In the Forbidden City, eunuch Yao Shuangxi wanted to escape from Xihua Gate, but was arrested by the eunuch Peng Sanshun of the respect room, and Sanshun anger sent Shuangxi to prison in the respect room. On the other side of the room, the eunuchs of the palaces gathered in the respect room to wait for the distribution of money and food. Everyone happily withdrew the money and food and left, but Jingren Palace’s money and food were tragically deducted. The eunuch Li Lianying asked the eunuch who sent the grain and learned that everything was done by Sanshun. Lian Ying and Ling Tianshou went to the Xingfang to find Sanshun and asked them to understand that Sanshun relied on Chen Fu, the uncle of the director of the house, as a backer, and drove away Lian Ying and Tianshou by bullying.

Chen Fu took the lead for Sanshun and took all the minions in Jingren Palace to the respect room for detention. Tai Wan vowed to ask Cixi to seek justice for herself. When Prince Gong saw that the foreign envoys were leaving China, he had no choice but to go straight to the Taimiao, and wanted to discuss with Cixi and Ci'an about buying foreign guns. At this time, Wan Tai and Dehai hurriedly rushed to her and pointed at the Jingshifang to bully her widow. The two queen mothers immediately summoned Chen Fu, Lianying and others to the Changchun Palace for questioning. Cixi took the opportunity to criticize Sanghuai in front of Prince Gong, implying that Prince Gong did not want to arrogate power.

Wan Tai's concubine knelt down at the Foreign Minister of the Changchun Palace, and vowed to meet Cixi's side. Ci'an couldn't bear the suffering of Wan Tai's concubine, and urged Cixi to meet her with her. Tai Wan was able to tell Ci'an and Cixi the pain of loneliness in the palace, but Cixi still insisted on not letting Tai Wan leave the palace and return to her hometown. Wan Tai was sad and desperate, she fell to the ground and wept bitterly. De'an sympathized with Tai Wan, but Cixi proudly said that if she does not cut the grass and roots, the person who can listen to politics today may already be Tai Wan, not the Queen Mother.

Shuangxi took medicine to treat Yilan, who was suffering from conspiracy, but the maids evaded as soon as they heard the name, making Shuangxi feel baffled. After double happiness, she finally found Yilan near the wall. Yilan was surprised that Double happiness really gave her a decocting medicine as promised. Yilan liked the kindness of Double Happiness, and gradually became friends with Double Happiness. Yilan took Double Happiness to the tower to see the world. When Double Happiness saw the world outside the Forbidden City, she couldn't help feeling a moment of sorrow. When Cian visited Zhongcui Palace, he discovered that there were maids embroidering flower shoes in private, and the maids eagerly informed that Cian was Dehai’s private business.

Yilan went to the imperial pharmacy to find Double Happiness, and Double Happiness gave her the decoction to take, but she took advantage of the double happiness and discarded the decoction. Yilan wanted Double Happiness to accompany her to the Imperial Garden to find the fire meteor, so she lied that she had fallen on the road and asked Double Happiness to find her for her. When Yilan saw Double Happiness, she was obsessed with medicine, and asked him why he didn’t learn medicine from the imperial doctor. Double Happiness bluntly said that only the honorary room can be called to learn medicine from the in-house teacher.

Cixi looked at Lianying with admiration because of her pleasurable wife. Dehai also repeatedly urged Lianying to work in the Changchun Palace, but Lianying was unmoved. Lian Ying knows the truth about companions and tigers, and he still hopes that he can live in peace. Seeing that the two disciples were arguing about this matter again, Duo Sheng sent them away angrily. Qian Rong often felt nauseous and nauseous in her chest because she was pregnant, and everyone in Jingren Palace finally realized that she was pregnant. Everyone knew that Qian Rong was about to leave the palace and resolutely made a concealment for her so that Qian Rong could leave the palace safely

Cixi and Prince Gong made a bet that they would leave the bicycle at the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Although the palace ladies and eunuchs knew that they would receive generous bonuses after they learned how to ride, no one dared to try to learn to drive. When Tian Shou learned of this, he was ready to move, but with a pun in English, he persuaded Tian Shou not to get involved in the vortex of the fight between the Queen Mother and Prince Gong.

Everyone at the cleaning place learned that Emperor Tongzhi was coming, and immediately cleaned the place to welcome the holy driver. When the Emperor Tongzhi first arrived in the noble realm, he disliked the eunuchs who were covered in stinky sweat and spoke ruthlessly to them, and everyone had no choice but to laugh bitterly. Emperor Tongzhi was young and ignorant, and did not concentrate on cleaning the garden. Aji and others were afraid that the queen mother would blame them, but they did not dare to persuade the emperor, so Lianying had to do this hard work.

Lian Ying and Sanshun found that Emperor Tongzhi could not be found, and they were shocked to find them all. When the two found the imperial dining room, they suddenly heard that someone had fallen into the well, and Lian Ying was so anxious to jump into the well to save others. Fortunately, he realized that it was just a false alarm. Lian Ying and Sanshun ran to chase the figure of Tongzhi Emperor to Donghuamen. Sanshun thought that Tongzhi hid in a carriage and stole out of the palace, and immediately went out of the palace with Lianying to look for the emperor's whereabouts. Lian Ying didn't know where to start looking for the emperor's shadow, but Sanshun could find the place to go with the name of the treasure on the carriage, which made Lian Ying feel strange.

He Shuo met Sanshun near the tower and learned that Sanshun was the eunuch who caused Shuangxi to lose his job in the imperial pharmacy, and took revenge on Shuangxi's behalf. He Shuo asked Sanshun to carry her back and forth on the stairs of the tower, making Sanshun panting like a cow in pain. He Shuo made it clear to Sanshun that he would stand up for Double Happiness, but Sanshun didn't dare to oppose the princess, and was panicked in his heart.

Cian worried about Prince Gong’s safety and stayed up all night to pray for blessings in the Taimiao, hoping that Prince Gong would recover soon. After Cian learned the news of Prince Gong's awakening, he was even more happy to visit him immediately. Yu Yu confirmed that Prince Gong was only infected with wind chill and not smallpox, and everyone finally felt relieved. Seeing that Prince Gong was ill and still joking and talking about state affairs with Cixi, a feeling of neglect suddenly came to his heart. Ci'an was frustrated and uncomfortable, and she drank her sorrows in the bedroom, and Mother Su couldn't help but feel her heart sinking when she saw her in her eyes.

Lian Ying ordered Double Happiness to go out of the palace to buy sandalwood for Cixi's daily life. Unexpectedly, He Shuo took this opportunity to secretly go out of the palace to have fun with Double Happiness. He Shuo's arbitrary actions forced Shuang Xi to walk side by side with her. The two took a break in the tea room by the lake. He Shuo was very happy drinking and chanting poetry, and shared the secrets in their hearts with double happiness. Even though Shuangxi understands that He Shuo has affection for him, he never dared to bring each other closer.

Ci'an asked Prince Gong to continue to serve for the court, but Prince Gong felt frustrated and did not want to help Cixi any more. Ci Ankou honey belly sword, secretly smiled in his heart that Cixi finally lost his powerful loyal minister. Prince Gong recalled the secret discussion of the British envoy, Mr. Wilson, and knew that as long as he agreed, the British soldiers would support him to seize the Qing imperial power, but Prince Gong did not want to be a traitor in the eyes of the world. When Sanshun visited Chen Fu, he caught a glimpse of the private meeting between Chen Fu and Dehai. Sanshun felt uneasy about this. Sanshun told Lianying that Dehai and Chen Fulian became a party, and Lianying was very nervous.

Cian ordered Shuangxi to be executed, Sanshun went to the cell to deliver the last meal for Shuangxi, and then planned to kill him. Shuangxi informed Sanshun of the murder of the Queen Mother, and Sanshun insisted that he had offended the Queen Mother. He was no longer qualified to intervene in other matters. Double Happiness knew that he was about to be killed, so he didn't ask for it. He just wanted He Shuo to live well and be satisfied. Sanshun felt sad to see the open-mindedness of Double Happiness.

A court struggle made Cixi physically and mentally exhausted, and Cixi suddenly realized that none of the officials and close relatives around him were credible, and she couldn't help but sigh. After the fighting subsided, Cixi offered rewards to the eunuchs and court ladies who had rescued her, and everyone was very happy about it. Dehai and Lianying's position by Cixi's side became more and more important, and Sanshun had to ask them for help in order to save his uncle Chen Fu. Chen Fu performed three kneeling and nine worship services in Taimiao for atonement, hoping that the queen mothers of the two palaces would forgive her fault.

Since Ci'an poisoned Cixi, Cixi has always been on guard against Ci'an, which made Ci'an very uncomfortable. Ci'an wanted to rehabilitate with Cixi and would like to let Tongzhi live with Cixi, but Cixi didn't want to invite others to talk about it, and refused Ci'an's kindness. Prince Gong and Ci'an met on a narrow road, but unfortunately the two people were grieving about being forced to live in the palace. Prince Gong expressed his loyalty and clearly stated that he would help the two queen mothers as usual. Ci'an proposed to Cixi to rebuild the Old Summer Palace. Cixi was afraid of spending official money, so Ci'an volunteered to reduce food for three years to help repair the Old Summer Palace.

After Cixi learned of the shocking secret, she was heartbroken. She never thought that her husband would disregard his love and leave a secret edict that could put her to death. Knowing everything, Lian Ying expressed sympathy for Cixi's experience. Cixi felt that she was exhausted from fighting alone, and she couldn't help feeling very disappointed. Fortunately, Ying Lian sent charcoal to solve the problem, so that he can continue to control the ruling and opposition parties. Prince Gong was impeached by some officials from the court, but he did not take it seriously, thinking that he was clear and he ignored him.

Lian Ying and Dehai found that Buren and Qian Rong were both lying in the shabby room. To help Qian Rong escape from Buren's claws, Lian Ying took action to prevent Dehai from rescuing Buren and let him die by poisoning. Dehai and Lianying worked together to destroy the dead body, and Lianying was grateful for Dehai's help. Qian Rong survived the catastrophe, still feeling guilty for killing Buren, Lian Ying comforted her, and finally calmed Qian Rong. Dehai went to the theater to find the owner of Chen Fu's private sale of national treasures. The boss thought Chen Fu had lost his power and refused to transfer the silver to Dehai for collection.

Although Dehai took good care of Xiaochai's life, it was a pity that Xiaochai was still not satisfied, and proposed to adopt a child abandoned by his friend in order to find an heir for Dehai. When Dehai saw the child, he immediately evoked his identity as an eunuch. He was very resistant to the child, and Xiaochai was not allowed to adopt it. Xiaochai understood the thorn in Dehai's heart and had to discard all the children's supplies and send the child away. Dehai Yuelianying and others gathered together and gave everyone a silver ticket. It was even clearer that Fengxiu had a woman to be drafted in the palace and asked everyone to plan for it.

Tongzhi chose Baoyin as the queen, and Cixi opposed it for various reasons, which made the emperor very unhappy. Tongzhi knew that Cixi opposed him marrying Baoyin as the queen, all because of Ci'an, but because he could not accept Cixi's unreasonableness, he finally had a big quarrel with her. Lianying and Sanshun mistakenly collided and became the emperor and Baoyin's old man under the moon. He was even more worried about offending Cixi, and both felt uneasy. Tongzhi refused to give in and insisted that Lianying and Sanshun help him establish Baoyin as the queen. The two couldn't help but be in a dilemma. Dehai agreed to assist Tongzhi.

安康因私藏「千杯飲」被帶回敬事房受嚴刑拷問，連英哄安康供出「千杯飲」的銷售地點。德海得安康的消息，帶齊人馬到小教堂內拘捕傳教士。德海直罵傳教士妖言惑眾，但傳教士堅稱「千杯飲」功效神奇，確能令太監們的肉莖重生。小釵獨守空房常悶悶不樂，德海每有離宮的機會即趕回大宅陪伴她。德海知小釵不安於室，想起了傳教士的一番說話，有所盤算。 雙喜力勸　和碩回宮 慈禧召見雙喜，把和碩夫君病逝一事相告，更指出和碩離開了將軍府後不知去向。雙喜思前想後，再次回到昔日與和碩暫住的小屋，果然發現和碩躲藏於此處。雙喜得知和碩身懷六甲但身子虛弱，遂勸和碩回宮調理身體。慈安自責因作孽害慈禧而招來不治之症，和碩出現對慈安勸勉一番，令她對生命重燃鬥志。 同治親王　連成一線 連英花銀両查找恭親王近年家中所發生的大事，得知恭親王與兒子關係並不好，更慨嘆恨鐵不成鋼。連英與三順精心安排恭親王與同治見面，更教導同治如何應對恭親王，果然令恭親王答應助同治娶寶音作皇后。恭親王親自找慈禧商談同治大婚一事，直指慈禧因不願讓出權位而一直拖延皇上婚事。慈禧與恭親王據理力爭，恭親王只有用密詔一事迫慈禧就範，令她氣結不已。同治得悉慈禧讓步令他可與寶音成親，不禁高興得心花怒放。 連英勸諫　慈禧息怒 慈禧得知恭親王能與同治連成一線全因是連英所為，因此連英被召到長春宮見慈禧。連英為求自保，只好硬著頭皮向慈禧勸諫。慈禧經連英提醒才意識到自己執著令同治反感，連英言之有理使慈禧怒氣全消。同治如願以償，終與寶音共結連理，紫禁城內外均喜氣洋洋。寶音乘坐大紅花轎隨宮女太監嫁入宮門，經過大

太和門外，連英、德海、三順、雙喜與添壽為完成了皇上的大婚而高興不已。眾人兄弟同心在宮中的勢力可謂一時無兩，如魚得水。恭親王認為皇上已大婚，慈禧理應歸政於同治，但慈禧還是認為同治處事未夠成熟，未肯撤簾。慈禧故意要同治在恭親王面前處理政事，恭親王親眼看見同治在議政之事上猶豫不決，終亦認同慈禧的決定。寶音成為皇后之後前往探望慈安，慈安特意提醒寶音是大清的元配皇后，沒有人可以廢后，寶音感激慈安的提點。 慈禧安排　英蓉對食 倩蓉急忙找連英告知他，官員陳大人要娶她為繼室，連英一臉茫然不知如何回應倩蓉。慈禧召見連英與倩蓉兩人，倩蓉不禁大表不安。倩蓉指情願留在宮中侍奉慈禧也不願嫁給陳大人，慈禧明白其心意，遂打發眾人離去而與連英單獨對話。慈禧提議連英與倩蓉作對食夫妻，連英卻表示未敢有此想法，慈禧勸連英回去後細細思量，但連英反而更感迷惘。 連英倩蓉　期盼成親 連英把慈禧所說的話告知倩蓉，倩蓉見連英始終未肯落實彼此的關係，心中有氣。添壽向三順等人提及連英與倩蓉對食一事，德海認為連英不應只顧自己感受，而辜負倩蓉的情義。德海亦打算與小釵成婚，給她一個名分，眾人聽後替德海感到高興。連英知倩蓉惱自己，於是好言哄回倩蓉，更向她暗示答應慈禧賜婚對食一事，終令其笑逐顏開。連英看見倩蓉滿足的表情，開始對與她成親一事有所期盼。 德海大婚　不敢張揚 朝中各大臣聽聞德海將要成親一事，即爭相送禮籠絡，添壽私自代德海一一收下。德海見各式禮物送到大宅後，大感錯愕。德海怕張揚婚事會惹來麻煩，本吩咐添壽退回賀禮，但小釵卻雀躍地表示要風光出嫁，德海只有順她意

和碩服用了雙喜調製的安胎藥後滑胎，此事驚動了兩宮太后。慈禧明白雙喜為保和碩性命才出此下策，但無奈雙喜始終有罪，只好將他收押監牢再作定奪。和碩從慈安口中得悉滑胎全是雙喜安排，傷心得痛哭起來。慈安用心安慰和碩，指出雙喜所做的一切全因為雙喜對她仍未忘情。連英到牢房探望雙喜，雙喜將多年來對和碩魂牽夢縈的淒苦向連英訴說，連英才恍然明白雙喜對和碩的愛意未減半分，不禁動容。雙喜早把生死置諸度外，連英坦言和碩雖然傷心，但決不會不明白雙喜的心意。結果一如連英所料，和碩寬恕了雙喜害她滑胎之罪，令雙喜不至人頭落地。 慈安部署　巧施離間　 　 慈安接見雙喜，藉和碩寬恕了他一事，乘機將和碩在將軍府之生活情況告知雙喜。雙喜得悉和碩與丈夫生活得絕非情投意合，不禁對和碩更為憐惜。慈安與寶音相聚，得知寶音被慈禧嫌棄，即訓示她要學習如何做一國之皇后。寶音把慈安教誨銘記心中，不再對蘭軒等妃嬪容忍，決心以皇后之身分管理後宮，以圖同治能專心政事。 慈禧感慨　撤簾退位 連英陪慈禧趕往早朝，卻在大殿外遇上同治。慈禧遙望看見同治冒雨進殿上朝，感到兒子在不知不覺間成長了不少。慈禧決定該讓同治學習一人臨朝聽政，好為同治接掌政權而作準備。慈禧因同治的上進而感安慰，忽然興起到文淵閣一遊之念。慈禧看到同治所繪的「三口同堂圖」後感慨萬千，竟有意撤簾退位。同治與三順到文淵閣，得悉慈禧欲還政於他時，高興得向慈禧承諾必會以國家社稷為重。 德海辱罵　添壽懷恨 德海偷服「千杯飲」已一段時間，可惜還是未見肉莖重生，傳教士仔細為德海診斷，直指德海已長出鬍子，身體狀況開始改善，

慈禧雖撤簾，但仍放不下家國大事，擔心同治未能控制群臣。慈禧要心腹黨羽每次早朝後到長春宮，把皇上所議之事再覆述一遍。當她得悉同治在留洋學生的問題上猶豫不決時，即找倭仁草擬諭旨迫皇上蓋印。慈禧所為等同遙距操控同治，各官員雖感不妥，亦不敢逆慈禧心意。同治對慈禧的專橫大感不滿，於是找慈安大吐苦水。慈安一面開解同治，一面提議他重修圓明園，好令慈禧高興。同治興致勃勃地草擬了重修圓明園一事，寶音提點他修園要注意之事項，夫妻兩人恩愛非常。 連英苦勸　倩蓉出嫁 倩蓉得知連英教陳大人取悅自己的辦法，氣得立刻找連英算賬，連英竟勸倩蓉下嫁陳大人作繼室。連英坦言對倩蓉沒有愛情的感覺，倩蓉聽後感到一陣傷心。倩蓉不想勉強連英與自己對食，卻表明不會下嫁陳大人，連英見倩蓉的固執，只嘆無奈。夜闌人靜，連英、添壽與雙喜三人急步趕往牢房，原來太監暉在牢房中自縊身亡。添壽指暉死前仍聲稱自己沒有冤枉德海私藏「千杯飲」，連英擔心德海為小釵而犯險，決定親自找德海問個明白。 撞破姦情　德海受辱 德海回到大宅內撞破小釵與戲子鬼混，小釵不想再與德海糾纏下去，決心與他說個明白。德海不想失去小釵，低聲下氣地請求小釵留在自己身邊，小釵忍受不了德海的無能，直指德海不能人道，令他心如刀割，悲痛欲絕。德海再到客棧找傳教士診治，但傳教士已逃之夭夭，才知一切也是騙局。德海在涼亭外遇上連英，連英把雙喜已驗證了「千杯飲」無效一事告知德海，更勸好友放棄小釵。德海執迷地表示只愛小釵一人，連英眼見好兄弟為情痛苦，氣得表示要為德海除去小釵。德海喝罵連英一頓，堅決阻止連英傷害小釵，令連英

慈禧力排眾議誓保德海之人頭，結果同治只對德海貶官與杖責了事。德海、連英、三順與雙喜四人在迴廊與陳福相遇，陳福看見德海被打，心中暢快。陳福勸三順重新歸順自己，即可不究前嫌，但三順選擇了與德海等人共同進退。連英向陳福明言只要兄弟同心，陳福根本不能動搖各人在宮中的地位，陳福聽後卻對連英所言一笑置之。 慈安挑撥　同治慈禧 同治不知自己的判決是否正確，於是找慈安給予意見。慈安指空穴來風未必無因，勸同治分清主子與奴才的關係，不要被奴才的說話所蒙蔽，同治聽後大感困惑，慈安更乘機告知同治，慈禧安排她到熱河養病一事。同治不滿慈禧的專橫，誓要與慈禧理論。 關係親暱　同治誤會 德海死裏逃生，向慈禧叩頭謝恩，慈禧明白德海的痛苦，讓德海伏在她腳下痛哭發洩。豈料，此情此景被同治看見，同治見兩人如此親暱不禁心下一沉。連英等人在御藥房內討論陳福回歸一事，倩蓉認為陳福有備而來，不應與之爭鬥，免得眾人遭殃，但三順與連英卻堅決留在宮中助德海對付陳福，倩蓉氣得七孔生煙。倩蓉未能勸服連英隨自己離開宮廷，只好一人獨自上路，重過新生活。 慈安提議　雙喜私奔 和碩突然決定離宮回將軍府居住，雙喜得知後，立即找和她問個明白。當發現和碩去意已決，雙喜失望不已。慈安私下找雙喜詢問他是否仍然喜歡和碩，雙喜直認對和碩之愛從未減退。慈安大膽提議雙喜與和碩私奔，在宮外雙宿雙棲，雙喜安排好御藥房的事務後，即把要離宮一事相告連英等人。連英追問他離宮的理由，雙喜卻三緘其口。三順見雙喜要離宮，添壽又背叛眾人，感到宮中的勢力日漸減弱而不禁唏噓。德海面對如此情況卻仍未氣餒，誓要

和碩突然昏迷在雙喜懷中命懸一線，但雙喜有感她忘情棄愛而拒絕施救。陳福揶揄雙喜冷酷無情，雙喜痛心自責下立刻搶救和碩性命。陳福得慈安之助，重獲太監總管的身分。慈安成功令慈禧與同治帝關係決裂，更希望自己的壽命能延長，好能看到慈禧悲慘的下場。慈禧為救德海，紆尊降貴地向慈安求情，慈安恨意難平，直問慈禧這麼多年來可有對她動惻隱之心，慈禧無言以對。連英與三順到牢房探望德海，連英安排讓德海偷走出宮，德海雖感激連英好意，但卻拒絕離開皇宮。德海只要求連英為他安排再見慈禧一面，連英與三順聽後大感疑惑。 德海發難　被判斬首 長春宮內，德海穿上整齊太監服伺候慈禧吃飯，兩人既傷感又難過。連英與侍衛在外守候時，忽聞德海大罵慈禧，眾侍衛立即將德海拿下。慈禧怒火中燒，直指德海口出狂言誣諂兩人有姦情，將德海判處斬立決，連英震驚得不知所措。添壽為雙喜安排了禁房讓和碩醫病，雙喜決心要令和碩從昏迷中轉醒。德海被推出午門斬首，但他死前仍大罵慈禧。三順以為德海因失心瘋而有此異行，但連英卻感到另有內情。連英見慈禧得悉德海已暴屍菜市時眼泛淚光，即斗膽向慈禧問明一切。連英心情沉重地離開長春宮，即與陳福狹路相逢。陳福勸連英審時度勢加盟自己陣營，連英眼見添壽跟在陳福身後，氣得一手揪出添壽重重教訓他。連英與三順前往拜祭德海，卻看見憔悴的雙喜在德海憤前拜祭，不禁氣得把雙喜趕走。 意興闌珊　欲離皇宮 雙喜將陳福以和碩性命要脅自己一事說出，但連英與三順仍不原諒他。慈禧召見連英揭穿他企圖離開皇宮的計畫，連英無言反駁，只求慈禧恕罪。慈禧怒斥連英一頓後，更直言要連英一輩子也留

連英離宮後往江南水鄉與多生同住，過著寫意的生活。多生知連英對倩蓉仍然掛念，遂勸連英找倩蓉重修舊好，但連英有感虧欠了倩蓉，而沒有勇氣與她相見。倩蓉在市集內開了一賣包小店，但倩蓉製包的手藝差而未能吸引食客再次光顧，生意不景。站在遠處偷望的連英看見倩蓉的包無人問津，不禁眉頭大皺。同治帝突然患病至不能起床，皇宮上下大為憂心。孫御醫與盧御醫初診後判斷皇上患上天花，慈禧與寶音聽後感晴天霹靂。眾人皆明白天花無藥可治，更會傳染，但慈禧愛子心切，日以繼夜照顧同治帝。三順見各人無計可施，遂提議找雙喜斷症，寶音因此下令三順到御藥房找雙喜。 慈禧照料　生病同治 三順在禁房內找到正餵和碩吃藥的雙喜，三順十萬火急要雙喜前往救皇上，但雙喜卻充耳不聞。三順沉不住氣指和碩已如同廢人毫無知覺，要雙喜隨自己先拯救同治，但雙喜仍一言不發。雙喜走到御藥房的藥櫃執取同治帝所需的藥材，吩咐三順帶往救同治帝，他更直言憑他的推斷皇上並非患上天花。同治帝服藥後幾天已漸見病情好轉，慈禧與寶音終放下心頭大石。同治帝清醒後得知慈禧日夜照顧自己，大為感動，母子關係漸有改善。三順再到御藥房找雙喜，竟發現他廢寢忘餐地調查古籍醫書，希望找出讓和碩甦醒之法。三順見雙喜執意要醫治好和碩，亦只好支持他。 連英倩蓉　終成眷屬 同治帝在城樓上外望，慨嘆未能外出一窺老百姓的生活，其後皇上要求三順帶他偷偷離宮視察民情，三順大感難為。連英在江南的街頭聽見說書人大說皇宮故事，不禁掠過一絲懷念。倩蓉的包子店突然湧來客人搶購包子，令她大感意外。倩蓉趕到多生的居所後，看見有大籮包子放在桌上，即明

三順因曾看見和碩的手指揮動，所以相信雙喜能把公主救醒。雙喜打算以猛藥刺激和碩，但因過程危險，必須有人長時間注意和碩的身體狀況。三順決意助雙喜把關，讓他專心一意醫治和碩。連英與倩蓉夫妻同心合力打理包子店，終令生意好轉起來，倩蓉渴望的平靜生活終能如願以償。倩蓉與連英返家途中，發現一被遺棄的嬰兒，倩蓉見棄嬰可憐遂將他帶回家欲收養。翌日，倩蓉在店內逗玩嬰孩時，嬰孩的母親出現，更執意要取回兒子。倩蓉不捨交還嬰孩，但連英卻不忍見孩子與生母骨肉分離，勸倩蓉放棄。多生聞得嬰孩父親走前的一句話，即決定游說棄嬰的生父母放棄撫養，把嬰孩轉送給倩蓉。 添壽公然　頂撞寶音 添壽為籠絡皇上，特意帶一群打扮艷麗的歌姬妓女入宮侍奉同治帝，寶音在迴廊遇上眾人，怒責添壽要他把眾女帶走。添壽公然頂撞寶音，勸她閒事莫理。添壽的所為令寶音怒不可遏，陳福聞聲而至，嚴斥添壽一頓以平息寶音怒氣。陳福知添壽背著自己中飽私囊，更暗中籠絡皇上，即警告添壽不要妄圖雀巢鳩佔。慈安忽然召見添壽，慈安得悉添壽慫恿皇上夜夜笙歌，不但沒有責怪添壽，更吩咐添壽務必盡心陪伴皇上吟風弄月。添壽得慈安作後台，即顯露出狼子野心。添壽見慈安被病魔折磨，即獻計找雙喜來為她治理病情。 和碩身亡　雙喜報仇 雙喜發現和碩的身體突然抽搐，慌忙為她施針救命，這時添壽帶手下出現，要求雙喜前往鍾粹宮為慈安診治，雙喜不肯就範。添壽為在慈安面前領功，不惜強行押走雙喜，置和碩性命不顧。三順一時間不知所措，只好代雙喜守候在和碩身邊。雙喜在慈安面前發狂似的表示，要是和碩喪命必會與慈安玉石俱焚。慈安得悉自己累和

書生康有為的一番家國言論，令連英改變初衷，願意隨三順回宮協助慈禧撥亂反正。倩蓉心知連英未能忘懷德海之死，亦只好讓連英回宮為前事作個了斷。倩蓉答應在江南等候連英歸來，連英感激倩蓉的體諒。寶音無力勸諫同治帝，只好求助於慈禧，希望她能阻止皇上終日縱情女色。慈禧對同治帝心死，指不想再理會同治帝的事，寶音聽後只有黯然離去。添壽成了同治帝身邊紅人，更恣意帶皇上出宮尋歡。寶音力阻皇上出宮，同治帝發難大罵她多管閒事，令寶音傷心。太監寧到牢房內探望雙喜，希望勸服雙喜為慈安治病，更免受牢獄之苦，但雙喜堅決要慈安陪葬，以慰和碩在天之靈。 慈安康復　雙喜震驚 雙喜計算著慈安的死期，認定慈安時日無多，一直期望聽到慈安歸天的消息。慈安派人召見雙喜，雙喜忽見慈安面色紅潤精神抖擻，不禁呆然。慈安冷笑指雙喜斷症不準確，向他耀武揚威一番。雙喜無法解開慈安病愈之謎，心中悲憤莫名。慈安特意要留下雙喜性命，好讓他能看自己如何風光。雙喜在牢房內被添壽虐待，變得半活不死。雙喜直問添壽如何為慈安續命，但添壽卻三緘其口。陳福突然被慈安調去為先帝守陵，即明白一切都是添壽從中作梗。陳福到敬事房找添壽晦氣，但添壽對陳福已毫不懼怕。添壽氣燄囂張地奚落陳福，更將他推倒地上。陳福深深不忿地找慈安問明一切，慈安竟偏幫添壽而捨棄陳福，直指添壽所做的一切皆是她所允許，陳福駭然驚覺慈安之狠毒。慈安告誡陳福要安份守己，令他明白自己大勢已去，頹然敗走。 添壽招攬　連英投誠 連英與三順趕回紫禁城欲盡快營救雙喜，兩人剛步入皇城，即見添壽前來相迎。添壽假裝一臉誠懇地向連英細說自己的成就

同治帝認清了慈安的真面目，決心與她劃清界線。慈安的計畫未能成功，對慈禧與同治帝更感憎恨。連英與三順立下大功，更獲皇上讚賞，但雙喜仍記掛陳福的事情。三順明白雙喜欲殺陳福替和碩報仇，只好跪地求雙喜放陳福一條生路，讓陳福離開皇宮。雙喜一臉豁達地表示連英與三順兩人可原諒他所犯的過錯，所以他亦能原諒陳福，三順聽後大感放心。陳福出宮後在山路茶寮遇見雙喜，雙喜邀陳福喝茶閒談。陳福看淡一切只想安度晚年，當他坐在船上迎風離去之時，忽然一陣心痛，陳福就此暴斃。慈禧得知連英收養了一孩兒，更已與倩蓉做了夫妻，替連英感到高興，連英笑言待同治帝重掌政事後，慈禧也可退政享福。 朝上議政　不支倒下 同治帝朝氣勃勃重新上朝，寶音看見皇上發奮圖強亦大感欣慰。恭親王見同治帝在朝上身體不適，不禁擔心，但同治帝堅持繼續議政，令恭親王對他另眼相看。直至退朝時，同治帝終體力不支倒地，眾大臣甚感驚訝。多名御醫初診後都為皇上的的病而議論紛紛，眾人認為皇上患上天花，慈禧聽後心下一沉。雙喜獨排眾議，認為同治帝的病可以醫治，慈禧於是把醫治皇上一事交給雙喜處理。孫御醫與盧御醫私下與雙喜討論皇上病情，兩人均認為同治帝並非感染天花，但雙喜一口認定確診無疑，更要求兩人按他的吩咐醫治皇上。慈安半夜夢迴看見和碩與自己說話，驚醒過來，即吩咐蘇嬤嬤與添壽為她找來福壽膏以鎮痛。添壽見連英重得權勢，怕他秋後算賬，乘機哄慈安為他加官位以與連英抗衡，結果慈安大怒更把添壽趕走。添壽思前想後，還是決定向連英投誠。添壽詭辯在東太后身邊只為助連英一臂之力，搜集陳福與東太后勾結的罪證。連英見添壽死

全紫禁城上下嚴加控制宮中的疫情，連英忽然想起病發的宮女來自鍾粹宮，恍然明白雙喜落力協助的原因。連英急忙趕到鍾粹宮找雙喜，只見各太監在派發防疫用的麻黃湯。慈安的宮女收到麻黃湯後，立刻呈上給慈安服用。連英把雙喜要謀害東太后之事告知三順，隨即看到大批宮女在喝麻黃湯後辛苦慘叫，連英立即阻止各人服用麻黃湯。慈安幸運地在最後一刻知道麻黃湯有毒沒有喝下，更妄言說雙喜沒法加害到她。雙喜功虧一簣，打算迫慈安吞下麻黃湯，卻又被連英等人捉拿。連英指雙喜不應該為報仇，而將自身的性命也不顧，雙喜堅持世上有果報，亦需要他親自去執行果報，連英感眼前人已不是他所認識的雙喜。 慈安要求　連英護胎 寶音向恭親王說出慈禧撕毀同治帝所立的遺詔，希望恭親王同情自己而施以援手。恭親王深明慈禧為人，只好婉轉勸寶音不要與西太后作對。寶音見恭親王不慍不火更是著急，在恭親王面前不慎露出了奪權之野心。原來慈禧早著先機，把寶音迫同治帝立遺詔一事告知恭親王，令恭親王認定是寶音興風作浪，而拒絕幫忙。慈安找連英與三順，把寶音已懷有龍種一事說出，兩人又驚又喜。慈安希望連英能盡心盡力照顧有孕的寶音，確保她肚內的胎兒不會被西太加害，連英聽後忐忑不安。慈禧得知寶音曾找恭親王後大怒，與寶音再起爭執，永寧不懂如何處理，只好找連英解圍。慈禧以寶音干政為由，派人將她軟禁在房間內，寶音傷心得以淚洗面。慈禧怒責寶音自恃有龍種而囂張跋扈，連英不禁回想起慈安的說話，亦恐慈禧會加害寶音，不禁心中發毛。慈禧果然如東太后料，吩咐連英令寶音滑胎，連英不敢違命，只好戰戰兢兢地把藥送給寶音，可惜最後連英還