In the Forbidden City, Eunuch YIU SHEUNG-HEI tries to run away from the Xi Hua Gate, but is captured by a eunuch from the Attending Office - PANG SAM-SHUN.

CHAN FOOK intervenes personally for SAM-SHUN, tossing everyone in Attending Office for detention.

Throwing herself on the floor in front of the Chang Chun Palace, Lady YUEN insists that she will not get up until she gets to see CIXI, who in turn is bent on refusing to let Lady YUEN leave and return to her hometown.

During her inspection tour, CIAN finds out that some palace maids are making embroidered shoes in private, which, according to the maids’ confession, turns out to be DE-HAI's private business.

In view of SHEUNG-HEI's devoting himself to medical science, YI-LAN takes out a copper coin, asking SHEUNG-HEI to hold it and make a wish.

CIXI is impressed by LIAN-YING, so DE-HAI suggests that he should serve in the Chang Chun Palace, which is turned down by LIAN-YING.

CIXI places a bet with Prince GONG to see whether anyone in the palace is capable of riding the bicycle.

Upon his arrival at the Housekeeping, Emperor TONGZHI not only dislikes the eunuchs because of their smelly sweat, but also speaks insolently towards them, who have no choice but to put on a smiling face.

Coming to realize that Emperor TONGZHI has gone missing, LIAN-YING and SAM-SHUN are so frightened that they keep looking around.

HESHUO sees SAM-SHUN so she takes a vengeance on behalf of SHEUNG-HEI.

Having seen that Prince GONG was chatting and laughing in discussion with CIXI on the national affairs even after his illness, CIAN feels so gloomy about it that she hides in the palace, drowning her sorrows in liquor.

LIAN-YING tells SHEUNG-HEI to go out of the palace to purchase some sandalwood without knowing that HESHUO follows SHEUNG-HEI to play around.

Though CIAN persuades Prince GONG to stay and continue to serve the court, Prince GONG cannot help feeling so downhearted.

Under CIAN's decree of immediate execution on death penalty, SAM-SHUN takes SHEUNG-HEI away from the Forbidden City before killing him.

After the turmoil has been quelled, CIXI awards the eunuchs and palace maids for their merit in rescuing the Emperor, simultaneously LIAN-YING and DE-HAI have been elevated to more dominant positions.

CIXI has taken extra precautions against CIAN ever since the latter tried to poison her.

Having learnt about such a world-shaking secret, CIXI is filled with deeper hatred and grievance, feeling tremendously exhausted as she is fighting alone.

LIAN-YING and DE-HAI spot that both SIN YUNG and PAK-LUN are lying on the floor in an austere room, but LIAN-YING stops DE-HAI from rescuing PAK-LUN, leaving him to die from poisoning.

DE-HAI has taken good care of SIU-CHAI, who feels so bored that she intends to adopt a child for killing time, but is objected by DE-HAI.

Emperor TONGZHI decides to confer BAO-YIN as his empress, which is faced with CIXI's objection on all kinds of grounds.

Prince GONG thinks that CIXI should hand state power back to Emperor TONGZHI since the emperor is married, however, CIXI refuses to withdraw from her reign behind the curtain.

HESHUO suffers a miscarriage after taking the fetus-stabilizing medicine prepared by SHEUNG-HEI.

In spite of her withdrawal from rule from behind the curtain, CIXI worries that Emperor TONGZHI is unable to control the court officials.

CIXI overrides the dissenting opinions and is determined to preserve DE-HAI’s life, so TONGZHI merely deprives DE-HAI of his position and inflicts flagellation as punishment.

With CIAN's help, CHAN FOOK resumes his position as the Grand Eunuch.

After leaving the palace, LIAN-YING moves to the South Region of the Yangtze River and stays with DOR-SANG, who persuades LIAN-YING to make up with SIN YUNG.

The couple, LIAN-YING and SIN YUNG, work in union to run their Buns Shop.

Inspired by KANG YOU-WEI, LIAN-YING agrees to return to the palace with SAM-SHUN, assisting CIXI to bring order out of the chaos.

Having recognized CIAN's true intention, Emperor TONGZHI decides to draw a line between him and CIAN.

Bumping into Granny SO whose hand injury was inflicted by CIAN, SHEUNG-HEI sharply denounces the pros and cons to her, indicating that he could help her out of the abyss of misery.

With the strict control of the disease in the Forbidden City, LIAN-YING sees through SHEUNG-HEI's plot, successfully preventing him from poisoning CIAN.

Having gone through all the ups and downs, LIAN-YING behaves so vastly differently than before, trusting no one.