After giving away the cotton, Yu Miaohua felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
Spending her days binge-watching dramas and reading comics, occasionally visiting close friends among the imperial consorts, she lived a leisurely and carefree life.
The Crown Prince’s return to the palace did nothing to disrupt her comfortable routine. The Eastern Palace was far from the rear palace, and apart from banquets, there were hardly any opportunities for interaction. She only occasionally overheard palace maids praising the Crown Prince for his gentle, jade-like demeanor—how he treated everyone with kindness, making him universally beloved in the palace.
Compared to that, a minor incident left her utterly speechless.
"Another consort fell from a tree?"
Cuiwei also wore a helpless expression. "Somehow, they’ve heard that Your Highness once climbed a tree to pick pears and happened to meet His Majesty. Some now believe that orchard is a lucky place, while others are trying to use it to catch the Emperor’s attention..."
"If those consorts didn’t live in palaces with senior consorts overseeing them, they’d probably be planting rice in their courtyards to imitate you too."
Yu Miaohua felt that even a string of ellipses couldn’t fully capture her emotions.
Cuiwei added, "Some have even approached our palace maids, secretly asking about Your Highness’s makeup style and preferences. It seems they want to copy you."
The maid who was questioned reported it to her immediately. Cuiwei rewarded her with a handful of copper coins.
Yu Miaohua asked, "Did they offer money?"
Cuiwei replied, "They did, but Jin'er refused it."
Yu Miaohua was exasperated. "There’s no harm in sharing things like makeup tips, but they should’ve taken the money! It’s free income—take it first, then report to me afterward."
This could be considered a side hustle.
Yu Miaohua figured such situations were inevitable. Rather than testing her subordinates’ integrity with temptation, it was better to let them earn extra openly.
Cuiwei agreed and began discussing with Qingluo which bits of information could be shared externally.
[Host, you’re amazing! Other female leads usually set trends like peach-blossom makeup or flowing-sleeved dresses, but you’ve started a tree-climbing trend in the palace!]
[Climbing trees is great exercise. Anyway, I’m off to check on my chili peppers and Champa rice.]
Back when she craved spicy food, she had specifically exchanged for chili seedlings and made sure to bring them when leaving the Cold Palace. However, Cuiwei and Qingluo had been too wary to let her eat them—until recently, when she visited the imperial library and claimed she’d seen the plant in a book, confirming it was edible. Finally, she got to enjoy her first spicy dish.
She saved all the chili seeds to continue planting. Apart from the Champa rice, her courtyard was now dedicated to chili peppers. The current batch had just sprouted, and Yu Miaohua estimated they’d bear fruit before the New Year. A hotpot in winter—now that would be satisfying!
Once the weather turned cold, the chilies would need to be moved to the greenhouse.
The Champa rice had already grown leaves, swaying gently in the breeze—a sight that lifted her spirits. The two palace maids assigned to tend the fields were so devoted they practically wanted to sleep beside them at night.
Such dedication! She’d have to increase their monthly allowance.
After strolling around her courtyard, Yu Miaohua returned sweaty and listless. The autumn sun was scorching, and her face had turned red within minutes.
Another day of missing air conditioning. No matter how nice the ancient world was, if given the chance to return home, she’d take it in a heartbeat.
Just as she took a sip of tea, a seamstress from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau arrived to take measurements for her winter outfits. Yu Miaohua’s current privileges matched those of a Noble Consort, allowing her six new outfits per season, all materials provided by the bureau. If she wanted more, she’d have to dip into her personal treasury.
As the Emperor’s current favorite, the seamstresses were exceedingly polite. "What patterns does Your Highness prefer? Any particular styles in mind? Would you like to browse our catalog?"
Yu Miaohua scanned the listed silks and brocades, puzzled. "Cloud-patterned brocade, twill damask, and gold-sprinkled satin aren’t part of my usual allowance, are they?"
The head seamstress smiled. "Your Highness may not know, but these were added by Her Majesty the Empress, sourced from her own treasury."
Yu Miaohua suddenly understood—this was the Empress’s special favor!
Flipping through the catalog, she quickly settled on her preferred colors and patterns. As for the clothing designs...
"You decide. I trust your judgment."
She was fairly casual about fashion, usually wearing whatever Cuiwei and Qingluo picked for her.
Her words, however, sent waves of pressure through the seamstresses. They’d rather deal with exacting demands—at least that gave them clear direction. Silently, they prayed that Consort Yu wasn’t the type to seem easygoing upfront only to nitpick later.
Additionally, Yu Miaohua commissioned four more outfits at her own expense, one of which was urgently needed.
To celebrate the Crown Prince’s return, the Emperor planned a grand banquet. As a Noble Consort, Yu Miaohua’s attendance was mandatory—and as a favored consort, she had to maintain appearances, lest people question the Emperor’s taste.
After selecting court attire, she moved on to jewelry. Her treasury was already well-stocked with exquisite pieces, but since these were part of her allowance, she saw no reason to refuse. Even if she didn’t wear them, they could always be gifted to her attendants.
Compared to clothes, she enjoyed picking jewelry more. She finally settled on:
- A gold hairpin with amber tiger designs
- A silver hairpin with twin fish holding blossoms
- A gold butterfly-and-flower hairpin adorned with pearls
- A gold longevity hairpin inlaid with jade—perfect as a New Year gift for her grandmother, who would surely visit the palace then.
She also chose a pair of gold earrings with turquoise for Cuiwei and gold-wire gourd earrings for Qingluo. Palace maids received two outfits per season, with first-tier attendants like Cuiwei and Qingluo wearing finer silks, while lower-ranking maids made do with hemp and coarse cloth.
Once measurements were taken and selections finalized, the seamstresses curtseyed and departed swiftly—they had many other palaces to visit. Before they left, Cuiwei discreetly passed them pouches: a gold nugget for the head seamstress and silver ones for her assistants.
Yu Miaohua kept a box of gold and silver nuggets, along with embroidered pouches, specifically for such gratuities.
After some thought, she told Qingluo, "Everyone’s worked hard lately. Later, sort through my treasury and distribute extra silk and gauze so each maid can have two additional outfits."
Qingluo agreed immediately. The news spread, filling the palace with joy—especially among the lower-ranking maids, who often had their monetary rewards confiscated but could keep clothing. Fortunately, Yu Miaohua had Qingluo enforce strict oversight to prevent such bullying in her quarters.
In the following days, Yu Miaohua stayed quietly in her palace, not even visiting the library or the Pavilion of Virtuous Fragrance.
With both Champa rice and cotton successfully acquired, she felt she’d already contributed to the common people’s welfare—enough to justify her transmigration. Now, her motivation to complete tasks waned, and she was ready to laze around again.
Slacking off brought her joy. In her past life, she’d pushed herself too hard—right into an early grave.
Yu Miaohua completely ignored the system's constant nagging for her to go out more often to trigger new missions. When it became too annoying, she simply muted it, only turning it back on when she wanted to watch dramas.
...
The royal banquet was scheduled for the twenty-first of September, held in the square before the Chengtian Gate.
Yu Miaohua was curious—what if it rained today? The venue was outdoors, after all. Apparently, the date had been chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
[System, can’t you guys roll out a weather forecast feature? I’d be willing to spend a point every day just to check it.]
If modern times had weather forecasts, surely the system wasn’t so useless that it couldn’t manage something so basic?
[Once you reach Level 2, a weather forecast function will appear in the bottom-left corner. Host just needs to become a true Noble Consort to upgrade~]
She shouldn’t have bothered asking! The system never missed a chance to push her into grinding for progress.
Yu Miaohua climbed out of bed—she might as well get up and change.
As she sat before the bronze mirror, the system’s triumphant laughter echoed in her mind.
[The royal banquet is about to begin! This is host’s first appearance before the imperial clan, and first impressions are the most lasting. Main Mission 1.4 has been triggered: You shall be the most dazzling brilliance at the banquet. Host must leave an unforgettable first impression with a unique and striking presence, seizing the initiative (￣︶￣). Reward: Blueprints for a cotton gin and a treadle spinning wheel.]
[...System, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?]
Yu Miaohua was so furious she could practically puff up like a blowfish.
Today’s banquet was primarily to welcome the Crown Prince back to the capital, meaning he and the Empress would naturally be the center of attention. Yu Miaohua knew full well that if she dared to steal their spotlight, she’d earn nothing but resentment from both of them—especially with that smug emoticon the system had used. It reeked of sarcasm.
If the system had a physical form, she would’ve stuffed it into a sack and beaten it senseless.
[Missions are automatically triggered by the backend. A weak, helpless Level 1 system like me has no control over it. Host should just accept reality~]
Yu Miaohua had no intention of completing this mission—she wasn’t stupid. The only redeeming quality of this palace intrigue system was that skipping missions didn’t incur penalties. She’d just leave it untouched.
As for the spinning wheel... she could binge a few more historical dramas. Maybe she’d stumble upon one in a scene somewhere.
She could even ask the system to recommend dramas about textiles. Given how dim-witted it seemed, it probably wouldn’t catch on to her scheme.
So this mission wasn’t worth doing anyway!
Yu Miaohua made up her mind instantly.
Of course, she still pretended to be angry with the system on the surface.
Seated at the dressing table, she let the palace maid Xuemei apply rouge and powder to her face.
Xuelan had been sent by the Emperor two days prior. While Cuiwei and Qingluo were decent at simple makeup, anything more elaborate was beyond them.
Yu Miaohua specifically requested a natural look—preferably one so subtle it seemed like she wasn’t wearing makeup at all.
Her features were already striking; too much makeup would make her appear overly aggressive. The clothes and accessories she’d initially picked also needed adjustments to avoid upstaging the main guests.
The professionals sent by the Emperor were truly top-tier. Even when Yu Miaohua scrapped her original plan last-minute, they immediately proposed a new ensemble.
Makeup application was a lengthy process. Yu Miaohua endured two full hours in front of the bronze mirror before it was finally done.
During that time, she only nibbled on a few pastries to stave off hunger, barely drinking any water for fear of needing a bathroom break. She nearly choked on the dry bites.
Cuiwei held up the bronze mirror, gushing endlessly, "Your Highness, you look absolutely breathtaking."
Though not as sharp as modern mirrors, the bronze reflection added a soft, dreamy filter to her appearance. Yu Miaohua had to admit—she looked ethereally beautiful, like an actual fairy descended to earth. No matter how foul her mood, seeing such a stunning version of herself instantly lifted her spirits.
Pleased, Yu Miaohua casually rewarded Xuelan with a gold ring and stretched her stiff limbs. Sitting for so long had left her back sore.
The banquet was set to begin at 3 PM, and Yu Miaohua arrived a quarter-hour early.
To maintain a low profile, she had deliberately chosen an elegant, understated look—her hair adorned only with a mutton-fat white jade hairpin, small pearl earrings, and a matching white jade bracelet. It was refined enough to suit a favored consort’s status while exuding grace and charm.
The other concubines, however, had gone all out—elaborate hairstyles, exquisite makeup, and lavish outfits. A gathering of beauties surrounded by even more beauties—it was a feast for the eyes.
Yu Miaohua couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Being Emperor must be amazing.
The seating arrangements for the consorts had long been finalized, and palace attendants respectfully guided Yu Miaohua to her seat.
Shortly after she settled in, several high-ranking consorts arrived one after another.
They greeted her with polite, practiced smiles.
Yu Miaohua scanned the room—Consort Xu was absent. Of course, she was still under a month-long confinement and wouldn’t be released until the month’s end.
Consort Gu was missing too.
Come to think of it, both women had been punished because of her.
In less than a month since leaving the cold palace, she had single-handedly taken down two concubines—a record worthy of Great Qi’s imperial hall of fame.
Each consort was accompanied by their children, giving Yu Miaohua a chance to see all the imperial offspring except the Crown Prince.
The current Emperor had four sons and two daughters. The youngest, the Fourth Prince, was just four years old—dressed head-to-toe in red, round and adorable like a lucky money pouch. The Second Prince, sixteen, bore a strong resemblance to his mother, Consort Xian—though where she was gentle and demure, he carried a sharp, almost rebellious air.
When Yu Miaohua first entered the palace, she had been placed under Consort De’s care, so she was more familiar with her two children. The Fourth Prince was shy, preferring solitary play, while his elder sister, the Second Princess, was lively and sweet-tongued, her coquetry capable of melting hearts. Earlier, when Yu Miaohua sent them butter crisps, the Second Princess had personally come to thank her—and "accidentally" wrecked a peony in the imperial garden as a return gift.
[Host, look how adorable these children are. Don’t you want one? With a child, we could unlock the Future Wise Emperor side quest and earn tons of rewards.]
[No. I’m not even seventeen yet—back in my past life, I’d still be a minor.]
Though she didn’t understand why the Emperor, despite doting on her, had never summoned her to his chambers, Yu Miaohua was perfectly content with the status quo and had no desire to change it.
Next came the imperial clan of Great Qi. They had arrived half an hour early and were ushered into a separate palace to rest until now, when the eunuchs led them in.
This was Yu Miaohua’s first time seeing these royal relatives.
The emperor had strained relationships with most of his brothers, as those princes were said to have caused him no small amount of trouble in the past. After ascending the throne, the emperor sent all of them—except for the youngest, Prince Zhao—to their respective fiefdoms. Currently, only the three princesses and Prince Zhao remained in the capital. These individuals had stayed out of the previous dynasty's succession struggles, and the emperor treated them with considerable favor. Their sons were guaranteed at least the title of marquis, while their daughters were granted the title of county princess. It must be said that being a princess in Great Qi was quite comfortable. For instance, after the death of Princess Jiayan's consort, she kept several male companions. As long as such affairs didn’t escalate into public scandals, the imperial family turned a blind eye.
The invited guests included Prince Zhao, the three princesses, and the emperor’s uncle, Prince Yong, all attending the grand banquet with their families.
Yu Miaohua sat quietly among the guests, sensing subtle gazes lingering on her. She lowered her head, pretending to sip tea, determined to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
Consort Zhang, her long-time ally in culinary indulgence, quietly leaned in and whispered, "I heard Beauty Concubine Zhao has been practicing a dance tirelessly, just waiting to shine today."
Yu Miaohua had long noticed that Consort Zhang’s sources of information were unusually well-connected. Through her, she had learned much of the palace gossip.
"What kind of dance?"
Consort Zhang shook her head. "Rumored to be an ancient, long-lost dance. She’s kept it tightly under wraps."
Yu Miaohua smiled. "Then we’re in for a treat today."
One distinctive feature of Great Qi’s banquets was that hosts and guests, when inspired, might spontaneously take the floor to perform. The late emperor, for example, had been fond of dancing—though not particularly skilled at it—forcing his audience to praise him through gritted teeth.
Upon hearing this, the system in her mind began bouncing around frantically.
[Ahhh, host! Your rival has appeared! You can’t lose to her!!]
[Completing this mission will bring us one step closer to leveling up, and we’ll even get the blueprint for a treadle-operated spinning wheel!]
[You must be the most dazzling star at this banquet! Why not exchange for the "Rainbow and Feather Garment Dance" skill? I refuse to believe she can top that.]
Yu Miaohua manually rejected the suggestion. The skill cost 1,000 points and was time-limited—a terrible deal.
The system began spamming mission prompts relentlessly.
Yu Miaohua was utterly exasperated, but she had already used up her daily quota for blocking the system.
At that moment, Pei Lingyue arrived alongside the empress and the crown prince. His gaze immediately sought out Yu Miaohua—not because her beauty made her stand out, but because the deity named "System" was flooding her mind with notifications.
A glint flashed in Pei Lingyue’s eyes. A new mission had appeared?
The new task required Consort Yu to become the most unforgettable presence at the banquet?
Simple. As the Son of Heaven, his favor alone could make anyone the center of attention, even without lifting a finger. Compared to previous missions—like confining a consort or confiscating his uncle’s property—this one was practically a free gift.
In high spirits, Pei Lingyue instructed a eunuch softly, "Consort Yu dislikes alcohol. Replace her wine with floral tea. And have the imperial kitchen prepare her favorite pastries."
The bustling square instantly fell into silence.
The other members of the imperial family had vaguely heard rumors of the emperor’s new favorite but dismissed them as exaggerated. Witnessing it firsthand, however, they realized the rumors were true. The emperor had barely arrived before showering his beloved consort with attention. Such devotion!
Yu Miaohua, who had been striving for obscurity: "..."
If she ever met an untimely end, the emperor would undoubtedly be an accomplice. He was practically a professional at painting a target on her back.
Wait… That handsome youth behind the emperor—could he be the legendary crown prince?
Admittedly, the crown prince was strikingly handsome, though he bore an uncanny resemblance to a scandal-tainted celebrity from her past life—albeit a far more refined version.
[Wow, the crown prince is even more eye-catching than the Second Prince. The imperial family’s genes are truly impressive—everyone’s so good-looking!]
[System has detected potential romance targets: the crown prince, the Second Prince, the Duke of Pinghuai, the Marquis of Xuan…]
[Which one does the host prefer? Or we could pursue them all! As the protagonist of a palace intrigue novel, our horizons shouldn’t be limited to just the emperor. Name one harem drama where the heroine only has romantic subplots with the emperor!]
Multiple romance routes meant more points and energy, allowing it to purchase its coveted skin sooner.
Yu Miaohua’s silence was deafening.
[...I think you’re trying to get me killed!]
Pei Lingyue sat at the highest seat of honor. The moment he settled in, his eyes sought out Yu Miaohua—after all, he had always been more invested in her missions than she was.
Then he saw the deity enthusiastically encouraging Yu Miaohua to pursue romantic entanglements with other men—men who included not only his sons but also his nephews? How could he tolerate this?
Pei Lingyue suddenly broke into a coughing fit.
