Set in the final years of the Qing Dynasty, the story follows Rong Er, a commoner who enters the palace as a lady-in-waiting. Her talent for cooking earns her the favor of Shouxi, an experienced maid who takes her in as a disciple. But when Shouxi is murdered by a eunuch, Rong Er is pulled into a dangerous palace conspiracy. With the help of Li Qi, a loyal palace guard, she sets out to uncover the truth and investigate the theft of national treasures.