The Confidant

In the Forbidden City, Eunuch YIU SHEUNG-HEI tries to run away from the Xi Hua Gate, but is captured by a eunuch from the Attending Office - PANG SAM-SHUN. While eunuchs from each Palace are waiting in the Attending Office for their allowance distribution, only the allowance for the Jing Ren Palace is unreasonably deducted.

CHAN FOOK intervenes personally for SAM-SHUN, tossing everyone in Attending Office for detention. As Prince GONG is going to discuss with CIXI and CIAN regarding the issue of purchasing guns and cannons from the foreigners, Lady YUEN arrives with DE-HAI, stating that the Attending Office is bullying her.

Throwing herself on the floor in front of the Chang Chun Palace, Lady YUEN insists that she will not get up until she gets to see CIXI, who in turn is bent on refusing to let Lady YUEN leave and return to her hometown. CHAN FOOK overhears the two Empress Dowagers' conversation, maintaining that there must be something unraveled with regard to the premature death of Lady YUEN's little Prince.

During her inspection tour, CIAN finds out that some palace maids are making embroidered shoes in private, which, according to the maids’ confession, turns out to be DE-HAI's private business. CIAN and CIXI then jointly interrogate DE-HAI, resulting in CIXI depriving DE-HAI of his title of Grade Seven Chief Eunuch, which DE-HAI is not exactly prepared to accept.

In view of SHEUNG-HEI's devoting himself to medical science, YI-LAN takes out a copper coin, asking SHEUNG-HEI to hold it and make a wish. The following day, Master TSUI suddenly tells SHEUNG-HEI that he may learn the medical techniques from Dr SUEN. While explaining some medical cases to SHEUNG-HEI, Dr SUEN mentions a palace maid called YI-LAN who died an unnatural death, which shocks SHEUNG-HEI to no end.

CIXI is impressed by LIAN-YING, so DE-HAI suggests that he should serve in the Chang Chun Palace, which is turned down by LIAN-YING. With regard to SIN YUNG's constant symptoms of nausea, each one in the Jing Ren Palace notices that she is bearing a child. However they persistently keep the secret for her since she is leaving the palace soon.

CIXI places a bet with Prince GONG to see whether anyone in the palace is capable of riding the bicycle. Upon his arrival at the Attending Office, LIAN-YING spots TIM-SHAU gambling with other eunuchs, which leaves TIM-SHAU no alternative but to reveal the fact that he needs silver ingots so that his family can tide over the arid climate in their hometown.

Upon his arrival at the Housekeeping, Emperor TONGZHI not only dislikes the eunuchs because of their smelly sweat, but also speaks insolently towards them, who have no choice but to put on a smiling face. Having bumped into Eunuch FUN, SHEUNG-HEI discovers that he is sick so tells him to have his illness attended to by a doctor.

Coming to realize that Emperor TONGZHI has gone missing, LIAN-YING and SAM-SHUN are so frightened that they keep looking around. Thinking that Emperor TONGZHI might hide in a carriage and try to sneak out the palace, SAM-SHUN together with LIAN-YING leave the palace, seeking the whereabouts of the Emperor.

HESHUO sees SAM-SHUN so she takes a vengeance on behalf of SHEUNG-HEI. SAM-SHUN, who dares not to offend the Princess, makes an apology to SHEUNG-HEI in person. CIXI's brother GUI-XIANG sexually assaulted the wife of a Han Chinese SIN-WING, then beat up SIN-WING and broke his right leg. Striking the drum in front of the Judiciary Station, SIN-WING files his grievance against GUI-XIANG.

Having seen that Prince GONG was chatting and laughing in discussion with CIXI on the national affairs even after his illness, CIAN feels so gloomy about it that she hides in the palace, drowning her sorrows in liquor. Finally she decides to strive for victory over CIXI. GUI-XIANG, being good-for-nothing, has failed to accomplish the mission of receiving donations in exchange for official titles.

LIAN-YING tells SHEUNG-HEI to go out of the palace to purchase some sandalwood without knowing that HESHUO follows SHEUNG-HEI to play around. By the time he discovers this, LIAN-YING cannot help worrying about them having a love affair. Having learnt that SIN YUNG passed out on the street, LIAN-YING leaves the palace to visit her, finding out that PAK-LUN is addicted to opium and sold his wife.

Though CIAN persuades Prince GONG to stay and continue to serve the court, Prince GONG cannot help feeling so downhearted. So CIAN ridicules CIXI, saying that she is going to lose her right-hand man and a loyal court official. Having been told by SAM-SHUN that DE-HAI has joined forces with CHAN FOOK, LIAN-YING feels deeply uneasy and horrified.

Under CIAN's decree of immediate execution on death penalty, SAM-SHUN takes SHEUNG-HEI away from the Forbidden City before killing him. After SHEUNG-HEI pleads with SAM-SHUN to let him meet up with the princess, SAM-SHUN is so touched by HESHUO that he secretly lets them go free. LIAN-YING runs into SHEUNG-HEI and HESHUO, relaying the likely change of reign in the Forbidden City to them.

After the turmoil has been quelled, CIXI awards the eunuchs and palace maids for their merit in rescuing the Emperor, simultaneously LIAN-YING and DE-HAI have been elevated to more dominant positions. In order to save his uncle CHAN FOOK, SAM-SHUN seeks help from the two. While DE-HAI refuses to lay a helping hand, LIAN-YING instead pleads with CIXI to acquit CHAN FOOK of the death penalty.

CIXI has taken extra precautions against CIAN ever since the latter tried to poison her. In an attempt to renew their friendship, CIAN would like to let Emperor TONGZHI stay with CIXI, but is refused by CIXI. As the ongoing disputes between the henchmen of DE-HAI and CHAN FOOK wreak havoc in the palace, CIXI fiercely urges DE-HAI to bring order out of the chaos as soon as possible.

Having learnt about such a world-shaking secret, CIXI is filled with deeper hatred and grievance, feeling tremendously exhausted as she is fighting alone. Fortunately LIAN-YING's comfort enables her to pull herself together, continuing to reign the country. Ever since SHEUNG-HEI takes charge of the Imperial Pharmacy, he strictly forbids the eunuchs or imperial doctors from trading counterfeit medicine in private.

LIAN-YING and DE-HAI spot that both SIN YUNG and PAK-LUN are lying on the floor in an austere room, but LIAN-YING stops DE-HAI from rescuing PAK-LUN, leaving him to die from poisoning. DE-HAI goes to a temporary bamboo framed theatre, requesting the owner to return CHAN FOOK's silver ingots, which was acquired from selling the imperial treasures secretly.

DE-HAI has taken good care of SIU-CHAI, who feels so bored that she intends to adopt a child for killing time, but is objected by DE-HAI. At midnight, while a large group of potential candidates rush into the palace, waiting for the emperor's selection, Emperor TONGZHI instead makes all sorts of excuses in avoidance of the participation.

Emperor TONGZHI decides to confer BAO-YIN as his empress, which is faced with CIXI's objection on all kinds of grounds. Refusing to bend to CIXI's will, Emperor TONGZHI insists that LIAN-YING and SAM-SHUN should help him make BAO-YIN his empress, leaving the two in a dilemma.

After leaving the palace, LIAN-YING moves to the South Region of the Yangtze River and stays with DOR-SANG, who persuades LIAN-YING to make up with SIN YUNG. Emperor TONGZHI suddenly gets too sick to leave his bed, and is preliminarily diagnosed of having smallpox by Dr. SUEN and Dr. LO.