Feeling the gaze coming from Yu Miaohua’s direction, the Empress couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Her Majesty the Empress Dowager must have been swayed by slander and developed a bias against Yu.
With a gentle smile, she said, "Mother, you no longer favor your daughter-in-law, keeping only Yu Miaohua by your side. May I join you as well?"
Yu Miaohua was deeply moved: The Empress was such a good person—practically the ideal superior! She would support the Empress forever!
Even in her moment of emotion, Yu Miaohua didn’t forget to diss her system.
[System, look at how kind the Empress is! And yet you’re always targeting her? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?]
The system immediately threw out a sticker that read, "Of course not! Because I don’t have a conscience!"
Yu Miaohua: "..."
Don’t tell her the system’s so-called upgrade only added a weather forecast and infuriating sticker function. This upgrade might as well not have happened.
Seeing those lines of text, the Empress Dowager grew even more wary: It seemed not only the Emperor was deeply enchanted, but the Empress as well. Look at how fiercely she was protecting Yu Miaohua!
Outwardly, the Empress Dowager maintained her warm and affectionate demeanor. "Are you afraid I’ll eat her alive? A child like this, I’d only adore her. Whoever you and the Emperor favor, I favor as well."
Just from observing Yu Miaohua’s exchanges with the "evil spirit," it was clear that while the girl appeared obedient on the surface, she was actually quite lively. The palace was full of rigid concubines, and as an elderly woman, the Empress Dowager naturally preferred spirited and lively youngsters. It was just a shame this child was possessed by an evil entity…
With the Empress Dowager speaking this way, the Empress could say no more. She thought to herself that the Empress Dowager had always been kind-hearted, and Yu Miaohua’s personality was endearing—perhaps spending time together would dispel any prejudice.
As for the Emperor, the Empress had no intention of informing him.
As a woman, and one on the cusp of becoming a mother-in-law, she understood all too well: If the Emperor intervened, what had been the Empress Dowager’s minor displeasure would escalate into full-blown resentment.
Surely the Emperor wouldn’t be so tactless?
With another inward sigh, the Empress took her leave with the other concubines who had come to pay their respects.
And so, Yu Miaohua remained in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
The Empress Dowager was no fool. With a cordial smile, she said, "Concubine Hui, come closer to me."
With a glance, she signaled Nanny Zhou to bring an embroidered stool to the couch.
Yu Miaohua curtsied and sat on the stool, her back straight as a rod.
The Empress Dowager picked up a protective charm from the small table. "Take a look—this is a protective charm I obtained for all of you from the Temple of Compassionate Grace."
Yu Miaohua didn’t believe a word of it. The Empress Dowager had left the palace before she had even entered it—if she had sought charms, they would have been for others.
Still, she played along, putting on a touched expression. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager wouldn’t tamper with the charm—she was, after all, the reigning champion of palace intrigue. Besides, Yu Miaohua had her system, which she trusted to detect any poison.
When she took the charm, the system remained silent, confirming her suspicions.
Yu Miaohua made a show of tying the charm around her neck in front of the Empress Dowager.
Seeing Yu Miaohua completely unaffected, the Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered with faint disappointment.
The evil spirit attached to Yu Miaohua was far more formidable than she had imagined.
"Recite a few volumes of Buddhist scriptures for me," the Empress Dowager instructed.
Recite scriptures?
No problem!
Yu Miaohua relaxed, taking the pre-blessed scriptures the Empress Dowager had prepared and began chanting.
As a child, whenever she misbehaved, her parents had punished her by making her copy scriptures.
The Empress Dowager listened as Yu Miaohua recited the scriptures with serene detachment, growing even more disheartened.
The protective charm had failed. The scriptures had failed.
Now, only the White Jade Guanyin remained.
After the recitation, the Empress Dowager spoke again. "Accompany me to the small prayer hall to sort prayer beans."
Yu Miaohua obediently complied.
In the small prayer hall, the White Jade Guanyin statue radiated compassion, its smooth surface glowing softly. The deity’s benevolent gaze seemed capable of purging all evil from the world.
Under its watchful eyes, Yu Miaohua joined the Empress Dowager in sorting the beans. The Empress Dowager was the picture of devotion, murmuring sutras with every bean she picked.
Not to be outdone, Yu Miaohua adopted an equally pious demeanor. Sometimes, elderly folks just needed to be humored.
If Guanyin truly existed, she hoped the goddess would grant her wish to reincarnate back into the modern era in her next life—and make a fortune while she was at it.
Her system, meanwhile, fanned the flames.
[Host, the Empress Dowager is openly tormenting you! She really does despise you! If the Emperor shows up, you should cry—lay it on thick. We can’t let this injustice go unanswered.]
[Stop being so biased. The Empress Dowager is sorting beans too—she’s not targeting me. She just wants company. Can’t be helped—I’ve always been popular with elders. Born likable, I guess.]
As a child, Yu Miaohua had often accompanied her grandmother in such tasks. Elders naturally gravitated toward her. Sorting prayer beans was child’s play—she could even rattle off the Heart Sutra like a nursery rhyme.
To her, the Empress Dowager’s requests were far from torment. This realization eased Yu Miaohua’s initial anxiety. At least she wasn’t being made to kneel on a washboard or endure needle pricks.
The Empress Dowager, privy to the dialogue above Yu Miaohua’s head, felt conflicted: Yu Miaohua truly was a good child—just unlucky enough to have attracted a malevolent spirit.
This evil entity was more formidable than she had anticipated—even Guanyin couldn’t subdue it.
The Empress Dowager resolved to summon a high monk. Until then, Yu Miaohua would remain in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
At least she, unlike her son and daughter-in-law, was aware of the evil spirit’s presence and wouldn’t be deceived by Yu Miaohua’s charm.
...
As soon as the morning court session ended, Pei Lingyue received word: Yu Miaohua, who had accompanied the Empress to pay respects at the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, had been detained by the Empress Dowager.
This was unprecedented.
Upon further inquiry, he learned that his mother had asked Yu Miaohua to accompany her in reciting scriptures. The two had since moved to the small prayer hall to sort prayer beans—a task that had already lasted two hours, with no break for lunch.
His mother had never interfered in his harem affairs, nor had she ever voiced opinions on whom he favored.
Yu Miaohua was usually quite likable—what had provoked his mother’s displeasure?
Just yesterday, after his explanation, the Empress Dowager had seemed to have no further objections.
Pei Lingyue immediately realized: His mother had been pretending for his sake yesterday.
His mind flashed to Yu Miaohua’s mission—wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to complete it?
Without delay, Pei Lingyue changed out of his court robes and headed for the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
The moment he arrived, the Empress Dowager was informed.
The Empress Dowager, advanced in years, had been sorting beans for two hours straight—her back was truly protesting. But if she rested while Yu Miaohua continued alone, wouldn’t that confirm accusations of mistreatment? She refused to give the evil spirit any ammunition, so she forced herself to persevere.
And now her son had actually come—how infuriating!
Did he truly distrust her so? She was his own mother!
"Mother."
The Emperor entered the small prayer hall unannounced, finding the Empress Dowager and Yu Miaohua kneeling on cushions, sorting beans. Yu Miaohua seemed in good spirits, her posture impeccable. The Empress Dowager, however, looked unwell—her face pale, her gaze slightly unfocused.
When she saw him enter, the Empress Dowager’s heart tightened in alarm. "Emperor, what are you doing here? Leave at once! Don’t disturb Concubine Hui and me during our quiet meditation."
Her gaze swept over the other palace attendants in the prayer hall, signaling for them to withdraw. The servants silently retreated, gently closing the small door behind them.
[Host, the Emperor is really here! He’s come to save you! Wow, from now on, I’m his biggest fan! He always appears at the critical moment—this must be what they call a knight in shining armor.]
Yu Miaohua was speechless.
[I’ve been getting along just fine with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Who said I needed saving? He’s just here to pay his respects to her. Don’t overthink it—your imagination is running wild.]
The Emperor looked at Yu Miaohua’s naive expression and didn’t know what to say.
The Yu family’s daughter was still too innocent.
It was obvious that his mother intended to punish her, though for some unknown reason, she had stubbornly insisted on joining in, only to exhaust herself in the process.
For the sake of the mission, Pei Lingyue decided to throw caution to the wind. After all, there were no outsiders in this small prayer hall, and even if his mother’s dignity was slighted, no one else would know.
He sighed. "Mother, let Concubine Hui return. She has been nothing but filial and devoted to you—why must you bully her? You were never this unkind in the past."
The Empress Dowager had not expected her son to enter only to reprimand her, disregarding their bond as mother and son. Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into icy water, the chill spreading from her chest to her entire body, aching terribly.
He didn’t even ask whether she was uncomfortable after picking through prayer beans for so long.
Her lips trembled slightly, and she instinctively softened her voice. "Did you come here just to scold me?"
The most heartbreaking part was that, even now, she felt a pang of relief that she had dismissed the attendants earlier—at least the Emperor’s unfilial behavior wouldn’t be witnessed by outsiders.
Watching the Empress Dowager’s expression, Yu Miaohua inwardly screamed for help.
This wasn’t the Emperor saving her life—this was him signing her death warrant!
Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder—was she really bound to a palace intrigue system, or was it some kind of intelligence-draining system? Why did the Emperor, whenever he encountered her, act like a reckless fool straight out of history books? She didn’t need this!
Her voice came out weak. "Your Majesty, you’ve misunderstood. Her Majesty has treated me with the utmost kindness. It’s an honor to be by her side."
The palace intrigue system shrieked in Yu Miaohua’s mind.
[Are you stupid?! This is the perfect chance to complete the mission! Why are you explaining things away? I could strangle you right now!]
[Shut up! I told you, I have principles! I don’t care about rewards if the mission fails. It’s better than being a troublemaker who drives a wedge between mother and son.]
Seeing the words floating above her head, Pei Lingyue nearly sighed aloud—Yu Miaohua might not care, but he did! He wanted that reward!
The Empress Dowager’s emotions were complicated. Her son had rushed in without a second thought to accuse her, while Yu Miaohua, despite sorting beans for hours, still defended her, refusing to sow discord between them.
Yu Miaohua’s expression grew resolute as she added, "This concubine had a nightmare last night and was unsettled. Her Majesty, out of kindness, accompanied me in chanting sutras. Your Majesty must not misunderstand her maternal compassion."
The Empress Dowager’s eyes reddened.
But just as Yu Miaohua finished speaking, her stomach let out an audible growl.
A faint blush spread across her fair cheeks—she hadn’t eaten since paying her respects earlier, and her hunger was undeniable.
Pei Lingyue finally found the excuse he needed. His expression turned pained. "Enough. The Empress Dowager has treated you harshly, not even allowing you a bite of pastry, yet you lie to shield her reputation. You’re too kind for your own good."
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, but when he turned back to the Empress Dowager, his face hardened. "Mother, Yu Miaohua is gentle and wise. It was my decision to make her Concubine Hui. If you resent anyone, resent me—she is innocent."
The Empress Dowager could no longer hold back—tears spilled down her cheeks.
"I only ever wanted what was best for you..."
Yu Miaohua’s face drained of color. This was it—now she had truly earned the Empress Dowager’s undying enmity.
The Emperor might protect her now, but once his favor faded, her days would be numbered.
Pei Lingyue said to Yu Miaohua, "Concubine Hui, return to Guanju Palace."
Yu Miaohua opened her mouth, then closed it. Anything she said now would only pour oil on the fire.
She bit her lower lip. "This concubine takes her leave."
The system, however, was overjoyed.
[Ahhh, Host, we completed the mission!! Who knew the Emperor would defy his own mother to shield you? You really have the makings of a femme fatale.]
[Congratulations on completing Palace Intrigue Main Mission 2.1: Have the Emperor stand by your side, shielding you from the Empress Dowager’s persecution and openly displaying his protection. Reward: Movable clay type printing technology.]
Yu Miaohua couldn’t muster any joy. The system’s voice grated on her nerves, so she unceremoniously banished it to a mental timeout.
Pei Lingyue relaxed—reward secured.
But relief was quickly replaced by a headache.
How was he going to mend his mother’s wounded heart?
...
Once Yu Miaohua’s figure vanished from the prayer hall, the Empress Dowager’s tears fell harder. She clutched her son’s wrist tightly. "You’ve wounded me deeply. Do you mean to kill me?"
Pei Lingyue said, "Everything I did was for a reason—for the sake of Great Qi."
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "No, you’ve been bewitched. Concubine Hui is possessed by an evil spirit. I brought her here so the Buddha’s light might purify her."
"Have I ever interfered with your harem before? Why would I meddle in such a thankless task otherwise?"
If not for this, she would never have overstepped into her son’s affairs.
Pei Lingyue froze. "Mother… you can see the divine being attached to Concubine Hui?"
The Empress Dowager immediately spat in disgust. "Pah! Divine? That thing is a malevolent spirit trying to turn our imperial family against each other!"
But as soon as she spoke, realization dawned. She stared at her son in shock. "You… you can see it too?"
Pei Lingyue’s emotions were complex—so his mother could also see it.
This made things easier to explain.
A faint smile touched his lips. "This is the true reason I favor Concubine Hui."
"You’ve misunderstood that divine being. Though its manner is irreverent, it keeps its word. As long as we fulfill its tasks, we receive rewards."
The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. "So earlier, you deliberately defended Concubine Hui and spoke harshly to me… for the sake of a reward?"
Pei Lingyue nodded. Since his mother could also see the dialogue, there was no need to hide it. Leaving her with unresolved grievances would only cause trouble later.
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s resentment eased considerably. So the Emperor hadn’t been ensnared by some wicked force—he had merely sought a reward…
Still, recalling the spirit’s words, she couldn’t shake her unease. "Even so, we shouldn’t blindly trust an unknown deity."
"If we must believe in one, let it be Guanyin."
Pei Lingyue strongly disagreed, his gaze profound and his authoritative voice resolute. "But the Goddess of Mercy cannot bring me white sugar, rock sugar, cotton... or Champa rice! The system can provide all of these."
"That cotton can keep the people warm in winter, and the Champa rice yields three harvests a year! It’s even drought-resistant!"
Unless the Buddha descended from heaven with something better than these, Pei Lingyue would remain the most devout follower of the system.
The Empress Dowager’s pupils dilated. "Three harvests a year?"
She was not entirely ignorant of state affairs and understood the significance of such rice for Great Qi. Her breathing grew faint, as if she were dreaming.
If more people could be fed and clothed, her son would become an unparalleled ruler of a golden age, unmatched in history.
"Are these all obtained by completing tasks?" Her tone was incredulous.
Pei Lingyue nodded calmly, casually recounting the tasks he had helped Yu Miaohua complete during this time.
He now thought it was a good thing his mother could see the system. Since he couldn’t frequently visit the Guanju Palace, the Empress Dowager could summon Yu Miaohua at any time and might even assist with tasks in the future.
When the Empress Dowager learned that the cotton was a reward obtained by sacrificing her younger brother’s family, she couldn’t help but blurt out, "I never knew my brother had such value. At least his time in this world wasn’t wasted."
Immediately, she wore an awkward expression.
She had accidentally spoken her mind—a miscalculation. Blame it on the emotional rollercoaster of the day, which had left her less composed than usual.
She cleared her throat lightly, attempting to smooth over her words. "In this way, he has atoned for the sins of the main branch."
Pei Lingyue declared righteously, "Uncle’s crimes were monstrous. If he can scrape together some merit from promoting cotton, perhaps he won’t be reborn as an animal in his next life."
The Empress Dowager glanced at her son, realizing her own face wasn’t as thick as his. She could never say such shameless words with a straight face—claiming that executing someone was for the sake of their next life.
Pei Lingyue added, "Concubine Hui is kind-hearted but lacks tact. Many tasks could be completed, yet she often considers giving up. This is not good."
Even as a doting mother, the Empress Dowager couldn’t resist rolling her eyes at her son’s words—Concubine Hui’s current task involved undermining her own dignity. Concubine Hui herself had been reluctant, yet her own son had eagerly pushed for it.
Pei Lingyue sensed his mother’s thoughts and quickly said, "I knew that once Mother learned the truth, you would understand and even cooperate. That’s why I took this risk, relying on your love for me."
The Empress Dowager’s expression softened. As long as her son appreciated her, that was enough.
What mother could hold such things against him? Besides, he was doing this for the sake of Great Qi. It was only natural he hadn’t explained earlier.
Had she not witnessed Yu Miaohua speaking with the divine being herself, nor seen the cotton and white sugar as proof, the Empress Dowager would never have believed such miraculous events.
Her son was right—this was no malevolent deity, but a benevolent one.
Though perhaps the god was young and a bit too lively. Fortunately, Yu Miaohua was steady and could keep the deity obedient.
Now she understood why her son had fabricated the dream explanation.
The Empress Dowager tilted her head slightly, gazing at the white jade statue of the Goddess of Mercy—compared to the tangible benefits from the system, the goddess seemed lacking.
At the mention of Yu Miaohua, the Empress Dowager’s mind involuntarily recalled the woman’s flustered expression as she departed earlier.
Now, the Empress Dowager found Concubine Hui quite agreeable and couldn’t help but feel pity for her.
"Concubine Hui must have suffered quite a fright today, poor thing. She’s bound to overthink things. This old lady cannot let such a good child endure injustice."
Her decision to keep Concubine Hui today would surely invite ridicule from the other concubines.
The emperor, reckless and single-minded about task rewards, had created the illusion of overwhelming favor, placing Concubine Hui in the line of fire. Unaware outsiders would assume she monopolized the emperor’s affection, likely seething with jealousy in private.
As the Empress Dowager, she could only shield Concubine Hui as much as possible, lest the harem devour her.
She would open the treasury and bestow lavish rewards upon Concubine Hui.
