Hiding Wit in the Palace, Living Quietly in Plainness
Zheng Lixia, daughter of a poor scholar, joins the palace selection to make a living. Her pickling skills and unworldly nature draw Emperor Li Qicheng’s notice. Amid fierce harem conflicts, Consort Li and others plot against her many times, yet she escapes danger with wisdom and calm. Touched by her purity, Li Qicheng repeatedly offers to make her empress, which she declines. In the end, Zheng Lixia stays true to herself, lifts her family out of hardship, and builds a quiet, happy bond with the emperor.