Well at the very least the empress dowager seems to be on her side, that should help.
I really want to know who that "assassin" is since he didn't seem like a bad guy to me.
kick all the concubines. I don't believe in poly relationships when the many are women LOL cuz women are sneaky more than men. I will be ok with many husbands cuz just one or two will be clever enough and want to fool the rest......so kick all the female concubines out from the palace lol.
Our protagonist dresses really simple but the concubine went all out to meet the empress dowager. Does she intend to out shine the empress dowager perhaps?