Despite Maomao's supposed coldness towards others, she does have a heart of gold, as she'll do her best to help people with medical problems. Even with Lihua's servants treating her badly, she doesn't stop to cure Lihua (then again, this also came from the Emperor's order too).
Unlike many works that showcase harem battles with consorts in vying for power, the main Consorts from the Emperor's harem all seem to get along (aside from the face powder incident where Lihua slapped Gyokuyou) and seem to be decent people who treat their servants well. The only cases where a power battle struggle comes is not from them, but mainly from their servants!
Gyokuyou's servants are very nice and welcoming to Maomao coming into their service.
Maomao's friendship with Xiaolan. While Maomao claims that she sees Xiaolan as a tool, it's still obvious that she cares for the girl in a way and there are several moments where she acts like a big sister to her, such as sharing snacks with her and teaching her how to write.
Later on, Shisui joined them and helped Xiaolan to make connections. While she also used the bath for spying, her friendship with both of them seemed genuine.
In contrast to how she is around most other characters, Maomao is affectionate towards her adoptive father Luomen and smiles a lot more around him. There are also several points in the story where she's wondering about his wellbeing.
Consort Fuyou reuniting with her lover and childhood friend after he returns from his military service. In the anime, there's even a montage featuring the two of them.
Maomao nursing Lihua back to health, which results in the consort showing favoritism to Maomao later on. While this was an order from the Emperor and being mistreated by Lihua's servants because she came from Gyokuyou's palace, Maomao resolves to heal Lihua (and also, so her head doesn't come off). Maomao was one of the main reasons Lihua tries to make an effort to recover her health. Due to her deep depression with her son's death, she wanted to die, Maomao acknowledges she could have stopped eating but doesn't because she wants to live. Lihua thinks about her infant son and realizes she does want to live. Maomao smiles.
After Lihua recovers, Maomao expects for her to start mistreating her, but instead, the consort treats her kindly and later pats her on the head after taking a rest. She knows Maomao is trying her best to help her and is obviously grateful for helping her recover. That's the Wise Consort for you.
Later, they meet again and Lihua gives her a hairpin to signify to Maomao if she ever wants to work for her, despite coming from her rival's palace. Her maids' looks say it all.
In contrast to how Lishu is bullied by her own maids, Ah-Duo instead acts like a mother figure to her and treats her kindly.
Back when the Previous Emperor was still reigning, Ah-Duo made sure to spend a lot of time with Lishu so that he couldn't lay a hand on the younger consort.
In addition, the argument between their maids happened because Ah-Duo's were scolding Lishu's for picking out clothes to try and embarrass their mistress.
Maomao decides to spend a few days back at the pleasure district before returning to the palace, and then returns home to see Luomen, who affectionately snarks that she's late.
During a tea party between Gyokuyou and Lishu, Maomao notices that the latter consort is very reluctant to eat the snacks the former provided due to them containing honey and that her ladies-in-waiting are secretly mocking her for it. Maomao then informs Gyokuyou about this, who decides to give Lishu some different snacks so that she doesn't feel uncomfortable anymore.
Ah-Duo's servants being extremely loyal to her to the point they would sacrifice themselves for her, despite her influence being small due to being unable to give birth and losing her son.
The genuine love the current Emperor has for Ah-Duo. The man has loved her since they were young and wanted to make her his only wife and also to fulfill her unserious wish of becoming Mother of the Nation. Even after losing the ability to give birth, he continues to still love her to this day, with no women replacing her. Even after making his favorite, Gyokuyou, his Empress, he goes to Ah-Duo for advice-seeking than his "wife".
Despite Ah-Duo losing her ability to give birth, the Emperor allowed her to keep her position as Pure Consort due to a genuine fondness of her. When she does step down from her position, the Emperor gives her a villa so that she can retire comfortably.
That one scene with the young Emperor who was the Crown Prince then, holding onto Ah-Duo's hand, looking at her and their child with a small smile. In the present day, you don't see him being present for one of his concubines after they've given birth, but he does love his children and care for his women. Maomao is genuinely surprised because he is seemingly lustful, that he only had one concubine then. It goes to show how much he loved Ah-Duo back then and if she didn't lose her fertility, maybe she would have been made Empress and potentially Empress Dowager as he wanted to make her his only wife.
After Jinshi pays off her debts to Grams, Maomao spends the day packing so that she can begin her work at the palace again and receiving encouragement from Meimei, Pairin, and Joka. When she returns home for the night and goes to bed, Luomen tells her that she can come home anytime she wants. Maomao then thinks to herself that while she doesn't have a mother, she has her dad, Grams, and the courtesans at the Verdigris House as her family.
The blacksmith case in the manga ended up in open note, as Maomao decided it is up to the youngest son whether to share the secret recipe. Next panel showed the youngest son became successful unlike his brothers, which imply he chooses to keep the inheritance alone.
However, in episode 16 of the anime, the youngest brother reveals to his older brothers who believe their deceased father had preferred him due to being the only one with any craftsmen talent that their father had praised his older sons' talents in other aspects and cared for them all equally. This declaration finally allows for the brothers to reconcile like their father's will wished, and the older sons decide to use their strengths to support the family in their own way while the youngest inherits their father's craft.
After Maomao saves Jinshi from the assassination plot, she wakes up in Jinshi's room, as he wanted her safe and close after the incident. The anime adds in a scene where he walks out of the shrine, carrying Maomao, in front of a crowd of officials who may or may not know who he actually is, to get her to the doctor himself.
Lakan reuniting with Fengxian. Even though Fengxian's appearance and mental state have deteriorated due to syphilis, Lakan still finds her beautiful and redeems her. Additionally, despite Maomao's dislike of him, she allows him to be with her mother, the woman he loves, even though she wanted him to pick Meimei, so the latter would become happy.
Normally, a punishment for rebellion would include an entire clan being executed, including women, elderly and children. However, Jinshi fulfilled Loulan's wish to spare her clan's children. Thus, Maomao ended up with a younger brother figure to look after.
