In the eleventh episode, "Out of Two, Make One," the secrets of the rear palace begin to unravel. It all starts when Maomao delivers a letter from Consort Gyokuyou to Lady Fengming. This seemingly mundane task quickly evolves into a profound conversation, revealing the impending departure of Consort Ah-Duo from the palace—a move shrouded in unspoken truths.

Maomao confronts Fengming with her characteristic sharpness, bringing up a tragic event from the past—the complications during Consort Ah-Duo's childbirth. She uncovers a personal connection: her father, Luomen, was the attending physician on that fateful night. The conversation brings a heartbreaking truth to light: Ah-Duo's loss of her uterus and the death of her child were the result of a delayed medical response, a decision that has haunted Fengming ever since.

The guilt Fengming carries is palpable. She confesses that she inadvertently caused the death of Ah-Duo's child by feeding it honey, unaware of its lethal effects on infants. This revelation paints the picture of a woman tormented by her past actions, desperately trying to conceal this tragic mistake from Ah-Duo.

The plot thickens with the involvement of Consort Lishu. Maomao concludes that Fengming poisoned Lishu's soup to protect Ah-Duo and keep the truth about the honey hidden. Lishu's knowledge of the dangers of honey for infants posed a threat to Ah-Duo, one that Fengming could not ignore.

Fengming's later confession and self-sacrifice highlight the complex dynamics of loyalty and guilt within the palace walls. She turns herself in and resolves to face the consequences of her actions to preserve the secret and Ah-Duo's peace.

In a poignant scene, Maomao shares a reflective moment with Ah-Duo, who is about to leave the palace. Ah-Duo muses about her past, her role as a consort, and the profound loss of her son, offering a rare glimpse into her inner world.

Maomao proposes a shocking theory: the possibility of a baby swap between Ah-Duo and the Empress Dowager. If this theory holds true, it would unravel many of the palace's secrets, including the emperor's deep connection to Ah-Duo and the precarious situation of his younger brother.