The end of the year arrives and Ruoxi attends The Lantern Festival with Qiaohui. At the festival, they meet Yinxiang who is with Luwu and the four of them go to enjoy some food and drink where they meet Yinti and the other princes. Seeing Ruoxi with Luwu, Yinti feels that Ruoxi is lowering her status and quickly takes her to Yinsi. Yinsi tells her of Ruolan's past, which leaves confused Ruoxi wondering whether he has feelings for her or takes her for her sister's replacement. Thanks to the efforts of the princes, Ruoxi has not yet been selected as an attendant. Several of the concubines state their desire to have Ruoxi serve them but the empress, not wanting to offend anyone, sends her to be a tea serving girl to the emperor himself. As a rookie, she is cautious but with her modern era smarts she gradually gains the confidence of the emperor and soon appointed as the lead tea server. During discussions concerning an issue with the heir, the emperor commands that the younger princes speak. The simple-minded Yin'e puts forth his opinion, but inadvertently disrespects Yinzhen. To help him save face, Ruoxi spills tea on him stopping him from speaking further. This is witnessed by the senior eunuch Li Dequan who warns her not to involve herself in such matters. Yinti, however, thinks she has designs on Yinzhen and warns her not to betray Yinsi. Ruoxi later coincidentally meets Yinzhen who tells her that in the future she is welcome to come to him if she ever has any problems.
