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

Ruyi knelt in the main hall of Ganlu Temple, her face expressionless.

During Ruyi's time in the Cold Palace, Yihuan gained special favor because of her similar poetic talent. She was also proud and aloof and refused to bow to the Empress. She only had admiration for Ruyi because they both had a sincere heart for the Emperor. Therefore, Ruyi was willing to befriend her.

She had thought that finally, the harem had gained a remarkable woman who offered the emperor a heart full of sincerity, without any intention of currying favor. Therefore, even though the emperor doted on Yi Huan, Ruyi allowed Yi Huan to associate with her.

But later, she accidentally learned the truth about the bracelet and realized that the emperor's ruthless treatment of Consort Shu was all too real. Even in the imperial family, no matter how much favor or deep affection one receives, it's all just a matter of a single thought, a world apart. (Quoted from the original work)

While using the same method to guard against Yanwan, she hesitated, wondering if Consort Shu should know the truth. Then she thought again, if she knew, she would surely be heartbroken, and yet she was such a proud and aloof woman.

However, not long after, Yi Huan, who shouldn't have been pregnant, was diagnosed with it. Ruyi listened, stunned, her heart filled with a bittersweet mix of joy and longing. She too longed for a tiny child, born of her and him, to prove to the world that their love was not in vain. (Quoted from the original novel)

However, she also felt that since the emperor did not want Yihuan to be pregnant, he did not want to keep the child.

Even though she couldn't bear it, she still sided with the emperor. So when she heard that Yi Huan had developed marks on her body, she sent Yi Huan the scar-reducing cream that Empress Ulanara had given her years ago, because her elders had said that this product could abort a child without them even realizing it.

Although the plan failed and she was beaten up by Fu Jia and Bai Ruiji, she had no regrets in order to share the emperor's burdens.

Coincidentally, Yi Huan was unlucky and miscarried after only five months of pregnancy, giving birth to a boy.

When she heard the news of Yi Huan's miscarriage, she was very relieved for the emperor: it was fortunate that the pregnancy was over, otherwise, if Yi Huan, who was of the Yehenara clan and related to the Fuca clan by marriage, had given birth to a prince, the emperor would have had many concerns.

On the same day, Yi Huan offended the emperor and was confined to his quarters for a month.

Although the emperor remained tight-lipped, Ruyi always had a vague feeling that Yihuan knew the truth.

Yi Huan, pure and radiant like jade and ice, must have once held boundless longing for the emperor, believing he would hold her hand and share a lifetime of love with her. But when what she imagined—a city bursting with spring's beauty—turned to fading spring colors and falling petals, chilling the ground, how could she possibly remain by that man's side? (Mostly quoted from the original work)

She had assumed that with Yi Huan's pride and fierce nature, having fallen to such a state, she would not only no longer want to be with the emperor, but would also not live on in this world. However, when she returned to the palace, she received the news that Yi Huan had gone to Ganlu Temple to practice Buddhism while still keeping her hair.

When the emperor asked to see Yihuan, she didn't know whether to be happy for Yihuan or feel sorry for herself. But when she actually saw Yihuan, who was now no different from the clumsy nuns in the temple, she suppressed her smile and thought that Yihuan's peaceful practice in the temple might also be a relief for her.

However, the look in Hongli's eyes when he looked at Yihuan was still full of affection, and he even wanted to give the earrings that he had personally given to Yihuan.

She wasn't worried about other women around the emperor. After all, Hongli respected the empress because of Fucha. He had previously favored Consort Gao because of Gao Bin's flood control efforts. He treated Aruo well simply because Aruo was the descendant of a meritorious official, and he wanted to use her to establish a good reputation.

As for Yanwan, she was nothing more than a frivolous and vulgar maid who possessed youthful beauty but was ultimately abandoned after seducing someone. She only managed to win Hongli's favor by being pretentious and obsequious because she resembled Ruyi. Moreover, she had only given birth to a princess. She was confident that Yanwan could not threaten her childhood friendship with Hongli.

Although Yi Huan didn't resemble her in appearance, she coldly observed that the Emperor's affection for Yi Huan stemmed from his love for her beauty, talent, noble status, and gentle, refined air reminiscent of Jiangnan. However, at that time, she was still in the Cold Palace, and the Emperor, unable to obtain what he desired, could only seek a similar substitute. Yi Huan was the one most similar to herself, therefore her influence on the Emperor far surpassed that of Yan Wan. The Emperor's act of bestowing those palace-style earrings upon Yi Huan seemed to indicate his intention to bring Yi Huan back to the palace.

The emperor was amorous and infatuated with her, and even his substitute was gentle. This tenderness originated from her, so she couldn't blame the emperor. But what she didn't expect was that Yi Huan seemed unable to bear the austerity of the temple and showed signs of changing her mind. She started playing hard to get regarding Hongli's rewards, and it seemed she had learned how to use tricks to win over a man, instead of treating him with genuine affection as before.

She was extremely disappointed. She had endured three years in the cold palace, so how could Yi Huan have become like Aruo and Yan Wan, whose minds were filled with power and wealth after suffering a little hardship?

So she thought, it would be good to let Rong Pei make a fuss.

She knelt in the hall with a somber expression, while the Buddha on the lotus throne had a solemn demeanor.

Jinzhong walked in at that moment and said in a low voice, "Consort Xian, His Majesty invites you."

She followed Jinzhong to another meditation room, where she saw the emperor, empress, and Consort Ling sitting at the head of the table, while Yi Huan sat on a small stool, tears streaming down her face, occasionally sobbing, her left hand wrapped in thick gauze, still trembling.

Ruyi sighed inwardly. Yi Huan used to be the proudest and most fierce person, but now she was trying to play the victim like Wei Yanwan. Although she was still young, her good looks had already been worn down by the arduous training in the sect. This affected manner was nothing more than a poor imitation, and would only make her more annoying.

Ling Yunche, on the other hand, had suffered some injustice, with both sides of his face swollen and covered in bloodstains, which pained her greatly.

She gave a perfunctory bow and sat down, when she heard the emperor say, "Empress, Jueqing is, after all, your relative by marriage. If you intervene, you might be accused of favoring your own family over what is right. You should avoid the situation."

Yanwan immediately said, "Then I shall also excuse myself."

The Emperor said, “Consort, you were there when I visited Jueqing earlier. You should stay here as a witness.”

The Empress said yes, rose, bowed, and withdrew.

Yanwan and Yihuan rose and bowed, saying, "Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty the Empress."

The emperor silently counted a few times in his mind, thinking that the empress should be far away by now. Then he put on a stern face and said to Ling Yunche and Rong Pei, who were kneeling on the ground, "You two committed a crime in broad daylight, in the forbidden Buddhist area, against Jueqing, who was practicing Buddhism with her hair still intact at Ganlu Temple. You have ruined Xianying's reputation. Do you know your crime?"

Rong Pei retorted, "I am responsible for my own actions. Consort Xian was merely a reward and has done nothing wrong!"

Ling Yunche also said, "This servant has nothing to say, but begs Your Majesty to see the truth. Consort Xian is indeed innocent."

The Emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have all admitted it, I have no choice but to impose a punishment to protect Xian's reputation. The Empress is kind and rarely uses corporal punishment on palace maids, which has become a precedent in the palace. But eunuchs are also half men, and their bodies are stronger, so let Xiao Lingzi take the full punishment!"

Ruyi was shocked. She called out "Your Majesty" in a rough voice before saying, "They were just following Your Majesty's orders to reward Consort Shu. They did not commit any violence."

Unable to bear it any longer, Yi Huan said with a heavy heart, "Xian agreed to let those two wicked servants hold me down and use such thick ear needles to drill into my ears. Is this a reward or torture?" After saying this, she choked up and wept uncontrollably.

Ruyi coldly said, "Jueqing, now that you have entered the Buddhist order and severed all ties with your past life, you are no longer a concubine in the palace, but merely a nun in Ganlu Temple. I, on the other hand, am a concubine personally appointed by the Emperor. Rewarding you is also punishing you, and punishing you is also rewarding you!"

Yi Huan was both shocked and angry. She pointed at Ruyi and said, "You, you..." but she couldn't say a word.

Yanwan had been thinking about this since the beginning. The fact that the Emperor had asked the Empress to leave first and said those things to Ling Yunche and Rong Pei set the tone that he would not severely punish Ruyi today. At most, he would let Ling Yunche and Rong Pei take the blame for everything.

So she spoke up: "Consort Xian has a deep bond with Xiao Lingzi and Rong Pei, but don't rush to take the blame upon yourself. Abbess Jueqing is a nun who practices Buddhism while still keeping her hair, and there has been no official decree in the palace to depose her. Therefore, she is still Consort Shu, only temporarily residing at Ganlu Temple for quiet cultivation. I suppose Consort Xian has no intention of rebelling against her superiors. If this matter was caused by these two servants, Consort Xian will only bear the responsibility for lax discipline. I suppose Consort Xian has served the Emperor for a long time, and although her family has such traditions, you yourself are not the kind of vicious person who would instruct servants to arbitrarily inflict punishment on innocent people, and then push the servants to take the blame after the matter is exposed."

Ruyi glared at her fiercely and said, "Your Majesty, now that things have come to this, Jueqing says she was being suppressed, which suggests she has already had some contact with Xiaolingzi. As the saying goes, men and women should not touch each other. If she is severely punished, it might spread as a scandalous affair and ruin Your Majesty's reputation." (The dialogue is quoted from the original drama.)

Yi Huan trembled with rage, stood up and cried out, "Ruyi! We used to be on good terms, but now you've allowed your servant to commit violence, and you expect me to bear this false reputation!"

Ruyi said, "I am doing this for the sake of the royal family's reputation. Why do you insist on making a fuss about it? Don't you care about the Emperor's reputation?" (Dialogue quoted from the original drama)

Yi Huan felt suffocated, his chest tightness, his head spinning and nausea rising, and he felt as if he were about to collapse.

Yanwan quickly gave Chunchan a wink, and Chunchan stepped forward to help Yihuan up, but found Yihuan's body heavy and slid down, causing her to squat down as well.

Yi Huan collapsed to the ground, her face ashen. She felt a surge of blood rushing to her head, and when she opened her mouth, she spat out a mouthful of blood. Chun Chan was startled and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Yanwan looked at the emperor with a questioning gaze and asked, "Your Majesty, shall we summon the imperial physician?" The emperor waved his hand without any change in expression, and Jinzhong left.

Looking at the Emperor's expressionless face, Yanwan hardened her heart and tentatively said, "Your Majesty, these two wicked servants have already been disciplined by Abbot Moyan and Miss Yingluo from the Empress's side. I'm afraid this matter can no longer be covered up. Your Majesty's visit to the concubines was not overstepping any boundaries, so how could it damage your reputation? However, Consort Xian's words also make sense. Xiao Lingzi and Rong Pei's crime of insubordination has been confirmed. Wouldn't it ruin the palace's decorum if word got out? If we secretly deal with these two dog servants, we can end it here and achieve the best of both worlds."

Although she didn't say it explicitly, everyone present already understood what "secret disposal" meant.

The emperor was overjoyed, and if he hadn't had some reservations, he would have agreed almost immediately.

He considered it for a moment and said, "What Consort Ling said was also for the sake of the royal family's reputation, so..."

Ruyi secretly resented Yanwan for being so heartless and ungrateful, and worried that the Emperor would actually do as Yanwan said. Her powder flakes rose as she cried out, "You scoundrel! To punish someone serving in the palace for a mere nun! Such actions are truly beneath your benevolence!"

Seeing that things were not going well, the emperor had no choice but to stop talking, and the scene became tense.

Just then, several screams came from outside. Jinzhong rushed in, not forgetting to close the door behind him, and stammered, "Your Majesty... the young lady Yingluo who serves the Empress... she..."

The emperor said impatiently, "Why can't you even answer properly? Speak quickly!"

Before Jinzhong could speak, with a bang, the door, which had been closed, suddenly opened by itself without any external force. Then, a rustling sound arose, and a group of snakes wriggled and scurried into the meditation room.

The imperial guards and the empress followed them in. Upon seeing the situation, the empress exclaimed, "Quickly, protect the emperor!" Several imperial guards then blocked the emperor's path.

The emperor asked in fear, "What's going on?"

Jinzhong quickly said, "Just now, Miss Yingluo suddenly fainted, then convulsed for a while, and then a swarm of snakes crawled towards her. Her Majesty the Empress and the abbot were worried about the Emperor's safety, so they came after her. The abbot said that she probably smashed the Buddha statue in her haste, causing some kind of disturbance..."

A rebuke came from outside the door: "Ignorant child, what nonsense are you spouting! The Buddha and Bodhisattvas are compassionate and merciful. This benefactor was trying to save someone. How could the Buddha and Bodhisattvas blame him!"

Yingluo moved gracefully out of the smoke, and as she drew nearer, everyone realized that she was being carried by a group of snakes.

Yingluo was expressionless, her eyes were half-open, and her movements were somewhat stiff.

The snakes placed her on the ground, standing on either side. Yingluo first picked up the stone statue on the ground, then swiftly turned around, knelt down, and performed a Buddhist salute. Her eyes were wide open, and her pupils had turned vertical. She spoke, but the voice that came out was not Yingluo's original voice, but a mixture of childishness and old age: "Amitabha, this humble nun Liaoyu greets His Majesty and the empresses."

The emperor was so shocked he stammered, "You...you...aren't you the empress's maid, Yingluo?"

Yingluo said, “Amitabha, my Buddhist name is Liaoyu. I was originally a large black snake from the back mountain of Ganlu Temple. In the past, when the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty entered Shanhaiguan, he conferred titles upon the five great immortals, and my Liuxian clan prospered from then on. This place is close to the dragon vein and has abundant spiritual energy, so I cultivated in this mountain range. Later, when Ganlu Temple was built here, the construction started right above my cave.”

Having nowhere else to go, I appeared in this temple. The first abbot, Master Yuanjue, said that all laws are equal, the royal family is benevolent, and that snakes become dragons when they encounter water and seas when they meet the sea. He said that if I were to receive the Dharma, I might be fortunate enough to become a dragon maiden under the Bodhisattva's tutelage. So he gave me a Dharma name, and after I received full ordination, he released me back to the back mountain. For many years, I have devoted myself to cultivation, practicing vegetarianism and meditation, and have gained some spiritual attainment. Fifty years ago, I renounced my physical body and entrusted a part of my spirit to a stone statue in the temple. I now live in this precious place of Ganlu Temple, enjoying the incense offerings and listening to the Buddha's teachings.

Those who come to this temple for quiet contemplation are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and this humble nun has long since forgotten many. However, I do recall a woman named Mochou from over a decade ago. At that time, the abbot of the temple was a junior disciple of Jing'an, and the emperor was not yet the current emperor. Mochou frequently cleaned the large and small Buddha statues in the temple. Her destiny was extraordinary; though not born with the fate of a phoenix, she possessed an inestimable nobility, destined to receive offerings from the entire nation. This humble nun was nourished daily by her destiny and received even greater fortune. A few years later, another noblewoman from the palace arrived—this was Jueqing. By chance, the stone statue in which this humble nun resided was moved to her residence and received her incense offerings.

"The Awakening of Insects has not yet arrived. Although I have shed my physical body, my hibernation habit remains. I was sleeping peacefully in the stone statue when I heard a commotion in the room. Because this benefactor, in a moment of panic, removed the statue to save someone, my spirit was disturbed. Unfortunately, she too is destined to be a protector, and by a twist of fate, I have possessed her body. I have achieved some success in my cultivation; though I do not possess the thousand hands and eyes of Guanyin Bodhisattva, I have cultivated ten hands and ten eyes, able to see within a ten-mile radius. Just now, upon opening my eyes, I sensed the dragon's aura and saw the Emperor and several empresses arguing, so I came to mediate."