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.