The disguised imperial guard pretending to be the late Emperor fell silent, unable to comprehend where he had slipped up. Clearly, Grand Preceptor Jiang Kangyou had initially believed the act.
Should he continue the charade or come clean?
Jiang Kangyou sighed, looking at the man with sympathy. "Now, take me to see His Majesty. You’ve gone through so much trouble orchestrating this."
He stepped forward.
The guard hastily called out, "Wait! There are wires here!"
This was the Emperor’s revered teacher, newly returned to the capital and immediately appointed as Grand Preceptor. If anything happened to him, ten of their lives wouldn’t be enough to atone.
Sure enough, Jiang Kangyou spotted the thin iron wires suspended in midair. Under the cover of night and swirling white mist, they were nearly invisible until one stood right before them.
This was how the guard had managed to "float" in the air.
The guard jumped down and silently began gathering the wires from the courtyard. Another guard ceased releasing the white mist.
They returned to the palace in silence to report their failure—Grand Preceptor Jiang had seen through their ruse.
Pei Lingyue rubbed his temples in frustration.
His teacher was far harder to deceive than he’d anticipated.
Now, Jiang Kangyou would surely assume that Consort Hui had clouded his judgment, leading him to fabricate omens for her sake. Worse, he might even question whether all previous auspicious signs had been similarly concocted under the influence of her beauty.
In truth, Consort Hui knew nothing of this—it had been entirely his own doing.
Perhaps he should simply take the blame? Admit that he’d acted out of overprotectiveness?
After weighing the options, Pei Lingyue made his decision. Rather than risk his teacher exposing the matter in court, it was better to resolve it tonight.
With a sigh, he ordered, "Invite Grand Preceptor Jiang in."
Half an hour later, the palace gates quietly opened, and Jiang Kangyou entered—his first late-night audience with the Emperor.
Upon seeing Pei Lingyue, Jiang Kangyou performed the customary rites with practiced ease.
The Emperor dismissed his attendants, studying his teacher’s composed expression with mild bewilderment.
"Grand Preceptor, tonight’s affair was solely my doing to protect Consort Hui. She bears no responsibility."
Facing the man who had once sacrificed his only son for him, Pei Lingyue spoke with genuine respect.
"I understand. It was about the penicillin, wasn’t it?"
"Yes—"
Wait.
Pei Lingyue’s eyes widened in shock, momentarily robbed of speech.
After a pause, he murmured, "So... you can see it too?"
He vaguely recalled that the divine system had recently leveled up. This upgrade hadn’t granted any obvious new abilities, much to Consort Hui’s irritation—she’d ignored it for days.
Now, he wondered if this "upgrade" had simply extended visibility to his teacher.
But what were the criteria? If Jiang Kangyou could see, what about other officials?
As an imperial consort, Yu Miaohua would inevitably appear at major court events. He couldn’t afford to be caught off guard then.
He needed to determine exactly who else could now perceive the system’s dialogues.
Perhaps he’d start by testing the Grand Tutor.
Control was paramount.
Jiang Kangyou remarked, "Witnessing such divine marvels was... startling."
Pei Lingyue inwardly scoffed: His teacher’s acting was impeccable—he’d shown no signs of shock whatsoever.
"So that’s when you realized I could see them too?"
"I had suspicions but no confirmation," Jiang Kangyou admitted.
Pei Lingyue understood—his own actions tonight had handed the answer to his teacher on a silver platter.
Quickly regaining his composure, he brightened. If Jiang Kangyou could see the system, then Yu Miaohua’s mission might finally progress!
Under the Emperor’s intense gaze, Jiang Kangyou’s eyelid twitched—a mix of exasperation and quiet pride. Unlike his predecessor, this ruler prioritized Great Qi’s welfare above all. The people were fortunate to have such a sovereign.
Though if the late Emperor’s spirit witnessed how often his name was invoked for convenience, he’d likely rage from beyond the grave. Served him right.
With a faint smile, Jiang Kangyou said, "Consort Hui is indeed a divine blessing upon Great Qi—a true goddess."
Though the lady herself seemed to disagree, dismissing her status as fabricated. But any mortal deemed worthy of a deity’s servitude, receiving missions and coaxing to complete them? In Jiang Kangyou’s eyes, she surpassed even celestial maidens in nobility.
Pei Lingyue was satisfied. Surely the mission counted as complete now?
For a fleeting moment, he longed to visit Guanju Palace for confirmation—but Consort Hui would be asleep by now. Her notorious morning temper had already lowered his standing in her eyes; he wouldn’t risk further demotion.
Incidentally, his teacher’s newfound visibility solved another problem.
"Your wife’s calligraphy is exceptional," he remarked casually. "Consort Hui lacks formal titles but often copies Buddhist scriptures to practice. Her strokes remain... uninspired. If Madam Zhang has leisure, perhaps she might offer guidance?"
Jiang Kangyou startled. "You permit me to disclose Consort Hui’s nature to my wife?"
Pei Lingyue shrugged. "You couldn’t tell outsiders even if you tried."
The Empress had once attempted informing the Crown Prince, to no avail.
Puzzled, Jiang Kangyou wondered at the Emperor’s motives. Binding the Jiang family to Consort Hui seemed unnecessary—her divine merits alone guaranteed his support. There must be deeper layers here.
Pei Lingyue pressed on: "With your other disciples stationed abroad, you lack attendants. Why not take a final pupil?"
Dispensing with courtly pretense, Jiang Kangyou asked directly, "Whom does Your Majesty propose?"
The Crown Prince, perhaps?
Pei Lingyue smiled. "Hanlin Academy’s Reader-in-Waiting, Shen Sushang."
Jiang Kangyou was baffled.
He knew of Shen Sushang—last year’s Tanhua (third-ranked scholar), renowned for literary brilliance and striking looks. The young man had leapfrogged the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan to become a palace reader, enjoying unprecedented imperial favor.
Yet this request surpassed even those honors. The Emperor wanted him, the realm’s most celebrated imperial tutor, to personally mentor the man?
Countless aspirants clamored for Jiang Kangyou’s instruction. "What distinguishes him?"
Pei Lingyue’s reasoning was simple: Through this master-disciple bond, Shen Sushang and Yu Miaohua would interact more, unlocking new missions.
As a palace reader, Shen Sushang currently had scant contact with the consort—an intolerable situation for the ever-resourceful Emperor. If opportunities didn’t exist, he’d manufacture them.
His teacher’s return was serendipitous.
Not only could Jiang Kangyou perceive the system, but he was also untainted by harem factions—the perfect ally.
He spoke unhurriedly, "His exceptional quality lies in being favored by Consort Hui and the All-Encompassing Deities."
"The All-Encompassing Deities felt that the mere title of consort was beneath Consort Hui, so they assigned her the task of winning over three men." Pei Lingyue kindly explained terms like "quest," "affection points," and others to Jiang Kangyou, lest his teacher be confused the next time he saw a newly unlocked mission.
Jiang Kangyou struggled to speak. "The Imperial Examination’s Third-Ranked Scholar is one of them?"
"Correct."
Jiang Kangyou stood dumbfounded.
Honestly, seeing his usually composed teacher wear such a thunderstruck expression tonight greatly lifted Pei Lingyue’s spirits—served him right!
By comparison, his own swift acceptance of the situation marked him as no ordinary man.
"Your Majesty, do you truly intend to help Consort Hui complete her quest to… step out of bounds?"
Jiang Kangyou was astounded. He had never heard of an emperor so eagerly assisting in his own cuckolding—and even dragging his teacher into this mess. If word got out, his decades of reputation would be ruined.
Pei Lingyue sighed. "At first, We were furious too. But the All-Encompassing Deities offer far too much!"
"So far, thanks to these quests, We have obtained heating technology, a comprehensive manual on locust plague prevention, designs for the curved-shaft and straight-shaft plows, detailed pig farming techniques, horse appraisal and horseshoe forging methods, multiple tea-processing techniques to enhance tea quality, soap-making technology…" Pei Lingyue could recite every reward he had received with perfect clarity.
Jiang Kangyou instantly understood the Emperor’s reasoning.
Pei Lingyue fixed his teacher with a fervent gaze. "Not only that, but according to the All-Encompassing Deities, completing the rendezvous quest with the Third-Ranked Scholar will grant Us corn—a crop yielding four dan per mu, suitable for mountainous and arid lands! Tell Us, how could We pass up such a divine gift? This is no less valuable than Champa rice!"
Pei Lingyue had long coveted this reward and had been scheming how to achieve it.
Jiang Kangyou’s breathing grew rapid. "Your Majesty is right. This reward must be secured. But… what is Champa rice?"
Though the All-Encompassing Deities’ tasks were outrageous, their rewards were undeniably generous.
Pei Lingyue explained the legendary Champa rice.
Jiang Kangyou’s heart swelled with excitement. With rice that could yield two or even three harvests a year, and the fabled corn, countless more commoners would be fed.
And Consort Hui had already brought them cotton, another treasure…
If she needed to win over three men—no, even ten—she deserved it. Many men in this world couldn’t match a tenth of her capability yet kept multiple wives and concubines. All she had to do was make three men fall for her.
If the Emperor himself didn’t mind, who else had the right to object?
"Who are the other targets?" he asked, unable to curb his curiosity.
Pei Lingyue smirked. "One is Prince Feng’s heir…"
Jiang Kangyou frowned. The Feng household was notoriously ambitious. Rumors said they had been commissioning poems praising Consort Hui—clear proof of their ulterior motives. This target was far from ideal.
"No wonder Your Majesty specifically ordered the heir to remain in the palace." Jiang Kangyou had to admire the Emperor’s tolerance. For the sake of rewards, he was truly relentless.
"And the last one?"
The Emperor had saved this for last. Could the identity be… particularly sensitive?
A dreadful premonition struck Jiang Kangyou.
Pei Lingyue enunciated each word: "The Crown Prince."
"Our Crown Prince is simply too outstanding, hence he was chosen. Someone like Chi Yao? Pah! Guanju Palace never provoked him, yet he harbored malice from the start. He was excluded immediately."
Jiang Kangyou fell silent, utterly speechless.
His expression was so eerily calm that Pei Lingyue, hoping for a dramatic reaction, was disappointed. Truly, his teacher had seen much of the world—his composure was unshakable.
After a long pause, Jiang Kangyou’s voice came as if in a daze: "Your Majesty, could you repeat that? I must have misheard."
Pei Lingyue understood—his teacher’s shock had been so great that his mind had rejected the words outright.
With relish, he repeated, "Our Crown Prince."
Jiang Kangyou stared at the Emperor’s proud expression and choked on his words.
Was this truly the Emperor’s doing?
Wait—
"Aside from us, who else knows?"
"The Empress Dowager and the Empress. Thanks to Our wise partner, We’ve smoothly completed several quests." Pei Lingyue was deeply grateful he had personally chosen Zhao Pei as his wife. If it had been Virtuous Consort… Consort Hui’s grave would already be overgrown with grass.
Jiang Kangyou sighed inwardly: They truly were a family cut from the same cloth.
He could only console himself: At least there was no need to worry about Her Majesty the Empress feeling threatened by Consort Hui’s influence.
…
[Ahhh! Congratulations, Host, on completing Main Quest 3.6: Without using auspicious signs or system abilities, convince Grand Preceptor Jiang that you are the true Divine Maiden! The reward—penicillin production technology—has been deposited in your inventory.]
Yu Miaohua, who had been sleeping soundly in the dead of night, was abruptly jolted awake by the system’s announcement.
Damn this idiotic system!
Didn’t it know she had struggled with insomnia over that quest and had only just managed to fall asleep?
[You’re so annoying! Couldn’t you have waited until morning?]
[Host, should I sing you a lullaby?]
The Palace Intrigue System, now sheepish after its initial excitement.
Yu Miaohua took a deep breath and rubbed her throbbing temples.
At least she didn’t have to attend morning greetings with the Empress or Empress Dowager today—she could sleep in.
[You said the quest is complete?]
[Yes!]
Yu Miaohua was baffled.
[But we didn’t do anything.]
The quest had seemed too difficult, and fearing that missteps might ruin her carefully built image, she had wisely abandoned it. Even the system had grudgingly stopped nagging her.
Yet somehow, the quest had completed itself—in the middle of the night!
While overjoyed at this stroke of luck, Yu Miaohua was mostly bewildered.
[Maybe he dreamt of the late Emperor’s revelation and became convinced of your identity. Thoughts by day, dreams by night, after all.]
The Palace Intrigue System quickly fabricated an explanation.
[Mm, you’re probably right!]
With the quest resolved, Yu Miaohua saw no reason to dwell on it.
This was good news—one less enemy to worry about. And now that the quest was done, she could freely use auspicious signs in front of Grand Preceptor Jiang without restrictions.
She lay back down. Might as well read some comics.
Yu Miaohua ended up reading until dawn before finally drifting back to sleep.
By the time she woke again, it was nearly noon.
Cuifei informed her, "Your Highness, His Majesty will join you for lunch today."
Yu Miaohua instructed the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes the Emperor favored.
After finishing lunch, Pei Lingyue picked up the Buddhist scriptures Yu Miaohua had recently copied—for her, transcribing scriptures had become a habit. Copying one daily was no trouble and helped reinforce her persona.
"Consort Hui’s calligraphy remains as it ever was," he remarked.
Yu Miaohua: "..."
Wasn’t this just a roundabout way of saying her handwriting hadn’t improved at all? She had no natural talent for it.
Pei Lingyue continued, "This Emperor has found you a teacher."
Yu Miaohua’s expression shifted slightly as she politely declined, "This concubine truly lacks aptitude in this area. It would be a waste of the teacher’s time."
She wasn’t aiming to become a calligrapher or painter—as long as her writing was legible, what did it matter if it wasn’t beautiful?
At her current status, she didn’t need to rely on talent to compete for favor anyway.
Pei Lingyue said casually, "Madam Zhang, the wife of Grand Preceptor Jiang, excels in calligraphy. This Emperor thought that if you became her student, you could visit the Jiang residence regularly and even stroll around the capital. Since entering the palace, you’ve never left, have you?"
"!!!"
At his words, Yu Miaohua’s heart raced with excitement.
Though the palace was magnificent and her Guanju Palace lavish, she had grown tired of seeing the same scenery every day.
"Your Majesty, is this truly allowed?"
Pei Lingyue replied, "Why wouldn’t it be?"
Since the Emperor had said so, refusing would be ungrateful.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty."
[Heavens, the Emperor’s changed! When did he become so gentle and considerate? I’m genuinely moved! Hehe, does this mean I can sneak back home too?]
[The Emperor has always treated you well, making many exceptions for you. So you should also invest more attention in him.]
Seizing the moment while Yu Miaohua was in high spirits, the system urged her to focus more on the Emperor, engage actively, and strive to trigger more tasks.
Pei Lingyue nodded in approval: The system spirit speaks wisely.
But Yu Miaohua wasn’t one to fall for such tactics. She’d given the Emperor plenty of treasures—this was merely what she deserved.
[But my heart is small, with room for only one person. If I truly fell for the Emperor, how could someone as loyal and devoted as me carry out other romance missions with a clear conscience? System, if you had to choose between the Emperor and the other three, who would you pick?]
She deliberately set a trap for the system.
Pei Lingyue: "!!"
He swiftly weighed the options. The rewards from his missions alone couldn’t compare to the cumulative gains from the other three—who offered not just event triggers but also CG rewards and favorability bonuses.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt the system spirit was biased. Why didn’t he get CG or favorability rewards?
Moreover, women in the rear palace who became entangled in love often grew greedier.
Yu Miaohua was fine as she was. Better she didn’t love him.
[...Then you should focus on properly romancing the Crown Prince and the Tanhua instead.]
After comparing the potential gains, the system reluctantly made its choice. Wails—why couldn’t it have both?
Its system life was truly difficult.
Another day, another effortless manipulation of the palace intrigue system by Yu Miaohua.
Once she decided to apprentice under Madam Zhang, Yu Miaohua began selecting gifts from the treasury for the formal ceremony.
After some thought, she chose several master calligraphers’ works—all originally gifted to her by Consort Yuan Huirou—along with fine brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
This era placed great importance on master-disciple rites, so Pei Lingyue even had the Imperial Astronomers select an auspicious date.
It was then that Yu Miaohua learned Grand Preceptor Jiang Kangyou planned to take the Tanhua as his final disciple.
The date chosen by the Imperial Astronomers coincidentally scheduled both ceremonies for the same day—the sixth day of the fourth month.
[Ahhh! Who knew you and Tanhua Shen would share such fate! Now you’ll officially be senior brother and junior sister—you can even call him shixiong! Studying together as martial siblings, what a beautiful scene! Sobs I’m shipping it so hard!]
Yu Miaohua’s lips twitched.
What was wrong with the Imperial Astronomers? Couldn’t they pick separate days?
If they couldn’t do their job properly, she might as well take over.
Unbeknownst to her, the Imperial Astronomers had actually selected multiple dates based on their birth charts—Pei Lingyue had simply rigged it so both ceremonies fell on the same day, albeit at different times.
Truly, he was a man who let his deeds speak for themselves.
When news spread, the entire court and rear palace were abuzz.
After Jiang Kangyou returned to the capital, many had expected him to clash with Consort Hui. Yet days passed without any confrontation.
Instead, his wife was taking Consort Hui as a student.
Would she have done so without his approval?
They’d misjudged Jiang Kangyou! He’d learned to cozy up to power.
The shock of Madam Zhang accepting Consort Hui overshadowed Jiang Kangyou’s own disciple-taking, leaving the Tanhua’s ceremony nearly forgotten.
One official even asked Jiang Kangyou directly, "I thought you disliked supernatural matters."
Jiang Kangyou glanced at him. "I merely despise those who fake divinity for personal gain. Consort Hui is a true goddess—how could charlatans compare? Haven’t you all witnessed her miracles firsthand?"
The others had no rebuttal.
Jiang Kangyou continued, "I know some resent the honors bestowed upon Consort Hui’s family..."
Marquis Liu hastily interjected, "That’s not what I meant! I only felt it unfair to ennoble her younger sister as a county lady without merit while others receive nothing."
(In truth, Marquis Liu’s wife had once sought Yu Miaoping as a daughter-in-law, only to be rejected by the Yu family. While he dared not act against them, he couldn’t resist occasional sour remarks.)
Jiang Kangyou studied Marquis Liu. "Your son is untalented yet inherits your title simply by birth—now that’s truly unfair."
"Thank you, Marquis Liu, for reminding this official. I ought to submit a memorial—hereditary titles must be rigorously examined. Since Consort Hui used fifty thousand taels of disaster relief funds and her prophecy of calamities to earn her sister’s title, those wishing to pass titles to their descendants should demonstrate equivalent merit."
He smiled. "As men, surely we can’t achieve less than a woman."
Marquis Liu nearly fainted. "That’s not what I—"
Jiang Kangyou turned away, sleeves flaring as he left.
Other nobles with inheritable titles glared at Marquis Liu—why provoke Jiang Kangyou, known for his protectiveness? Consort Hui was now his wife’s disciple, making her practically his student too. Criticizing her family before him was sheer folly.
Now they’d all pay for his blunder.
None could match Consort Hui’s contributions. If their descendants lost their inheritances, they’d make Marquis Liu regret it.
Marquis Liu stood rooted to the spot, acutely aware of the countless gazes boring into him from all directions. He couldn’t help but smack his own lips in frustration. Why did he always have to run his mouth?
Grand Tutor Yuan Xinji passed by, shaking his head in disapproval.
Why were there always fools who never learned their lesson? The mere thought of sharing court duties with such imbeciles made him feel the imperial bureaucracy was still far too bloated.
He called out to Jiang Kangyou, “Old Jiang, wait for me. Don’t forget to send me an invitation to the upcoming apprenticeship ceremony.”
Having both served as tutors to the Crown Prince in the past, the two shared a decent rapport.
Jiang Kangyou glanced back at him, his voice drifting lazily. “I won’t forget yours.”
The Emperor would undoubtedly want to know which other officials could see the divine dialogues, so he’d surely be ordered to invite a select group of ministers.
Just as Jiang Kangyou had predicted, Pei Lingyue indeed instructed him to prepare a long list of invitations.
“Consort Yu is a revered imperial consort, the Divine Maiden of Great Qi. Her apprenticeship ceremony cannot be a shabby affair.”
Jiang Kangyou sighed. “Your Majesty, you can’t possibly invite the entire court.”
“My humble home cannot accommodate so many guests.”
Onlookers might even suspect him of forming factions.
Pei Lingyue hesitated. “Fine, limit it to ten guests. No fewer!”
Jiang Kangyou scanned the list—every name was at least a second-rank official.
Well, he might as well humor the Emperor.
Once the guest list was made public, those present couldn’t help but marvel at the depth of Consort Hui’s imperial favor.
Clearly, the Emperor had handpicked these high-ranking attendees solely to bolster her prestige.
They knew Jiang Kangyou’s temperament—left to his own devices, he’d have invited only a handful of close friends. This ostentatious list bore the Emperor’s unmistakable touch.
As for Yu Miaohua, she only realized the sheer magnitude of the event upon arriving at the Jiang residence that day.
Her expression went blank. Wait—wasn’t this just a simple apprenticeship ceremony? Was all this really necessary?
She’d only wanted to sneak out under the pretense of calligraphy lessons!
Yet here they were—high-ranking ministers, dukes, marquises…
Even the Empress Dowager and the Empress herself had graced the occasion.
The Empress smiled warmly. “Mother and I haven’t left the palace in ages. Thanks to you, sister, we finally have this opportunity.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, her eyes tinged with nostalgia. “The pastry shop I adored as a child still stands. Later, I intend to visit incognito—see if the taste remains unchanged.”
The truth, however, was that the Emperor wanted to observe which officials displayed suspicious reactions, hoping to identify those who could perceive Miaohua’s divine dialogues.
With just himself and Grand Tutor Jiang unable to monitor everyone, he’d enlisted the Empress and Empress Dowager as additional observers.
Yu Miaohua blinked. “And the other ministers?”
The Empress replied, “They volunteered, hoping to bask in your divine fortune.”
“Ah, I see!” Miaohua nodded sagely.
She consoled herself—she’d simply treat them all as NPCs. After all, she was only here for the apprenticeship.
The ceremonial steps were already etched in her memory. Her ritual would precede Shen Sushang’s.
Given her status, she wasn’t required to kneel before Madam Zhang—presenting tea would suffice.
Just as she thought it was over…
A new mission notification chimed in her mind.
[Such a mundane ceremony is unworthy of the Divine Maiden! Host has triggered Main Mission 3.7: Perform a public miracle to demonstrate that your apprenticeship with Madam Zhang is divinely ordained, blessed by celestial beings. Reward: Three uses of Auspicious Omen skill.]
[Relax, Host—skill usage is permitted this time! Free rewards, essentially.]
Trading one Auspicious Omen for three? A steal! She’d take this mission!
When the new task appeared, Pei Lingyue barely registered the ministers’ reactions, too consumed by frustration. From his current position, reaching the auspicious radiance in time would be nearly impossible.
Yet again, he’d missed out on divine blessings!
