Although the Empress Dowager had been cured of the poison, she continued feigning illness on the surface, so Yu Miaohua still visited daily—though in truth, she simply kept the Empress Dowager company in her chambers.
She would read romance novels while the Empress Dowager perused Buddhist scriptures. The two had grown quite close; Yu Miaohua could even lounge carelessly in front of her without issue. The Empress Dowager had even ordered several cushions to be sewn for her comfort.
To outsiders, Nanny Zhou only explained that Her Majesty suffered from sleepless nights and unbearable headaches, finding relief only when Noble Consort Yu was present.
Flipping through the novels—she had already finished them all—Yu Miaohua decided to put on a show of reading while secretly using her system to indulge in sweet romance comics.
"Your Majesty, the Second Prince is kneeling outside," Nanny Zhou whispered.
At present, only Nanny Zhou was permitted to serve in the inner chambers.
The Empress Dowager frowned. "What does he want?"
She had once doted on this grandson, but Pei Chiyao’s actions over the past six months had worn away her affection and patience. And don’t tell her Chiyao was ignorant—Concubine Xian’s schemes were all for his sake. How could he not know?
Worse, he had stood by, prioritizing his own ambitions, while she—his elder—was slowly poisoned.
Nanny Zhou replied, "The Second Prince pleads for Chief Physician Sun to examine Concubine Xian. He says she hasn’t slept in two days and suffers from severe headaches."
The Empress Dowager paused, then let out a cold laugh. "So, she’s resorting to the ‘suffering martyr’ tactic."
She and Concubine Xian had been exposed to the poisoned scriptures at the same time. If one was afflicted, so was the other. Yet Concubine Xian had initially shown no symptoms—clearly to divert suspicion onto herself. Once the Emperor investigated and found no evidence, he confined Concubine Xian to her palace. Only then did she "fall ill," positioning herself as the victim.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor, having "wronged" her, would naturally feel guilt and compensate her.
What Concubine Xian hadn’t anticipated was that, thanks to Yu Miaohua, they had already uncovered the truth behind the poisoning.
"Take my token and summon Chief Physician Sun to Qiongming Palace," the Empress Dowager instructed Nanny Zhou.
Soon after, the Second Prince escorted Chief Physician Sun to Qiongming Palace.
Since the poison used was a royal sedative from Liang Country, Chief Physician Sun failed to detect it. He merely adjusted the Empress Dowager’s prescription to suit Concubine Xian’s symptoms.
Concubine Xian coughed lightly. "Thank you, Chief Physician Sun."
Her maid handed him a pouch of silver and personally saw him out.
Pei Chiyao, seeing his mother’s sunken cheeks, couldn’t help but say, "Mother, was it necessary to poison yourself?"
Concubine Xian sighed. "Without this, how could I clear my name?"
A faint smile curled her lips. "Once the Emperor realizes he wronged me, he’ll lift my confinement—perhaps even restore my rank as Consort."
Pei Chiyao looked puzzled. "But the Liang princess is no easy opponent. Why help her secure a foothold in the harem?"
Concubine Xian replied, "Her targets will be the Empress and the two Noble Consorts. Only when they’re locked in battle can we seize our opportunity."
She had endured this stagnant existence long enough.
"Your father suspects us now. I dare not act recklessly, lest he uncover more flaws. The Liang princess is arrogant and reckless—she’ll make the perfect pawn."
She hadn’t directly collaborated with the Liang envoys either. They believed their own skills had allowed them to poison the Empress Dowager, unaware of her behind-the-scenes assistance. Without her covering their tracks, they would’ve been exposed long ago.
She had also secured an antidote.
Pei Chiyao said nothing. In harem intrigues, his mother was far more experienced.
Concubine Xian dismissed him to the princes’ quarters and resumed her sickbed act.
She had truly suffered these past few days to achieve her goals.
Half an hour later, a palace maid delivered Chief Physician Sun’s medicine. Recognizing it as a sedative concoction, Concubine Xian frowned but drank it all in one go.
Then, secretly, she took out the antidote and swallowed it.
Having endured enough, she’d already consulted the physicians. Now, she only needed to feign illness—no need to torment herself further.
Yet, to her shock, within two days of taking the antidote, her insomnia and headaches returned. The sedative tea granted her only brief respite.
And the Emperor? He still hadn’t lifted her confinement or restored her rank.
Concubine Xian couldn’t understand. She had proven her innocence—why wasn’t the Emperor compensating her? Did he still suspect her?
Five days later, hallucinations began.
She saw herself in phoenix robes, standing beside the Emperor. All concubines bowed before her, even Yu Miaohua prostrating on the ground. The Empress? Long deposed. The Crown Prince? Stripped of title and exiled to guard the imperial tombs. Her son, now the Crown Prince, stood proud and triumphant.
What a glorious vision.
Lost in the fantasy, Concubine Xian suddenly shuddered.
The image shattered before her.
"No!"
She instinctively reached out, grasping only air.
Reality crashed back.
An illusion?
Wait—why was she hallucinating?
Her face paled. Poisoned again? Damn those Liang envoys!
How had they done it this time? She hadn’t used cinnabar in days!
Rage and terror warred within her. Worse, she’d already taken the sole antidote.
Thus, Concubine Xian writhed under the Liang poison’s torment. Unable to reveal the truth, she endured the sedative tea daily, growing increasingly dazed.
Regret and agony gnawed at her until the Emperor’s birthday arrived.
Though her confinement was lifted for the occasion, the poison had ravaged her—sallow skin, hollowed eyes, her ceremonial robes hanging loose. She’d lost at least ten pounds.
"Your Highness, perhaps you should excuse yourself today?" Her maid, seeing even powder couldn’t mask her haggardness, ventured timidly.
Concubine Xian’s prolonged suffering had left her eyes sharp with malice, making the maid shrink back.
Taking a deep breath, Concubine Xian forced her signature gentle smile. "Today is His Majesty’s celebration. How could my minor discomfort spoil his joy? Never speak such words again."
She opened a drawer, grabbed a handful of pain-relief pills, and swallowed them dry.
Emerging from confinement at the banquet, Concubine Xian’s gaunt appearance drew stares.
Noble Consort Yuan Huirou barely recognized her. "Concubine Xian, what happened? You’ve lost at least ten pounds!"
Yu Miaohua glanced at her, utterly unsympathetic.
After all, the poison tormenting Concubine Xian now? The Emperor had administered it himself. And clearly, she had no more antidote left.
Yu Miaohua sighed and spoke with feigned seriousness, "Perhaps it's because the Second Prince was reprimanded by His Majesty a few days ago, which has left Concubine Xian deeply distressed."
Yuan Huirou thought of the Second Prince, her lips parting slightly, but in the end, she said nothing. She had heard that the Second Prince seemed to have locked horns with Marquis Qin in the Ministry of Rites, the two frequently clashing. One was a noble prince, the other the birth father of the Empress—officials in the Ministry of Rites dared not take sides, leaving the two to bicker and turn the ministry into chaos. However, Marquis Qin, being the more seasoned of the two, generally came out on top, leaving the Second Prince at a disadvantage.
Yu Miaohua had barely taken her seat when the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress arrived.
Concubine Xian looked up and was stunned by the Empress Dowager’s radiant appearance. She couldn’t help but reveal her shock.
Both had been poisoned—so why did the Empress Dowager show no signs of suffering?
Had she already been cured? If she had found the antidote, why hadn’t she shared it, leaving her to endure this torment for so long?
Yuan Huirou, being quite close to the Empress Dowager, couldn’t help but smile joyfully at the sight. "Congratulations, Your Highness, on your restored health."
The Empress Dowager smiled warmly. "This is all thanks to Consort Hui’s filial devotion, tending to me day and night. That’s why I recovered so swiftly."
Pei Lingyue gave a slight nod. "Consort Hui deserves a reward. Later, have the gift list sent to Guanju Palace and let her choose what she likes." Even if he didn’t say it, his mother would have done so—better to voice it himself first.
The Empress Dowager turned to Yu Miaohua. "Miaohua, come sit beside me."
At her words, Yu Miaohua’s chair was promptly moved next to the Empress Dowager.
The civil and military officials below observed this scene, silently marveling at the Empress Dowager’s unparalleled favor toward Consort Hui.
"Her Highness truly dotes on Consort Hui. One might mistake her for the Empress Dowager’s own daughter," remarked Marquis Liu, seated beside the Marquis of Wulie. He even wanted to say that the Empress Dowager treated Consort Hui better than the Empress. He couldn’t understand why the Empress wasn’t the least bit concerned.
The Marquis of Wulie shot him a sidelong glance—as if he couldn’t tell he was trying to sow discord.
"Consort Hui is filial and kind-hearted. It’s only natural for the Empress Dowager to cherish her. Her Majesty the Empress is also very fond of Consort Hui—she even asked me for a few of her favorite recipes."
Marquis Liu was baffled. Why wasn’t the Marquis of Wulie the slightest bit resentful?
Among the concubines, Concubine Xian stared fixedly at the Empress Dowager, too preoccupied with her own turmoil to spare any jealousy for Yu Miaohua. Could it be that the Empress Dowager had been miraculously cured simply by being around Yu Miaohua, as if blessed by divine intervention? Then what did all her suffering amount to? Just bad luck?
If this were anyone else, she would dismiss it as nonsense—but when it came to Yu Miaohua, it somehow made perfect sense.
Concubine Xian couldn’t help but curse inwardly: The Buddha really has too much free time, meddling in such trivial matters to help Yu Miaohua. She’s not just the Buddha’s favorite daughter—she’s practically his ancestor!
Princess Yunxia of Liang Country was likely in for disappointment. Now that the Empress Dowager had recovered, her usefulness had expired.
Having suffered from the poisoning herself, Concubine Xian harbored no small resentment toward Princess Yunxia. Watching her stumble brought a spiteful satisfaction.
"Announcing the envoys of Liang Country!"
After the Emperor and his retinue took their seats, foreign envoys arrived bearing congratulatory gifts.
The Liang delegation was the first to enter.
Princess Yunxia had remained secluded since arriving in the capital, yet rumors about her never ceased. It was said she was Liang Country’s most peerless beauty—at her birth, flowers had bloomed out of season, and the skies had been painted with radiant clouds.
Many whispered that such an unparalleled beauty could only be matched by the most formidable man in the world—a thinly veiled reference to Great Qi’s Emperor, Pei Lingyue.
The concubines understood perfectly. The Liang envoys were building momentum for their princess, clearly intending to place her in Great Qi’s imperial harem.
Thus, they steeled themselves, preparing to scrutinize this formidable rival.
As the Liang envoys entered, an exotic fragrance permeated the hall.
Leading them was a young woman veiled in pale pink silk, carrying an ornate box as she glided forward. Even obscured by the veil, her poise and the glimpses of her features left no doubt that she was a rare, breathtaking beauty. Or perhaps it was the concealment itself that lent her an ethereal allure.
To everyone’s astonishment, butterflies of every hue fluttered in from all directions, swirling around the princess.
"Liang Country offers its felicitations to the Emperor of Great Qi."
Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale’s, sending shivers down the spine, while her eyes—luminous and expressive—spoke volumes with every glance.
She stepped forward, performing a Liang-style bow. As she moved, the fragrance intensified, and the butterflies alighted upon her hair, fingertips, veil, and gown, transforming her into a vision of celestial grace.
Faced with such beauty, Pei Lingyue remained impassive. "Come to think of it, one of my concubines also has a way with butterflies—Beauty Concubine Zhao, if I recall?"
The Empress smiled. "Your Majesty has an excellent memory. Beauty Concubine Zhao’s 'Butterfly Attraction Dance' is exquisite—even butterflies pause to admire it."
The mentioned Beauty Concubine Zhao demurred, "This humble one merely had a stroke of luck. I pale in comparison to Her Highness the Princess."
Princess Yunxia’s displeasure simmered. That woman must have used some cheap trick to briefly lure butterflies—how could it compare to my lifelong gift? But as a princess, she couldn’t possibly stoop to defending herself.
Her brother, the Third Prince of Liang, spoke on her behalf. "My sister has attracted butterflies since birth—a blessing from the gods. She is Liang Country’s treasure, cherished by our deities, unlike ordinary women. To express our reverence for the Emperor of Great Qi, we offer our nation’s most precious gift!"
[Damn it, Host! She’s not only belittling you but also trying to steal your divine maiden title! Put her in her place!]
[Born with it? Ha! She was just force-fed drugs since childhood!]
Before Yu Miaohua could respond, her system erupted in outrage. To it, this was a direct challenge. With just a word from its host, she could easily activate a "Fragrant Consort" trait and outshine the princess.
[Aaaah, Host, use your skills now! Humiliate her!]
Princess Yunxia’s gaze settled on Yu Miaohua beside the Empress Dowager. Even in Liang Country, she had heard of Great Qi’s famed "Divine Maiden." This woman would be her greatest rival.
With feigned curiosity, she said, "You must be Great Qi’s Consort Hui? I’ve long admired your reputation."
Yu Miaohua began her performance of masterful subtlety. "So, Your Highness is Liang Country’s Divine Maiden?"
Princess Yunxia modestly replied, "I dare not claim such a title."
The Third Prince of Liang interjected again, "To our people, my sister is the Divine Maiden."
Not only was she divine, but her natural fragrance also surpassed that of Great Qi’s revered Consort Hui.
The other envoys from Liang Country also wore expressions of shared pride.
Yu Miaohua spoke up, "I've heard the deities of Liang Country possess boundless divine power. Since they hold your princess in such high favor, what gifts have they bestowed upon her?"
"Did they grant her crops like cotton for warmth?"
The Liang envoy's expression stiffened.
"I’ve heard Liang Country imports all its oil from Great Qi, lacking oil-pressing techniques. So, did they provide that technology?"
"What about papermaking techniques?"
"Or refined sugar? Rock sugar?"
"Perhaps distilled liquor?"
With each pointed question from Yu Miaohua, the Liang envoys grew increasingly uncomfortable. Even the princess behind her veil paled.
What kind of deity would hand out such things?
Were the gods of Great Qi so idle?
Tsk. With such feeble competition, Yu Miaohua found them utterly lacking. Delivering the final blow with effortless grace, she added, "Our deity has granted us all of these, by the way."
At her words, every citizen of Great Qi instinctively straightened their backs, faces brimming with pride.
"And I believe our deity will continue to bestow blessings. After all, I am His most cherished divine maiden." Her tone was calm, yet laced with undeniable confidence.
In that moment, the Liang envoys felt utterly defeated. They longed to retort but found no grounds for rebuttal.
Their deity, over the years, had done little beyond endowing their princess with an otherworldly fragrance—no further miracles to speak of.
Some couldn’t help but glance at their princess. Both were divine maidens, so why such a disparity in gifts?
[Ahhh, fine! You’ll get everything! Just focus on completing your tasks! Cement, gunpowder, sweet potatoes—all yours!]
[The last two lines were unnecessary! No need to say them out loud!]
Yu Miaohua offered a sincere apology. "My apologies. I didn’t realize your deity had only given butterflies and fragrance. But don’t worry—I’m sure, given His love for the princess, more blessings will come in time."
Yuan Huirou, ever blunt, blurted out, "But if nothing else comes, wouldn’t that mean the deity doesn’t favor her?"
Yu Miaohua coughed lightly. "Now, now. Let’s not jump to conclusions. I have faith in Her Highness."
The Liang princess nearly choked on her own rage. The two had cornered her perfectly.
If no further miracles manifested, wouldn’t it prove her divine status inferior to Consort Hui’s?
[Host! The task! Don’t forget the task!]
Her system bounced frantically in her mind.
Finally recalling her mission, Yu Miaohua promptly exchanged points for an imperfect "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."
Meanwhile, the Liang princess, cornered and speechless, blinked rapidly. Her long lashes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered, "Your Majesty..."
Though she never outright voiced her grievances, her demeanor screamed wounded pride.
As she took a step forward, Pei Lingyue’s expression darkened. His voice remained icy. "The sincerity of Liang Country is duly noted. The envoys may return to their seats."
Don’t come any closer!
He had no desire to be caught in the crossfire of this so-called divine spectacle.
The princess was baffled. How could any man remain indifferent to her beauty and fragrance?
She had assumed all men were the same—that a mere smile would leave them spellbound. Yet the Emperor of Great Qi proved far more resolute than she anticipated. Her mission, too, was harder than expected. She dreamed of her descendants inheriting both Liang and Great Qi, of etching her name into history to prove she was no less than any man.
What the men of Liang failed to achieve, she would accomplish.
Then, a rustling sound caught her attention.
The butterflies that had once encircled her suddenly scattered in panic, as if sensing impending danger.
"Wait—"
The princess called out in alarm. Never before had the butterflies behaved this way. What was happening?
The fluttering of wings grew louder, and she looked up—birds?
Why were there so many?
The birds summoned by the system were no ordinary flock. Over a thousand birds of a hundred different species darkened the sky, their sheer numbers blotting out the sun.
"It’s the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix!"
Amidst the stunned crowd, a minister’s voice rang out before he discreetly retreated.
Someone had to point it out.
Those privy to the scheme acted their parts flawlessly, feigning awe. As for the uninformed, their shock was entirely genuine.
They had witnessed this spectacle before—but Yang Zhaorong’s pitiful imitation paled in comparison.
"This is the true Hundred Birds Paying Homage," they murmured in reverence.
The Liang princess’s eyes sparkled. "Could this miracle... be for me?"
It had to be. She never imagined such a divine display would grace her. Surely, this was Liang’s deity watching over her!
"This is the princess’s doing!"
"Yes! Our deity is blessing Her Highness!"
The Liang envoys, reinvigorated, swelled with pride. Some even dropped to their knees, kissing the ground in tearful gratitude.
Above them, the birds hovered—sealing their conviction.
The Marquis of Wulie shut his eyes, unable to bear the impending disaster.
"My sister is the deity’s most beloved divine maiden!"
The third prince’s proud declaration pierced the air.
Then—plop, plop, plop.
Something warm and wet rained down on their heads, their robes...
Was it raining?
Dazed, they looked up—only to recoil in horror.
Bird droppings.
Yuan Huirou exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness they got this divine blessing."
She’d sooner die than accept such a "gift."
Yu Miaohua mused, "So this is how Liang’s deity shows favor? How... unique."
The Liang envoys were on the verge of madness.
No one wanted this kind of miracle!
[Congratulations, Host! Main Task 4.1 complete: Humiliate the Liang princess during the Emperor’s birthday celebration, proving the true worth of a divine maiden. Rewards have been issued~]
As the Liang delegation fled in disarray, the birds pursued them relentlessly, ensuring their disgrace was etched into history.
Pei Lingyue shot Yu Miaohua a resigned look. Today was his birthday, and the historians would immortalize this farce. The thought of being remembered for this filled him with gloom.
He consoled himself: At least the mission rewards were secured. Consider it a sacrifice for Great Qi.
His towering stature would not be diminished by this incident.
This time, there were so many birds that the palace servants spent half a shichen just cleaning up the droppings. They also brought in numerous flowers to disperse the lingering odor.
Next to offer birthday congratulations were the envoys from Fan Country, led by their eldest prince. This prince was tall and strikingly handsome, only three years younger than Pei Lingyue.
The birthday gifts prepared by Fan Country were truly eye-catching.
Two large chests were filled with jade alone, and ivory was also packed by the crate. There were also various spices and dazzling treasures that left one spellbound... Yu Miaohua dared say that the combined gifts from all the other nations likely paled in comparison to Fan Country’s offerings.
As a vassal state, Fan Country often voluntarily paid tribute, but never before had they gone to such extravagant lengths.
Such excessive flattery could only mean hidden motives.
Pei Lingyue also became alert—could it be that Fan Country had clashed with a neighboring state and sought Great Qi’s military protection? He hadn’t received any news of such conflicts.
The eldest prince spoke in accented Great Qi dialect: "I have long admired Great Qi’s culture and have always regarded Your Majesty as a divine being. Fan Country wishes to forge an everlasting marital alliance with Great Qi. I humbly beseech the Great Qi Emperor to bestow upon me the honor of taking a princess as my wife."
"If the princess were to marry me, her descendants would become the future rulers of Fan Country."
No one had expected that the Fan envoys had come to seek a royal marriage.
Yuan Huirou, who had been idly observing the proceedings, never imagined the drama would land at her doorstep. Her expression darkened instantly.
The only princess of marriageable age was her eldest daughter, Mingyao—this Fan prince was targeting her child!
Were it not for the formal setting, the imperial concubine would have cursed aloud. How dare this man, already advanced in years, covet her daughter?
She had heard that this prince already had wives and concubines, and his children were even older than Mingyao.
Her gaze instinctively turned to Emperor Pei Lingyue, praying silently that he would refuse.
[Shameless! How dare he ask for Mingyao’s hand?]
Yu Miaohua was furious.
[Host, the Fan king’s favored concubine bore him a son, and the king dotes on the child. That’s why this prince feels threatened and seeks to marry a princess—to borrow Great Qi’s prestige and dissuade his father from passing the throne to the younger son.]
[Heh, once his position is secure, Mingyao will likely "pass away from illness."]
Pei Lingyue regarded the seemingly sincere Fan prince, his voice betraying no emotion. "My eldest princess is the jewel of my heart. I previously had a divination performed for her, and it was revealed that she must not marry young."
Hearing this, Yuan Huirou’s eyes reddened—the emperor had tactfully refused.
The Fan prince, however, was not so easily deterred. "I have fallen deeply in love with the eldest princess at first sight. I am willing to wait five years—no, even ten or twenty years—if necessary."
Minister Zhang of the Court of Imperial Entertainments spoke up, "Your Majesty, since the prince is so devoted, why not grant his wish? If the eldest princess bears his child, and that child becomes the future king of Fan Country, it would surely strengthen the bond between our nations."
Yuan Huirou was livid and could no longer hold back. "Since Minister Zhang is so understanding of the prince’s feelings, it seems he must have long been smitten with him. Why doesn’t Your Majesty grant his wish instead?"
If he was so eager to send someone off for marriage, why not volunteer himself?
Minister Zhang flushed crimson. "How can the imperial concubine slander me so baselessly? Your Majesty, I only act for Great Qi’s benefit, yet the imperial concubine insults me so. I beg Your Majesty to uphold my honor."
Now he was playing the victim.
Yu Miaohua studied the two old fools and hatched a plan.
[System, exchange the "Echoing Melody" skill for me!]
She was about to unleash her power—they would spend the next three months listening to Buddhist scriptures every waking moment. Want to marry a princess? They should first ask themselves if they were worthy. They’d all become monks whether they liked it or not.
[...Host, after three months of this, they’ll be so spiritually purified and free of worldly desires that they’ll be utterly... deflated.]
[Perfect! Oh, and add some special effects too! I’ll cover the points!]
Yu Miaohua smiled radiantly and said to Yuan Huirou, "Sister, your words are unkind. I see great Buddhist affinity in them. They should not be burdened by marriage and worldly ties—they ought to be sent to meditate under the Buddha’s guidance and heed his teachings."
Had anyone else spoken these words, Minister Zhang would have lashed out. But faced with the divine maiden who frequently summoned auspicious signs, he was genuinely cowed.
The Fan prince, however, remained undeterred. "I do not follow Buddhism. My only wish is to marry the eldest princess."
Yu Miaohua sighed. "I’ve already said—you are destined for the Buddha’s path. Why trouble other women when you should not?"
She gazed at them as if they were disobedient children.
The next moment, Yu Miaohua began chanting sutras.
