have already discovered me, yet you came here on your own. I believe you have no ill intentions. However, it is already noon, and the Crown Prince should be awake by now. Please let Park Soo-cheol go back first."

Hong said, "I think so too. Guards, escort Park Soo-cheol back to Gyeongmo Palace."

Several strong maids immediately entered the room and, ignoring Jin Yuyan's shouts and curses, tried to take her out.

Hong added, "Please, Park Soo-je, behave yourself. Don't lose your composure like this in front of your wives."

Jin Yuyan knew that she was using Zhenshu to threaten her, telling her not to publicize the matter. She immediately stopped cursing, angrily flung her hand away, and said, "I can walk by myself!"

Watching Kim Ok-yeon leave, Jung-sook felt all her strength drain away instantly, and she could no longer maintain her kneeling position, collapsing to the ground.

Pain shot through her body, and she bit her lower lip to suppress the groan that was about to escape her lips.

Hong asked Zhimi to find a teacup, and poured a cup of hot water from the teapot on the tea stove and handed it to her.

She didn't answer, took a few breaths, struggled to return to her kneeling position, and bowed, saying, "Please forgive Park Soo-je's offense, Your Highness."

Madam Hong sneered: "How dare I! The Empress of Qing has framed me many times. I am but a fallen noblewoman from a vassal state. How can I compare to the Empress of the Celestial Empire? Of course, she can do whatever she wants to me."

Jeong-sook trembled and pleaded, "Your Highness already has a legitimate son. Even if Park Soo-cheol is pregnant, he poses no threat to you. Why don't you preserve your reputation for being tolerant and kind to your subordinates?"

Hong said slowly, "It is precisely because I am tolerant of my subordinates that I have allowed you, Lady Kim, to return to Park Soo-cheol's side."

Zhen Shu pondered. The Crown Princess's reaction today not only indicated that she already knew of her existence and the background of the two women, but also that she knew Jin Yuyan was pregnant. Furthermore, her request to return to Jin Yuyan's side... could it be...?

She was startled by her own guess, but she was now powerless to resist the Hong family. Besides, she didn't want Jin Yuyan to stay by the side of the violent madman in the East Palace. However, if Jin Yuyan was pregnant, she would have no chance to escape, both from the perspective of the situation and from her own feelings.

Jung-sook closed her eyes and said, "A child that the Crown Princess does not want will not be born. I only ask that the Crown Princess spare Park Soo-cheol's life."

Hong stared at her for a long time before saying, "Absurd! Such unusual behavior will surely cause trouble if word gets out. Moreover, I will not agree to do what I cannot do."

Her tone was calm and even, as if she were just talking about something very ordinary: "The first person the Crown Prince killed was the eunuch Jin Huancai, who was on duty at night. That day, he brought Jin Huancai's head in to show the other eunuchs. In recent years, whenever the Crown Prince falls ill, he wants to kill people. He has killed quite a few eunuchs and eunuchs, and it has almost reached the point of no return."

"If any of the concubines whom the Crown Prince wishes to be close to disobeys, he will cut them to pieces before he can be close to them. Concubine Jin, you should understand this."

Jeong-sook trembled with extreme fear.

Madam Hong smiled sarcastically: "Jin Yuyan was originally a smart person, but she was blinded by love and desire. She thought that the Crown Prince was cruel to the other concubines and maids because he was heartless to them, but he was affectionate to her, Jin Yuyan. Even with you, she would only think that the Crown Prince was forced too hard by the King and was confused for a moment, which is why he hurt you."

She stared at Zhen Shu's pale face and sorrowful eyes, and continued, "She can no longer leave the East Palace. To leave is to admit that the first half of her life was a complete failure and a waste, and to admit that she is now penniless. However, Lady Jin, I cannot even guarantee that I and Suan'er will not fall into the hands of the East Palace. As for the others, I really have no spare strength to protect them."

Zhenshu braced herself against the ground, gritting her teeth to barely maintain her kneeling posture.

She heard her own trembling voice: "The concubine... Wormwood..."

She uttered two words with trembling hands, and said quickly, "The wormwood produced in the miasma-ridden southwestern region of Qing China, if mixed with alcohol, will cause people to become delirious. There are also some mushrooms that will cause hallucinations if eaten. If someone who already has madness consumes these, they will become even more ill from the shock, and over time, they will develop symptoms and be bedridden."

Madam Hong sighed: "The Crown Prince clearly has a low alcohol tolerance, and the King has strictly ordered him to drink less, but recently he has been bringing back a lot of wine, which is really worrying. If the wine is infused with medicinal herbs, perhaps it can reduce the harm to the Crown Prince's body after drinking it."