The Crown Prince is here?
Yu Miaohua froze for a moment before a look of realization dawned on her face. "He must be here to see the thousand-petaled lotus."
Is the Crown Prince still busy promoting the egg-hatching techniques?
Perhaps because of his appearance and demeanor, the Crown Prince had always given her the impression of someone untainted by worldly affairs. But after learning about his daily involvement in hatching eggs, he suddenly seemed much more down-to-earth.
Preoccupied with thoughts of the Crown Prince, Yu Miaohua barely spared a glance at the drowning grassland prince.
Meanwhile, in the pond, the grassland prince’s monk robes had slipped down to his waist, revealing well-defined muscles glistening with water and radiating an intense aura of masculinity. His face was slightly flushed from the struggle, and droplets of water trailed down his skin along tantalizing curves.
Pei Chiyan had just arrived when he caught sight of the man in the water, flaunting his charms like a peacock in full display.
The usual gentle smile on his face faltered, and he had to suppress the urge to grit his teeth.
These grassland people truly had no shame—had the concepts of propriety and decency been completely erased from their vocabulary?
"Your Highness, are you also here to see the thousand-petaled lotus?" Yu Miaohua asked.
Pei Chiyan replied with effortless composure, "I heard Her Majesty was at Yunji Temple and came to pay my respects."
Originally, he had been reviewing monthly reports at the estate, checking for any new developments, when he received word that Yunji Temple had ties to the grassland—monks had been seen conversing with grassland envoys.
Recalling that the thousand-petaled lotus had appeared only after the grassland delegation arrived in the capital, he suspected Yunji Temple’s connection with the grassland ran deeper than imagined.
Upon learning that Consort Hui had come to admire the lotus today, he feared the grassland’s target might be her. Without even stopping for lunch, he rushed over with his guards.
One glance was all it took for him to guess the grassland prince’s intentions—similar to Pei Yuheng’s, though Pei Yuheng was far more restrained, limiting himself to secretly gifting clay figurines. The grassland prince, however, had no qualms about baring his body shamelessly.
Yu Miaohua felt a little embarrassed. The Crown Prince was just too proper, completely unlike the idol she had pursued in her past life.
"The vegetarian dishes at Yunji Temple are quite delicious," she said. "Your Highness should try them later."
Ah, the vegetarian dishes!
It suddenly struck her—the person who prepared them was still soaking in the pond.
Instinctively, she turned to look toward the lotus pond, but Pei Chiyan subtly shifted to the left, blocking her line of sight.
Yu Miaohua: "..."
[Host, you really missed out on the eye candy. Don’t worry, I’ve already recorded it for you.]
After obstructing her view, Pei Chiyan turned to his guards. "The master seems to be struggling in the water. Shouldn’t you help him out?"
The guards understood immediately. They leaped into the pond, ostensibly to rescue the man but secretly landing a few punches in the process.
The grassland prince, skilled in martial arts, naturally fought back, and soon the two were locked in a fierce underwater brawl, sending water splashing everywhere.
Yu Miaohua heard the commotion and frowned.
[System, what’s going on over there? Are they really rescuing him? I swear I heard the sound of fists hitting flesh.]
How infuriating—every time she tried to look, the Crown Prince somehow managed to block her view.
He was definitely doing it on purpose!
Her ever-helpful system promptly provided a live broadcast.
[Host, they’re fighting! The Crown Prince’s guard is totally throwing cheap shots at the grassland prince.]
Yu Miaohua watched with great interest. Honestly, the underwater fight was quite the spectacle.
While the grassland prince’s earlier attempts to flaunt his masculinity had come off as a bit greasy, now, with his cold expression, shadowed gaze, bare torso, and water droplets flying everywhere, every frame was worthy of a painting.
[This is the kind of reward a hardworking task-doer like me deserves! So pleasing to the eyes!]
Beautiful, loved it, more please.
Since the Crown Prince was blocking her anyway, no one would know she could see.
Her cheeks warmed slightly, and she fanned herself with her hand. Clearing her throat, she offered an excuse. "It’s a bit hot today."
Pei Lingyue said, "The noon sun is harsh. Your Majesty should rest in one of the side chambers."
"Alright! Has Your Highness eaten lunch yet?"
Pei Lingyue was about to say he had when one of his guards interjected, "His Highness rushed here from the estate without eating."
Yu Miaohua gasped. "Then let’s have them prepare another serving of vegetarian dishes."
Ah, the Crown Prince didn’t need to hurry just to pay respects to her.
"And the lotus pastries—they’re delicious too. I think you’d like them."
Wait a minute—she suddenly remembered that the grassland prince, who prepared the vegetarian dishes and pastries, had just been on the receiving end of the Crown Prince’s guard’s punches. Would he hold a grudge and tamper with the food?
No matter. The system could check for that.
In the past, as the Crown Prince, Pei Chiyan would have maintained a respectful distance from Yu Miaohua. But distrusting the Yunji Temple staff, he didn’t refuse. Instead, he played along. "Since you recommend it so highly, I must try it."
Once they entered the side chamber, Yu Miaohua instructed Qingluo, "Inform the abbot that we’d like another serving of vegetarian dishes and lotus pastries."
Qingluo had absolute faith in the Fengyi Palace faction. With the Crown Prince present—who radiated reliability—she had no worries leaving her mistress in his care.
After a curtsey, she withdrew.
[Host has triggered Side Quest 2.2: Secret Rendezvous with the Crown Prince. During the rendezvous, deepen your mutual understanding and bring your hearts closer. Reward: Gunpowder formula capable of leveling a city.]
[Ahhh, Host! This is the perfect chance to complete the rendezvous quest! Host, quickly dismiss the other guards! Host, charge forward!]
To be honest… when it came to tasks related to the three romanceable targets, Yu Miaohua had always adopted a "do it if convenient, forget it if not" attitude. She had never actively sought to create opportunities. But as the system said, with the Crown Prince delivering himself to her doorstep, it’d be a waste not to take advantage.
She cleared her throat and issued orders. "You there, go check if my teacher has finished her painting. If she has, request another serving of vegetarian dishes."
After sending her own guards away, she turned to the Crown Prince’s men. "The master must be slow preparing the dishes alone. To avoid keeping His Highness waiting, why don’t you assist with washing the vegetables?"
The guards looked to the Crown Prince for confirmation.
Pei Chiyan gave a slight nod. "Do as Her Majesty says."
With that, the guards who had been standing guard outside all filed out.
Pei Chiyan smiled gently. "Did you have something you wished to discuss with me, Your Majesty?"
Yu Miaohua blinked. "Was it that obvious?"
Pei Chiyan replied, "Your Majesty has a pure heart. You’re not one to conceal your thoughts."
She pouted slightly, indignant. She was, after all, a master of palace intrigue, skilled in the art of subtle manipulation—equally adept at playing the innocent or the schemer.
"Then guess why I sent them away."
There was no way he’d figure it out.
Pei Chiyan said, "It’s about that monk earlier, isn’t it? You also noticed something off about his identity?"
Yu Miaohua: "...Right. He doesn’t seem like someone from Great Qi, and his behavior is too deliberate."
Pei Chiyan’s lips curled slightly. "You’re more perceptive and clever than I imagined."
Yu Miaohua beamed with pride. "I’ve always been clever."
Yes, just keep imagining her like this!
"Since you already knew he was suspicious, why did you keep spending time with him?"
Yu Miaohua couldn’t exactly say she was testing whether she could complete the mission. Before she even got a chance to be alone with him, the Crown Prince had intervened.
At least she’d tried—if the mission wasn’t completed, it wasn’t her fault.
"I just wanted to fish for information, to see where he’s from."
"He’s from the Toren tribe of the grasslands," Pei Chiyan said coolly. "So next time, there’s no need to stare at his body. I trust you were only looking for differences between his physique and that of Great Qi’s people, searching for evidence that he’s a foreigner, correct?"
If he hadn’t blocked her, who knew how long she would’ve kept staring.
Of course, it was also because the grassland people were too cunning. Yu Miaohua was still young—it was only natural she couldn’t resist their deliberate provocations.
[Host, the Crown Prince is actually quite nice—he even helped you come up with an excuse.]
Yu Miaohua shrunk her neck slightly. "I was just curious how long he could struggle in the water. I didn’t expect him to try so hard."
Such dedication was truly admirable.
Pei Chiyan’s expression darkened. "Hmph. These foreigners are shameless—they’ll do anything."
"That’s not entirely fair. They’re doing it for their own country," Yu Miaohua added. "Of course, my will is firm. I wouldn’t be so easily tempted."
Honestly, it was just that ancient times lacked good entertainment. If she’d been exposed to more, she would’ve grown accustomed and found it less alluring.
She wasn’t at fault!
[System, to strengthen my willpower, let’s watch a few more… ahem ‘motivational’ videos before bed.]
Yu Miaohua declared righteously.
[Understood, Host! An outstanding task-taker like us should indulge in such fine material.]
Thus, the system and its host reached a harmonious agreement.
Watching Yu Miaohua drift off into thought right in front of him, Pei Chiyan sighed inwardly—was she always this careless?
It was as if she was born without a sense of caution.
"A wise person does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. You should think more about your own safety."
Yu Miaohua snapped back to attention and blinked. "Alright, then next time I come to Yunji Temple, I’ll bring you along?"
Judging by the Crown Prince’s demeanor, he wouldn’t spread rumors. Then again, she had such a good relationship with the Empress—Her Majesty must’ve repeatedly ordered the Crown Prince to treat her well. That’s why he was so concerned for her, out of love for his mother.
The Empress was truly wonderful!
Pei Chiyan: "..."
That wasn’t what he meant.
Still, if he accompanied her, at least no unsavory rumors would spread.
As for telling Yu Miaohua not to come to Yunji Temple—Pei Chiyan never considered it. Her personality couldn’t stand confinement. Staying obediently in the palace for so long was already an achievement. She deserved some occasional leisure.
The blame lay with those with ulterior motives.
Not wanting Pei Chiyan to dwell on the matter, Yu Miaohua changed the subject. "Are there any other interesting places in the capital?"
Pei Chiyan replied, "I’m not too familiar with entertainment spots… but I’ve heard a few amusing stories."
"Tell me!"
Yu Miaohua’s interest was instantly piqued.
Pei Chiyan often had his subordinates gather information from around the capital—not because he enjoyed gossip, of course. Some of these stories made him reflect on how reality could be stranger than fiction. Since Yu Miaohua wanted to hear them, he indulged her—it would also distract her from thoughts of the grassland man.
Yu Miaohua soon realized the Crown Prince was an excellent storyteller. He knew how to build atmosphere, evoke emotions, and leave suspenseful hooks.
Even the Palace Intrigue System was enthralled.
Then came the sound of a mission completion notification.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing Side Mission 2.2: A Secret Rendezvous with the Crown Prince—deepening mutual understanding through conversation. Mission rewards have been issued.]
[Host, the Crown Prince’s favorability toward you has increased. We’ll likely reach the 50-point reward soon. You really must have some innate charm that works wonders on the Great Qi royal family.]
From the Emperor and Empress Dowager to the Crown Prince and even the princes—she had them all wrapped around her finger. The next-generation Great Qi enchantress was her!
The system, which had once despaired over its host’s lack of ambition, was now singing praises with full sincerity.
[Who knew I had a talent for being a Mary Sue?]
She was practically floating with pride.
But pride aside, Yu Miaohua didn’t forget to keep listening to the Crown Prince’s gossip.
Just as the story was nearing its climax, Zhang Changying arrived, and Pei Chiyan fell silent.
Nooo!
Yu Miaohua screamed internally.
Why stop now? She still wanted to know the truth about the village’s fox spirit!
Her aggrieved gaze drifted toward Zhang Changying—her master’s timing couldn’t have been worse. If only she’d arrived after the story ended!
Zhang Changying, puzzled by her disciple’s expression, glanced around the room—only Yu Miaohua and the Crown Prince were present.
She had faintly heard their conversation earlier. Though she couldn’t make out the words, Yu Miaohua’s tone had been lively and cheerful.
A thought crossed her mind: Did I interrupt something?
No, surely she was overthinking it.
Smiling, she greeted the Crown Prince before presenting her newly completed painting of a thousand-petaled lotus, explaining its details to Yu Miaohua.
By the time she finished, the temple’s vegetarian dishes were served.
Since neither Zhang Changying nor the Crown Prince had eaten lunch, they joined the meal.
Yu Miaohua picked up her chopsticks, sampling each dish and having the system verify their safety.
[The grassland prince wouldn’t dare tamper with the food—there are guards watching.]
[Better safe than sorry.]
After the meal, Yu Miaohua, reasoning that they’d already come this far, urged the Crown Prince not to miss the opportunity and took him to admire the thousand-petaled lotus once more.
When it was finally time to leave, she couldn’t think of an excuse to linger and reluctantly returned to the city.
Watching their departing figures, the grassland prince clenched his fists—Damn that Great Qi Crown Prince! His guards didn’t hold back earlier.
"Your Highness, we may have alerted them. Should we withdraw?"
The fifth prince of the grasslands lifted his chin proudly. "We’ve already signed a peace treaty with Great Qi. Unless they wish to break it, they can’t act against us without provoking conflict."
The Divine Maiden belonged to all—it should be a fair contest, not Great Qi’s exclusive claim.
If she chose them, it only proved Great Qi had failed to treat her well enough to stay. They should reflect on themselves, not blame others.
Thus, the Fifth Prince continued to stay at Yunji Temple without a care, fully embracing his reckless attitude.
He pondered where he should expose himself next—perhaps his back?
Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua returned to the palace, and Pei Chiyan followed, even paying a visit to the emperor.
With a casual tone, Pei Chiyan remarked, "Yunji Temple has been colluding with the grasslands. Their target is likely Consort Hui."
"They’re shameless, even resorting to seduction tactics. Consort Hui sensed something amiss and specifically warned me about it."
Pei Chiyan polished the story a bit, crafting an image of Yu Miaohua as sharp-witted and resolute. If the emperor questioned the guards, the truth would come out anyway. But with a little embellishment, the emperor’s impression of Consort Hui would remain favorable, preventing any misunderstandings.
Pei Lingyue asked, "What kind of seduction tactics did they use?"
Pei Chiyan, who had hoped to skip this part, gritted his teeth and explained how the grassland envoy had deliberately fallen into the water, exposing his shoulders.
Pei Lingyue was stunned—then furious. "Utter shamelessness!"
How dare they use such methods to tempt Yu Miaohua?
Having often overheard Yu Miaohua’s conversations with her system, he knew just how much of a trial this was for her.
Even if she resisted this time, what if they tried again?
He glanced at the crown prince, his gaze full of exasperation.
He refused to believe his own son could be outmatched by some grassland brute. If only the crown prince would just… then no matter what tricks the grassland envoy pulled, it wouldn’t matter.
Even Pei Yuheng—whom he disliked—would be preferable, at least he was from Great Qi.
But so far, Pei Yuheng had done nothing more than write poetry and mold clay figurines. Compared to the boldness of the grassland envoy, he was already losing.
Pei Lingyue wasn’t sure if he should even bother giving him a hint.
What frustrated him even more was that as Yu Miaohua’s reputation as the Divine Maiden spread, she would inevitably attract attention not just from the grasslands, but from other nations as well.
He had no doubt that future attempts might include outright seduction or even sneaking into her chambers.
After some thought, Pei Lingyue ordered, "Keep a close watch on Yunji Temple."
Then, struck by inspiration, he added, "I don’t trust anyone else with this. From now on, whenever Consort Hui visits Yunji Temple, you will accompany her."
Finally, he had a legitimate reason to keep these two together.
Pei Chiyan accepted the order.
That evening, Pei Lingyue visited Guanju Palace to check on Yu Miaohua.
Her conversation with her divine system was as whimsical as ever.
[System, should we tell the emperor about Yunji Temple? The crown prince probably already did, right?]
[If we do, will the grassland prince be arrested?]
[Host, if he’s arrested or expelled from Great Qi, our mission will fail. That’s a thousand blood-sweating steeds we’d lose!]
Pei Lingyue immediately perked up. A thousand blood-sweating steeds? How could he get them? So, the one using seduction tactics was the grassland prince.
What was wrong with these people? Was this their only move?
Pei Lingyue grew even more displeased. He had been wanting to employ seduction tactics himself, but the crown prince and others were utterly uncooperative. Now, someone else had beaten him to it—and with such bold methods!
[System, maybe we should just abandon this mission. The emperor is definitely keeping a close eye on Yunji Temple now, and he’ll be extra cautious about my safety. We won’t get another chance to approach the target.]
Pei Lingyue took note.
So, she needed contact? He’d arrange it himself.
"Did you enjoy your afternoon at Yunji Temple?" Pei Lingyue asked warmly.
Yu Miaohua blinked, putting on an innocent expression as she distanced herself. "The thousand-petal lotus was beautiful, and the vegetarian dishes were delicious. But the monks there seem suspicious—Your Majesty should investigate their identities thoroughly."
Pei Lingyue nodded. "Understood. Don’t let irrelevant people ruin your enjoyment. Next time, I’ll have the crown prince accompany you."
Yu Miaohua was touched. The emperor truly doted on her. She couldn’t help wondering—was he treating her like a daughter? This level of indulgence was almost excessive.
"Your Majesty, I’ve already seen the thousand-petal lotus and satisfied my curiosity. I won’t need to go back anytime soon. Please don’t trouble the crown prince with my affairs—he has important matters to attend to."
Pei Lingyue: "..."
No, Yu Miaohua’s affairs were the most important matters.
[System, the emperor isn’t so bad. Let’s just give him the gunpowder formula! With this, as long as the recipe doesn’t leak, Great Qi can ensure peace for centuries.]
[But we can’t let anyone know I’m the one who provided it.]
Pei Lingyue’s eyes widened slightly—the gunpowder formula?
As someone deeply invested in mission rewards, he hadn’t forgotten that this formula was supposed to be obtained by completing the "secret rendezvous with the crown prince" task.
Yet without any fanfare, Yu Miaohua had handed him this tremendous surprise.
Excellent—truly excellent!
Yu Miaohua said, "Today at Yunji Temple, I admired the thousand-petal lotus and drew a fortune slip at the front hall. Strangely, this was what I got instead."
She had indeed drawn a slip—not because she believed in it, but because she figured she might as well, like pulling a random card for fun. However, she had drawn the worst possible fortune, which so annoyed her that she destroyed it on the spot.
Since no one else knew, she could fabricate whatever she wanted.
[System, disguise the gunpowder formula as a fortune slip.]
The system swiftly complied.
Yu Miaohua opened her pouch and pulled out the slip inscribed with the gunpowder formula.
"Your Majesty, this slip contains a formula for gunpowder. In my dreams, I once heard deities speak of it—a substance of immense power, capable of blasting apart mountains and even city walls."
Pei Lingyue took the paper. The formula was surprisingly simple, and he memorized it instantly.
Saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal—that was all it took.
He suppressed his excitement.
"This seems extraordinary. I’ll have it tested discreetly, framing it as an accidental discovery by alchemists. That way, no one will connect it to you. How does that sound?"
Yu Miaohua smiled sweetly. "As Your Majesty wishes."
This was perfect. Her merits were already plentiful—she didn’t need another. Keeping her involvement hidden would also prevent others from trying to extract the formula from her.
"Oh, and Your Majesty, since this is so powerful, please take precautions to avoid injuries."
Pei Lingyue, eager to have someone experiment with the formula, left Guanju Palace after dinner.
This task had to be entrusted to someone absolutely reliable.
Come to think of it, Pei Yudong, the heir of Prince Yong, had handled the salt merchant affair well. He could be assigned this. Pei Yudong already had two sons—if he succeeded here, he might even earn another noble title.
Pei Lingyue immediately set about arranging this matter. However, he didn’t forget the task related to the Ferghana horses—though he wasn’t entirely sure what the task entailed, he decided to summon the person to the palace first.
Thus, with an imperial decree, he called the monk from Yunji Temple into the palace to prepare vegetarian dishes for the Empress Dowager.
When Yu Miaohua saw the grassland prince at the Empress Dowager’s side, she could barely keep her expression in check.
What on earth was the Emperor doing? Knowing full well this man was suspicious, yet deliberately giving him a chance to enter the palace.
Surely it couldn’t just be a simple attempt to probe his background?
Yu Miaohua couldn’t figure it out, so she stopped trying. In any case, she had already warned them beforehand—if anything went wrong, it had nothing to do with her.
The system was jumping up and down in excitement.
[Host, mission!]
Yu Miaohua pretended not to hear. If they had been at Yunji Temple, she might have found a chance to speak with him alone, but here in the palace, with servants everywhere within a few steps, that was out of the question.
Instead, she focused on recommending the vegetarian dishes to the Empress Dowager. “…Among them, the ‘Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond’ is particularly exquisite. The moon is made from taro paste—not only beautiful but delicious. I’m sure it will suit Your Majesty’s taste.”
The Empress Dowager smiled warmly. “This old one must try it.”
Ceren’s vegetarian dishes were truly exceptional. Even the Empress Dowager, who had sampled the finest temple cuisine across the land, couldn’t stop praising them.
She remarked, “This master’s vegetarian dishes are indeed unparalleled. I wonder about his understanding of Buddhist teachings. Have him brought here to explain the scriptures to me.”
Soon, Ceren was escorted in. Perhaps because they were now in the palace, he was properly dressed in his monk’s robes, covering every inch of himself, leaving nothing improper exposed.
Before the Empress Dowager, he appeared the picture of solemnity as he began expounding Buddhist principles.
The Empress Dowager listened with great interest. Eventually, she suddenly turned to the attending palace maids and said, “This old one has some questions for the master. All of you may leave.”
Once the others had withdrawn, the Empress Dowager began asking Ceren about finer points of Buddhist doctrine.
Ceren was clearly well-versed in the subject. Even when her questions grew tricky, he answered with ease, his explanations thorough and convincing.
The Empress Dowager looked somewhat satisfied, then yawned. “Master, continue reciting the sutras.”
She then had Yu Miaohua assist her to the inner chamber.
Once inside, the Empress Dowager immediately lay down on the couch.
Yu Miaohua: “???”
What was Her Majesty doing?
The Empress Dowager wore a rare expression of embarrassment. “This old one has been suffering from sleeplessness these past few days. Strangely, listening to that man’s chanting made me drowsy. Have him continue reciting so I may rest for a while.”
Secretly, the Empress Dowager sighed. After all, he was her own son. Since he had asked this favor of her, she had to humor him. She had even taken a sedative earlier—now she truly felt sleepy.
She was going all out for this.
A thousand Ferghana horses—such a temptation was hard for even her son to resist. That grassland man was quite valuable.
Yu Miaohua: “…”
So the Empress Dowager was using the grassland prince’s sutra recitation as a lullaby.
Fine.
Yu Miaohua stepped out and said to Ceren, “Keep reciting.”
Ceren resumed his chanting.
Strangely enough, even Yu Miaohua, who hadn’t been sleepy at all, began feeling drowsy from his voice.
After a while, she heard faint snoring from inside—clearly, the Empress Dowager had truly fallen asleep.
Not just her—Ceren noticed it too and paused.
Yu Miaohua frowned. “Don’t stop. Keep going.”
Her Majesty likely had too much weighing on her mind, hence the insomnia.
Ceren resumed his deep, magnetic recitation of the sutras.
He seemed warm, loosening his collar slightly.
[Host, this scheming man is subtly showing off again!]
[Ahhh, the Empress Dowager really is asleep!]
Yu Miaohua had to admit, this man really knew how to seize opportunities.
She stepped inside to check on the Empress Dowager, who was sound asleep.
Yu Miaohua’s mood was rather complicated—her luck seemed almost too good.
She had given up, yet here was a chance to speak with the grassland prince alone, delivered right to her doorstep. It’d be a waste not to take advantage of it.
She walked back out and said to Ceren, “I know who you are. Give up—I won’t go to the grasslands with you. My home is here.”
Ceren stopped, his slender fingers toying with his prayer beads.
“Won’t you at least hear our offer?”
Yu Miaohua replied firmly, “Better not. I might regret it.”
Even their prince had been sent to seduce her—these grassland people were terrifying. She couldn’t afford to waver.
Ceren said, “If you agree to return with us, your descendants will be the next rulers of the grasslands.”
As the Divine Maiden, her children were destined to reign. The people of Daqi couldn’t even fulfill this basic duty—they didn’t deserve her.
Yu Miaohua frowned. “I don’t want children, thanks.”
His words instantly killed her interest. This offer held no appeal for her.
Ceren was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the Divine Maiden to react this way. Did she dislike the idea?
After a moment, he tried again. “If you return with us, every warrior of the grasslands will be yours to choose from.”
“You could pick a different man every day if you wished. It would be an honor to be chosen by you.”
“Our grasslands have many traditions—like the wrestling festival, where warriors compete bare-chested. It draws the attention of countless women every year.”
Yu Miaohua: “…”
[Host, admit it—you were tempted just now, weren’t you?]
Yu Miaohua felt she couldn’t be blamed. The fact that she hadn’t immediately agreed was a testament to her willpower.
Damn, the women of the grasslands really had it good.
“Or perhaps… you’d prefer me?”
Yu Miaohua sighed. “Thank you for your sincerity, but my choice is Daqi.”
“This is my home.”
She didn’t know how long the system would remain bound to her, or if it might vanish without warning one day. But she was certain that even without her identity as the Divine Maiden, she could live peacefully in Daqi.
The grasslands, however, were another matter.
“Why? What do you want?”
Yu Miaohua thought for a moment, then gave a reason Ceren couldn’t refute.
“The divine decree commands me to stay in Daqi. So I cannot leave.”
The color drained from Ceren’s face—had the gods chosen to protect Daqi? Even though his people were far more devout than the Daqi folk.
“Go back. Your identity is already exposed.”
Yu Miaohua spoke coolly.
[Host has completed Main Mission 4.3: Reject the grassland prince’s recruitment and dissuade them from taking you back. Reward can be claimed at any time.]
The system’s voice echoed faintly in her mind.
…
When Pei Lingyue heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, he raised an eyebrow. “Let him in.”
After dismissing the attendants, he said to the Crown Prince, “You’re here to ask why I summoned the monk from Yunji Temple, aren’t you?”
Pei Chiyan’s prepared words were instantly cut off. “Your Majesty is wise.”
Pei Lingyue’s expression turned grave. “I did it on purpose.”
“If the grassland people want to use honey traps, let them. Consort Hui isn’t losing out. Maybe after seeing enough, she’ll grow bored of it.”
"If I were to stop her, it would only make Consort Hui long for it even more."
"As long as she is happy. The palace is her true home—the outside world is merely an inn."
He wore a tender, doting expression, flawlessly playing the role of a lovesick fool.
Got a little carried away and ended up updating a bit later than planned.
