The Empress Dowager usually spent her days cultivating her mind and rarely interfered in the affairs of the inner palace. However, this did not mean she had lost control over the harem. After all, she was the reigning champion of palace intrigue in her generation, and she still held considerable influence in her hands.
Nanny Zhou quietly left the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
Nanny Su stepped forward and began massaging the Empress Dowager’s temples with just the right amount of pressure to ease the dull ache there. She said softly, "Your Majesty, you mustn’t let those petty people upset your health."
The Empress Dowager scoffed. "They simply can’t stand how well I treat Miaohua."
Nanny Su replied, "In that case, you must take even better care of yourself. Who else will protect Concubine Hui if not you?"
If nothing else, Concubine Hui’s presence in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity allowed her to share rustic tales infused with Buddhist wisdom, which the Empress Dowager always found delightful. In the past, other concubines had tried to curry favor, but their conversations were invariably filled with poetry and literature—topics the Empress Dowager had no interest in. Yet, to avoid hurting their feelings, she had to rack her brains for compliments. Over time, she grew weary of their visits.
The rest of the palace assumed the Empress Dowager preferred peace and quiet, but the truth was, they simply couldn’t hold a conversation with her.
The Empress Dowager nodded. "You’re right. I must indeed take care of myself."
The Emperor treated Yu Miaohua well, but his methods were crude and solely reward-driven, earning her no small amount of resentment. Half the blame for Yu Miaohua’s poor relations in the harem lay squarely on her son’s shoulders.
Just as the Empress Dowager was sharpening her metaphorical knives, Yu Miaohua arrived.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly said, "Bring her in at once! It’s freezing outside—we mustn’t let her catch a chill."
The girl must have heard the rumors spreading through the palace.
The moment Yu Miaohua saw the Empress Dowager and opened her mouth to speak, a distinctive chime—the sound signaling a triggered mission—rang in her mind.
[The harem is a treacherous place. The Emperor’s protection alone is not enough, and your own abilities are insufficient to uncover the venomous snakes lurking in the shadows. Host has triggered Main Mission 2.21: Win the Empress Dowager’s favor and secure her support in investigating the truth. Reward: Advanced, long-lasting dyeing techniques, including multi-dye processes.]
Never before had Yu Miaohua been so eager to complete a mission. She had already planned to complain to the Empress Dowager—now she was getting a free reward on top of it. What luck!
[System, have you finally grown a conscience? Issuing such an easy mission?]
[Host, missions are automatically generated by the backend. I merely collect information and assist in their completion. And I’ve always been a good system—you’re the one who’s prejudiced against me.]
The Empress Dowager… had just witnessed the birth of a new mission firsthand.
This mission even involved her?
Better dyeing techniques… While the reward wasn’t as impressive as movable clay type printing, since she had already intended to investigate the matter, this was essentially a free gift.
Who would complain about free rewards? Besides, the reward wasn’t bad at all. With superior techniques, they could surely produce even more vibrant and exquisite silks, right?
In high spirits, the Empress Dowager smiled kindly. "Don’t be afraid. I know you’ve been wronged, and I will set things right for you."
Yu Miaohua, who had been pondering how to subtly manipulate the Empress Dowager into sympathizing with her plight, was left speechless. Her carefully rehearsed script died before it could be spoken.
She stared blankly at the Empress Dowager. "You’ve heard the rumors too?"
Disgust flashed in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. "They’re practically clamoring for your life."
"Don’t worry. You have me."
Under the Empress Dowager’s gentle gaze, Yu Miaohua felt as though she had returned to her childhood, nestled in her grandmother’s embrace. A wave of grievance surged up, and her eyes reddened instantly. To her, the Empress Dowager now shone like a radiant bodhisattva.
"I’m just glad you believe me."
The Empress Dowager said, "Of course I believe you. Whether I’m ill or not, I would know best."
Yu Miaohua sniffled. "They’ve all been bullying me."
The Empress Dowager declared imperiously, "I’ll make sure they regret it."
At the same time, the sound of celebratory applause—marking mission completion—echoed in Yu Miaohua’s mind.
[Wow, I misjudged the Empress Dowager! This mission was completed way too fast! Congratulations, Host, on completing Main Mission 2.21! You must cling to the Empress Dowager’s coattails! With the Emperor’s favor and her protection, we can strut through the palace like we own the place. Let those other concubines know—we’ve got connections!]
She had barely stepped into the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, and the mission was already wrapped up neatly.
Seeing the energy reserves in the backend increase, the usually heartless system couldn’t help shedding a tear of electronic emotion.
[I told you the Empress Dowager was kind! You always assumed the worst of her and issued missions targeting her. You’re the worst.]
[Beautiful inside and out—that’s her! A goddess of a mother-in-law! Absolutely amazing!]
[How lucky to have someone as reliable and loving as the Empress Dowager. I’m so jealous of the Emperor.]
[Host, tone it down. You’re giving me electronic goosebumps.]
Yu Miaohua ignored the system. The predicament she had anticipated was effortlessly resolved by the Empress Dowager. She was thrilled, and she was going to sing praises! The system could complain all it wanted—she’d keep gushing in her mind where the Empress Dowager couldn’t hear. Maybe she could brainwash the system a little, curb its chronic paranoia.
And so, Yu Miaohua continued showering the Empress Dowager with effusive compliments in her mind.
Modern folks had a way with flattery—direct, exaggerated, and utterly overwhelming to the more reserved ancients.
The Empress Dowager watched as an endless stream of extravagant praise bubbled up from Yu Miaohua’s head. She was equal parts embarrassed and flattered.
To think Miaohua saw her as such a perfect figure. The praise was almost too much to bear.
Especially since Yu Miaohua’s words were directed at the gods—heartfelt and sincere, not the calculated flattery others used to curry favor. That made it all the more genuine.
How could she possibly betray such pure, childlike devotion?
The Empress Dowager took Yu Miaohua’s hand, soothing her with gentle words, and instructed the kitchen to prepare a lavish spread of Yu Miaohua’s favorite dishes.
The comfort of good food lifted Yu Miaohua’s spirits considerably.
By the time lunch was over, the investigation into the rumors had yielded results.
The Empress Dowager saw no need to hide anything from Yu Miaohua and had Nanny Zhou deliver the report in her presence. She didn’t want Yu Miaohua misunderstanding her intentions.
"So the rumors originated from the Jade Blossom Palace?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
Nanny Zhou nodded. "The servants involved have confessed. Yueya, Consort Xu’s trusted maid, personally ordered them to spread the gossip."
The Empress Dowager’s lips curled into a cold smile. "It seems she hasn’t copied enough Buddhist scriptures."
Foolish and venomous—that was Consort Xu in a nutshell. Such a poisonous snake lurking in the shadows was absolutely intolerable.
She turned to Yu Miaohua. "Tomorrow, you’ll watch as I put on a grand show."
Yu Miaohua nodded obediently, marveling inwardly at Consort Xu’s audacity. To use the Empress Dowager’s supposed illness as a weapon—had the Empress Dowager not been feigning illness, Yu Miaohua might have fallen right into the trap.
Truly, some people brought about their own downfall.
【Wow! What a dreamlike day, Host!! We’ve triggered a new main quest 2.22: Have the Empress Dowager charge into battle for you, punish the real culprit Consort Xu, and banish Consort Xu to the Cold Palace. The reward for this quest is an advanced screw-press method that surpasses this era’s technology. Compared to the current screw-press method, this new technique is not only easier to operate but also increases oil yield by half while improving oil quality. Host, work hard to make vegetable oil affordable for ordinary people in their daily lives!】
Yu Miaohua was stunned—this was the first time two quests had been triggered in a single day.
【This must be the Empress Dowager’s influence… The quest reward… looks really good.】
The Empress Dowager had been chatting with Yu Miaohua and naturally noticed the new quest immediately. She was overjoyed—this was undoubtedly a reward that could improve the lives of common people. The previous dye reward was decent, but it paled in comparison to what the Emperor had received. Now, she could finally hold her head high.
As for the quest itself, it wasn’t difficult. Consort Xu’s crimes originally warranted stripping her of her title and sending her to Tianyi Nunnery to keep Gu Shishi company. Banishing her to the Cold Palace was practically lenient.
After her initial excitement, Yu Miaohua began to fret.
【But how do I ask the Empress Dowager to send her to the Cold Palace? Would it make me seem petty?】
The Empress Dowager, who had already seen through everything, spoke up first. “Consort Xu maliciously framed another concubine and had the audacity to use me as a pawn. I say she should be banished to the Cold Palace as a warning to others.”
Yu Miaohua was shocked. “Your Majesty wants to send her to the Cold Palace?”
The Empress Dowager teased her, “Does the punishment seem too light? Should we make it harsher?”
Yu Miaohua quickly replied, “I think the Cold Palace is just right—it should make her realize her mistakes.”
The Empress Dowager had only been joking. “Very well, then. To the Cold Palace she goes.”
The palace servants in the hall kept their eyes and mouths shut, pretending they hadn’t heard anything. But inwardly, they were anything but calm.
Who would’ve thought the Empress Dowager would even discuss Consort Xu’s punishment with Concubine Hui, using it to cheer her up? Not even the Empress received such treatment.
They silently elevated Concubine Hui’s status in their minds—they’d have to serve her even more attentively from now on.
Yu Miaohua felt a little dazed. She had been agonizing over how to subtly guide the Empress Dowager toward that decision, yet the quest was completed effortlessly.
She could only sigh to her system.
【The Empress Dowager and I must be kindred spirits—she just gets me! Maybe in a past life, we were mother and daughter.】
【You could be mother and daughter in this life too. I think the Empress Dowager would be happy to treat you as her own daughter.】
For once, Yu Miaohua felt the system had spoken sense.
Perhaps because she was so relaxed around the Empress Dowager, she accidentally blurted out the truth. “Good thing I dismantled the door and table I fixed before leaving the Cold Palace—otherwise, she’d have gotten them for free.”
Previously, Consort Lin hadn’t been sent to the Cold Palace but exiled with her family instead, making Yu Miaohua’s demolition efforts seem wasted. Now, they’d finally come in handy.
The Empress Dowager tried to hold it in but ultimately failed, collapsing onto the table in laughter, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Now she understood why the Empress was so indulgent toward Yu Miaohua—just looking at her carefree demeanor made worries melt away.
Yu Miaohua didn’t quite get why the Empress Dowager found it so funny, but as long as she wasn’t angry, it was fine.
Once she recovered, the Empress Dowager instructed Nanny Zhou, “Go and dismantle the bed and chairs in the Cold Palace too.”
She had considered removing the windows as well, but then thought better of it—with winter in full swing, Consort Xu might freeze to death, and that wouldn’t reflect well on anyone.
Life in the Cold Palace would be punishment enough.
Yu Miaohua’s eyes sparkled—the Empress Dowager was truly a ride-or-die ally!
……
Jade Flower Palace.
Consort Xu suddenly sneezed, causing her brush to slip and ruin the character she was writing.
She set the brush aside and frowned—another scroll wasted, another one to rewrite.
Her maids stepped forward to massage her neck and shoulders.
Consort Xu sighed in relief. These past few days, to outshine Beauty Concubine Zhao, she had been copying thirty volumes of Buddhist scriptures daily—her eyes, hands, and heart were exhausted.
All she hoped for was that the Empress Dowager would soften toward her after seeing her devotion.
When in a foul mood, she liked to hear bad news about Yu Miaohua.
After a moment, she waved her attendants away. “Yueya, what’s the latest outside?”
Yueya replied, “Two servants from Guanju Palace were caught gossiping by Yu Miaohua and sent to the Office of Palace Discipline.”
“Will they trace it back to us?”
Yueya reassured her, “Those two don’t know who spread the rumors. It’s unlikely.”
Consort Xu smirked. “And what about Yu Miaohua?”
She didn’t mind the Empress Dowager finding out—it was her way of pledging loyalty. But the Emperor and Empress were another matter. If the Emperor blamed her, things could get messy, so caution was necessary.
Yueya handed her a cup of tea. “She went to Ningshou Palace.”
Consort Xu paused. “Ningshou Palace? How foolish—going there now is just asking for trouble.”
Even if the Empress Dowager believed just a fraction of the rumors, Yu Miaohua wouldn’t leave unscathed.
If possible, Consort Xu would’ve loved to witness how the Empress Dowager dealt with Yu Miaohua. But she didn’t dare meddle with Ningshou Palace’s servants, so she could only imagine the scene.
Yueya ventured, “Perhaps Concubine Hui went to explain herself to Her Majesty.”
Consort Xu scoffed. “What could she possibly explain? It’s a fact that the Empress Dowager fell ill after clashing with her.”
True or not, the Empress Dowager despised Yu Miaohua. With such a perfect opportunity handed to her, she wouldn’t let it slide.
All Consort Xu had to do now was wait for Yu Miaohua’s downfall.
Too much scheming might expose her.
Yueya, eager to lift her mistress’s spirits, added, “They say Concubine Hui didn’t return to Guanju Palace until afternoon—probably forced to copy scriptures again.”
Consort Xu smirked disdainfully. “Soon, there may no longer be a Concubine Hui.”
After indulging in some schadenfreude, Consort Xu was about to resume her scripture copying when an edict arrived from the Empress Dowager: All concubines of the rank of Concubine or higher were to attend morning greetings at Ningshou Palace the next day.
The Empress Dowager had been unwell and had suspended morning greetings for some time, making this sudden decree ripple through the palace.
Many immediately thought of Yu Miaohua. Combined with recent rumors, they were certain tomorrow would bring quite the spectacle.
They couldn’t help but reflect—ever since Concubine Hui left the Cold Palace, the palace had been anything but dull.
The only question was whether she’d emerge unscathed this time.
……
The next day.
Consort Xu arrived very early, followed by a row of palace maids carrying trays laden with the Buddhist scriptures she had painstakingly copied during this period. Stack after stack of scriptures represented the fruits of her labor and sweat.
Facing the astonished gazes of the others, Consort Xu felt quite pleased with herself.
When she spotted Concubine Shen and Beauty Concubine Zhao in the corner, she lifted her chin slightly, her expression brimming with pride and smugness.
She had heard that the two of them quietly delivered a few volumes of copied scriptures to the small Buddhist hall in Ningshou Palace every day. Consort Xu thought them utterly foolish—how could their meager daily offerings compare to the overwhelming impact of presenting everything at once?
After a while, Nanny Zhou of Ningshou Palace emerged with her attendants.
Consort Xu immediately put on an ingratiating smile. "These are the scriptures I have copied for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager during this time. I only hope that the Buddha, moved by my sincerity, will grant Her Majesty a swift recovery."
Nanny Zhou merely smiled. "You have worked hard, Consort Xu."
That was all she said.
Though dissatisfied, Consort Xu dared not show it. Despite being a mere servant, Nanny Zhou was the Empress Dowager’s most trusted confidante. Consort Xu quickly found a seat for herself.
Consort Xu had few friends in the palace. Though she arrived early, no one approached her for conversation.
The other concubines gradually arrived. When Yu Miaohua made her entrance, the entire hall seemed to freeze as if under a spell before resuming normalcy—though their gazes still drifted subtly toward her.
To their astonishment, Yu Miaohua’s delicate face showed no trace of exhaustion or unease. Instead, her complexion was radiant, glowing with health, as if she had been resting exceptionally well.
Was she truly unafraid of the Empress Dowager’s reprimand?
Or was she confident that the Emperor would once again shield her?
How favored she was by His Majesty!
A pang of envy struck their hearts.
What shocked them even more was that as soon as Yu Miaohua took her seat, a maid from Ningshou Palace brought over a plate of snow-steamed cakes. "Please enjoy, Your Highness. Knowing you dislike overly sweet treats, I instructed them to reduce the sugar by thirty percent."
Yu Miaohua flashed a bright smile. "Thank you, Sister Yingxia."
She was always attended by Yingxia during her visits to Ningshou Palace, and the two were quite familiar with each other.
Along with the cakes, Yingxia also brewed her favorite tea to accompany them.
Yu Miaohua leisurely savored the freshly made snow-steamed cakes, looking utterly at ease.
Consort Xu was dumbfounded—none of them had ever received such treatment during their visits to Ningshou Palace. How close was Yu Miaohua to the palace maids? Even the kitchen prepared her preferred snacks...
Did the Empress Dowager truly despise Yu Miaohua?
A wave of unease washed over Consort Xu, accompanied by a sinking feeling that her plans might backfire.
She forced herself to stay calm, reassuring herself: Perhaps the maid was simply ignorant of her mistress’s true intentions and had taken it upon herself to curry favor with Yu Miaohua.
How could the Empress Dowager not loathe Yu Miaohua?
By the time Yu Miaohua had finished half the plate of cakes, the Empress arrived.
Shortly after, the Empress Dowager emerged from the inner hall. She was not dressed in formal court attire but in everyday garments, yet her bearing exuded the authority of one long accustomed to power. Her phoenix-like gaze swept over the room, compelling everyone to lower their eyes, not daring to meet hers.
They noticed that the Empress Dowager no longer bore any signs of illness—her complexion was vibrant.
The Empress smiled gently. "Has Your Majesty fully recovered?"
The Empress Dowager softened slightly in response. "I am nearly well. Just two more doses of medicine should suffice."
"I have heard that many rumors about my illness have been circulating in the palace. It seems everyone is deeply concerned about my health."
The Empress quickly bowed in apology. "This daughter-in-law has failed in managing the palace, allowing vile rumors to disturb Your Majesty’s peace. I beg for punishment."
The Empress Dowager waved a hand. "This matter is not your fault. You are naturally kind-hearted and could not have anticipated the depths of human malice. Some would stop at nothing to achieve their goals."
Consort Xu paled. The Empress Dowager’s words did not sound like she intended to punish Yu Miaohua—rather, they seemed directed at those who had spread the rumors.
Her mind raced. What if the investigation led to her?
"Miaohua, come here."
The Empress Dowager’s affectionate tone was unmistakable.
Yu Miaohua obediently stepped forward. The Empress Dowager took her hand and declared, "Earlier, I fell ill due to exhaustion from traveling and the shock of learning about my family’s crimes. Yet some sought to exploit my condition, spreading vicious rumors to frame Concubine Hui and destroy her."
Without hesitation, the Empress Dowager shifted part of the blame for her "illness" onto her own family. If it could help Miaohua, it might also lessen her family’s sins.
"During my illness, Concubine Hui was exceptionally filial, never leaving my bedside. To pray for my recovery, she copied forty volumes of blood scriptures daily, exhausting herself until she grew thin. Her devotion moved even the heavens, hastening my recovery."
Gasps filled the room at the mention of forty blood scriptures.
Concubine Hui had gone to such lengths to please the Empress Dowager? No wonder the latter, who had once held a grudge against her, now regarded her with such warmth. Had the Empress Dowager been moved by her sincerity?
But...
Their eyes lingered on Yu Miaohua’s youthful, flawless face—her rosy complexion showed no signs of exhaustion. Copying so many blood scriptures, even if some were done with cinnabar, would surely have drained her.
Was it possible she had faked it?
The thought was quickly dismissed.
No, Yu Miaohua had copied the scriptures under the Empress Dowager’s watchful eyes—forgery was impossible. Unless... the Empress Dowager had lied to glorify her?
Some concubines had long resented Yu Miaohua for her seemingly effortless favor, as if fortune itself smiled upon her while they struggled for scraps of attention.
Now they realized that Yu Miaohua had worked just as hard—if not harder—than they had.
None of them could have endured copying forty blood scriptures daily for the Empress Dowager, especially knowing her initial dislike.
No wonder she was favored. They had neither her luck nor her dedication—how could they resent her?
Feeling their admiring gazes, Yu Miaohua grew uneasy.
In truth, her days at Ningshou Palace had been spent indulging in food and drink, with only a token scripture copied each day. Her routine had even improved her skin, leaving it flawless and dewy. Exhaustion? Nonexistent.
[The Empress Dowager truly loves me—I must serve her faithfully for life!]
[From now on, the Empress Dowager is my favorite person in the palace!]
Though the Emperor treated her well too, Yu Miaohua always felt an invisible barrier between them, as if his kindness lacked sincerity.
Originally, she thought she would have to assist the Empress Dowager in performing rituals to ward off evil today, but Her Majesty was so formidable that she single-handedly took over all the dramatic scenes. Yu Miaohua only needed to stand by, playing the role of the obedient girl while silently cheering her on in her heart.
Consort Xu’s gaze grew vacant: No wonder all her painstakingly copied scriptures had left Nanny Zhou unmoved—Yu Miaohua had already set an unbeatable standard.
Concubine Shen clenched her handkerchief tightly—she had miscalculated. The Empress Dowager actually favored the blood-written scriptures and hadn’t transferred her resentment toward Empress Zhenyi onto Yu Miaohua. If only she hadn’t warned Yu Miaohua earlier; not only had she failed to harm her, but she’d inadvertently helped her instead.
A look of regret flashed across her face.
The only thing she could console herself with was that when she heard the rumors, she had resisted the urge to fan the flames—otherwise, the backlash might have landed on her.
The Empress Dowager’s voice rose, brimming with fervor. She was usually the picture of dignified benevolence in public, rarely showing such raw emotion.
"This grieving mother will not tolerate such a filial and virtuous child as Concubine Hui being slandered and suffering such injustice!"
"If not for my comfort, she might have even sought death to atone for this false accusation."
Yu Miaohua’s conscience prickled even more: No, she wouldn’t!
The Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze settled on Consort Xu. "Consort Xu, tell me—how should this grieving mother deal with those who spread malicious rumors, devoid of humanity, filial piety, or righteousness?"
"Shall it be a cup of poisoned wine, a length of white silk, or perhaps you’d prefer a dagger?"
