So, I have a tiny complain about Gyokuyou.
I don't think she is a mean girl or deserving of hate, but I just don't like how things proceed extremely smoothly for her compared to the other courtesans.
2 boys were already born from the emperor, but their mothers remained in the harem after their birth for a long time while Gyo somehow was married and became empress immediatly. Ah-duo's "son" and Lihua's as well could have survived with a proper doctor from outside the court if they had been married immediatly.
Her servants are the most competent, loyal and none of them want to mine her (Maomao included) while all the others had troubles either by accident or intentionally (ex: honey's incident and fish/powder/oil's poisoning).
Some accidents happened before Maomao's arrival but all the others from the start of the story weren't really directed at her.

It's a minor thing but it kinda bothers me.