Lu Lingyun arrived at the Marquis of Qin’s residence. It had been years since he last saw his brother-in-law, who now appeared slightly older, with noticeably more white hair.
Lu Lingyun remarked calmly, "The white in your hair looks quite natural. Must have taken considerable effort—what dye did you use?"
If only this brother-in-law of his could apply such meticulousness to proper affairs, he might not have accomplished so little over the years.
Yang Lishen, the Marquis of Qin, stiffened before breaking into a heavy cough.
"I know I failed to rein in my wife and daughter, allowing them to act foolishly. But everything they did was for the sake of the Empress and the Crown Prince."
Lu Lingyun cut in, "Just tell me what you want from me. Unlike you, I don’t have time to waste." He couldn’t help but admire Yang Lishen’s audacity—even now, the man could still spout such blatant lies.
Yang Lishen’s expression darkened. He had always aspired to wield real power like his brother-in-law, to command respect wherever he went. Yet his own daughter had denied him every opportunity. After decades of striving, all he had to show for it was the hollow title of a duke—and now, even that was slipping away. What other father of an empress in history had been as pitiful as him?
In the end, it all came down to his brother-in-law’s overwhelming influence. To prevent the Crown Prince’s faction from growing too powerful and drawing the Emperor’s suspicion, the Empress had suppressed him, sacrificing his talents.
In his youth, he had been one of the capital’s most celebrated scholars. Now? People only remembered him as the Empress’s father. The injustice of it gnawed at him.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed on, "Regardless, I am the Empress’s father and the Crown Prince’s grandfather. I would never harm them. They’re too naive and upright to recognize the treachery around them. The harem may seem peaceful now, but only because Consort Hui has no son. Once she bears a child, that balance will shatter. We must break her monopoly on the Emperor’s favor."
"You may not know this yet, but Consort Hui is already preparing her body for conception. It’s only a matter of time."
"And these past few months, the Emperor has scarcely visited any other consorts’ palaces—when he does enter the rear court, he heads straight to Guanju Palace."
Lu Lingyun’s lips twitched. This man was deliberately exaggerating the Empress and Crown Prince’s peril just to manipulate him into being his advocate, wasn’t he?
"So?"
The Marquis of Qin bristled at his dismissive tone. This brother-in-law truly was a thick-headed brute—how could he still miss the point after such a clear explanation?
"Over the past few months, I’ve personally selected several women from the commonfolk to help secure the Empress’s position."
He clapped his hands, and moments later, three strikingly beautiful young women emerged from an inner chamber. Lu Lingyun studied them, his expression turning odd—why did they look so familiar?
Ah!
The image of Yu Miaohua flashed through his mind, and realization struck—they resembled Consort Hui.
The girl in red shared the shape of Consort Hui’s eyes; the one in apricot skirts mirrored her brows and nose; the maiden in pink carried a similar silhouette and bearing.
Yang Lishen lowered his voice. "The Emperor’s tastes have shifted toward Consort Hui’s type. These women were carefully sought out and trained to imitate her every gesture and smile."
"If they enter the palace, they’ll divert at least some of Consort Hui’s favor."
Lu Lingyun inwardly scoffed. The Emperor hadn’t changed his preferences—he was obsessed with the divine rewards only Consort Hui could offer. Even if she were plain as clay, she’d still reign as his most cherished consort. The man would probably claim he adored her for her virtues.
Yang Lishen had misunderstood from the very beginning.
Then again, how could he possibly perceive the divinity within Consort Hui?
Lu Lingyun pitied his niece deeply. What wretched luck, to be saddled with such a delusional father.
"Consort Hui is a goddess. These women could never compare."
The Marquis waved a hand. "Divinity won’t help her in a struggle for favor. I’ve no intention of moving against her—only to share the Emperor’s attention."
If the gods were truly omnipotent, they’d have already decreed Consort Hui as Empress.
The thought of Consort Hui’s father—a mere fourth-rank official who received more acclaim than the Empress’s own father—twisted Yang Lishen’s gut with resentment.
Lu Lingyun had meant to refuse outright, but his gaze lingered on the three women, who struggled to appear composed yet couldn’t mask their unease. He frowned.
If he rejected them, who knew where his brother-in-law might discard them? Better to take them under his own care.
He’d inform the Emperor later. Since Yang Lishen had so much idle time and such inflated self-importance, they’d assign him a busy but powerless post—let him drown in paperwork until he made a mistake worthy of punishment.
Keeping his tone neutral, he said, "I’ll take them with me. Their bearing is still far from Consort Hui’s—they’ll need proper refinement."
"Even if they’re to enter the palace, it can’t be through our hands. Too obvious."
Yang Lishen smiled. "Then I leave this matter to you."
Much as it rankled, he had to admit the Empress trusted her uncle Lu Lingyun far more than her own father. If only he hadn’t sent Zhao Pei to her maternal family as a child—who knew she’d become Empress?
No matter. The women’s contracts were in his possession. Their loyalty belonged to him alone.
Upon bringing the three back, Lu Lingyun immediately informed his wife.
Lady Shen settled them in a remote courtyard, assigning maids and a matron to oversee them.
Once alone, she couldn’t hold back. "That fool Yang Lishen—you’re not actually considering humoring him, are you?"
Lu Lingyun crossed his legs. "Of course not. Now that they’re in our hands, we decide their fate."
"He’s surprisingly resourceful to find three Consort Hui lookalikes. I suspect outside help."
"This gives us a chance to uncover his collaborators."
It also presented an opportunity to sever the Empress’s lingering sympathy for the Yang family. She was tenderhearted—had Yang Lishen maintained his act a few more years, she might have granted them another chance.
But now…
Lady Shen nodded. "Agreed. I’ll have Nanny Zhou keep close watch."
Lu Lingyun could only hope Yang Lishen hadn’t entangled himself with any imperial princes. The Crown Prince hardly needed a traitor for a grandfather.
Remembering his wife’s hesitant expression earlier, he asked, "Before I left, you seemed to want to say something. What was it?"
Lady Shen replied airily, "Nothing important. You had some dust on your face, but I decided not to mention it."
Lu Lingyun muttered, "I washed thoroughly this morning. Why wouldn’t you tell me?"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "The dust formed the shape of a galloping horse—quite artistic, actually. A shame to wipe it away."
Horses were Lu Lingyun’s passion. "You should’ve shown me! Is it still there?"
"Long gone."
Lady Shen decided not to share her suspicions with her husband... mainly because her husband had always been forthright and transparent in front of the Emperor, hardly the type to conceal his thoughts.
If he accidentally let something slip and the Emperor caught wind of it, things could take a turn for the worse.
For now, she was the only one who knew about this matter.
Zhao Pei's status as Empress provided the perfect cover for her intentions. As the virtuous and dignified ruler of the inner palace, no one would suspect anything no matter how well she treated Noble Consort Hui—they would only praise her for her kindness and grace.
Moreover, this arrangement had another advantage: she wouldn’t grow jealous or resentful of Noble Consort Hui for receiving the Emperor’s favor. Instead, she would protect her. Noble Consort Hui clearly appreciated this gesture, as rumors suggested she treated Fengyi Palace like her own private garden.
Thus, Lady Shen resolved to keep this secret tightly locked away—so be it.
Lu Lingyun, for his part, harbored no suspicions. He seized an opportunity to enter the palace and relay the matter to the Empress—though, of course, he had first sought the Emperor’s approval.
The Empress was at a loss for words.
"Have you uncovered the backgrounds of those three girls?"
Lu Lingyun replied, "So far, we’ve only confirmed that all three are orphans." This was the surface-level investigation. To dig deeper, they’d have to wait for the girls to reveal their own flaws.
The Empress frowned—this made their identities rather delicate.
Lu Lingyun cleared his throat lightly. "Their deeds of sale are in my possession."
The Empress was startled. "Father would never have handed those over to you."
In fact, he wouldn’t even have mentioned the deeds.
Lu Lingyun grinned smugly. "I stole them."
The Empress massaged her temples, nearly forgetting her uncle’s temperament. No matter the scheme, his solution was always to smash through it with brute force.
After some thought, the Empress brought the matter to the Emperor.
Pei Lingyue’s first words made her instantly regret it. "Tell me, if I were to bring those three into the palace, would it trigger a new concubine rivalry quest?"
The Empress knew that if she said yes, the Emperor would immediately decree their elevation to the rank of Beauties.
She couldn’t help but remind the Emperor, who tended to get carried away when missions were involved, "Your Majesty, given my father’s capabilities, there’s no way he could have found three beauties resembling Noble Consort Hui in just a few months."
Pei Lingyue sobered up. "You’re right."
"Are you sure we can’t bring them into the palace?"
The Empress smiled.
The Emperor heaved a long sigh and said listlessly, "Since Marquis Qin is so eager to share Our burdens, let him go to the Ministry of Rites."
The position of Director in the Ministry of Rites would suffice. It wasn’t a particularly influential post, but the workload was overwhelming—enough to keep him thoroughly occupied. Especially now, with preparations for the Emperor’s birthday celebrations in full swing... it would be easy to find fault. Once he made a mistake, he could be charged with gross disrespect. If he wasn’t satisfied with his marquisate, then he needn’t keep it.
The imperial decree was promptly delivered to the Marquis Qin’s residence.
Yang Lishen accepted the edict with an expression of fervent readiness to serve the Emperor, but inwardly, he was less than pleased with the appointment. The Director of the Ministry of Rites was a fifth-rank position—neither in status nor authority could it compare to the father of Noble Consort Hui. And the Ministry of Rites itself paled in importance next to the Ministries of Revenue and Personnel.
He could only console himself with the thought that if he performed well and demonstrated his talents, the Empress wouldn’t leave him in this position for long.
...
Yu Miaohua remained unaware that someone was already grooming her replacements. Once she had finalized the birthday gift she intended to present, she found herself with little to do.
Noble Consort Hui couldn’t bear to see her idle and, gritting her teeth, handed over a portion of palace affairs to her. Even Yu Miaohua’s pitiful pleading glances had no effect.
"At least show some ambition. Do you know how many women would kill for this authority?"
"Concubine Xian has even stopped feigning illness and now pays daily visits to the Empress Dowager. I suspect she’s trying to curry favor with Her Highness to reclaim the authority she lost."
Yu Miaohua had been avoiding the Palace of Eternal Longevity lately precisely to avoid running into Concubine Xian. The woman had practically moved into the palace, spending every moment copying scriptures with the Empress Dowager.
Though her words remained gentle, Yu Miaohua couldn’t shake the feeling that her demeanor had grown shadowy and unsettling. She wanted nothing to do with her.
Still, based on Yu Miaohua’s understanding of the Empress Dowager, if Concubine Xian continued to overstep, Her Highness wouldn’t tolerate it for long.
Sure enough, within days, the Empress Dowager fell ill.
The palace concubines all laughed at Concubine Xian’s expense. Even with Second Prince as her son, the Empress Dowager had no qualms about snubbing her—falling ill the moment she pleased.
What surprised everyone was that Concubine Xian remained unruffled. She stopped visiting the Palace of Eternal Longevity and instead devoted herself to vegetarian meals and Buddhist prayers within her own quarters.
At first, Yu Miaohua assumed the Empress Dowager was feigning illness, but given their close relationship, she felt obliged to pay a visit.
Upon arriving at the palace, she was met with the heavy scent of medicine. The Empress Dowager lay in bed, her face unnaturally pale.
Yu Miaohua touched her cheek—the pallor wasn’t the result of powder.
She pulled Nanny Zhou aside and asked in a hushed voice, "What’s happened to Her Highness?" She was genuinely ill?
Nanny Zhou, her eyes sunken from exhaustion, replied, "Her Highness has suffered from severe insomnia these past two days, and yesterday she complained of a splitting headache."
"What did the physicians say?" Yu Miaohua’s heart clenched with worry.
"They claimed it was merely the aches and pains of old age. They prescribed a sedative, which finally allowed Her Highness to sleep."
Yu Miaohua regarded the Empress Dowager as family and couldn’t bear to see her suffer.
After a moment’s thought, she said, "I’ll stay here for the next few days. Have my bedding prepared."
She intended to investigate the Empress Dowager’s condition herself.
She didn’t trust the physicians’ diagnosis... The Empress Dowager had recently taken her longevity pill, which should have erased all traces of chronic illness.
For her to collapse so suddenly, Yu Miaohua suspected poisoning.
Could Concubine Xian be behind it?
She was Yu Miaohua’s first suspect, but then again, if the Empress Dowager had been poisoned, Concubine Xian would be the prime suspect.
Surely even Concubine Xian wasn’t that foolish?
[Host has triggered Main Quest 3.8: Uncover the truth behind the Empress Dowager’s poisoning. Reward: A scientifically advanced formula for natural fertilizer, capable of increasing crop yields by 10-20%.]
So it really was poisoning?
Yu Miaohua hadn’t expected her guess to be spot-on.
"Cough—who’s there?"
The Empress Dowager stirred, opening her eyes—only to see the newly appeared quest notification.
She was instantly wide awake. "Ah, Miaohua. Help me sit up."
Damn it all, she’d actually been poisoned?
"Your Highness, did I wake you?"
Yu Miaohua hurried over to assist her.
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "Seeing you makes me feel better already. Sit with me and keep me company."
Yu Miaohua took her hand, noting how cold it felt.
[System, will the antidote pill work on Her Highness?]
[Host, don’t underestimate our antidote. Even if it were arsenic, as long as there’s a breath left in the body, it’ll cleanse it completely. Moreover, the pill will nourish her health and minimize the toxin’s damage.]
Reassured, Yu Miaohua relaxed.
【System, send the detox pill to my pouch.】
Yu Miaohua had previously received detox pills as a reward for completing tasks. She had used one during a donation event and still had two left. Without hesitation, she decided to use one now.
Yu Miaohua took out the pouch and said, "On my birthday, I found a detox pill by my pillow. I never had a chance to use it. I don’t know whether Your Majesty is ill or poisoned, but I thought—since it was a gift from the divine, it must be effective. Would you like to try it?"
The Empress Dowager sighed. "At my age, isn’t this a waste of your precious gift?"
Yu Miaohua replied, "If the pill just sits there, it might lose its potency over time. Please, just give it a try."
The Empress Dowager understood perfectly—a pill bestowed by the gods wouldn’t spoil even after a century. Miaohua was clearly trying to reassure her.
She accepted the pill and swallowed it in one go.
Nanny Zhou hadn’t even had time to fetch water before the Empress Dowager had already taken it.
Almost immediately, the Empress Dowager felt a slight itch in her throat. She began coughing, and just as Nanny Zhou was about to summon the imperial physician, the Empress Dowager coughed up a pool of bluish-purple blood. Her complexion visibly improved.
"So it was poison. I feel much better now. Send for the Emperor quietly."
Yu Miaohua wanted to stay, but the Empress Dowager dismissed her.
Watching Yu Miaohua cling to a pillar in reluctance, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but laugh.
"Alright, once we’ve uncovered the truth, I’ll make sure to tell you."
Soon after, Pei Lingyue arrived upon receiving the news.
After dismissing the attendants, the Empress Dowager informed him of the new task.
Pei Lingyue frowned. "Could it be Concubine Xian’s doing?"
If Concubine Xian had targeted the Empress Dowager, she must have had a motive.
The Empress Dowager’s expression turned cold. "Even if she didn’t do it herself, she must know who did."
"To divert suspicion, she’ll likely feign poisoning soon."
By playing the victim, she could use the situation to win the Emperor’s sympathy. The Empress Dowager, a seasoned veteran of palace intrigue, immediately saw through Concubine Xian’s likely next move. She shouldn’t have spared her any consideration just because of her grandson.
The Empress Dowager said, "This time, we owe it to Miaohua for providing the detox pill. Otherwise, I would’ve suffered much more."
Pei Lingyue nodded. "Noble Consort Hui is a good-hearted girl."
The Empress Dowager murmured, "Precisely because she’s kind and never seeks credit, we shouldn’t take advantage of her."
She fixed her gaze on Pei Lingyue. "In all these years, I’ve rarely asked anything of you."
Pei Lingyue replied, "Mother has always been considerate, never putting me in a difficult position. I’ve always been grateful for your kindness."
Even when her maternal uncle’s family was purged, she had remained silent.
The Empress Dowager spoke deliberately. "As the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, I wish to request an imperial edict from you."
"If one day Miaohua no longer wishes to remain in the harem, I ask that you grant her freedom."
The Emperor had been scheming to pair her with others for the sake of mission rewards. Miaohua was still young—what if she was swayed by someone’s advances?
What if the divine system left one day?
The Empress Dowager wanted to secure this guarantee for Yu Miaohua.
Pei Lingyue met his mother’s gaze—she had always been gentle and indulgent toward him. This was the first time he had seen such unwavering resolve in her expression.
He sighed. "I understand."
He consoled himself: Noble Consort Hui had already given him so much. He should be content. It was rare for his mother to ask anything of him—if he refused, she would surely find ways to make him relent, perhaps even torment him. Since he’d have to agree eventually, he might as well do so now to preserve their bond.
"I grant your request."
The Empress Dowager smiled, then added, "Then draft the edict now."
Pei Lingyue’s eyelid twitched—was she in such a hurry?
Did she distrust him so much?
The Empress Dowager simply worried he might change his mind later. She wanted to secure this favor for Yu Miaohua without delay.
With no choice, Pei Lingyue complied, drafting the edict under her watchful eye. She even made sure he affixed the imperial seal and his personal stamp.
Seeing the Emperor’s rare sulkiness, the Empress Dowager found it amusing.
The Emperor sighed. "Mother chose Miaohua over me. I’m your own son." He deliberately dropped the imperial "We" to emphasize his displeasure.
The Empress Dowager countered, "If Miaohua and I were drowning, and neither of us could swim nor be rescued, who would you save?"
They knew each other too well.
The Emperor fell silent. Even he couldn’t outright claim he’d choose his mother.
The Empress Dowager thought to herself: But she was certain—if she and the Emperor were drowning together, Miaohua would save her without hesitation.
Still, he was her son. Some consolation was necessary.
She said, "Miaohua shows no intention of leaving now. She seems quite content—with you and the Empress indulging her, and me protecting her. This is just a precaution. Unless… you lack confidence in yourself?"
Pei Lingyue immediately perked up. "Of course not. She’d never have this much freedom outside the palace."
She could even leave the palace freely under the pretense of calligraphy practice.
Given Yu Miaohua’s personality, she’d never willingly leave. His mother must be overthinking things due to her illness.
Pei Lingyue mused: If Yu Miaohua ever wished to leave the harem, his only condition would be that she must never choose Pei Yuheng.
With the edict secured, the Empress Dowager steered the conversation back to the poisoning.
After discussion, mother and son agreed that the Empress Dowager should continue feigning illness.
The Empress Dowager only needed Nanny Zhou and Yu Miaohua’s cooperation. Nanny Zhou, ever loyal, played her part flawlessly.
Meanwhile, the Emperor quietly investigated the poisoning. Whoever dared target the Empress Dowager was utterly audacious. Moreover, solving this case would also yield a fertilizer formula—one that could increase crop yields by 10-20%.
Around the same time, Concubine Xian was placed under house arrest. Her son, the Second Prince, fainted after kneeling outside the imperial hall, but Pei Lingyue’s decree remained unchanged.
News of Concubine Xian’s confinement spread through the palace, sparking whispers—was her punishment connected to the Empress Dowager’s illness?
In the end, it was Yu Miaohua who uncovered the poisoning clue. She had been staying at the Empress Dowager’s palace, meticulously inspecting everyday items by touch. Though tedious, the method worked.
When she picked up the Buddhist scriptures copied by Concubine Xian and the Empress Dowager, the system blared a warning.
【Host alert—these scriptures are poisoned!】
Holy—!
Yu Miaohua dropped the book in shock.
"What’s wrong? Are you alright?"
The Empress Dowager was still pretending to be ill. The system’s colorful text was unmistakable, and she spotted it instantly.
So the problem lies with the Buddhist scriptures? These scriptures were copied by Concubine Xian, but she used materials from her own palace, not items she brought with her.
So which one is the culprit—the cinnabar, the paper, or the ink?
Yu Miaohua deliberately pinched her nose and waved her hand as if dispersing a foul odor. "I just think these scriptures have a strange smell that makes people irritable."
The Empress Dowager instructed Nanny Zhou to deliver the scriptures to the emperor, believing he would understand her message.
With conviction, the Empress Dowager said, "I trust your intuition. There must be something wrong with these scriptures."
Once the source was identified, Pei Lingyue quickly uncovered the truth—the issue lay in the cinnabar.
The finest cinnabar came from Liang Country, and the palace had always used the tribute-grade cinnabar they provided.
This time, Liang Country’s envoys arrived in Great Qi, bringing their princess along. Rumor had it that this princess was born with divine peculiarities, carrying an extraordinary fragrance. It was obvious to all that Liang Country intended to offer their princess for a political marriage.
Their poisoning of the Empress Dowager was likely a scheme to pave the way for their princess.
To help Yu Miaohua complete her mission, Pei Lingyue spoke plainly in front of her: "Her Majesty has been afflicted by a secret poison unique to Liang Country’s royal family. It causes restlessness, sleeplessness, and over time, not only headaches but also hallucinations and auditory delusions."
Yu Miaohua was furious. "How despicable of them!"
The Empress Dowager, at her age, shouldn’t have to endure such torment.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing Main Mission 3.8: Uncover the truth behind the Empress Dowager’s poisoning. Rewards have been deposited into your inventory.]
Seeing the mission marked complete, Pei Lingyue felt relieved: So it really was Liang Country.
The Empress Dowager asked, "Liang Country seems intent on sending their princess into the palace. Will Your Majesty accept her?"
Pei Lingyue replied, "That depends on Liang Country’s sincerity."
Without solid evidence, accusing Liang Country of poisoning would only invite denial and counteraccusations. Better to let the princess enter the palace—not only might it trigger new main missions, but it could also provide leverage to justify a military campaign against Liang Country.
Liang Country possessed abundant iron mines, and Pei Lingyue, who held the maps, had long coveted them.
As a wise and virtuous emperor of Great Qi, he needed a righteous cause for war.
Yu Miaohua pursed her lips. It seemed this princess would indeed enter the palace—typical of emperors, all unreliable.
She decided then that when the Liang delegation arrived, she would give them a "generous gift," reclaiming some justice for the Empress Dowager.
[Host, don’t underestimate this princess! If she enters the palace, she’ll be your greatest rival. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she also carries a rare, enchanting fragrance—a true peerless beauty.]
[Can she also attract butterflies?]
[Eh? How did you know? Liang’s envoys plan to have their princess make a grand entrance surrounded by butterflies, shocking the "provincial" people of Great Qi.]
[That’s the exact plot from Princess XX.]
She’d watched enough palace dramas to recognize every trope!
[A formidable rival has arrived, baring her fangs in the shadows. Host has triggered Main Mission 4.1: During the Imperial Birthday Celebration, humble the Liang princess and show her the true worth of the Heaven-Blessed Divine Maiden! Reward: Improved versions of the co-fusion steel method and hundred-refinements steel technique. Compared to the current wrought steel method, co-fusion steel is far more efficient. And while hundred-refinements steel is labor-intensive, it produces unparalleled quality.]
Just when she needed it most!
Yu Miaohua had already wanted to make Liang Country pay for harming the Empress Dowager. Now, with this mission, she could kill two birds with one stone.
Never before had she felt so motivated to complete a task.
[Excellent. I love this mission. Seems you’re finally learning to read the room.]
Pei Lingyue was thrilled: What an incredible reward.
Letting the Liang princess into the harem was clearly the right move. She hadn’t even arrived yet and had already triggered two missions—such efficiency moved him nearly to tears.
Noticing the undisguised excitement in his host’s expression, the system couldn’t help but ask:
[Host, what’s your plan?]
[Oh, just a little "hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix"—the pooping version. System, no need to hold back the bird droppings this time. Go wild! Happy now?]
[...]
Even the system was speechless at Yu Miaohua’s audacity.
Truly, the host was in a league of her own—who else would think to weaponize an auspicious sign like this? No matter how advanced systems evolved, they could never match human creativity.
Pei Lingyue took a deep breath.
He resolved to stay as far away from the Liang envoys as possible that day. Never had he imagined he’d pray to avoid the "blessings" of a divine maiden. Such a waste of a miracle!
The "who to save if they fall in the water" scenario must be arranged immediately!
Laughing to death—whoever first called the emperor a "meta player" nailed it.
