Maomao becomes an imperial palace maid and investigates a rumored curse causing the princes' deaths, spurred by her insatiable curiosity when she overhears two consorts arguing about "medicine" and "poison".
Maomao is appointed by the Emperor himself as a special attendant to the High Consort Lihua with the sole purpose of finding the disturbing truth behind Lihua's illness.
After High Consort Lihua recovers, Maomao returns to her usual life in the palace of High Consort Gyokuyou. However, a frightened eunuch comes in asking Maomao to help him break a curse.
The grand and glamorous Garden Party begins. Maomao, the poison tester, becomes suspicious of High Consort Lishu's reaction to the dishes she has just tested.
Maomao uses the hairpin she received at the garden party to go back to her hometown for a few days while Jinshi is troubled by the continuing series of incidents inside the palace.
During her visit home, Maomao is asked to investigate a case of a poisoned courtesan and her customer at the brothel she grew up in, this time with her father's help.
Jinshi questions the apparent alcohol-induced death of a military officer and seeks answers from Maomao, leading her to deduce the true cause of death.
Rumors spread in the court that the culprit who poisoned Princess Lishu at the garden party was a courtesan who committed suicide. However, Jinshi doubts a servant's motive and tasks Maomao to investigate.
Curious about the death of Lady Ah Duo's son and its connection to her adoptive father Luomen, Maomao approaches Lady Ah Duo's maid-in-waiting, Fengming, to uncover the truth about the incident.
Maomao is dismissed due to the recent events with Fengming and returns home, where she starts working at the Verdigris House. However, one night at a noble's banquet, she meets an unexpected old companion.
Maomao is brought to Jinshi's house and assigned to work in the outer court, to her surprise. As the new hire, she has much to learn and many eyes upon her.
Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.
When a poisoning occurs in the palace, Gaoshun seeks help from Maomao to get to the truth. Simultaneously, Jinshi faces an unwelcome guest looming in his quarters.
Upon a metalworker's death, he leaves his three sons only a shack, chest of drawers, and fishbowl. Maomao investigates how these odd inheritances connect.
Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.
Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.
A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.
Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.
Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that that whips him into action.
Maomao confronts her biological father and challenges him with a game of Xiangqi with one condition - if she wins, he will accept a courtesan from the Verdigris House as his bride in order to redeem her.
Defeated, Lakan chooses a courtesan at the Verdigris House but abruptly leaves upon hearing a familiar voice. At Jinshi's house, Maomao discusses her complex feelings toward her father. A few night later, she dances on the castle wall.
