As these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into silence.
No one had expected that peering into the secrets of heaven would come at such a heavy cost. Back then, when Consort Hui had casually mentioned that it would shorten her lifespan, they had assumed it would only be a few years—nothing that would seriously harm her health. Yet now, her life had been claimed entirely.
Unbidden, the image of Consort Hui surfaced in their minds—how radiant and full of vitality she had been just days ago. Now, she lay motionless in a pool of blood, her breath gone, a stark reminder of the fragility of beauty and the unpredictability of fate.
Even those who barely knew her felt their noses sting and their vision blur with unshed tears.
Wang Yaning could no longer hold back and rushed forward, as did Yu Weixu.
No one would blame them for their loss of composure—it was the instinct of grieving parents.
In his haste, Yu Weixu accidentally collided with Prince Feng Pei Lingyou, sending the prince stumbling. If not for his quick reflexes, Pei Lingyou might have lost his front teeth. His lips scraped against the ground, burning with pain.
Pei Lingyou seethed inwardly. How dare a mere fourth-rank official bump into him without so much as an apology? It was as if this man held no respect for his royal status.
Yet, Pei Lingyou had always cultivated an image of approachability and humility. He couldn’t afford to lose his temper now.
Prince Zhao, seated nearby, sighed. "Minister Yu is truly pitiable, forced to bury his own child. Eldest Brother, you’ve always been so considerate—surely you can empathize with his grief and won’t hold this against him."
Prince Zhao despised Pei Lingyou. His own life was peaceful enough—though the Emperor didn’t favor him excessively, he had granted his eldest son the title of heir and even bestowed a ducal rank upon his younger son. That was more than enough for him. He knew his own limits; greater power would only be a burden.
The Emperor was a wise and diligent ruler—none of their other brothers could have done better. Yet Pei Lingyou still refused to give up his ambitions. After failing to win Prince Zhao over in the capital, he had even tried to ensnare his son. Now, Prince Zhao seized the chance to needle him.
Pei Lingyou nearly choked on his own rage. When had he fallen so low that even his weak, useless brother Prince Zhao could openly humiliate him?
But Prince Zhao had struck his weak spot—Pei Lingyou’s only remaining asset was his reputation for virtue.
Not one to be outdone, Princess Jiayan added fuel to the fire. "Consort Hui’s death today is also Eldest Brother’s fault. If he hadn’t brought that fraud here, she wouldn’t have had to resort to such extreme measures to prove her innocence."
Princess Jiayan had no love for her eldest brother either. He was free to polish his reputation, but not at her expense. Her first husband had enjoyed wealth and status thanks to her, only to secretly keep mistresses. Enraged, she had beaten him and planned to divorce him—but before she could, he fell ill and died of sheer fright. Afterward, she took in several handsome young companions. When Pei Lingyou found out, he accused her of debauchery and tarnishing the imperial family’s dignity. Thankfully, her second brother, the Emperor, saw through the ploy and even rewarded her generously. Since then, she and Pei Lingyou had been at odds.
Pei Lingyou gritted his teeth. "This prince was only concerned that His Majesty might be deceived."
Princess Jiayan struck mercilessly. "The Emperor first favored Consort Hui because of a dream from our late father. Are you saying our father’s judgment is unreliable? Or do you imply the Emperor lied?"
The loaded question left Pei Lingyou trapped. Either answer was a pitfall—even if he privately doubted the Emperor’s words, he couldn’t voice it. Cold as the first month was, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Princess Jiayan pressed on. "Why so silent, Eldest Brother? Is it that you’re naturally taciturn?"
Her gaze drifted toward Consort Hui’s lifeless form, and her mood dimmed. A woman as beautiful and clever as Consort Hui, gone too soon—it was impossible to rejoice.
"Consort Hui was beloved by the common people. If they learn she died because of you..."
The ministers, still steeped in sorrow, now turned sharp eyes toward Pei Lingyou.
Prince Feng might not have intended this outcome, but he bore undeniable responsibility for Consort Hui’s death.
Had it truly been unintentional?
Feeling the shift in the room, Pei Lingyou’s headache worsened, his chest tight with suppressed fury.
He had always scorned women, and the legendary Consort Hui was no exception. Using her to ruin Pei Lingyue’s reputation had never given him pause.
But now, he regretted it deeply.
Who could have predicted that one woman would threaten his hard-earned reputation among both the people and the court, undoing years of effort?
Not a single minister who once praised his virtue now spoke in his defense.
If Pei Lingyue seized this chance to smear him further—
The thought made Pei Lingyou’s ears ring. The blood he had been holding back finally surged up, and he spat it out violently.
Under normal circumstances, imperial physicians would have rushed to his aid.
But now—
They were all attending to Consort Hui.
Even though she had been declared dead, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager refused to give up, ordering the physicians to keep trying.
Ministers who once admired Pei Lingyou watched him sway, pale and unsteady. They might have offered sympathy—but then their eyes fell on the blood pooling beneath Consort Hui.
Compared to her, Prince Feng’s single mouthful of blood seemed insignificant. Some even wondered if it was a ploy to evade blame.
Even Pei Lingyou’s own son, Pei Yuheng, paid him no mind. His attention remained fixed on Consort Hui. The moment she fell, the world around him had faded to silence. He heard nothing, cared for nothing else.
His mind replayed the scene relentlessly—her unwavering resolve, her fearless sacrifice—clutching his heart like a vise.
A delicate woman, yet she had cast aside wealth and status to give her life for strangers. This was the true compassion of a goddess.
And he? He had been fooled by a fraud, mistaking a pearl for a pebble, becoming an accomplice in her death.
Even if Consort Hui had been their enemy, Pei Yuheng couldn’t help but admire her.
What a pity—such a beauty, lost forever.
...
Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua, who had moved so many to tears, was now deeply conflicted.
[Ahhh! My parents are crying! Wuwu… It’s all my fault—I made them cry! They must be hurting more than anyone else.]
[System, I feel awful.]
At first, Yu Miaohua had reveled in her performance, convinced she outshone even the divine maidens from television dramas. She had even excitedly asked her system to record her "ethereal goddess" moment so she could admire it later.
However, when the imperial consort began to cry and Yu Miaohua's parents arrived, she started to feel distressed.
She truly deserved to die.
Even when the system announced the task was complete, Yu Miaohua couldn’t bring herself to rejoice.
If she were to revive after a full hour, what if her mother fainted from grief?
And those imperial physicians who had rushed to save her—how pitiable they were, the psychological pressure must have been immense.
Their acupuncture skills were excellent; Yu Miaohua herself hadn’t felt any pain.
Yu Miaohua made up her mind.
[System, I want to exchange for a 500-point Revival Pill.]
She would end this feigned death early. She had seen this pill in the system before, and the price was within her means.
[First, exchange for an auspicious skill: Kirin’s Blessing.]
Among the auspicious skills related to dragons and phoenixes, Yu Miaohua had excluded them all.
She had originally intended to exchange for Buddha’s Radiance, but now she suddenly felt Kirin’s Blessing was more fitting…
If there were any future tasks involving pills to improve her physique, she could attribute them to this auspicious event.
Seeing Yu Miaohua spend points to end the feigned death early, Pei Lingyue couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Yu Miaohua was still too soft-hearted.
If it were him, he would have insisted on dragging it out. That way, the impression left on everyone would have been even more unforgettable.
As for the Empress Dowager and the Empress, both of whom were in on the secret, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief—finally, they wouldn’t have to keep pretending.
If something had really happened to Miaohua, they would have been inconsolable with grief.
But knowing the truth while having to act was pure torment.
They couldn’t help but feel guilty toward Yu Miaohua’s parents, who genuinely believed their daughter had died.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but admire her son’s acting skills—his display of sorrow and suppressed anguish had been utterly convincing.
After Yu Miaohua exchanged for the one-time auspicious skill, a clear, resonant cry suddenly echoed across the sky.
Everyone instinctively looked up—just a momentary glance away, and the pale blue sky was now filled with clouds dyed in dazzling hues.
Unlike the usual sunset colors of orange, red, and gold, these clouds were splashed with vibrant shades—red, orange, yellow, cyan, blue, purple… as if pigments had been spilled directly onto them.
The clouds morphed into various shapes amidst the rainbow radiance.
Dragons, phoenixes, turtles, pixius—until finally settling into the form of a deer.
No, that wasn’t a deer! Its tail resembled a dragon’s, and its head was that of a lion.
“It’s a kirin! The legendary auspicious beast!”
The Imperial Astronomer stared at the sky in shock. “Ink! Who has ink?”
This was undoubtedly a kirin!
He had to record this event.
“Quick, fetch ink!” he urged the palace attendants beside him.
Under normal circumstances, the attendants would have obeyed immediately. But now…
If he left, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
So he pretended not to hear and continued gazing at the sky like everyone else.
Wang Yaning didn’t even look up. To her, nothing was more important than her daughter.
Clutching her daughter’s hand, tears still streaming down her face, she murmured, “What kirin? Can it bring my daughter back to life?”
As soon as she spoke, the clouds parted, revealing the divine beast within.
A lion’s head, a deer’s body, a dragon’s tail… its entire form shimmered in iridescent colors, bathed in a soft glow.
“It really is a kirin!”
“Has the kirin come for Consort Hui? Is it here to take her to the heavens?”
Consort De couldn’t help voicing her thoughts. After all, too many miraculous things had happened around Consort Hui. Being escorted to the celestial realm by a kirin after death—this perfectly matched Consort De’s impression of her. She decided that from now on, she wouldn’t pray to the Bodhisattva but would instead worship Consort Hui. Since they had been on good terms, Consort Hui would surely bless her.
With this thought, her grief over Consort Hui’s death eased slightly.
Many others shared the same sentiment.
Consort Xian glanced at the kirin in the sky, then at Consort Hui lying in a pool of blood—this was truly the treatment of the heavens’ favorite daughter. How enviable.
At least Consort Hui was already dead. No matter how vivid the impression she left, time would eventually fade it.
Just as she thought this, the kirin suddenly galloped across the sky, darting toward them like lightning.
In the blink of an eye, it was right before them.
One hundred zhang.
Thirty zhang.
Ten zhang.
One zhang.
Witnessing a mythical beast appear so close, everyone held their breath.
Even Pei Lingyue believed—this was a real kirin!
Summoned by the system’s divine power.
Wait! He couldn’t miss this opportunity again.
He looked at Consort Hui, only to realize with frustration… there was no space for him to stand.
Consort Hui was being held by the imperial consort, surrounded by her weeping parents on the verge of collapse.
Not to mention the imperial physicians—the entire Imperial Medical Bureau had gathered.
And then, the kirin arrived.
As it approached, the physicians felt an unseen force gently push them aside, clearing a path.
The kirin stopped before Yu Miaohua. At such close proximity, no one dared to blink, afraid of missing the impending miracle.
The kirin lightly touched Consort Hui’s forehead with its horn, enveloping her in a halo of multicolored light.
Moments later, the light dissipated. The blood on Yu Miaohua’s face and body had vanished—only the stains beneath her remained as evidence of her earlier ordeal.
Yu Weixu felt he must be dreaming. Otherwise, how could he have seen…?
“I think I saw Miaohua’s eyelashes flutter.”
The imperial consort’s voice rose sharply. “I saw it too!”
Wang Yaning instinctively grasped her daughter’s wrist—and to her disbelief, felt a faint pulse. Overwhelmed with joy, she cried out, “Miaohua is really alive!”
The imperial physicians collectively exhaled in relief. The pressure had been unbearable; they had feared early retirement after today.
[System! Hurry! Have the kirin comfort my parents!]
[And the imperial consort too!]
Ah, the imperial consort’s beautiful robes were ruined, stained with her blood. Such a loyal friend! Though the auspicious event couldn’t actually bestow blessings, it could at least provide psychological reassurance.
The kirin tilted its head, gently touching Wang Yaning and then Yu Weixu with its horn.
This time, there was no dazzling light show, but it was enough to ignite envy in everyone present.
At this moment, they all wished they could trade places with this couple.
How fortunate they were!
Yuan Huirou, the imperial consort, was equally envious—the kirin must have blessed them for Miaohua’s sake. How wonderful.
Then, the kirin lightly tapped her forehead with its horn. The cool, gentle touch instantly dispelled her exhaustion.
With a slight nod, the kirin dissolved into a stream of light, vanishing as if it had never been there.
Yuan Huirou stood frozen, unable to believe what had just happened.
Her! She actually received the Qilin's blessing too!!
Ahh, today she would be the happiest woman in the entire imperial capital.
It must be because the Qilin was moved by the bond between her and Miaohua!
The Empress Dowager felt a bit sour, but considering she had previously been graced by Buddha's radiance, she soon made peace with it.
The Empress, though envious, kept her emotions in check.
The most frustrated one was Pei Lingyue.
Once again, he had missed the auspicious sign! Two times in a row, he had narrowly missed divine favor, leaving him wanting to cough up three liters of blood in frustration.
And Consort Hui—she had somehow stumbled into this blessing by sheer luck. How was she this fortunate?
Yuan Xinji, the father of Consort Hui, watched the scene unfold and couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile.
His colleague beside him remarked with a sour tone, "Who would have thought the Qilin would bless Consort Hui as well?"
Yuan Xinji smiled. "It must be out of regard for Consort Hui. I, too, didn’t expect my daughter to be on such good terms with her."
His daughter truly had the luck of a fool. Not only did she have the Empress looking out for her in the palace, but she was also close with Consort Hui.
At least she hadn’t shrieked—though she was loud and unrestrained in private, she still maintained the dignified composure befitting a consort in public. It seemed she had matured somewhat since entering the palace.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Yuan Huirou’s scream pierced the air.
Delayed, but never denied.
Yuan Xinji’s smile froze—he had spoken too soon.
……
Yuan Huirou had screamed out of sheer excitement. Afterward, she felt a little embarrassed, her ears turning red.
To divert attention, she hastily called out, "Where are the imperial physicians? Why are you all just standing there?"
What use were they otherwise?!
The physicians hurried over, and Wang Yaning and her husband stepped aside to make room.
After taking her pulse, the physician announced, "Her Majesty’s pulse is still weak, but she has indeed been revived—Heaven has shown mercy!"
They couldn’t possibly claim credit for this. Everyone had seen that Consort Hui had stopped breathing—it was only after the Qilin descended that she was brought back to life.
Had they not personally checked her pulse, the physicians would never have believed it.
After today, Consort Hui’s reputation would soar even higher. Among the common folk, many might even begin crafting golden statues in her honor.
Pei Lingyue forced an expression of joy and excitement. "Excellent! Have Consort Hui escorted back to Guanju Palace."
The Empress spoke up, "Let her be carried in my palanquin."
The Empress Dowager quickly interjected, "Mine will do."
The Empress, unwilling to argue with the Empress Dowager, yielded.
The Emperor was annoyed. His mother and the Empress were being excessively proactive. Why were they always one step ahead of him?
And so, Yu Miaohua was carried onto the Empress Dowager’s palanquin.
The Empress Dowager kindly said to Wang Yaning and Yu Weixu, "You two shall accompany me in escorting Consort Hui."
Consort Hui asked, "Your Majesty, may this humble one join as well?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Granted."
Consort Hui was delighted.
Thus, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort Hui, Wang Yaning, and Yu Weixu all followed Yu Miaohua as she was taken away.
After a moment’s thought, the Emperor announced, "Ministers and esteemed ladies, please continue with the festivities. I must attend to Consort Hui’s condition and will take my leave."
He turned to the Crown Prince. "Pei Chiyan, I leave this in your hands."
Pei Chiyan gave a slight nod.
Beside him, Pei Chiyao watched his father depart without hesitation, his brows furrowing tightly.
Consort Hui—how had she come back to life?
When she had died, he had felt a twinge of melancholy, but mostly relief. No longer would he have to worry about her gaining more merits, rising in rank, and overshadowing his own mother.
Yet now, even after death, Heaven had forcibly revived her. Was this fair?
Countless great sages had passed before—why had Heaven never intervened for them? The heavens were far too partial.
Alongside his anger and discontent, a faint trace of fear took root in his heart.
He knew all too well that no matter how much he despised Consort Hui, he dared not act against her, lest he incur divine retribution.
The one who could best understand his feelings at this moment was Prince Feng, Pei Lingyou.
With Consort Hui dead, his reputation had been at risk.
With Consort Hui alive, he had witnessed a miracle—and fallen into utter despair.
With her around, the Buddha would surely protect Pei Lingyue. How could he possibly rebel now?
Decades of effort had been rendered meaningless in an instant—how could he bear it?
Why was Pei Lingyue so damned lucky?
If only Consort Hui had been part of their household.
……
Thanks to her system’s live updates, Yu Miaohua could perceive everything happening outside even with her eyes closed.
After being returned to Guanju Palace, Cuiwei and Qingluo personally changed her out of her bloodied robes and into fresh garments.
Then the physicians came in to check her pulse and prescribe medicine.
After a while, Yu Miaohua opened her eyes. A small crowd surrounded her bedside—though the Emperor and Empress were absent, likely in the study.
In a weak voice, she called out, "Mother."
That single word nearly broke Wang Yaning’s fragile composure, her tears threatening to spill again.
"Mother, please don’t cry."
Next time, she wouldn’t pull a stunt like this!
Wang Yaning said, "I’m just too happy. The physicians say your body is still very weak—you’ll need at least three months of recuperation."
Yu Weixu added, "Child, you must never do something like this again."
Though they knew their daughter’s actions had been for the greater good, as parents, they could never willingly trade her life for anything.
Yu Miaohua quickly reassured them, "I won’t."
She changed the subject. "I’d like to rinse my mouth."
Her mouth still tasted of blood. The blood her system had generated was real—replicated from her own blood sample. While the system had cleaned the blood from her skin, the traces in her mouth remained.
Yuan Huirou personally fetched water for her.
Yu Miaohua thanked her and rinsed several times before finally clearing away the metallic tang.
Cuiwei handed her a dark plum to suck on.
Yuan Huirou announced, "I’ll go inform His Majesty of your recovery."
Truthfully, such a trivial task didn’t require her presence—she simply wanted to give Miaohua time alone with her parents.
When Yuan Huirou arrived, the Empress was discussing Consort Hui’s promotion to Noble Consort with the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, I propose that after the earthquake in Lizhou three months from now, we use it as justification to elevate Consort Hui to Noble Consort Hui. For now, she may enjoy the privileges of the rank."
The Empress Dowager immediately agreed. "I support this."
The Emperor was speechless—these two made it sound like he would object. Why would he?
Still…
"Isn’t this too soon?"
The Empress calmly replied, "It was bound to happen eventually."
"Besides, Miaohua also has the merit of the papermaking technique."
Though Miaohua had insisted on crediting her, the Empress couldn’t in good conscience accept it. Knowing Miaohua’s character, she wouldn’t reclaim the achievement publicly, but the Empress had ensured the historians recorded the truth.
These were all her contributions.
The Empress Dowager added, "And the oil-pressing technique." After learning of the Empress’s approach, she had followed suit.
"Then there’s the Champa rice, the iron ore distribution maps…" The Empress Dowager tallied the debts on her fingers before fixing Pei Lingyue with a sharp look, her expression blatantly asking, "How can you possibly not promote her?"
"If there comes a time when no more titles can be bestowed upon her, why not confer honors upon her family instead?" It was clear that Miaohua cherished her loved ones deeply. Other ministers, whose contributions paled in comparison to hers, had been granted noble titles—so why shouldn’t Miaohua’s family receive the same?
Pei Lingyue didn’t wish to be the villain either. "This emperor had overlooked that earlier. The Empress Dowager’s suggestion is most reasonable."
"We shall elevate her to the rank of Noble Consort by the third month." By then, her health would have ostensibly recovered.
Even if all of Yu Miaohua’s contributions were not truly hers but rather rewards from completing tasks, had it not been for her, the gods would never have favored the Great Qi Dynasty so generously. This debt of gratitude must not be forgotten.
Pei Lingyue couldn’t help but speculate—what if Yu Miaohua’s previous incarnation held some extraordinary status? Perhaps she was the Buddha’s own daughter, and thus, the Buddha had orchestrated these divine tasks to accumulate merit for her.
In any case, the Great Qi Dynasty reaped the benefits, so the details hardly mattered.
Once the three of them reached this understanding, Noble Consort Yuan Huirou arrived with news that Yu Miaohua had awakened. The three most esteemed figures of the nation promptly went to visit her.
Upon their arrival, Wang Yaning and the others prepared to bow in greeting.
Pei Lingyue personally helped them rise. "No need for formalities."
Turning to Yu Miaohua, he said, "Consort Hui, focus on recuperating for now. Set aside all other matters." He exempted her from the usual courtesies, such as morning greetings.
Yu Miaohua offered a frail smile in gratitude.
Pei Lingyue’s gaze then fell upon Wang Yaning, and he granted her the privilege of staying in the palace to accompany Consort Hui.
Noticing the spark of joy in Consort Hui’s eyes at this news, Pei Lingyue couldn’t suppress a faint smirk—this time, he had acted before the Empress and the others could intervene.
As for Yu Weixu, being a man, he was barred from the inner palace under normal circumstances. Today was an exception.
The Empress Dowager, too, made her presence felt, showering the Guanju Palace with rare and precious medicinal herbs.
Meanwhile, the Empress reprimanded the palace servants, demanding they attend to Consort Hui with utmost care. For the next few months, the Guanju Palace’s provisions would be managed directly through her.
Two imperial physicians were also assigned to examine Consort Hui three times daily, with prescriptions adjusted according to her condition.
The thought of having to drink tonic remedies instantly dampened Yu Miaohua’s spirits.
Her mother would be staying in the palace to oversee her recovery—knowing her, she would undoubtedly insist on every last drop being consumed.
[Ahhh, System, I don’t want to drink medicine! I’ve sacrificed so much for this mission!] Yu Miaohua whined inwardly.
[Host, just endure it. A few months will pass quickly. Besides, we did an excellent job this time!] The System felt their synergy was growing stronger.
Shouldn’t the host finalize the three targets for the strategy mission now?
Originally intending to leave, Pei Lingyue and the others abruptly changed their minds. The mission took precedence—they had to know whom Yu Miaohua would choose.
You’re right. Let’s check the favorability of these candidates first, then pick the top three to claim the mission rewards in one go!
Yu Miaohua tapped the "View All" option, and instantly, a favorability value appeared beneath each candidate’s name.
A quick glance confirmed that this afternoon’s performance had paid off—most people's favorability had risen by five to ten points.
Wait—
Except for one!
Yu Miaohua was stunned. Amidst the sea of red favorability values, that solitary black number stood out glaringly, piercing her eyes like a blade.
This can’t be right! Is this number accurate? Pei Chiyao’s favorability was already negative twenty—not only did it not increase, but it dropped further to negative twenty-five?! Is he insane? Does he despise me this much? Did I dig up his ancestors’ graves or something?!
Pei Lingyue was equally shocked, followed by a surge of fury.
What was Chiyao thinking?
Did he truly loathe Consort Hui so much?
As a prince, his interactions with Consort Hui were limited to banquets—she had never once offended him. If anything, she was closer to Consort De’s two children.
Pei Lingyue wasn’t naïve enough to believe Chiyao’s dislike stemmed from mere personal preference…
After Consort Hui had sacrificed herself for the people, his son not only remained unmoved but grew even more resentful.
This could only mean one thing: the Qiongming Palace harbored deep malice toward the Guanju Palace, so much so that they would rather see the Great Qi suffer than allow Consort Hui’s reputation to flourish.
Noble Consort Xian… was evidently not as virtuous, gentle, or indifferent as she appeared.
Pei Lingyue’s eyes sharpened with cold realization.
