Kidnapped and relegated to servitude in the secluded halls of the imperial palace, Maomao, a former apothecary, finds herself unexpectedly noticed by those in power. Her inquiries into the strange ailments plaguing the emperor’s young heirs…

Maomao sought to find her footing in her new role as lady-in-waiting and food taster, yet found herself battling a persistent ennui and the unwelcome attentions of Jinshi. This precarious balance shifted entirely with an assignment she had …

Maomao was charged with an unsettling task: to investigate the nightly appearance of a spectral woman dancing upon the palace walls. Her inquiry led her to Concubine Fuyou, afflicted by sleepwalking. But with no known remedy for such a cond…

By the emperor’s explicit command, Maomao endeavored to tend to the ailing Concubine Lihua; however, her efforts were consistently thwarted by the concubine's own retinue of ladies-in-waiting.

A man castrated to serve the court, afflicted by a terrible curse, arrived pleading for assistance. At the same time, a vibrant energy filled the inner palace as preparations for the garden party reached their peak. Lady-in-waiting to Gyoku…

Maomao carefully maneuvered through the intricate social currents of the garden party, making polite introductions to the other concubines of Upper First rank. However, as she settled into the task of food tasting, a curious discovery await…

Gaoshun sought out Maomao, hoping she could offer guidance in navigating the aftermath of the garden party. Afterward, Xiaolan elucidated the significance of the hairpins Maomao had received as a gift. Driven by a desire to return home, Mao…

The quiet of Maomao’s morning was shattered by a summons. She was needed at a local brothel, the scene of a suspected double suicide.

A former acquaintance of Jinshi perished during a convivial gathering, succumbing to drink. Shortly thereafter, the body of a servant was discovered in the moat. Both deaths were dismissed as suicides, yet Maomao’s sharp perception suggeste…

Lady Gyokuyou’s tea party served as a subtle stage for the intricacies of courtly power, offering Maomao a glimpse into the hidden currents of the inner palace. He gleaned a new understanding of Lady Lishu, though her motives remained veile…

Maomao turned to face Fengming, the weight of the concealed truth pressing heavily upon her. She needed to speak plainly, to lay bare the secret she had kept from Lady Ah-Duo, the noblewoman who held such sway over their lives.

The revelation of a connection between Maomao’s captors and the Fengming family presented Jinshi with a difficult dilemma. He found himself torn between the desire to keep Maomao within the protective confines of the rear palace, close to h…

Maomao was taken aback when Jinshi led her not back to the secluded halls of the inner palace, but directly to his residence, informing her she would be assigned to the outer court. The task ahead seemed daunting, filled with much to learn,…

The new attendant for Ah-Duo has taken up residence in the inner palace, and Maomao has been tasked with delivering a discourse to the four principal consorts. Subsequently, Maomao assists Lihaku in investigating a warehouse fire.

Gaoshun sought Maomao’s assistance with a perplexing case of suspected poisoning. Elsewhere, Jinshi found himself burdened by the persistent presence of an unwanted visitor who seemed determined to overstay their welcome in his office.

Upon his passing, a skilled metalworker bequeathed to his three sons a meager inheritance: a shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl. Maomao finds himself tasked with unraveling the enigmatic connection between these disparate objects.

Concealing Jinshi’s extraordinary beauty proved a difficult undertaking. However, when Maomao accepted the challenge with determination, she found herself unexpectedly tasked with assuming the guise of a noblewoman and accompanying “Jinka” …

Returning home, Maomao sought out a secluded annex within the Verdigris House, a space that concealed one of the establishment's darker truths. Meanwhile, Lakan persisted in his attempts to provoke Jinshi, his association with Maomao growin…

Speaking with Lihaku about the latest happenings, Maomao begins to perceive a pattern in the cases she has been working on – a subtle, underlying connection she hadn't previously recognized. With this final piece of understanding clicking i…

Though she thwarted the assassination attempt, Maomao sustained severe injuries. Yet, these wounds did not quell her innate curiosity; instead, they fueled a determination to uncover the truth behind the attack.

Returning to his duties in the secluded inner chambers, Maomao listened as Guen detailed his family’s affairs. Elsewhere, Lihaku received a piece of news that spurred him into immediate action.

Lakan set a challenge for Jinshi: to procure blue roses for the garden party. The task, daunting in its impossibility, once again drew Jinshi to seek Maomao's assistance.

Maomao, weary of evasion, resolved to confront Lakan directly. She issued a challenge, proposing a game of chess on his own ground.

Lakan now faces the decision of which courtesan to purchase. His rank as a high-ranking military official grants him considerable freedom in this choice, even allowing him to select one of the Three Princesses. But who will he choose? And w…

The spring garden party drew to a close without a ripple. Maomao returned to her accustomed role as taster for Concubine Gyokuyou. In the inner palace, however, novels were gaining favor. Maomao mused on this development, as such literature…

A ripple of anticipation spread through the inner palace with the arrival of the caravan. Merchants unloaded a dazzling array of wares. Yet, a disquiet settled upon Maomao, a sense that something was amiss.

With the death of a concubine and the disappearance of a woman, Jinshi dispatched Maomao on a task – not concerning these matters, but rather the growth of mushrooms in the palace's secluded gardens.

An emissary from a distant kingdom presented the high concubines with mirrors, objects seldom seen within these walls. Yet, these gifts carried with them an undercurrent of enigma.

To fulfill the improbable request of the foreign emissary, Maomao sought out the Moon Fairy directly.

A woman from the clinic discovered Maomao possessed a surprising knowledge of medicine and, seeking assistance, turned to her.

Maomao's gaze settled upon an aged structure of peculiar design, her curiosity drawn to its unusual form.

Word of Maomao’s skill in settling disputes had reached the ears of the empress dowager. She would now seek Maomao’s aid in untangling a perplexing mystery that occupied her thoughts.

Maomao’s inquiry into the purported curse unveils aspects of the deceased emperor previously unforeseen.

On a sweltering summer night, Maomao found herself drawn into a circle of women, their voices weaving tales meant to prickle the skin. They shared stories designed to send shivers down the spine, a deliberate pursuit of a delightful unease.

Jinshi embarked on a hunting expedition, taking Maomao with him. He appeared poised to reveal a long-held secret to her.

Maomao stumbled upon Jinshi’s secret, a revelation she found deeply unwelcome. She had no desire to become entangled in the complexities of its political implications.

With Xiaolan’s contract nearing its end, the necessity of securing new employment pressed upon her. Recognizing this, Maomao and Shisui resolved to offer their assistance.

Lishu, a concubine in the pavilion, has been reporting ghostly sightings from the bathing chamber. Intrigued, Maomao goes to investigate the claims.

Xiaolan’s clumsiness resulted in the unfortunate destruction of a carefully crafted block of ice, a rather costly one at that. Fortunately, Maomao swiftly devised a delectable alternative.

Luomen made his way back to the inner chambers. His musings sparked a keen interest in Maomao.

Under the cover of darkness, Suirei secreted Maomao and Shisui from the inner sanctum. Meanwhile, Jinshi commenced a search for Maomao.

Ten days have passed since Maomao disappeared. Jinshi’s inquiries have led him to a neglected graveyard, a place seemingly lost to memory.

A festival animates the village, and Maomao is there. Shisui, with quiet grace, shares fragments of the village’s past with her.

Maomao was brought to a hidden stronghold nestled in the mountains, a place where the long-held secrets of the Shi clan were laid bare for her.

Accused of plotting escape, Maomao is subjected to a grim, age-old method of torture and execution.

With the arrival of the royal guard, headed by Jinshi, the Shi clan’s destiny was sealed. Maomao desperately sought a way to save her friend, Shisui.

Jinshi and his troops moved into the stronghold, effectively trapping the last of the Shi clan.

The aftermath of the war left Jinshi buried under a mountain of work, while Maomao drifted back towards the familiar glow of the pleasure district.