ep 6 spoilers ahead

1.Lu Zhen learns that female officials carry a lot of weight. In the past dynasty if you were above the 5th rank you worked directly with the emperor and even the male prime minister might have to bow his head to you. Women are not as powerful in this dynasty because they have been in charge of a lot of the inner palace affairs/day to day affairs. We also learn that someone with that much power can have a crime personally re-investigated--a.k.a. she now has high goals because in order to get justice she needs power to clear her name and punish her stepmother.

2.Ah Zhan's sister is allowed to return. he tells her that he gave one of her jade pendants to a girl and if that person appears, to detain her for him.

3.Meanwhile, the Dowager Empress is about to hold a big fears. The girls are asked to help make shoes. Lu Zhen helps the girl who was beaten (Ah Bi's former buddy). Lu Zhen's friend cautions her not to help and look after herself (Lu Zhen is able to help her by coming up with an idea to turn the blood drops on the shoes into bees, gaining her more respect from the ministers)

4.The imperial consort insists she is aware of whatever plots Minister Lou is up to

5.The Dowager Empress is with the emperor and she and the consort trade words. essentially consort is trying to make the dowager look bad by choosing to mourn the late emperor longer, and will wear mourning clothes at her festival. The dowager counters by sharing that she is planning to introduce the emperor to harem girls, from powerful clans (basically that the consort's days as the emperor's favorite are numbered). The imperial consort mocks the young lady brought before her (who happens to have the bees on her shoes...)

6.In a tragic scene we see some hard lessons. Out of kindness, Lu Zhen allows the girl to take the credit for the design she made. The justice minister learns and then a moment later, the girl who said she did the design is dead. Lu Zhen learns from her mentor (yang) that she protected her identity due to the fact that she respected Lu Zhen's gracious behavior of helping someone who wronged her. But she tells her that the lives of the servants are worthless to the powers that be. It seems that the Madame who wore the slippers was mocked, so she killed herself. The person who designed them was executed quietly.

7.Yang (I think I am misunderstanding; i think she is an official, not a minister) then confronts the other woman who has been assisting Minister Wang. She lectures her for being dumb enough to get caught up in a war between Minister Lou and Wang, and tells her in the future, to leave Lu Zhen alone, that she will handle it (I think she is personally training Lu Zhen to be her successor)

8.The emperor is getting drunk. He feels responsible for the Madame Lipin taking her life because of the comments his mistress made. He says he wants to to give him the throne but Ah Zhan swears he is loyal. he drinks medicine meant for the emperor, knowing it is poisoned, in order to solidify his power (it seems he has built up poison resistance?) He maintains that he has gained more sway with the family (i think of the girl who killed herself) and also he has deceived Madame Lou (I can't tell yet if Ah Zhan is plotting to take the throne back...i think he is and is not as nice as he seems. i mean he can't really accept the throne from his brother because it would make him look bad)

9.Lu Zhen feels guilt over the girls death. She tries to burn paper to put her to rest (that's what it looks like) only it causes a small fire. Ah Bi tries to set her up and notifies the higher ups. Lu Zhen is nearly kicked out of the palace but Madame yang stands up for her, once again uses the princess's backing of her to help her, and Lu Zhen's ability to recite some rules all save her. but she is still beat 30 times....

10. meanwhile Ah Zhan learns that Lu Zheng is in the palace (seems she might have another powerful ally)

I gave this episode a 7 because the amount of plots just seems to be dizzying. It is probably true to the time period, I mean people were killed over what seems like trivial matters to us. I need to expand my knowledge of the time period to really comment on this. but i personally feel that the plots are becoming so entangled that I am finding it a bit confusing.

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