Episode Title:
Lantern Plant
Episode Description:
Gyokuyou's labor is stable, and Luomen confirms Maomao's treatment for the breech presentation was effective. Jinshi investigates the missing eunuch "Tian", who seems to have infiltrated the ranks of the new eunuchs, and who often visited the northern graveyard, where the women who were deflowered by the late emperor were buried. Smelling the alcohol Maomao had on her, he confronts Shenlü, whom he encounters at the graveyard. Aggressive at first, Jinshi triggers Shenlü when acting more courteous in his eunuch persona, who recalls the late emperor in his youth, Jinshi's spitting image. She tries running away when Jinshi is shocked by the revelation, and poisons herself with the alcohol when arrested, but the guards make her throw up. Jinshi is shaken, having believed rumors he was illegitimate over not looking like his brother or mother. He finds out that the grave Shenlü--and "Tian"--visited is that of Taihou, a lady-in-waiting whose daughter was banished from the rear palace along with the doctor who was declared the father. Recalling that Taihou had served Loulan's mother, at the time a high concubine later gifted to Shishou, he visits the Garnet Pavilion to find out more. There, he exposes Loulan's disappearance and use of body doubles, recognizing Renpu, one of the ladies-in-waiting, by a mole. Lakan is furious to discover Maomao's disappearance. Jinshi learns that Shishou is also missing, suggesting a collusion between him and Loulan. He deduces the clinic sheltered Shenlü due to shared resentment toward the rear palace after the previous emperor's death. Lahan, Lakan's nephew and adopted heir, reveals that investigation on the hunt assassins uncovered large scale embezzlement and increased iron commerce linked to the conspiracy. Lahan offers to keep tracking it in exchange for a discount on the repair bill for the palace gate Lakan damaged.
