Pei Lingyue's sudden coughing instantly drew the attention of everyone present.
The Empress asked with concern, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Should we summon Imperial Physician Zhang for an examination?"
Imperial Physician Zhang was primarily responsible for the Emperor's health and never left his side during family banquets.
Pei Lingyue remained composed and replied indifferently, "It's nothing. Just a bit of wind caught in my throat."
Seeing that his complexion appeared normal—aside from the faint flush from coughing—the Empress felt slightly reassured.
Yet Pei Lingyue's gaze lingered subtly on Yu Miaohua... He couldn't help but regret not granting her a higher rank sooner. At this distance, it was still somewhat difficult to clearly observe her and System's conversation.
Especially since System often used unfamiliar phrases, forcing him to deduce their meanings from context.
[System: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Only by boldly unlocking side quests and achieving a full gallery of endings can you embrace a radiant future.]
[System: Look at the Crown Prince—elegant, refined, and transcendent. Wouldn’t it be the ultimate contrast to see such a celestial being descend into the mortal world, utterly smitten and restless for you?]
[System: Then there’s the Second Prince—wild and untamed, with eyes always looking down on others. The perfect 'wolf-dog' type! A fiery 'redemption arc' where pride bows to love—wouldn’t that be thrilling?]
[System: And Marquis Pinghuai—heroic, towering, and exuding an aura of security. The silent guardian archetype is many girls' favorite, you know.]
[System: As for Marquis Xuan... Wow, a sunshine-puppy type! My absolute favorite.]
[Yu Miaohua: Cuckold the Emperor? Are you out of your mind or am I?]
[System: But the rewards are seriously generous! The payout is huge!]
Pei Lingyue raised his wine cup, taking a sip to mask his scrutiny of Yu Miaohua.
At first glance, seeing System encourage Yu Miaohua to pursue others had infuriated him. Though he still regarded her as more of a divine blessing, she was, after all, his favored consort in name.
If this were exposed, what would become of the imperial family’s dignity? Worse yet, the candidates System chose were all his juniors—utterly improper. This deity’s methods were far too reckless.
Yet when he heard of the "generous rewards," his anger subsided, replaced by curiosity.
What kind of rewards could they be? If they were on par with Champa rice or cotton...
Pei Lingyue shamefully realized that if the rewards were truly that valuable, he might actually be tempted.
Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua and System’s mental conversation continued. Unaware that anyone could overhear them, she spoke without restraint.
[First, we’re ruling out the Crown Prince.]
[Huh? Why exclude the Crown Prince? He’s so handsome!]
For a moment, Pei Lingyue found himself agreeing with System. Indeed, his Crown Prince was exceptional, a true phoenix among men. Why would Yu Miaohua dismiss him first? Was it because the Crown Prince’s status was too lofty to risk scandal?
[Because he resembles a celebrity I pursued in my past life. Of course, he’s even more handsome and refined than that guy. But that celebrity was a scumbag who juggled multiple women, got one pregnant and forced her to abort, then even sent her an itemized bill demanding repayment! Can you believe that? Just looking at the Crown Prince’s face reminds me of all the money I wasted on that trash—my hard-earned money! I could’ve spent it traveling instead!]
[The others are out too—none of them are my type. As for my type... I’ll let you know when I see him.]
Though she lacked the courage to actually pursue anyone, there was no harm in window-shopping.
Yu Miaohua’s inadvertent revelation stunned Pei Lingyue once more.
"Cough, cough—!"
He broke into another fit of coughing.
Past life? So Yu Miaohua retained memories of her past life? And she had pursued someone who resembled the Crown Prince?
As an emperor, Pei Lingyue saw no issue with having multiple partners. But according to Yu Miaohua, that man had not only spent her money and impregnated other women but also demanded repayment—truly despicable. No wonder she was furious at the memory.
Crown Prince, oh Crown Prince, how could your past self have been such a man?
Midway through his lament, Pei Lingyue suddenly realized—
No, that wasn’t the Crown Prince’s past life. Yu Miaohua had explicitly said the Crown Prince was far superior.
"Father, perhaps Imperial Physician Zhang should examine you?"
Having regained his composure, Pei Lingyue sighed inwardly, giving his son a complicated, almost disappointed look. "No need. The wind merely caught in my throat again. No need for alarm."
Ah, what a shame.
If he had to choose someone—and if the rewards were enticing enough—he’d prefer it to be the Crown Prince.
He averted his gaze from Yu Miaohua, certain no new tasks would emerge tonight.
Pei Chiyan was puzzled by his father’s glance, but the Emperor quickly looked away, leaving him no choice but to suppress his curiosity.
Earlier, his father had seemed to glance repeatedly in Consort Yu’s direction.
Pei Chiyan lifted his eyes briefly, feigning casual observation before looking away.
That fleeting glance was enough to sear Consort Yu’s image into his mind.
She was undeniably a rare beauty. Yet beauty was commonplace in the harem. What set her apart was the lively, almost ethereal grace in her features, making her unforgettable.
But what intrigued him more was this:
Though it was his first time seeing her, her face felt strangely familiar, as if he’d met someone like her before.
Perhaps he’d encountered a relative of hers?
Pei Chiyan quickly suppressed his wandering thoughts.
The imperial family banquet officially commenced.
...
Compared to formal court events, the family banquet was relatively relaxed. Palace maids frequently brought out exquisite dishes.
Perhaps due to the Emperor’s special instructions, Consort Yu’s table was laden with her favorites. Having eaten lightly before leaving her quarters, she wasn’t hungry but sampled a few pieces of smoked fish and wine-marinated chicken.
Performers from the Imperial Music Bureau took the stage one after another.
Dances, folk songs, instrumental pieces, acrobatics... Consort Yu even witnessed a magic show. Every act was executed flawlessly, captivating both her and System.
A sword dance, in particular, won her heart—every leap, spin, and flourish flowed with effortless grace, blending strength and elegance in a way that was utterly mesmerizing.
[System, did you record it?]
[Of course!]
[Good. I’ll revisit this later when I have time.]
Satisfied, Consort Yu decided to have Qingluo reward the performer afterward. In her past life, such world-class talent could only be admired online—never from a VIP seat up close.
Yu Miaohua was thoroughly enjoying herself when Pei Lingyue's voice reached her ears. "Does Consort Yu like this sword dance?"
Caught off guard, Yu Miaohua snapped out of her reverie and offered a faint smile. "This concubine finds the sword dance splendid—full of heroic grace and elegant agility."
Internally, she couldn’t resist complaining to her system.
[Ahhh, why is His Majesty singling me out when he should be focusing on the dance? Today’s protagonist isn’t me.]
[This just proves how deeply he cares for you, Host! His eyes are only on you. With such imperial favor, you’ve already left a lasting impression. This little mission is as good as accomplished.]
Pei Lingyue said coolly, "Since Consort Yu enjoys it, this performer shall be sent to your palace."
Yu Miaohua naturally bowed in gratitude.
Thanks to Pei Lingyue’s gesture, she became the center of attention once again at the banquet.
Princess Jiayan couldn’t help but whisper to her daughter, "The rumors are true."
They had witnessed firsthand the depth of Consort Yu’s imperial favor. The Emperor couldn’t bear to take his eyes off her for even a moment, eclipsing even his usual attention toward the Crown Prince.
While princesses like her had no need to actively court the imperial harem’s favor, befriending the Emperor’s new favorite certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Princess Jiayan had already made up her mind: the New Year’s gifts for Guanju Palace would be increased by another thirty percent.
She wasn’t the only one with such thoughts.
The other concubines, however, were far less composed. They felt like mere background characters in the Emperor and Consort Yu’s grand romance.
Their gazes kept flickering toward the Empress and the Crown Prince, searching for any sign of displeasure. Yet the Empress wore a serene, almost saintly smile, while the Crown Prince seemed lost in thought, idly holding his wine cup. Neither showed a trace of resentment. The concubines couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: these two truly knew how to keep their composure.
The Empress mused to herself: Why are they looking at me? As the Empress, she could hardly stoop to competing with a concubine for favor—it would only invite ridicule. The Emperor could dote on whomever he pleased, so long as her own position remained unchallenged.
Besides, thanks to Consort Yu, the He family had secured the rights to sell rock sugar, ensuring Pei Chiyan would never be strapped for funds.
For that, she owed Consort Yu a debt of gratitude.
So the Empress gestured to the taro stew on the table—a dish made with tender chicken and young taro, a specialty of her maternal family.
"Send this to Consort Yu."
She had noticed during several morning greetings that Consort Yu had a particular fondness for taro-based dishes.
The stew was soon placed before Yu Miaohua, who ate leisurely under the watchful eyes of the court.
A few more experiences like this, and she’d develop nerves of steel.
Both the Emperor and the Empress doted on her so much!
The sword dancer was quickly led away by palace attendants, and the next performance began. The following acts were equally dazzling.
As the banquet neared its end, Beauty Concubine Zhao’s soft voice rang out. "Since entering the palace, this concubine has been showered with kindness by all the noble ladies. Yet I’ve had no way to repay such grace. So, for today, I’ve prepared a dance."
Her luminous eyes turned toward the Empress. A sheer veil covered part of her face, but rather than obscuring her beauty, it lent her an ethereal charm, elevating her allure from seven to nine out of ten.
After all, the imagination often conjures the most perfect visions.
The Empress said warmly, "Beauty Concubine Zhao’s water-sleeve dance once left me spellbound. It seems I’m in for another treat today."
Pei Lingyue gave a slight nod.
Beauty Concubine Zhao glided onto the stage with effortless grace. Accompanying her was a musician from the imperial conservatory—a woman of plain features but exceptional poise.
As the melody swelled, Beauty Concubine Zhao began her dance.
Though Yu Miaohua couldn’t identify the style, it was undeniably breathtaking. Every movement was executed with flawless precision, her figure as graceful as a startled swan.
Midway through, butterflies began fluttering toward her.
One alighted on her hair, unnoticed as she continued her delicate, mesmerizing steps.
When the dance concluded, she bowed gracefully—just as another butterfly settled on her pale veil, completing the picture of otherworldly beauty.
Beauty Concubine Zhao feigned surprise. "Oh! This concubine was unaware..." She blushed. "Forgive my impropriety."
"This must be the legendary 'Butterfly’s Summons'!" Noble Consort Xian exclaimed. "To think Beauty Concubine Zhao has revived a dance lost for over three centuries! Such talent and ingenuity. Only a dance fit for the heavens could make even butterflies pause in admiration."
Beauty Concubine Zhao demurred, "Noble Consort Xian flatters me. I merely had the good fortune to uncover relevant texts—thanks to Ruolan’s assistance."
Pei Lingyue nodded. "Well done. You shall be rewarded."
Beauty Concubine Zhao had clearly put in the effort.
Lowering her eyes, she said, "Knowing my performance pleased Your Majesty and the noble ladies makes every moment of practice worthwhile. But without Ruolan, this dance wouldn’t have reached its full potential. Might this concubine exchange her reward for Ruolan’s release from the conservatory?"
Asking for favors outright would seem too calculating. By securing Ruolan’s freedom, she’d not only gain a loyal choreographer but also showcase her selflessness to the court.
She hadn’t entered the palace to remain a mere Beauty Concubine. Her ambitions stretched far higher.
[Host, she’s stealing your spotlight! If the Emperor grants her request, you won’t be special anymore! Your mission will fail!]
Yu Miaohua remained unperturbed.
[Let her have it. She danced beautifully.]
[Those butterflies were lured by sachets! And she didn’t even recreate that dance herself!]
Faced with the imminent loss of rewards, the system panicked, expending energy to uncover the truth.
[Ambition and cleverness aren’t crimes. Even if she used tricks, her hard work was real. We should accept defeat gracefully.]
Her system nearly short-circuited at her host’s laid-back attitude.
[Waaah, my energy…!]
[Fine, here’s a five-point red packet. Stop crying.]
Yu Miaohua handed over the points she’d drawn earlier, sparing herself an eternity of system whining.
Of course she knew Beauty Concubine Zhao had cheated—but so what? No one was harmed, and everyone’s eyes were blessed. If she had the skill to climb, more power to her.
Yu Miaohua let go without a second thought.
Pei Lingyue, however, couldn’t let the prize slip away.
Gifting a person? Stealing Consort Yu’s thunder? Unacceptable! He had to ensure Yu Miaohua remained the star of the evening. Beauty Concubine Zhao wasn’t asking for a reward—she was asking for his life.
After a brief pause, he instructed a servant, "Fetch Ruolan’s deed of ownership."
Ruolan kowtowed in gratitude.
Beauty Concubine Zhao’s eyes shimmered with emotion. "Your Majesty…"
Then Pei Lingyue continued, "I’ve heard Ruolan excels in composition and has mastered ancient dances. Guanju Palace could use such talent."
His indifferent gaze fell upon Ruolan. "Ruolan, would you be willing to go to the Guanju Palace?"
Ruolan was taken aback for a moment before replying, "This servant is willing."
Beauty Concubine Zhao's face paled. It was she who had presented the dance—so why was Ruolan the one being sent to the Guanju Palace by the Emperor?
The Guanju Palace… No matter what she did, was the Emperor's attention always fixed on the one residing there?
At that moment, Beauty Concubine Zhao suddenly understood the bitterness Consort Xu must have felt when she was placed under house arrest.
Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua, who had unexpectedly received a reward out of nowhere: ???
What just happened?
[Wait… why is she being sent here? What does this have to do with me?]
[Damn! The mission is actually completed!! This is blatant favoritism! I get it now—if the Emperor loves you, you’ll always be the undisputed center of attention.]
[Congratulations, Host, for completing Main Mission 1.4—You were the most dazzling presence at the banquet, leaving everyone with the initial impression of "unrivaled favor in the harem."]
Seeing the rewards arrive, Pei Lingyue was delighted. As for Yu Miaohua… she angrily withdrew the red envelope she had sent to the system.
