For the system, video editing was one of the most basic functions pre-installed before its release.
It began whirring and editing with great enthusiasm.
Lu Lingyun went to mobilize troops to surround the government office, while Jiang Kangyou and Jiang Xunxin remained behind. After all, not only was Consort Hui present, but also the Crown Prince—their safety was of utmost importance, and not a single mistake could be tolerated.
The two of them fell into deep thought: they didn’t understand the meaning of "editing," but they were well aware of the "Eighteen Hells."
So, were they about to witness scenes from the Eighteen Hells this time?
A faint sense of anticipation rose in their hearts.
Meanwhile, the crowd gathered around the stage also realized that the person in women’s clothing on stage wasn’t the Divine Maiden—but the Divine Maiden had already arrived in Xiazhou. Those people must have come with her.
They began scanning their surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Divine Maiden.
Yu Miaohua had already boarded the carriage earlier—mainly because the rain was pouring too heavily, threatening to ruin her oil-paper umbrella. The wind carried the rain, relentlessly drenching her. Her skirt and shoes were already soaked through.
Having seen enough of the spectacle, she certainly wasn’t going to stay and suffer further.
Jiang Kangyou also felt it was inappropriate for Yu Miaohua to remain, so he instructed Jiang Xunxin and Pei Yuheng to escort her back first while they stayed behind to deal with the remnants of the previous dynasty.
The punishment of being struck by lightning had been so shocking that the remaining rebels had completely lost their will to fight, offering no resistance whatsoever.
The arrests proceeded smoothly without a hitch.
Yu Miaohua and the others were staying in a garden estate in Xiazhou—a place where the late emperor had once lodged during his southern tour. Before they had even left the capital, letters had been sent ahead to prepare the residence for their arrival.
Yu Miaohua changed out of her damp clothes and washed her hair.
Outside, the rain gradually lessened. The garden’s pond, replenished by the downpour, was once again full.
According to the system, light rain would continue for the next two days.
By lunchtime, it was clear that the others were still occupied with official duties and hadn’t returned.
Yu Miaohua instructed the kitchen to keep the meals warm.
Meanwhile, the system had finished editing the relevant video.
Yu Miaohua reviewed the footage—the special effects were so advanced they could rival modern blockbusters. In this era, it was an absolute show of dominance, leaving no room for doubt.
[Host, when should we release this?]
The system seemed even more eager than Yu Miaohua.
[Let’s wait until the remnants of the previous dynasty are publicly punished.]
By then, plenty of citizens would surely gather to watch.
Jiang Kangyou and Lu Lingyun didn’t return until evening.
The Xiazhou government office had undergone a complete reshuffling—from the prefect and deputy officials down to the jailers and clerks, nearly all had been replaced. Before their departure, Pei Lingyue had already selected candidates for key positions in all three regions. If any official was removed, a replacement would immediately step in.
Jiangzhou and Songzhou had relatively few issues, with only a handful of officials dismissed. Their prefects might even receive commendations by year’s end. Xiazhou, however, was a different story.
The Xiazhou military commander had not colluded with the rebels. Two days earlier, he had secretly submitted a memorial to the capital. When Lu Lingyun met with him, the two quickly reached an agreement.
Yu Miaohua watched as Pei Chiyan, still in women’s attire with no time to change, marveled at his unshakable composure.
[Look at him—running around in women’s clothing all day without a hint of embarrassment. Truly, if you don’t feel awkward, others will be the ones feeling awkward for you.]
It also showed just how busy the Crown Prince had been—too busy to even change clothes.
She couldn’t help but admire him a little more.
She asked Lie Wu Hou and the others, "Will these prisoners be escorted back to the capital?"
Jiang Kangyou immediately replied, "To prevent future deception of the people, they must first be taken to the execution ground, where their identities and crimes will be publicly announced. Only then will they be sent to the capital."
If they were sent back immediately, the people of Xiazhou wouldn’t get to see the Eighteen Hells.
Though Lie Wu Hou didn’t understand why Jiang Kangyou had suddenly changed his mind, he nodded in agreement.
Yu Miaohua was relieved—finally, the people of Xiazhou would witness the horrors of the Eighteen Hells.
She recalled Wen Qingying’s words: "We might as well stay a few more days to spread the news and lure out the remaining remnants hiding elsewhere in Great Qi."
Not all of them were in Xiazhou—some were scattered across the empire.
Jiang Kangyou and the others originally needed to stay longer to oversee disaster relief efforts in affected areas, so they wouldn’t be returning to the capital anytime soon.
"Agreed."
Jiang Kangyou suspected that if the Emperor were here, he’d be more than happy for Yu Miaohua to linger outside the palace—more opportunities to trigger missions.
He ordered, "Find a few physicians to monitor their condition daily. We can’t let them die too easily."
Yu Miaohua wasn’t worried. The system’s control over the lightning strikes was precise—while the injuries looked severe, they weren’t life-threatening. At worst, the prisoners would be immobilized for a month.
Elsewhere, Wen Qingying said to Yu Miaohua, "I’d like to meet them."
Yu Miaohua asked, "Aren’t you afraid that once word spreads, others will see you as a thorn in their side and seek your life?"
Wen Qingying remained calm. "They’ll find out sooner or later."
"Besides, I’ve prepared a gift for them."
Yu Miaohua was genuinely curious.
So she decided to accompany Wen Qingying to see for herself. Of course, she wouldn’t go in openly—instead, Wen Qingying’s maid, Wei Ning, applied makeup and dressed her in different attire, disguising her as another maid.
...
Xia Fangzhou and the others were imprisoned in the dungeon. Struck motionless by lightning, they relied on jailers for even the most basic needs.
Because Yu Miaohua was coming to see them, the jailers tidied up the cells and provided fresh clothes, ensuring the stench wouldn’t offend the noble visitor.
Watching the jailers’ preparations, Xia Fangzhou and his companions panicked.
Were they about to be executed?
No—they didn’t want to die yet.
Despite their capture, Xia Fangzhou and the others still clung to hope—perhaps their allies would find a way to rescue them.
Once the jailers finished, they took their positions.
Then, suddenly, they began yawning—one after another, as if it were contagious. Before long, they had all collapsed in disarray.
Xia Fangzhou’s heart leaped. Had their people come to save them?
If they regained their freedom this time, they vowed never to show themselves again unless they could truly rival the Great Qi court.
Soon, however, Xia Fangzhou saw a familiar figure—his betrothed, Wen Qingying.
He had expected fellow remnants, not his fiancée.
So she hadn’t been captured by Great Qi’s forces after all.
Behind Qingying stood Wei Ning and another veiled maiden whose face was obscured. The girl had strikingly bright, clear eyes—but the visible parts of her skin were dotted with large moles.
Xia Fangzhou felt a pang of regret: If not for those moles, this woman would have been a beauty.
"Qingying, have you come to save us?"
Wen Qingying revealed a somewhat shy expression. "I secretly bought some knockout drugs."
In truth, she had concocted those drugs herself.
Xia Fangzhou glanced behind them. "Just the three of you?"
How could three weak women possibly carry out all these immobilized men?
Better to save oneself than worry about others.
Xia Fangzhou quickly said, "Qingying, save me first. Once I find reinforcements, I’ll come back for Elder Lu and the others."
Then it occurred to him—letting Elder Lu and the others fall into the hands of the Great Qi court might not be so bad. In the future, this faction would become his to command alone.
Elder Lu and the others saw right through his dark intentions and couldn’t help but curse. "Xia Fangzhou, you snake! You just want Great Qi to eliminate us, don’t you? Dream on!"
"Princess, don’t listen to him. He doesn’t truly care for you. He once told his favorite concubine that once he restores the dynasty, he’d make her his imperial consort."
"That’s right! He’s just using your feelings. Our sect has plenty of loyal heroes who’d be better suited for you. Break off this engagement—you can do far better."
"Indeed, you’re a princess. If you fancy them, why not take them all?"
"Did you know? He even drugged you to ensure you’d never bear children, so he could later depose you without resistance."
These elders, who had once been Xia Fangzhou’s staunchest allies, now scrambled to expose his misdeeds in a desperate bid to save themselves.
They even revealed how Xia Fangzhou had gifted Wen Qingying a hairpin his concubine had discarded—just so it wouldn’t go to waste.
Xia Fangzhou panicked. "Qingying, don’t listen to their nonsense! You’re the only one in my heart. If you dislike other women, I’ll dismiss them all. From now on, it’ll just be you and me—a lifetime together."
Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua was thoroughly enjoying the drama.
Wen Qingying took in their disgraceful behavior and found it laughable.
Back when she was in a precarious position, enduring countless humiliations, where were these so-called righteous defenders? Now they suddenly played the role of moral guardians—how absurd.
She blinked and said, "No need to panic. I’ve found a miracle doctor and prepared several pills. These will temporarily restore your mobility by stimulating your latent strength."
"I can’t possibly carry all of you out, so this is the only way."
"However, after taking the medicine, you’ll be extremely weak for days."
Elder Lu and the others readily accepted the plan. Escaping was their top priority—weakness could be dealt with later.
So when Wen Qingying fed them the medicine, they eagerly swallowed it.
All except Xia Fangzhou.
Xia Fangzhou grew frantic. "Qingying, aren’t you going to give me any?"
Was she really abandoning him?
Wen Qingying replied, "You don’t need it."
Xia Fangzhou felt as if struck by lightning. She was leaving him behind?
"I—I’m your fiancé! How can you not help me? Do you think they genuinely care for you? You’re just a figurehead to them! Do you know how your two younger brothers died?"
"They were killed by these old bastards. And your uncles, your cousins…"
Realizing his own cover was blown, Xia Fangzhou decided to tear everyone else’s apart.
He expected to see regret or hatred on Wen Qingying’s face, but instead, he was met with chilling indifference.
"I know," Wen Qingying’s light voice echoed in the hearts of everyone present. "Originally, I planned to feed them a lethal poison. But then I thought death would be too merciful."
She flashed the first genuine, radiant smile of her life. "So I gave them sterility pills instead."
"How do they taste? Don’t worry—your children will get to try them too."
"Since you’re all so nostalgic for the fallen dynasty, why not martyr yourselves for the Min Empire?"
She couldn’t kill them, but she could ensure their bloodlines ended with them.
The former loyalists of the fallen dynasty, now imprisoned, were stunned.
A chorus of coughs erupted as they desperately tried to expel the medicine—but it was far too late.
"You venomous witch!"
"You’re a disgrace to the Min royal line! You don’t deserve to be a princess!"
They hurled curses in their fury.
Xia Fangzhou watched their rage and regret with immense satisfaction and burst into laughter.
Qingying was still on his side after all.
Wei Ning rolled her eyes at him. "What’s so funny? You think you escaped the sterility pills?"
Xia Fangzhou’s face turned crimson, as if choked. "What did you say?"
Wen Qingying turned to him with that familiar shy smile—one he’d seen countless times before. Back then, he’d taken pride in manipulating her, never considering her a threat.
But now, a cold dread crept up his spine, chilling him to the core.
"Did you enjoy that bowl of soup? I tripled the dose of sterility medicine."
"Do you know how Great Qi’s officials uncovered your identities? I tipped them off."
"Your grand plan was ruined by the woman you despised the most."
"Why?" Xia Fangzhou spat out a mouthful of blood, finally realizing his fiancée’s past devotion had been an act.
"Because I felt like it."
After savoring their horrified expressions, Wen Qingying leisurely walked away.
Once outside the prison, she leaned against the wall and laughed uncontrollably.
Since childhood, she’d been forced to maintain the grace and dignity of a princess—never laughing too loudly, never baring her teeth.
For these men, controlling her every move had been a source of twisted satisfaction. They imposed strict etiquette on her while indulging in luxury and power themselves.
Now, at last, she was free from that cage.
Tears streamed down her face as she laughed.
Yu Miaohua thought for a moment and asked, "Want some pastries?" Food always lifted the spirits.
Wen Qingying gritted her teeth. "Yes."
No one would ever dictate how many dishes she could eat or how many bites she should take.
…
In the following days, Yu Miaohua remained in Xiazhou, though she rarely ventured outside—partly due to the lingering summer heat, but mostly because the locals were too enthusiastic.
The people, knowing where she stayed, often left vegetables, meat, and eggs piled like a small mountain at her doorstep.
Uncomfortable accepting such gifts, Yu Miaohua had them sent to the local government office, where they were cooked into porridge for public distribution.
After several days of rain, the drought in the three regions had finally been alleviated. Thanks to the effective disaster relief efforts of the court, the people's trust in the imperial government had grown significantly. Everyone enthusiastically resumed planting Champa rice.
"Thank goodness for this Champa rice. There's still time to harvest another crop this year—otherwise, we'd be starving."
"This Champa rice is truly a blessing. I heard the court is even trying to develop a variety that yields three harvests in a single season."
"Three harvests in one season? Does that mean we’ll never go hungry again?"
Most common folk had simple desires. For them, as long as they weren’t starving and life held some hope, they had the will to keep going.
The news that these three rains had been brought by Yu Miaohua soon spread to Songzhou and Jiangzhou, along with the story of how the White Lotus Sect had tried to steal credit for the miracle—only to be struck by lightning. Their identity as remnants of the previous dynasty also became widely known.
As a result, the already shaky reputation of the White Lotus Sect plummeted to rock bottom.
Once people learned they were remnants of the fallen dynasty, the curses hurled at them grew increasingly vicious.
The newly appointed prefect of Xiazhou announced that on the twenty-ninth day of the eighth month, the crimes of Xia Fangzhou and his accomplices would be publicly proclaimed at the execution ground. Any commoners who wished to bring accusations against them could file complaints before that date.
The yamen even dispatched several legal advisors to help the people draft petitions free of charge.
To raise funds, Xia Fangzhou and his group had swindled countless commoners, leaving many destitute—sacrificing their savings for a false hope. Some had even offered up their own children...
Yu Miaohua believed the court needed to educate the common people about the tricks of such fraudsters.
During this time, the Xiazhou yamen was swamped with work.
Meanwhile, as time passed, other remnants of the fallen dynasty also received news of Xia Fangzhou’s capture.
Some breathed a sigh of relief. With them gone, no one could hold their past deeds over their heads and force them into service anymore.
Not all remnants of the fallen dynasty were willing to risk their necks for the cause. The greatest benefits had always gone to the higher-ups, while those at the bottom took most of the risks for little reward. Who would willingly do that?
So, the more quick-witted among them simply took their savings and fled.
Others saw Xia Fangzhou’s downfall as their chance to take charge. They had no intention of rescuing him—content to preserve their strength and watch the spectacle unfold.
But another faction believed the Great Qi court had grown far too bold, making an example of Xia Fangzhou to intimidate the rest. If they succeeded, who would dare follow them in the future? Thus, they resolved to storm the execution ground and free Xia Fangzhou.
Even if they couldn’t save him, they would at least cause enough chaos to show the world the unbroken spirit of their fallen dynasty.
Ma Kaiji was among those who thought this way. He gathered his most skilled guards and set off for Xiazhou.
One of his guards voiced his concern, "What if we’re struck by lightning too while storming the execution ground?"
After all, it was said that Xia Fangzhou and his men had been reduced to cripples by the lightning strike, making their capture effortless for the Great Qi authorities.
Ma Kaiji scoffed, "We’re only here to rescue them, not to oppose the Divine Maiden. The heavens wouldn’t bother with us."
Inwardly, he cursed Xia Fangzhou’s foolishness—why steal credit from the Divine Maiden of all people? Now, struck by lightning in front of everyone, they had dragged the entire cause’s reputation down with them.
"I wonder if the princess was captured as well."
Ma Kaiji was deeply worried. Beyond rescuing Xia Fangzhou, their most crucial task was finding the princess. Without her, their efforts to restore the dynasty would lack legitimacy.
They traveled day and night, exhausting several fine horses before finally arriving in Xiazhou on the twenty-eighth of August.
The city was packed with people—crowds of outsiders had flocked in to witness the spectacle. Every teahouse and inn was fully booked, and the rent for rooms near the execution ground had skyrocketed to twenty times the usual price.
Yu Miaohua and her companions had secured a private room on the third floor of the closest tavern—free of charge.
Once the tavern owner learned their identities, he refused to accept payment. As he put it, if he dared take money from the Divine Maiden, his parents would break his legs when he returned home.
The tavern wouldn’t lose out either—after Yu Miaohua left, they could use her patronage to boost their reputation.
Yu Miaohua and the others arrived early. From their open window, they had a clear view of the execution ground, though finer details were still out of sight. She didn’t have a telescope, after all.
Speaking of which, now that glassmaking techniques had been introduced, telescopes couldn’t be far off.
[System, remember to livestream this for me later!]
[Got it! I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing.]
Jiang Kangyou was envious—he could only see the dialogue, nothing more.
Meanwhile, Lu Lingyun led a squad lying in wait, ready to capture any remnants of the fallen dynasty who dared show up.
...
Ma Kaiji and his men disguised themselves as commoners and blended into the crowd.
The sheer number of spectators nearly prevented them from getting close, but they managed by bribing their way forward.
By the time they reached the front, most of their silver had been spent, and they were panting from the effort.
Outmatched in weaponry by the Great Qi forces, they resorted to underhanded tactics—like throwing lime powder and using pre-prepared poison.
After a long wait, Xia Fangzhou and his men were finally carried in.
"Wow, why are they so blackened?"
"Lightning strike. Serves them right for their wicked deeds—the gods are watching."
"You don’t know the half of it! My uncle’s neighbor was swindled by them—gave up his own child to serve them, and the kid still hasn’t been found."
"My aunt’s nephew lost all his family’s savings to them."
"I heard they’re remnants of the old dynasty, trying to restore it."
"Pah! If they were so loyal, why didn’t they just die with their emperor? Anyone who supported that tyrant can’t be good!"
Ma Kaiji trembled with rage at the commoners’ insults.
Emperor Min'ai may have had his flaws, but he had been misled by treacherous advisors. To the Ma family, he had been a benefactor—which was why, even two centuries after the dynasty’s fall, they still sought to restore it.
Once Xia Fangzhou and his men were placed on the execution ground, the Xiazhou prefect began listing their crimes:
"Spreading heresy, swindling the people, harming innocents, seizing women, hoarding weapons, colluding with bandits, plotting to restore the false dynasty, harboring treacherous intentions..."
The list of atrocities was endless, fueling the crowd’s fury. Many clamored for immediate execution.
Ma Kaiji sneered. Fabricated charges—what else is new? And when pursuing a greater cause, sacrifices are inevitable.
His eyes locked onto the prefect, and he signaled his men.
A group surged forward from the crowd, while Ma Kaiji himself remained hidden.
The prepared officers moved to intercept.
Then, an eerie gust swept through, sending a chill down everyone’s spines.
The cloudless azure sky suddenly split open to reveal a towering gate shrouded in black mist, its surface inscribed with three blood-red characters: "Ghost Gate." Two green-faced, fanged figures stood guard before it, while a cacophony of wails, howls, and screams echoed from within.
The bizarre phenomenon drew everyone's attention, their gazes fixed skyward.
"What... what is that?"
"Can't you read? It says 'Ghost Gate'! That's the underworld—has the underworld opened its gates?"
Many civilians dropped to their knees, their eyes brimming with both fear and curiosity.
Then, they watched as ox-headed and horse-faced demons emerged from the Ghost Gate.
The gatekeeper ghost remarked, "The cries inside are especially loud today."
The horse-faced one replied, "Because it's Emperor Min'ai's turn in the boiling oil today."
An emperor!?
The terrified crowd instantly perked up, their gossipy intrigue overwhelming their fear.
"Which emperor is being fried?"
"I thought emperors were descendants of dragons, destined to become immortals after death. How could one end up in boiling oil?"
"Shows how fair the underworld is—even emperors get punished if they misrule."
Ma Kaiji's heart sank with sudden dread. He prayed silently: Let it be an emperor from Great Qi. If it’s Great Qi’s emperor, it’ll tarnish the royal family’s reputation and shake the people’s faith in them.
The ox-headed demon yawned. "Who else? It’s Emperor Min'ai. He’s got five hundred years left in that oil, and he’s always the loudest. Drives the rest of us mad."
Ma Kaiji’s heart withered on the spot.
"The Tongue-Ripping Hell is much quieter—no tongues, no noise. Isn’t Ma Hong there now? How much longer does he have?"
"Almost done. Just twenty more years, then he’ll move to the Mountain of Knives to join Wen Jianhua."
A bystander exclaimed, "I know Ma Hong! A corrupt official from the previous dynasty—utterly vile! So he’s in the Tongue-Ripping Hell? Justice served!"
"Wen Jianhua was the Grand Tutor, right? They say he loved flaying people alive, framed countless good officials, and even ate human flesh."
Ma Kaiji staggered, clutching his chest, his face ashen. These were his ancestors!
A cult member sprinkling lime froze, staring at the sky in disbelief: Wen Jianhua was his forebear!
Now the whole world knew his ancestors were in the eighteen hells. What good was restoring the dynasty? Their names were eternally damned.
Suddenly, the scene shifted—the Ghost Gate vanished, replaced by a vast, bubbling cauldron of oil.
Inside, figures writhed and shrieked in the scalding liquid.
The view zoomed in, revealing names floating above each tormented soul, as if to ensure no one misidentified them.
The most conspicuous was the last emperor of the fallen dynasty—Emperor Min'ai, Wen Mingque—now wailing like a banshee.
"I was wrong! I’ve learned my lesson! I never even wanted to build that immortality platform—it was all Ma Hong’s idea!"
"Punish him, not me! Once he’s suffered enough, spare me!"
Ma Kaiji’s heart died all over again.
...Overslept again, woe is me.
