The Purple Palace: Tutor Yi

In the twenty-third year of Yong'an, the new emperor Xiao Che defies convention by appointing the newly minted third-ranked scholar Shen Qingci as tutor to the crown prince. This woman, whose brilliance lies carefully concealed, is in truth the daughter of Shen Zhixing, the former tutor who died unjustly. Carrying an old case with her, she enters the palace’s political maelstrom. She is both a pawn used by the new emperor to balance the court and the player directing her own revenge.

Within the Eastern Palace, she must tame the unruly Crown Prince Jingyan and contend with attacks from every side. The powerful minister Wei Yong sees her as a thorn in his side and hopes to use the war with the Northern Di to bring down General Liu and Consort Shu, undermining the crown prince’s position. Consort Su of the Xian rank seems gentle, yet is remarkably guarded about the late empress’s past. Even Xiao Che, who promoted Shen Qingci, conceals both complicated feelings for the late empress and deep-laid schemes.

From confrontations in the Golden Hall to archery trials on the hunting grounds, from medicinal dregs in the Imperial Medical Office to old tales from the Palace Service, Shen Qingci uses her wits as armor and advances carefully through the narrow gaps in the court’s power struggles. She protects the crown prince, investigates the late empress’s death, and joins forces with Consort Shu and the old guard to cut a path to justice through the fog.

When the secret of the twin-fish pendant comes to light and old and new grudges intertwine, her game has long since grown beyond revenge. She must clear her father’s name and keep the crown prince safe, but also bring clarity to the realm and fight for fairness for women amid the power struggles of the Zichen Palace. And the elusive bond between her and Xiao Che will ultimately become the variable that stirs the winds of change…