"All Episodes Plot Introduction of Ruse in the Palace, Episode-by-episode Plot Introduction of Ruse in the Palace, Watch Ruse in the Palace Online"

In the late Tang Dynasty, after Emperor Xianzong passed away, Empress Guo (played by Snowheart Tse) with the help of powerful eunuch Ma Yuanzhi installed her son Li You as Emperor Muzong. Liu Sanhao's (played by Charmaine Sheh) father, who had supported Emperor Xianzong in favoring his second son Li Yun to ascend the throne, was later punished and exiled to the frontier by Emperor Muzong. His wife, Jiang Caiqiong (played by Rainbow Tin), along with their seven-year-old daughter Sanhao and maid Yao Jinling (played by Fiona Sit), were taken into the palace as slaves. The Jiang family was renowned for crafting exquisite jewelry, and Caiqiong, having been trained from a young age, possessed skillful hands. She was assigned to the Si Zhen department (in charge of jewelry) responsible for completing the final touches on Empress Guo’s phoenix hairpin adorned with pearls used as phoenix eyes.

One early spring day while admiring flowers, Empress Guo used a brazier for warmth. Suddenly, an attendant noticed red wax dripping from the phoenix eyes and screamed that the phoenix was weeping blood. As a result, Caiqiong was severely beaten, and she lost her position at the Si Zhen department. Seriously injured and suffering from a cold, Caiqiong fell gravely ill. On her deathbed, she longed to smell the fragrance of her hometown flowers once more. Determined to fulfill her mother's wish, Sanhao went to a flower tree in the garden, where a flower serendipitously fell into her hands. Just then, Auntie Xu walked by and, without asking for details, accused Sanhao of私自 picking palace flowers and slapped her.

Li Yi (played by Chris Tang), the thirteenth younger brother of Emperor Muzong, witnessed the incident and learned of Sanhao’s kind intentions. Moved by her filial piety, he personally picked a flower for her. Upon returning, Sanhao presented the flower to her dying mother, who felt comforted. In her last moments, Caiqiong reminded Sanhao to adhere to the principles of life: "Do good deeds, speak good words, and harbor good thoughts."