The Secret Guard Broke into the Eastern Palace

Xiao Cao and her fraternal twin brother Shizhu survived the Great Famine by begging in the capital after their parents perished. Shizhu accidentally enrolled in the Secret Guard camp instead of the palace eunuch quarters, enduring brutal training to earn the right to eat white steamed buns daily. When he suffered severe diarrhea from overeating oily palace food and could not attend his shift, Xiao Cao disguised herself as him to take his place for a single day. Dressed in oversized male clothing and darkening her eyebrows with charcoal, she infiltrated the camp, unaware that female Secret Guards existed.

On her first night of duty, assassins attacked the Crown Prince. Lacking martial arts skills, Xiao Cao protected him by physically shielding him, leading the guards to accuse her of being the notorious imposter Qing Jiu. Upon revealing her true identity as Xiao Cao, the Crown Prince, intrigued by her resemblance to his brother and her unexpected bravery, appointed her as an unofficial attendant with the code name Qing Cao. Her primary role was close protection of the Crown Prince, a position that granted her access to fine silks, delicious food, and a comfortable life far removed from her previous starvation.

While Xiao Cao enjoyed her new status, Shizhu continued his secret duties as a Blue Camp guard, often hiding on beams to protect both his sister and the Crown Prince. The siblings maintained a humorous dynamic, with Shizhu frequently demanding shares of Xiao Cao’s meals in exchange for his protection. The Crown Prince’s favor toward Xiao Cao grew, leading to rumors that she would become a secondary consort. This attention drew the hostility of the Crown Princess, who viewed Xiao Cao as a threat to her position.

A critical turning point occurred when the Crown Prince hosted a banquet at the Prince of Anyang’s residence. Suspecting a traitor within his ranks, he staged a trap by bringing only Xiao Cao as his sole companion. When the Prince of Anyang attempted an assassination, Xiao Cao’s brother, disguised as a maid, revealed himself to capture the traitorous prince. The Crown Prince simultaneously exposed a collaborator within the Red Camp, securing his political position and elevating the status of the Secret Guards.

Following the incident, the Crown Princess plotted against Xiao Cao by sending her drunken cousin to assault her. Shizhu intervened, castrating the cousin in self-defense to protect his sister’s reputation. The Crown Princess, furious at the irreversible damage, complained to the Empress. Consequently, the Empress ordered Xiao Cao to enter the palace under the guise of learning manners, but secretly assigned her to the care of Princess Qingyao, the Crown Prince’s willful and mischievous younger sister, intending for the princess to torment her.

In the palace, Xiao Cao adapted quickly, using her street-smart instincts to entertain and assist Princess Qingyao. Together, they played pranks on rival consorts, including summoning rats to frighten a favored consort and stealing a luminous pearl from the Emperor’s study. Their antics eventually led to the Emperor’s discovery, but the Crown Prince intervened, taking responsibility and protecting Xiao Cao from severe punishment. During this period, Princess Qingyao developed feelings for Shizhu, whom she encountered while he was secretly protecting Xiao Cao.

The story reached its resolution as political tides shifted. Shizhu was transferred from the Secret Guards to the Imperial Guards, where his martial prowess allowed him to rise to the rank of commander and eventually become the top military scholar. Princess Qingyao, having rejected numerous marriage proposals, insisted on marrying Shizhu. The Emperor and Empress, recognizing his merit and the princess’s determination, approved the union, elevating Shizhu from a beggar to an imperial son-in-law.

With her brother married into royalty, Xiao Cao’s status in the Crown Prince’s residence changed. The Crown Prince, revealing his own affection, suggested she could become his secondary consort or even his primary wife, offering her a life of power and luxury. However, Xiao Cao, valuing her independence and freedom, declined the proposal. She chose to leave the palace with a substantial amount of wealth, planning to marry a suitable gentleman of her own choosing rather than remain in the complicated hierarchy of the royal court, ending her journey from a starving beggar to a wealthy, independent woman.