In the first year of Kangzhou, the Emperor ascended the throne and deepened policies to suppress the aristocracy, sparking the conflict between the scholars and the military. At that time, harsh officials were rampant, and the Right Chancellor was accused by these officials for dreaming of the rebel Prince Yuhuang, Yuko, ascending to the throne at the Zhandian Hall. This incident caused an uproar in the court, leading the common people to fear even mentioning dreams. However, the physician Ye Ping’an took a different approach. She appeared under the rain with a plain white dress, holding a red umbrella adorned with cloud patterns, with a string of hollow copper bells hanging from the handle. People avoided her like the plague, and women warned children that her bells could steal their souls. On the street, a man named Hu from Manggou suddenly had a seizure, and he was suspected by the court’s censor, Li Jun, to be part of Prince Yuhuang’s rebellion. Ye Ping’an intervened, explaining that Hu was a soldier who had fought under General Wu against Shudan, but despite this, Li Jun killed Hu on the spot.
Many blamed Ye Ping’an for Hu’s seizure, besieging her clinic, demanding she leave the capital or they would burn it down. Unfazed, Ye Ping’an used minor tricks and threats to scare off the crowd. Yuan Shaocheng, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, had heard of this witch in the capital and watched the scene unfold with disdain for Ye Ping’an, who he believed was swindling money from the people with witchcraft. The Dragon Gate Match was being held at Longmen Field, where commoners from Manggou fought for the entertainment of the nobles, with the winner gaining freedom from their low status and land. During the match, twin brothers were fighting, and Zheng Yuan, an official, and Zeng Xuan, another official, were watching, betting on the white team, but the red team won, leaving Zheng Yuan irritated.
Xu Qing, the Director of the Ministry of Revenue, was tasked with collecting military funds, reporting to Deputy Minister Du Liang that he had collected 85,000 taels, which would reach the capital in less than four days, claiming only 80,000 would be reported. Zheng Yuan, suffering from insomnia, sent his maid Xin’er to invite Ye Ping’an to his mansion. Ye Ping’an agreed only after receiving a hefty payment. She treated without taking the pulse or discussing symptoms, claiming to read dreams through her bells. She induced Zheng Yuan to sleep briefly to see his secrets, sensing his murderous intent but feigned ignorance of the woman’s face in the dream and the content of a letter. Zheng Yuan’s hostility subsided, and Ye Ping’an suggested long-term treatment.
Yuan Shaocheng wanted to strike a deal with Du Liang, who looked down on him due to his low birth. Ye Ping’an was later chased by assassins, barely escaping. She overheard the killers mention “Master Lang,” realizing Zheng Yuan was behind it. She sneaked into Zheng’s mansion at night to find Zheng Yuan dead. The butler, seeing Ye Ping’an with the corpse, screamed in panic. Yuan Shaocheng took charge of the case but didn’t investigate thoroughly, stating Ye Ping’an’s confession was irrelevant since she was already considered dead in his eyes. Rumors about Zheng Yuan’s murder spread, reaching the Emperor, who instructed Wu Xian’er, a scholar, to bring Ye Ping’an to Zhandian Hall.
Ye Ping’an defended herself, using her medical skills on Yuan Shaocheng but did not reveal his true hatred for authority, instead fabricating an excuse to deceive the Emperor. She was given a day to find the real murderer to clear her name. They discovered Zheng’s servant, Xiao Quan, dead, and Xin’er, whose real name was Lu Danxin, was missing. Unbeknownst to them, Lu Danxin and Ye Ping’an had planned this to frame Du Liang for killing Zheng Yuan, making Ye Ping’an the scapegoat. Zheng had written an accusation letter exposing Du Liang’s embezzlement of 5,000 military taels, which he entrusted to Zeng Xuan, instructing him to deliver it to a trustworthy person if he died.
Zeng Xuan evaded those sent by Ye Ping’an and Lu Danxin, delivering the letter to Yuan Shaocheng, who, after promising to bring him to the Emperor the next day, killed Zeng Xuan.
Episode 2: Dreaming into the Holy City, Winds of Change Rise
Cailian follows Zeng Xuan and loses him on Chang Le Street. Ye Ping’an knows which officials’ residences are on Chang Le Street and deduces that Zeng Xuan must have entered the Yuan Mansion. Cailian then goes to spy on the Yuan Mansion to see when Zeng Xuan will come out. Du Liang’s embezzled 5,000 military funds bear a mark, so he will definitely melt them down and recast them. Ye Ping’an’s aunt, Gu Erniang, obtains a map through Lao Gui and locates Du Liang’s silver melting factory in a mountain hollow ten miles east of the suburbs. The silver melting factory is key evidence against Du Liang, and Ye Ping’an needs her aunt’s help to get Lao Gui to find people to keep watch on it. In front of Du Liang, Yuan Shaocheng burns Zheng Yuan’s letter of accusation to gain Du Liang’s trust, obtaining the Qi Tai D workshop from Du Liang’s adopted son, Qi Junshan. As for Ye Ping’an, Yuan Shaocheng believes she must be dealt with completely.
Ye Ping’an wakes up from a nightmare; Gu Erniang’s calming incense, used for years, can’t even cure her nightmares. Initially, Gu Erniang left a peaceful life in Wu Xiang and allowed Ping’an to engage in these dangerous activities with Dan Xin because she knew only Ye Ping’an could resolve her inner conflicts by carrying out the plan. The next day, Cailian rushes back to inform Ye Ping’an that Zeng Xuan has been killed by Yuan Shaocheng. This was the only variable in Yuan Shaocheng’s meticulous plan, and it might prevent Ye Ping’an from obtaining evidence in time, leading to her wrongful imprisonment. Qi Junshan arranges for an indignant scholar, Guo Yi, to cause trouble at the Anxin Pavilion to distract Ye Ping’an.
Qi Junshan leaves himself open to Zhongshu Sheren Wu Xian’er, who, upon learning of the trouble at Anxin Pavilion, immediately has Yue’er inform the Minister of Personnel, Hai Yiping. Hai Yiping goes to handle the situation; Ye Ping’an, held hostage by the irate Guo Yi, calms him with reason and emotion, leading to Guo Yi dropping his weapon and crying. Afterwards, Ye Ping’an pleads for Guo Yi, showing Hai Yiping her skill in managing people’s emotions. This incident turns misfortune into fortune for Ye Ping’an, earning her Hai Yiping’s recognition through both luck and courage. Before the six hundred beats of the evening drum end, Ye Ping’an gets Guo Yi’s register and enters the palace, overcoming the objection of being late by the palace staff.
Guo Yi had argued with someone the day before about the time; his register proves the night watchman deliberately delayed reporting by half an hour, which was actually at the start of the Rat hour, while Zheng Yuan was killed during the Pig hour. Ye Ping’an also presents Zheng Yuan’s confidential letter, previously swapped with a forgery. She knows the Li and Wu families are at odds, and even if the Emperor receives the letter, he might think it’s Wu’s scheme against Du Liang, not easily concluding the matter. Moreover, Du Liang is deeply rooted in the Li family, and one letter alone isn’t enough to convict him, but it can make the Emperor view Ye Ping’an in a new light. Now, if she can somehow inform the Ministry of Justice about the silver melting factory, she can plant seeds of doubt in the Emperor’s mind, achieving her goal.
The silver melting factory is soon sealed off, but the silver has already been moved, and Du Liang isn’t worried, believing it to be the work of the Mei Party. Yuan Shaocheng suspects Ye Ping’an is not ordinary but hasn’t uncovered her background, not even her aunt Gu Erniang’s family register. At this moment, someone reports that 80,000 military funds were robbed en route to the Holy City, their whereabouts unknown. The courtesan Nishang and her subordinate Jin Fuzi perform a play to test Ye Ping’an’s capabilities and to seek cooperation. Through the young nobles seeking pleasure at Wanguo Xiang, Nishang can gather much information, like the case of the Tongquan Censor. Ye Ping’an agrees to cooperate without hesitation.
