Some time had passed since the apprenticeship banquet concluded, but the events of that day remained a hot topic among the capital's residents.
When the auspicious phenomenon occurred, both the interior and exterior of the house were enveloped in a striking purple aura, drawing crowds of nearby citizens who rushed out to witness the spectacle. Many even took the opportunity to make all their lifelong wishes in one breath toward the radiant glow.
Those who missed the sight were left pounding their chests in regret, feeling as though they had lost out on ten thousand taels of silver.
"Word has it that the entire estate was bathed in that purple aura, and the officials inside even saw Laozi, the revered founder of Daoism, bestow a divine artifact upon Madam Zhang."
Previously, people referred to Zhang Changying as either "Madam Zhang" or "the Grand Preceptor's wife." But gradually, their tone shifted, and her name was now spoken with newfound respect.
"What kind of divine artifact?"
"Supposedly a piece of jade—one without any visible seams. It’s inscribed with the words, 'It will open when the time is right.' No one knows what’s inside."
"You’re remarkably well-informed! Where is this artifact now? Could it be in the Jiang residence? Do you think someone might try to steal it?"
"That’s a gift from the Daoist patriarch! What thief would dare covet it? Aren’t they afraid of divine retribution?"
"Fair point. I wonder what makes Madam Zhang so exceptional that she was chosen as Consort Hui’s teacher."
"If she weren’t extraordinary, would Heaven have acknowledged her? Rumor has it that many noble families have tried pulling strings to have their children study under her, but Madam Zhang turned them all down."
Yu Miaohua paused her steps, listening with quiet satisfaction to the lively chatter in the teahouse.
She wore a veil hat to obscure her striking features—a necessary precaution, as her face was too recognizable. The last time she ventured out without concealment, she had been swarmed by citizens who treated her like a deity. The overwhelming spectacle was not something she wished to relive.
Turning to her palace maid, Cuiwei, she remarked, "Those commoners are surprisingly well-informed."
How did they even know about the inscription on the jade? Perhaps it was leaked by the servants of the attending guests.
Still, the widespread rumors served a purpose: no one would dare question her teacher’s fate or legitimacy anymore.
"Senior Sister."
A familiar voice made Yu Miaohua turn her head—it was Shen Sushang, the famed scholar.
Today was his day off, which also coincided with his scheduled lesson at the Jiang residence. In private, he respectfully addressed her as "Your Highness," but in public, to conceal her identity, he called her "Senior Sister"—a title even the Emperor had suggested, ensuring no one could find fault with it.
Shen Sushang frowned slightly upon noticing that Yu Miaohua had only one maid and one guard accompanying her. "Senior Sister, you must prioritize your safety when outside."
Yu Miaohua reassured him, "There are three more in hiding."
Bringing a larger entourage would only draw unwanted attention.
Clearing her throat, she added, "It’s been a while since I visited a teahouse. The commoners’ conversations are quite entertaining, so I lingered a bit longer."
Shen Sushang suddenly remembered—despite her status as Consort Hui, she was still a young woman at heart, fond of gossip and excitement.
He offered, "Tonight will be even livelier here."
Yu Miaohua glanced around, her gaze settling on the colorful lanterns adorning the nearby tavern. A look of realization crossed her face. "Ah, today is the Daughters’ Festival."
In Great Qi, the Daughters’ Festival was a grand occasion—marked by lantern displays, doll purchases, and sweet rice dumplings, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Last year, she had spent the festival in the cold palace, far removed from the festivities.
No wonder her palace, Guanju Palace, had hung several glass lanterns earlier, and Qingluo had even placed delicate porcelain dolls by the windowsill.
As a child, Yu Miaohua often took her younger sister out during the festival. Her favorite activity had been the ring-toss game—she was so skilled that she could win piles of porcelain dolls, much to the vendors’ dismay. Of course, her mother always compensated the stall owners afterward, saying they were just trying to make a living.
The warm memory brought a soft smile to her lips.
She mused that after today’s lesson, she might as well drop by her mother’s home to visit her and her sister.
Keeping conversation minimal in public, she and Shen Sushang proceeded to the Jiang residence.
Though Yu Miaohua’s official reason for studying under Zhang Changying was calligraphy, her teacher also instructed her in incense-making.
While Noble Lady Sun was skilled in incense, her lessons primarily focused on the interactions between different fragrances and which ones to avoid. Zhang Changying, however, taught from the fundamentals, meticulously explaining each step—exactly what Yu Miaohua needed.
Since it was a day off, Grand Preceptor Jiang Kangyou was also present and took the opportunity to offer Yu Miaohua some pointers.
After the lesson, just as Yu Miaohua was about to slip away to visit her family, Jiang Kangyou discreetly pulled her aside, away from Zhang Changying’s earshot.
"I have an assignment for you two," he said.
Yu Miaohua straightened, expecting a task related to incense blending or calligraphy practice.
Jiang Kangyou sighed. "I accidentally killed your teacher’s prized green chrysanthemums."
Yu Miaohua gave him a look of deep admiration.
Her teacher treasured those chrysanthemums. Her husband was either very brave or very foolish.
"So, I thought I’d quietly replace them before she notices. But the Fang family refuses to sell their green chrysanthemums—no amount of silver will sway them. Tonight, for the Daughters’ Festival, they’re offering two pots as prizes for solving their lantern riddles."
Yu Miaohua repeated, "You want me or Shen Sushang to go?" She knew her own skills were lacking.
"Both of you," Jiang Kangyou said.
The Daughters’ Festival was also an occasion for unmarried men and women to mingle.
Though Consort Hui and Shen Sushang were not betrothed—and one was the Emperor’s consort—since Shen Sushang had been divinely chosen, it could loosely be considered a fated match. If the Emperor himself didn’t mind and even encouraged it, Jiang Kangyou saw no reason to object.
Just as Yu Miaohua was about to refuse, her system chimed in excitedly.
[Congratulations, Host! Side Quest 1.2 unlocked: Spend the Daughters’ Festival in a secret rendezvous with Scholar Shen Sushang. Reward: A variety of corn suitable for dry and mountainous terrain, with a yield of four dan per mu in this era.]
[Go on the date! Host, say yes! This is corn we’re talking about! With fertilizer and selective breeding, the yield can increase even further. It grows well in hills, doesn’t compete with farmland, and is easy to cultivate!] The system hurriedly emphasized the crop’s benefits, knowing Yu Miaohua’s soft spot for the common people’s welfare.
She had heard about the "secret rendezvous" quests with her three potential love interests before but never took them seriously. As the Emperor’s favored consort, where would she find the chance?
Yet here it was—ripe for the taking.
Should This Task Be Done?
Jiang Kangyou couldn’t help holding his breath when he saw the contents of the task.
A yield of four dan per mu, drought-resistant, and even cultivable on mountainous terrain… This could be called a divine crop no less remarkable than the Champa rice. In the past, mountainous land was mostly used for growing fruit trees, but now, with this crop, the yield would be so high that it could feed hundreds of thousands—even millions—more people.
At this moment, he finally understood the Emperor’s willingness to endure the metaphorical "green hat" for this reward.
Such a reward was simply impossible to refuse. Honestly, green suited the Emperor quite well—it made him look dignified and majestic.
Suppressing his excitement, Jiang Kangyou spoke as nonchalantly as possible, "I have a matter to report to His Majesty in the palace, and I’ll take the opportunity to request his permission." He had to dispel Consort Hui’s last remaining reservations.
Yes!
If given the chance, Yu Miaohua really wanted to obtain this reward—it was something that could genuinely benefit the people. Grand Preceptor Jiang held great favor with the Emperor, so perhaps His Majesty would grant his teacher this request.
Once the Emperor gave his approval, the matter would be legitimized, and even if slander arose in the future, she wouldn’t have to worry.
Besides, if she was only returning to the palace tonight, that meant she could spend the entire day at her family home.
Yu Miaohua’s lips curled slightly. "Since this is an assignment from my teacher, as his disciple, I must complete it properly. I’ll do my best not to disappoint my grand-teacher."
Jiang Kangyou said, "Your Highness may return to the Yu residence first to await news."
Yu Miaohua thought her grand-teacher was truly too considerate.
[Grand-teacher is such a good person. I’ll bless him and my teacher to stay together forever. Anyone who dares to tear them apart is my enemy!!]
[Host, don’t worry. In the past, someone might have dared, but now, no one would. Who would dare offend your teacher?]
Jiang Kangyou couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly—Consort Hui’s thoughts were unusually lively. "Stay together forever"? He liked that blessing.
Leaving the matter to her grand-teacher, Yu Miaohua happily returned to her family home.
After she left, Shen Sushang hesitated before speaking. "Master, is this… perhaps inappropriate?"
Jiang Kangyou glanced at him. "What’s inappropriate about it? It’s just solving lantern riddles together. Should we ruin your senior-junior relationship just because of outsiders’ opinions? Or do you have a guilty conscience?"
He turned the question back on him.
Without hesitation, Shen Sushang denied it. "I only see her as my senior sister."
His senior sister was indeed a very likable person—noble in status yet without the slightest arrogance, lively and pure-hearted. Interacting with her was effortless, with no need for cautious restraint.
Jiang Kangyou smiled. "Then what’s the problem? You don’t mind, I don’t mind, and the Emperor doesn’t mind—why should others care? You, my disciple, are excellent in every way except for being too cautious."
Shen Sushang was only worried that his senior sister’s favor with the Emperor was too conspicuous, making her a target for those eager to find fault and bring her down. But since his teacher had spoken, further hesitation would only make him seem guilty.
"Alright, I should head to the palace now. Perform well tonight—don’t let your senior sister outshine you."
Jiang Kangyou knew exactly how skilled Yu Miaohua was… Unless the gods cheated for her, solving lantern riddles was beyond her.
Consort Hui probably wouldn’t invoke divine intervention for something so trivial. Tonight would be the perfect opportunity for his youngest disciple to shine.
Bound to the Emperor’s cause, Jiang Kangyou now had a token granting him unrestricted access to the palace without prior petition.
He soon met with the Emperor and informed him about the newly triggered task.
Pei Lingyue was visibly excited. "Teacher, I’m fortunate to have your assistance."
The corn he had longed for was finally within reach.
He paced excitedly around the hall. "How could I have forgotten? Today is the Daughter’s Festival!"
Consort Hui had presented so many remarkable things this past year, and with the impending drought and locust plague in a few months, Pei Lingyue had been so overwhelmed he lost track of time.
"I’ll leave this matter to you, Teacher. Hmm, I’ll also order Zuo Haoran to assist. Make sure their rendezvous isn’t disturbed."
Zuo Haoran, the Capital Guard Commander, was among those who could see Consort Hui’s divine conversations—his loyalty was assured.
Recently, Pei Lingyue had secretly ordered his shadow guards to investigate high-ranking officials who couldn’t see the divine dialogue. Many had been found guilty of misconduct, and some had already been demoted under various pretexts.
Jiang Kangyou wasn’t the least bit surprised by Pei Lingyue’s reaction—anything less would have been out of character.
After calming down slightly, Pei Lingyue mused, "If I send the Crown Prince to fetch Consort Hui later, do you think we could trigger another new task?"
He had long coveted the reward for the "Crown Prince’s Rendezvous" task. If he could secure two rewards in one day, he couldn’t imagine how ecstatic he’d be.
Jiang Kangyou’s lips twitched. "Simply escorting her back doesn’t count as a rendezvous."
His Majesty shouldn’t be too greedy.
Pei Lingyue sighed. "Why can’t we complete multiple tasks at once?"
And what about Pei Yuheng? Should he create an opportunity for him too?
Pei Yuheng had been trying to bribe Hong Xing—a spy Pei Lingyue had planted in Guanju Palace. He had already instructed Hong Xing to feign compliance, the better to monitor his movements.
Hmm, even if he arranged an opportunity, it would have to be after Consort Hui’s outing with Shen Sushang. He couldn’t let Pei Yuheng ruin their plans.
After Jiang Kangyou left, Pei Lingyue summoned Pei Yuheng under the pretense of assessing his recent studies.
Before being called, Pei Yuheng had been personally crafting a porcelain figurine. In Fengzhou, there was a custom during the Daughter’s Festival—if a man shaped a figurine in the likeness of the woman he admired and gifted it to her, her heart would be bound to him.
Just as he was finishing, the Emperor interrupted him. Pei Yuheng was deeply displeased.
But this was the Emperor—and the man who held the woman he desired. No matter how resentful he felt, he couldn’t show it. He could only patiently endure this charade.
After nitpicking his performance, Pei Lingyue declared, "Your focus has been scattered lately, and your studies have regressed. As your uncle, it’s my duty to guide you."
He then assigned Pei Yuheng three times the usual workload, demanding it be submitted the day after tomorrow. This ensured Pei Yuheng wouldn’t be able to leave the palace today or tomorrow.
Pei Lingyue mentally patted himself on the back.
Pei Yuheng seethed inwardly but had no choice but to comply.
He returned to the prince’s quarters with a pile of assignments, resuming work on his figurine.
As for the assignments… he’d pull an all-nighter tomorrow.
……
At her family home, Yu Miaohua played with porcelain dolls alongside her younger sister and cousins, sewing clothes and crafting silk flowers for them.
By dinnertime, she ate lightly—just enough to take the edge off her hunger. She intended to save room for the festival’s street food. The palace might serve finer delicacies, but it couldn’t match the lively atmosphere of the lantern festival.
She didn’t tell her mother about her plans to attend the festival with Shen Sushang—no need to give her unnecessary ideas.
Not long after dinner, Jiang Kangyou personally came to fetch her, saying, "His Majesty has decreed that you need only return before the palace gates are locked for the night."
Yu Miaohua was quite pleased with this arrangement.
Jiang Kangyou escorted her and Shen Sushang to the southern street entrance. Before they alighted from the carriage, he produced two masks. "Your Ladyship should wear these."
Yu Miaohua was dressed in a moon-white gown, her hair adorned with a lotus hairpin, and a jade pendant dangling from her attire. Though she wore no makeup, her bright eyes and radiant complexion made her beauty shine like dazzling blossoms.
She examined the masks.
[Wow, aren’t these couple masks? A white fox and a black fox—they’re so perfectly matched! Once you two put them on, everyone will know you’re a pair!]
The system was already shipping them hard.
[Pah! What nonsense about being a couple? Don’t go pairing people randomly and ruining my reputation with my junior brother.]
Yu Miaohua gave Jiang Kangyou a strange look. Was Grand Preceptor Jiang doing this on purpose?
Jiang Kangyou looked puzzled. "What’s the matter? I bought these from a street vendor. Does Your Ladyship not like them?"
Yu Miaohua decided she must be overthinking it. There was no way her grand-teacher would deliberately buy couple masks—he probably just thought they looked nice and didn’t realize the implication. If she made a fuss, it would seem like she had something to hide.
Blame the system for constantly shipping her with various men in her head, making her overly sensitive.
Traditionally, women wore the white fox mask while men wore the black one.
After a brief hesitation, Yu Miaohua said, "I prefer the black one."
She chose the black mask and tied it on.
[System, take a picture for me!]
The system promptly snapped a photo and showed it to her.
Yu Miaohua nodded in satisfaction. Surprisingly, the black fox complemented her outfit, lending her a more composed aura.
Since she had taken the black one, Shen Sushang naturally picked the white fox.
Once both had their masks secured, they stepped out of the carriage.
Of course, they weren’t alone.
Cuiwei and other guards followed at a distance—Jiang Kangyou’s doing. He had even brought the Emperor’s decree, stating that His Majesty wished for Consort Hui to enjoy the rare pleasures of the common folk without interference, so the guards were to keep their distance and not disrupt her fun.
The streets were bustling, filled with people dressed in their finest attire.
To prevent Yu Miaohua from being jostled, Shen Sushang deliberately walked on the outer side of the path.
Yu Miaohua’s attention was quickly captured by the array of street snacks. The fox mask she wore was half-faced, leaving her mouth exposed, so she could eat without removing it.
Her grand-teacher really was thoughtful.
Delighted, she bought a grilled flatbread and reached for her purse—only to realize it contained only silver, no copper coins.
The vendor wouldn’t be able to make change for silver.
Noticing her dilemma, Shen Sushang said, "Let me pay."
It was just a few coins, so Yu Miaohua didn’t fuss. "Then I’ll take advantage of my junior brother’s generosity today."
[Hehe, taking advantage~]
Damn it. Yu Miaohua immediately muted the system.
She happily indulged in several of her favorite snacks.
Shen Sushang, however, ate little, only sampling a mugwort rice dumpling.
Once they’d had their fill, the two headed to Fang Family Restaurant. Thanks to its prize of rare green chrysanthemums, the establishment was livelier than most, packed with scholars and poets.
Jiang Kangyou had thoughtfully reserved a private room on the second floor in advance, sparing them the crowd.
As they ascended the stairs, a young man wearing a tiger mask, engrossed in a slip of paper, nearly collided with Yu Miaohua. Shen Sushang swiftly stepped in front of her, taking the impact himself as the boy’s elbow struck the staircase railing.
The youth hurriedly apologized, "My apologies! Are you all right? I was too focused on solving this riddle and didn’t watch where I was going."
Shen Sushang shook his head. "It’s nothing."
Yu Miaohua looked at him with concern, but he simply said, "Let’s go upstairs first."
His left arm throbbed faintly where it had been hit, though he showed no sign of discomfort.
Assuming he was fine, Yu Miaohua hastened to their room, eager to avoid another careless passerby.
Soon after, a waiter delivered a book—each page inscribed with riddles and couplets, accompanied by listed prizes.
Those who solved the most apt couplets or deciphered the most riddles could claim corresponding rewards downstairs. The top ten solvers would earn the right to compete for the green chrysanthemums.
Ink, brushes, paper, and an inkstone were provided at the table for writing answers.
The book contained fifty challenges in total.
Annoying—why only one book? Now she’d have to share with Shen Sushang.
Yu Miaohua brimmed with determination. "Alright, let’s tackle this together! We must win at least one pot of green chrysanthemums! Don’t lose to me, junior brother—today, you’ll witness your senior sister’s prowess."
Now, after Grand Preceptor Jiang’s guidance, she was no longer the same amateur—she was terrifyingly skilled.
Hearing her confident tone, Shen Sushang’s lips curved faintly.
---
In the neighboring room, the boy who had nearly bumped into Yu Miaohua removed his tiger mask as soon as he entered.
He addressed the elderly man leisurely brewing tea inside, "Grandfather, why did you make me pretend to collide with the girl beside Shen Sushang? Who is she? His betrothed?"
Otherwise, why would he act so recklessly?
His grandfather’s instructions had been clear: feign a collision with her, but ensure she wasn’t actually hit. The old man had assured him Shen Sushang would shield her—so when the latter stepped forward, the boy redirected his momentum, only to accidentally slam Shen Sushang’s arm against the stairs. The guilt gnawed at him. His grandfather had warned that failure meant confiscation of his beloved novels.
The elder replied calmly, "Just giving Shen Sushang a chance to play the hero."
Internally, he grumbled: His Majesty is going to absurd lengths for this reward. Dragging me out to chaperone their romance at my age, squeezing through crowds at night…
The boy’s eyes sparkled. "So she’s Shen Sushang’s sweetheart? Half the capital will be heartbroken! When he paraded through the streets after placing in the imperial exams last year, people showered him with flowers. I wonder which family’s daughter she is? Her eyes looked familiar—so striking..."
The elder coughed, cutting him off. "Enough. Focus on solving the riddles. If you don’t crack thirty, you’ll regret it."
The boy’s mind buzzed with theories about the mysterious girl. Her robe was woven from cloud-patterned silk—a single bolt cost over a hundred taels. Though her jewelry was minimal, each piece seemed exquisite, marking her as nobility.
And why the masks? She was clearly no ordinary lady.
Even more baffling—since when was his grandfather, who couldn’t care less about matchmaking his own grandchildren, suddenly playing cupid?
His musings were cut short by his grandfather’s threat, leaving him sullen.
...
In the private room,
Out of fifty riddles, Yu Miaohua only managed to solve twelve.
Becoming a talented scholar in a month was nothing but a pipe dream—she clearly lacked the aptitude for it.
She turned to Shen Sushang and admitted, "I only solved twelve. The rest is up to you. I’m just not good at this."
She owned up to her shortcomings without making excuses.
Shen Sushang picked up the brush and began writing. Once finished, he went downstairs to submit the booklet.
After a short wait, Fang Family Tavern announced the winning numbers, and Yu Miaohua’s group secured their spot effortlessly.
With Shen Sushang’s scholarly prowess, this competition was child’s play for him.
Yu Miaohua followed him downstairs to watch the final round among the ten contestants.
Comparing him to the others, she noted that Shen Sushang was the youngest—and by far the most handsome.
She then summoned her system.
[System, we’re definitely taking both pots of green chrysanthemums home, right?]
[Shen Sushang is a Tanhua (third-place scholar in imperial exams). If not for his looks overshadowing his merits, he could’ve easily been the Zhuangyuan (top scholar).]
Yu Miaohua found this reasoning sound. Her role was simply to cheer him on.
True to the system’s words, Shen Sushang effortlessly outshone his competitors and brought the green chrysanthemums back.
Yu Miaohua eagerly stepped forward to receive one of the pots.
The buds, still unopened, shimmered like emeralds in the breeze, trembling delicately—utterly enchanting.
[Host, a heads-up: Shen Sushang’s left hand seems slightly off. He likely injured it during the collision earlier.]
Huh?
Yu Miaohua hadn’t noticed. She observed him closely and confirmed the subtle stiffness. He was clearly downplaying it to avoid worrying her.
After leaving Fang Family Tavern, they returned to Jiang Manor to deliver the chrysanthemums to Jiang Kangyou.
Yu Miaohua asked, "Did you hurt your hand? Was it from the collision earlier?"
Shen Sushang, surprised she’d noticed, brushed it off. "Just a minor sprain. A physician’s massage will fix it."
She decided to check with the system in a few days. If it hadn’t healed, she’d request a royal physician through the Emperor.
The Emperor knew about their outing—it was all aboveboard—so secrecy wasn’t necessary.
[Congratulations, Host! Side Quest 1.2 complete: Secret rendezvous with Tanhua Shen Sushang during the Daughter’s Festival. Reward: Corn seeds and a map of planting locations.]
Jiang Kangyou, relieved the mission was accomplished, smiled. "Consort Hui should return to the palace now."
The gates would soon be locked for the night.
Yu Miaohua nodded and boarded the carriage, clutching the trinkets she’d bought that day.
"Your Highness seems in high spirits," remarked Cuiwei, who’d trailed them discreetly and noted the harmony between Consort Hui and Shen Sushang.
Yu Miaohua grinned. "I hope I can sneak out for Qixi Festival too. It must be even livelier."
But Qixi would be trickier—the palace hosted its own banquets, and as Consort Hui, her presence would be mandatory.
Still, she counted her blessings. Having these rare moments of freedom was more than she’d dared hope for.
She toyed with a wooden goldfish figurine, a soft smile playing on her lips.
———
In the Imperial Princes’ Quarters,
Pei Yuheng finally perfected the porcelain doll after three failed attempts—none had captured Yu Miaohua’s essence.
He’d recently bribed Hong Xing, a maid in Guanju Palace.
"Give this doll to Hong Xing. Have her deliver it to Consort Hui discreetly."
Within an hour, confirmation arrived: Hong Xing had agreed.
Pei Yuheng’s mood soared, untouched even by Pei Lingyue’s tedious assignments.
But then came the news that shattered his elation.
"Consort Hui left the palace today… for a rendezvous with Tanhua Shen Sushang?"
"Not a rendezvous—just solving lantern riddles together," his subordinate corrected.
To Pei Yuheng, the distinction was meaningless. He burned with envy. He’d never had the chance to stroll alone with Yu Miaohua.
Now he saw Shen Sushang’s advantage—studying under Jiang Kangyou granted him proximity to her. Shen Sushang surely had designs on her; why else would he personally compete for those chrysanthemums?
He’d gladly become Jiang Kangyou’s disciple too, but Jiang was the Emperor’s man—no chance there.
Frowning, Pei Yuheng ordered, "Cover their tracks. No one must learn of Consort Hui’s outing with Shen Sushang."
Lest it be used against her. Yu Miaohua was blameless; this was all Shen Sushang’s doing.
Yet Pei Yuheng wasn’t the only one privy to this. Another faction lurked in the shadows.
In a Beijing inn, a bearded man scribbled furiously at his desk.
Their group, tasked with eliminating obstacles for their princess, had been monitoring Yu Miaohua.
They’d noted the Emperor’s excessive favor—permitting her unprecedented freedom, even leaving the palace at will.
With her around, their princess’s path to power would be fraught.
Now, their patience bore fruit.
Consort Hui had secretly met another man on the Daughter’s Festival—wearing matching masks, no less!
The audacity!
Armed with this scandal, their princess would face no resistance entering the palace. Surely, the Emperor of Great Qi would discard his consort once he learned of her betrayal!
Pei Lingyue (internally): If only Consort Hui could rendezvous thrice daily—spare me the paperwork.
