Eunuch Chun Wang and Ying Luo become sworn brother/sister. Ying Luo is appreciative of the fact that he didn't tell anyone about her scheme against Noble Consort Gao.
Fu Heng asks to speak with Ming Yu. He whispers something in her ear and Er Qing oversees this and asks Ming Yu what they were talking about. She tells her that it's a secret.
Back at the Hard Labour Department, one of the servants says that the Noble Consort Gao died and now the Empress might not have any days left. Ying Luo gets angry and confronts her, then learns that the Empress is having a high fever.
That night, Ying Luo sneaks into the Empress' palace. She goes through the window, only to see Fu Heng on the other side helping her get down. She then realizes that this was all his plan and that the Empress is not actually sick and her condition is stable. She is angry at him for tricking her, but ends up visiting the Empress. After she sneaks out, Fu Heng calls for her, telling her to remember what he said - that he'll always be there to wait for her.
Consort Xian is with the Empress, helping to organize Noble Consort Gao's funeral. As she leaves, she faints. The Emperor gets the Imperial Doctor to look after her. It turns out her wound opened up, and because she is doing so much to organize Noble Consort Gao's funeral, she did was not able to recover. The Emperor states that she should rest and wait for her wound to get better first. She rejects the offer and kneels down, begging him to let her finish the preparations for the funeral before she takes care of herself.
The Emperor meets with the Empress Dowager and she praises Consort Xian, saying that even though Noble Consort Gao and her did not have a good relationship, she is negating her own self to properly prepare for the funeral. She reminds the Emperor that it might be time to raise her rank so that she becomes a Noble Consort. The Emperor does so, and Consort Xian is appointed the title Noble Consort Xian.
The Emperor arrives to the Empress' palace when Ying Luo is visiting as well. Ming Yu greets him loudly to warn her. When he arrives, Ying Luo is nowhere to be seen. He talks to the unconscious Empress, saying that there is no one else in the palace that he can talk to. He states that he grew up with Noble Consort Gao since they were kids. She didn't grow up with her mother so she is like family to him. He realizes why his father, the Later Emperor, warns him to not fall in love with any of the ladies in the court. Just then, he sees the Empress' eyelashes flicker, but she is still unconscious. He wonders whether she also thinks that he is cold-hearted. He says that he didn't treat her or Noble Consort Gao properly. Just then, he hears a noise and walks out.
Ming Yu then comes in with tea and calls for Ying Luo. She comes out behind the curtains, asking whether the "annoying ghost" left. The Emperor then walks out. Ming Yu apologizes, saying that she was forced to oust her out. The Emperor asks Ying Luo why she's there and yells at her. Ying Luo distracts him by saying that the Empress' hand moved and quickly sneaks out as he turns around.
Noble Consort Xian pours out the medicine for her wound, saying that she hopes she gets a scar from it so that the Emperor would remember what she did whenever he sees it.
Lady Chun then bumps into Fu Heng as he left the Empress' palace. She confronts him about the rumour that he likes Ying Luo. He doesn't deny this and tells her to mind her own business. Lady Chun is angry when she goes back to her place. She states that she is stupid for trying to be close with the Empress so that she can help Fu Heng pick a good wife, and he ends up choosing Ying Luo. Her maid doesn't understand why she is so emotional about it.
The Emperor is mad at Minister Gao Junior (Noble Consort Gao's brother) because of what his father did. He states that it was because of Noble Consort Gao's sudden death. The Emperor gets even madder, saying that what he did involves many civilian's lives and throws a book at him.
The Emperor then goes to the Empress' palace and asks Ming Yu whether Ying Luo is there. She first says that she didn't let her in anymore, but he asks again and she tells him that Ying Luo is at the back. He goes and sees Ying Luo with the Empress' medicine. He then realizes that she genuinely cares for the Empress. The Emperor tells her that there shouldn't be any love in his relationships and that he has more important issues to worry about. Ying Luo tells him that the Empress is different and that she truly loves him. He gets mad that he's talking to a mere servant and leaves, but Ying Luo starts reciting one of his scriptures. Ying Luo tells him that even though there are a lot of issues he has to deal with, he should deal with them one at a time and take little steps to achieve the bigger goal. Ying Luo also tells him that the Empress taught her all of his writings so that she could better understand him. The Emperor praises the Empress, saying that she didn't waste her energy in raising Ying Luo.
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I still don't really like the Eunuch Chun Wang that much - he is too clever and is the only one who is able to read Ying Luo's next step. He's too mysterious - I just hope that he continues to be on Ying Luo's side to help her and not betray her afterward.
(Noble) Consort Xian is really a next level evilness from Noble Consort Gao. She puts on a 'nice' appearance but schemes even deeper than Noble Consort Gao, twisting people's emotions. Noble Consort Gao is outwardly evil and schemes only out of jealousy.
Ying Luo finally meets the Empress now that Noble Consort Gao is dealt with. I was hoping that the Empress would magically wake up from her coma with the presence of Ying Luo (but I think it's going to be very soon since her lashes did flicker).
And the Emperor FINALLY believes that Ying Luo actually cares for the Empress and is not doing it for benefits afterward. Seems like he's gravitating towards her since Noble Consort Gao is gone and the Empress is in a coma... I can't wait for Ying Luo to come back (hoping it is soon).