Though Prince Feng's reputation had suffered due to the incident involving Consort Hui, he had spent years cultivating connections among court officials and gathering compromising information about them. As long as they weren't openly rebelling, many ministers were still willing to lend him a hand.
If Prince Feng had asked them to target the Crown Prince, they might have hesitated. But when they saw it was the Second Prince—well, that was a different matter.
Thus, misfortune soon befell the father of Consort Xian, Marquis Xuanwei. He was impeached for demanding local officials kneel before him during the southwestern rebellion, embezzling military funds, and lining his own pockets.
Consort Xian's brother was also accused of forcibly taking a minor official's daughter as a concubine, forging documents, and framing his colleagues.
Several of Marquis Xuanwei's sons-in-law were likewise exposed for various misdeeds, big and small.
In no time, the Marquis Xuanwei household became a laughingstock among the court, with political rivals eagerly piling on.
Whispers spread—who had the Marquis Xuanwei offended? These accusations couldn’t have been gathered overnight.
Prince Feng had been careful this time, ensuring the officials who filed the impeachment had no obvious ties to him. Watching the chaos unfold from the sidelines, he felt a deep satisfaction—he had finally exacted some retribution for his son.
When Consort Xian learned of the impeachment against her family and in-laws, her face paled, and she could no longer focus on matters in Guanju Palace.
If her family fell from grace, even if she succeeded in overthrowing the Empress, she—as the daughter of a disgraced official—would never ascend to that position. Her son would also lose any claim to the throne. Wouldn’t that mean all her efforts had merely paved the way for someone else?
Li Zhaoyuan soon arrived in tears.
"Sister, my father has been impeached for withholding soldiers' rations… But he wasn’t the only one doing it! Isn’t this just the usual practice?"
Why was her father the only one singled out?
Realizing that Consort Xian’s family had also been targeted, Li Zhaoyuan had an epiphany. "Sister, my father must have been implicated because he was too close to the Marquis."
The Li family had some ties to the Qin family, and Li Zhaoyuan’s father had once served under Marquis Xuanwei. When the Marquis prospered, the Li family had benefited as well. That was why Li Zhaoyuan, after entering the palace, had always aligned herself with Consort Xian, handling tasks the latter couldn’t openly undertake. Even when she had offended Consort Hui on Consort Xian’s behalf, Li Zhaoyuan had never regretted it.
She had believed that as long as the Second Prince—Consort Xian’s son—remained secure, her own family would be protected.
Yet before she could reap many rewards, her family had been dragged into this mess. In her distress, Li Zhaoyuan couldn’t help but let slip a hint of resentment.
Consort Xian’s expression darkened. "So now you blame me? Without me, how could someone of your background have risen to the rank of Zhaoyuan?"
Back then, she had coached Li Zhaoyuan on the Emperor’s preferences, teaching her how to win favor. She had even helped her stage a miscarriage with a doomed pregnancy, using it to eliminate a rival while earning the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s sympathy—enough to secure Li Zhaoyuan’s position as one of the Nine Concubines.
Others might have the right to resent her, but not Li Zhaoyuan. Everything she had was thanks to Consort Xian.
Her usual gentleness gave way to a sharp glare, startling Li Zhaoyuan into clarity.
"I spoke out of turn in my panic," Li Zhaoyuan hurriedly said. "Please don’t take offense, sister."
Consort Xian helped her up. "I will go and plead for the Emperor’s forgiveness."
She murmured, "As long as the Emperor still feels fatherly love for Yao'er, he won’t allow his son to have a disgraced grandfather."
That was her greatest assurance.
Li Zhaoyuan listened, a pang of bitterness in her heart. If only her child had survived—her family would have had their own protector, free from relying on the Qin family. But the baby had died in the womb, and she had no choice but to use its loss to eliminate her enemies.
She echoed Consort Xian’s words. "Yes, the Emperor dotes on the Second Prince. He will surely resolve this."
Consort Xian truly believed so. Otherwise, her father would have already been thrown into prison, not given the chance to defend himself.
The Emperor had shown no mercy when he purged his own uncle’s household.
Consort Xian removed her makeup, dressed in plain robes, and took off all her hairpins, earrings, and bracelets.
"Accompany me to seek the Emperor’s pardon," she told her confidante.
She had worried the Emperor might deliberately ignore her because of her father’s situation. Yet when she arrived at Qianyuan Hall, she was ushered inside before she could even kneel.
Her face still wore a troubled expression, but inwardly, her fears eased.
She had guessed correctly.
As soon as she saw the Emperor, Consort Xian’s eyes reddened, and she knelt. "This concubine begs forgiveness. I failed to restrain my family and have shamed Your Majesty."
"Rise," the Emperor said. "How could a concubine be expected to control her family’s affairs?"
Consort Xian asked, "Are the accusations against my father true?"
Pei Lingyue gave her a faint, knowing smile. "If they are, what will you do? Plead for them?"
He couldn’t help but admire his elder brother—Prince Feng’s records likely contained dirt on many court officials, ready to be used when the time came.
Marquis Xuanwei’s crimes weren’t major, but neither were they trivial. The punishment depended entirely on the Emperor’s whim.
Unlike his worthless uncle, Marquis Xuanwei had once rendered great service to Great Qi. The Emperor might have overlooked the mistakes of his younger, more arrogant days—stripping him of his official post but letting him keep his title.
But the man had dared to support his foolish son’s bid for the throne…
Consort Xian studied the Emperor’s expression—he didn’t seem particularly angry.
If she pleaded for her father now, would it ruin the image she had carefully maintained all these years?
She suddenly thought of the Empress.
When the Empress’s birth mother and sister were implicated in fabricating auspicious signs, the Empress had not interceded. She had watched as her mother was stripped of her noble title.
Not only that, the Crown Prince had personally visited the Duke’s residence, after which the Duke petitioned to have his rank reduced.
After the Empress’s family lost face, the Emperor had treated her and the Crown Prince even better, even allowing the Crown Prince to review memorials and handle state affairs.
Compared to the Empress, Consort Xian couldn’t afford to plead for mercy.
She changed her approach, her voice firm. "The law applies equally to all, even the Son of Heaven. If my father has broken the law, he should be punished like any commoner."
Pei Lingyue sighed. "I’ve had these matters investigated. The evidence is irrefutable. By law, your father should be punished—but he is Yao'er’s grandfather. And your brother, Yao'er’s uncle—how could he use the prince’s name to force an official’s daughter into his household, tarnishing Yao'er’s reputation?"
Consort Xian’s heart lightened, though she still insisted, "They deserve death."
A faint resentment toward her family arose in her heart. How could they be so reckless, failing to clean up their mess properly? Now that their misdeeds had been exposed, she and her son were left humiliated. In a few days, when she went to pay her respects, she would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the palace concubines.
She comforted herself—if she played the victim and retreated strategically, the Emperor would surely take pity on her and go easy on the matter. This would be the perfect opportunity to remind everyone of her standing in the Emperor’s heart.
With that in mind, Consort Xian’s eyes reddened, and tears slipped down her cheeks. "This humble consort cannot bear the thought of Your Majesty being criticized for favoring personal connections over duty because of me."
She took a deep breath, her expression resolute. "After all, they are my family. They have betrayed Your Majesty’s trust and generosity, and I am deeply pained by it. I cannot in good conscience continue to serve as Your Majesty’s virtuous consort."
Her voice trembled with emotion. "My conscience torments me. I beg Your Majesty to punish me as well."
Pei Lingyue was stunned, visibly moved. "Beloved Consort, why must you go this far?"
Consort Xian… truly lived up to her title of "virtuous."
Had it not been for the divine insight granted to him, he might never have noticed her underlying motives.
Pei Lingyue had already been looking for an opportunity to reprimand the Qiongming Palace faction. Now that they had delivered themselves to him, he naturally seized the chance to step down from this confrontation gracefully.
Of course, he couldn’t completely crush Consort Xian and Yao’er.
After all, one was his son, and the other was the mother of his child—there was still some affection between them.
Moreover, while the Crown Prince was outstanding, he still needed tempering. Yao’er was neither clever enough to cause major trouble under his watch nor content with his position, making him an excellent whetstone for the Crown Prince.
On the other hand, keeping Consort Xian around meant she would continue fixating on the Guanju Palace. Her schemes might even provoke Consort Hui into triggering new missions.
He sighed. "This Emperor understands."
"Consort Xian’s act of righteousness in denouncing her own family and pleading for impartial justice has moved Us deeply."
"Announce the decree: Marquis Xuanwei, emboldened by favor, has overstepped his authority and embezzled military funds—a crime punishable by death. However, in consideration of his past merits, he is stripped of his title, and part of his family’s assets shall be confiscated to repay the losses."
"The heir of Marquis Xuanwei, for forcibly taking an official’s daughter as a concubine and framing a colleague, is stripped of his rank and imprisoned."
...
One by one, punishments related to Marquis Xuanwei were announced. None of his relatives and associates involved escaped unscathed. For example, Li Zhaoyuan’s father was not only stripped of his official position and reduced to a commoner but also had his property confiscated.
Consort Xian, who had been composed earlier, now looked as if she had been struck by several heavy blows. She was utterly dumbfounded.
Her father had been stripped of his title? Even part of their family’s wealth had been seized?
The Emperor… was actually serious about this?
This was not what she had intended.
She saw Pei Lingyue gazing at her with pity.
At this moment, Consort Xian couldn’t understand—how could he look at her with such tenderness while ruthlessly punishing her family?
Couldn’t he spare them for her and Yao’er’s sake?
Yet she couldn’t show even a trace of resentment. She knelt and said, "This humble consort thanks Your Majesty for your mercy on behalf of my father."
"Both thunder and rain are the grace of the sovereign." Now, she understood these words more profoundly than ever. A vine of hatred coiled tightly around her heart.
Consort Xian thought the punishment had already reached its peak, but before she could recover from the shock, another blow struck.
"Though We are reluctant, Consort Xian has repeatedly pleaded, leaving Us no choice but to grant her wish. Attendants, demote Consort Xian to Concubine Xian."
Consort Xian: ???
Had she misheard?
She stiffly raised her head, her neck making a faint creaking sound. Her lips trembled slightly as she whispered, "Your Majesty…"
Pei Lingyue looked at her tenderly. "Now, beloved consort, you need no longer suffer the torment of conscience. You may rest easy."
Originally, Pei Lingyue had considered letting her retain the privileges of a consort, but then he reconsidered—the extra expenses would not be covered by the Empress or the Empress Dowager. That meant he would have to pay out of his own pocket.
With several natural disasters looming this year, even though the treasury was currently stable due to the profits from white sugar and rock sugar, he couldn’t afford to be wasteful.
Better to let it go.
After all, Consort Xian had always lived frugally, often sharing her allowances with lower-ranked concubines. The stipend of a noble concubine would suffice for her.
Beneath her sleeves, Consort Xian’s hands clenched into fists, her long nails digging into her palms. Yet she felt no pain.
The agony in her heart had numbed her to physical suffering. A surge of rage rushed to her head, leaving her dizzy.
She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Instead, she forced a smile and accepted the decree. "This humble concubine thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
She dared not speak further, afraid that if she did, she might vomit blood right in front of the Emperor.
She didn’t understand—where had she gone wrong? How had she ended up digging her own grave?
This strategy of strategic retreat had always worked before.
Yet now, she couldn’t show even a hint of resentment. She had to accept the decree with gratitude—because she had asked for it.
Yes, she had asked for it.
Her smile was uglier than tears.
By the time she barely made it back to Qiongming Palace, Consort Xian was spitting blood.
...
The impeachment of Consort Xian’s family had become the hottest gossip in the palace over the past two days.
Everyone had seen her heading to the Qianyuan Hall dressed in plain, unadorned clothing—clearly intending to perform the old ritual of removing her hairpins to plead for forgiveness.
Though the method was cliché, Consort Xian’s reputation for virtue had always made it effective. When others tried it, it only came off as imitation.
Most assumed the matter concerning Marquis Xuanwei would end with much thunder but little rain.
Though Consort Xian had never been the most favored, her position in the Emperor’s heart was solid, and she enjoyed his deep trust.
However, the subsequent developments left everyone stunned.
With her plea for punishment, Consort Xian had not only gotten her father stripped of his title but also sent her own brother to prison, while her relatives and in-laws fell one after another.
And she herself had been demoted to Concubine Xian.
Though a noble concubine still held a prominent position, among the nine noble ranks, it was lower than Zhaoyi or Zhaoyuan.
In other words, Concubine Xian now ranked below even Li Zhaoyuan.
The palace women were itching with curiosity.
Ahhh! What on earth had Consort Xian done?
The Emperor made no effort to conceal her actions, instead publicly praising her for her "righteousness in denouncing her own family" and even writing a commendation in her honor.
When Yu Miaohua heard the news, she was speechless.
She couldn’t help but say to Noble Lady Sun, "Is Consort Xian an idiot?"
"Does she think ‘Concubine Xian’ sounds better than ‘Consort Xian’?"
Now, they couldn’t call her "Sister Consort Xian" anymore—it would have to be "Sister Concubine Xian."
Noble Lady Sun laughed so hard she nearly toppled over, tears streaming from her eyes.
Wiping her face, she finally said, "Concubine Xian is no fool. She’s too clever—so clever that she thought everyone else was a fool. And this time, she fell right into her own trap."
The Emperor must have long intended to punish her, which was why her usual strategy of retreating to advance had backfired.
Yu Miaohua could guess what was going on after hearing this.
"She just wanted to boost her own reputation, and the Emperor indulged her."
Now, Concubine Xian had gained fame—everyone praised her publicly for being fair and selfless, but privately, they called her a fool. And she had lost everything else; even her son and relatives likely resented her now.
Yu Miaohua still admired Concubine Xian somewhat. Despite everything, she managed to attend the morning greetings as usual.
At the time, many concubines kept calling her "Sister Concubine Xian"... If Yu Miaohua were in her place, she would have been heartbroken.
Of course, Yu Miaohua wasn’t kind enough to pity her.
Concubine Xian had repeatedly tried to scheme against her and the Empress, ruining her workplace experience.
Now that she was in trouble, at least she wouldn’t have the energy to cause more problems.
Soon, Yu Miaohua and Noble Lady Sun began discussing what to wear on the day of her promotion to Consort Hui. The Imperial Astronomers had chosen the fifth day of the third month.
...
After facing repeated setbacks these past few days, the Second Prince could no longer focus on searching for the Tuzu people from the grasslands. He stormed into Qiongming Palace.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "Mother, I don’t expect you to help me anymore, but at least stop making things worse for me."
Lately, many officials had praised his mother for her selflessness whenever they saw him—compliments that made him want to vomit blood.
What use was such a reputation to him?
What he needed most right now was allies and money to build connections.
His mother’s actions had elevated her as a virtuous and noble concubine, but they had also destroyed much of his maternal family’s influence.
Worse, this would have lasting consequences—if they couldn’t even protect their own people and instead sacrificed them, who would dare support them in the future?
Potential allies would surely hesitate, wondering if they too would be discarded for the sake of reputation.
His position was already weaker than the Crown Prince’s, and now it was even more precarious.
His mother’s move had ruined him.
Hearing her son’s accusations, Concubine Xian felt a bitter taste in her mouth. "I didn’t expect the Emperor would no longer favor this approach."
These past few days, she had barely eaten or slept, her appearance haggard.
Pei Chiyao took a deep breath. "Clearly, you no longer understand Father. He doesn’t like your type anymore."
He preferred Consort Hui’s kind.
He was certain that if something like this had happened to Consort Hui’s family, it would have been brushed aside lightly.
The thought only fueled his resentment.
Concubine Xian’s face paled. She had done all this for him, yet now he was blaming her.
Pei Chiyao’s expression darkened. "I won’t believe your words anymore. Focus on winning Father’s favor instead of making things harder for me."
With that, he left without another word.
Concubine Xian collapsed, her head hitting the floor with a loud thud, leaving a large bruise.
Already exhausted and heartbroken, her son’s words pushed her over the edge. Yet even now, she didn’t dare call for a physician, afraid of rumors spreading. Instead, she pretended a maid was injured and used the herbs to treat herself.
Ill and losing influence, her palace was no longer the tightly controlled fortress it once was.
Pei Lingyue soon received the news.
Rubbing his temples, he felt even more disappointed in his second son.
No matter how flawed Concubine Xian was, Yao'er had no right to blame her.
He decided to visit Consort Hui instead—the Crown Prince had already finished writing those twenty poems for her.
...
"Which of these twenty poems do you like best?"
Seeing the faint pride on Pei Lingyue’s face, Yu Miaohua couldn’t help but ask, "Did Your Majesty write these for me?"
She had heard the Emperor had been summoning officials nonstop lately—not just to prepare for the impending natural disasters but also to promote the new techniques retrieved from the ancestral temple. He was swamped. How did he find time to write poetry?
What kind of time management skills did he have?
Pei Lingyue replied casually, "Pick the ones you like. We’ll inscribe them on those paintings and hang them in the ancestral temple."
Ah!
Yu Miaohua immediately perked up, carefully reading each poem. These would be displayed in the ancestral temple, where future generations of the Pei family would see them. For the sake of her historical image, she had to choose the ones that flattered her most.
After reading all twenty, she was stunned.
[System, I never knew the Emperor saw me as this flawless!]
[Yeah, I misjudged him. He’s totally obsessed.]
Yu Miaohua was genuinely moved. She decided not to gossip about the Emperor with the system for a few days—though that restraint wouldn’t last long.
[He found so many virtues in me that even I didn’t know I had.]
She was truly shocked. How many layers of filters did the Emperor have when looking at her? In these poems, she was practically the most perfect person in the world.
Pei Lingyue was pleased. The Crown Prince had clearly put effort into this task, moving Consort Hui deeply. His repeated orders for the prince to take this seriously had paid off.
After reading them all, Yu Miaohua pointed to the fifth and eighth poems. "I like these two the most."
Truthfully, she found every poem excellent and couldn’t decide, so she just picked the ones with her favorite numbers.
Pei Lingyue nodded. "Good. I’ll have the Crown Prince recopy these two later."
The Crown Prince?
Yu Miaohua’s eyes flickered with confusion. Why would the Crown Prince need to copy them?
Pei Lingyue smiled. "I’m not skilled in poetry, so I had the Crown Prince write them for me. Since you like them, it means his efforts weren’t wasted."
He seized the chance to praise his son in front of Consort Hui, hoping to improve their strained relationship. Otherwise, how would the mission progress?
Sigh. It was all because of that scoundrel from Consort Hui’s past life, tarnishing his good son’s reputation.
"The Crown Prince did well. He worked so hard—I noticed he’s lost weight recently. It pains me. I should reward him. Consort Hui, what do you think would be a suitable gift?"
Yu Miaohua nearly screamed internally, her expression stiffening.
[I take back all my earlier praise! The Emperor is insane!!!]
Who in their right mind would make their son write poems for a concubine?
And twenty of them! Twenty! She couldn’t even imagine what the Crown Prince must have thought when given this task.
She couldn’t comprehend the Emperor’s logic.
She wanted her earlier touched feelings back.
[OMG, this is peak romance! The Crown Prince wrote them—he’s totally in love!]
To the system, which shipped everything, this was the ultimate sugar. Practically love letters! Full marks!
[In love my foot! He was just forced to complete a task!]
For once, Yu Miaohua and the Crown Prince shared a silent understanding.
[Ugh, I can’t live with this. Imagine future historians digging this up and realizing the poems were written by the Crown Prince. They’ll definitely spin wild rumors about us.]
【Wow, this is destined to become an eternally celebrated love story! A painting personally created by the Tanhua (Third-Ranked Scholar), paired with a poem written by the Crown Prince himself—it’s simply divine romance!】
The system was so engrossed in fangirling that it began rambling nonsense.
The Emperor pretended not to notice Consort Hui’s silent grievances. The deities clearly adored this development.
He asked again, “Consort Hui, how do you suggest We reward the Crown Prince?”
Yu Miaohua forced a weak smile. “This concubine knows little about His Highness and truly cannot guess his preferences.”
So please, stop asking her!
If this continued, she’d start suspecting the Emperor was testing her.
Heaven and earth bore witness—she and the Crown Prince were practically strangers! They hadn’t even exchanged ten words.
【System, has someone been spreading rumors about me and the Crown Prince in front of the Emperor? Was he just probing me? QAQ】
【Wuwu, I’ve been wronged!】
Seeing Yu Miaohua whimper before the deities, Pei Lingyue sighed inwardly: Consort Hui was too timid, too prone to paranoia.
He had originally considered having her embroider a pouch but now dismissed the idea. “Consort Hui, the pastries from your kitchen are always delightful. The Crown Prince ate quite a few during his visits to Qian Yuan Palace. Why not send him two portions?”
Send pastries?
Yu Miaohua often distributed treats from her kitchen—to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, Empress, other consorts, and even Consort Zhang. The harem was accustomed to her generosity, so no one would misinterpret it.
This was an acceptable gesture.
Yu Miaohua smiled faintly. “This concubine hadn’t realized His Highness enjoyed sweets. I’ll consult Her Majesty the Empress about his preferences and have Imperial Chef Li prepare a few varieties.”
Better yet, she’d send batches to every palace—no need to single out the Crown Prince.
Every prince and princess would receive some! She could afford this small expense.
But then she hesitated. The imperial quarters now housed Prince Feng’s heir, who reportedly spent his days copying sutras for her blessings. Should she include him?
Sending him treats felt awkward, but excluding him might seem deliberate.
Ugh, the Emperor’s meddling had truly vexed her.
Just then, a new task notification chimed in her mind.
【Twenty love poems deserve more than a mere imperial chef’s skills! Host has triggered Side Quest 2.1: Personally prepare a pastry for the Crown Prince as a return gift. Reward: Equine Selection Technique and Horseshoe Technology. Advanced equine knowledge will identify the finest steeds, while horseshoes protect hooves, enhancing speed and adaptability.】
【Host, charge forth! Let the grasslands tremble before our mighty cavalry! Don’t you want vengeance for the Ancestral Temple pit incident?】
【No. The one who fell into the pit was Prince Feng’s heir—it has nothing to do with me.】
Already suspecting slander about her and the Crown Prince, Yu Miaohua had drawn the line at having Imperial Chef Li handle the pastries. This absurd task made her instantly reject it.
Meanwhile, Pei Lingyue’s eyes sparkled at the new quest.
Having the Crown Prince compose poetry had been a masterstroke—look how quickly it triggered rewards!
This was exactly what he wanted! The grasslands prided themselves on their cavalry. Only by defeating them in their strongest domain could they be truly subdued.
Clearing his throat, he suggested, “We believe pastries made by your own hands would show greater sincerity.”
Yu Miaohua smiled sweetly while cursing internally.
【I’ve had enough of these mind games! Decision made, System!】
【I’m lodging a complaint with Her Majesty the Empress and Empress Dowager! Let’s see which scoundrel slandered me! How dare the Emperor distrust me!】
If her favorability were visible, Pei Lingyue would’ve witnessed it plummeting off a cliff.
【Absolutely, he’s testing you. Stay vigilant, Host.】
Yu Miaohua was touched—for once, the system took her side. Then came the next notification, and her gratitude vanished.
【The palace is a den of schemes—never let your guard down. Host has triggered Main Quest 3.5: Investigate the Emperor’s motives and uncover the instigator. Reward: Locations of undiscovered iron ore deposits in the grasslands.】
【Note: With three ongoing quests, no new tasks will activate until completion.】
Yu Miaohua didn’t mind. Her priority remained the gynecological texts reward. Fewer quests meant fewer headaches.
Pei Lingyue, however, was devastated. Before he could celebrate the new quest, this restriction struck like lightning.
So… should he turn himself in to complete the mission?
Pei Lingyue: To confess or not to confess?
