Lingrong and Meizhuang often visit the neglected Zhen Huan. As the new year is approaching, Zhen Huan is sick and unable to attend the Hegong Banquet. She enjoys paper-cutting in Suiyuxuan. Xiao Yunzi thanks Zhen Huan and cuts a small portrait for her. During the banquet, the emperor looked at the plum blossoms in the vase and touched the scene, thinking of Chun Yuan who had passed away, so he went to lean on the plum garden. The queen was worried, so she asked Guojun Wang Yunli (played by Li Dongxue) to quietly follow her and escort her.

Zhen Huan went to Yimei Garden alone and hung the paper-cut statue on the branch. When Zhen Huan prayed for blessings, she recited the phrase "Adversity is as easy as understanding, and it is easy not to destroy", which alarmed a strange man (emperor). Zhen Huan lied that the maid had escaped, and Yu Yinger, a court lady beside her, eavesdropped. Guojun Wang found the small paper-cut statue hanging on the tree, quietly took it off and hid it in his sleeve. The emperor ordered the great eunuch Su Peisheng to find a woman who could match the next sentence of "Against the Wind Rujieyi" for him. Yu Yinger, a palace maid who eavesdropped on the conversation between the emperor and Zhen Huan that night, said the second half of the sentence, and was brought to the emperor by Su Peisheng. The emperor didn't doubt it, and saw that her voice was beautiful and her appearance was not bad, so she was promoted to an official woman.

Mei Zhuang told Zhen Huan that Yu Shi, the court lady who leaned on the plum garden, was favored by the emperor, and Zhen Huan remained silent. Mei Zhuang bids farewell to Zhen Huan, and meets Yu Ying on a narrow road in the long street in the palace where the road is blocked by heavy snow.