Li Zhaoyuan was left trembling by the expression Yu Miaohua wore before leaving, terrified that she might end up like the other concubines who had offended Yu Miaohua—rewarded with a house arrest "special package." House arrest alone would have been bearable, but if she were also forced to copy Buddhist scriptures daily like Consort Hua, it would be enough to make her vomit blood in frustration.
Her maid watched her restless fidgeting with silent exasperation. Why couldn’t her mistress control her tongue, even though she was clearly terrified of Noble Consort Hui deep down?
In the maid’s opinion, Noble Consort Hui wasn’t particularly difficult to get along with. As long as one didn’t provoke her directly, she rarely put on airs as a high-ranking concubine in public. There were also few rumors of her bullying others despite her favored status. In contrast, Li Zhaoyuan, who had never enjoyed even a tenth of Yu Miaohua’s favor, had been far more arrogant and domineering in the past.
After waiting half the day without any reprimand from the Emperor, Li Zhaoyuan finally relaxed and even regained her appetite. Of course, she didn’t believe this meant Yu Miaohua had fallen out of favor—hoping for that was as futile as wishing for her own pregnancy.
Perhaps the Emperor was too preoccupied with Concubine Yuan’s affairs to deal with the harem right now.
Speaking of Concubine Yuan, Li Zhaoyuan’s mood brightened.
This time, Concubine Yuan would likely struggle to climb out of the pit she’d fallen into. She probably never expected a traitor in her own ranks.
Li Zhaoyuan had already planned everything. When Noble Lady Sun was close to giving birth, she would arrange an "accident." Then, by pretending to save Noble Lady Sun and getting injured herself, she could clear her own name while earning Noble Lady Sun’s gratitude.
Once Noble Lady Sun died, her child would naturally fall into Li Zhaoyuan’s care.
Only with a child could her position truly be secured. Everything she did was for the sake of her family’s resurgence—she refused to live under someone else’s thumb any longer.
After some hesitation, she reluctantly ordered, "Bring out the pair of rhinoceros horn anti-poison chopsticks and four bolts of golden brocade from my treasury… and add that pair of cloisonné twin vases with children at play. Later, I’ll visit the Pear Blossom Palace."
From Yu Miaohua’s words today, it seemed Noble Lady Sun still harbored resentment over past humiliations. Li Zhaoyuan had to resolve this grudge as soon as possible.
Li Zhaoyuan had once been favored herself and possessed a few rare treasures in the palace, such as those rhinoceros horn chopsticks. They had been a special gift from the Empress Dowager after she lost her child—something she had cherished and never used. This time, she was truly sacrificing something precious.
To her relief, Noble Lady Sun accepted her peace offering.
In the following days, Yuan Huirou remained under house arrest.
After observing for a while, Li Zhaoyuan thought: If no evidence emerged to prove Yuan Huirou’s innocence, even the Emperor couldn’t just keep her confined—she would at least be demoted. Having a Grand Preceptor for a father certainly had its advantages. Anyone else would have been banished to the Cold Palace by now.
Li Zhaoyuan wasn’t alone in this belief—most concubines shared her view.
Just as they assumed Concubine Yuan would never recover, the Emperor issued a series of edicts that left everyone reeling.
Li Zhaoyuan was stripped of her rank and sent to a nunnery for framing the Noble Consort and cursing Noble Lady Sun.
When the decree was announced, Li Zhaoyuan felt as if she’d been struck by a blunt weapon. Instinctively, she cried out, "I want to see the Emperor! I’ve been wronged!"
Chai Xiu, who delivered the edict, replied coolly, "Madam Li, the Sun family has already confessed everything."
All color drained from Li Zhaoyuan’s face. If the investigation had reached the Sun family, the Emperor must have already gathered ample evidence.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I just wanted a child of my own… If only my baby had survived…"
She hoped invoking the memory of her unborn child might stir a shred of pity in the Emperor’s heart.
Chai Xiu said, "That child was already a stillborn in your womb, wasn’t it? The prescription you took made conception easier, but it severely harmed your body—it could never have sustained a full-term pregnancy."
Li Zhaoyuan froze. That prescription had been given to her by Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian had claimed it was how she conceived the Second Prince. She said she wanted Li Zhaoyuan to bear a child so they could support each other.
She had argued that without family backing, Li Zhaoyuan’s beauty would fade, and without an heir, even the Emperor’s favor would be fleeting. So she handed her that prescription. When Li Zhaoyuan became pregnant, she had been overjoyed—she had trusted Concubine Xian completely.
For years, she had carried guilt, believing her own poor health had robbed her child of life. She had even exploited that loss to eliminate rivals and secure favor.
But from the very beginning, that child had never stood a chance.
Suddenly, Li Zhaoyuan understood—Concubine Xian needed a fool to wield as a weapon, and she had been the perfect candidate.
After the incident, Concubine Xian held her secrets, forcing her obedience.
At this moment, Li Zhaoyuan’s hatred for Concubine Xian eclipsed even her fear of Yu Miaohua.
With reddened eyes, she spoke through gritted teeth, "I demand to see the Emperor. There are things about Concubine Xian that I must tell him personally!"
…
In the Qiongming Palace, Concubine Xian was embroidering Buddhist scriptures.
The Buddhist sutra was one she had embroidered for Noble Lady Sun. She planned to finish stitching one volume and then discreetly place it in the small prayer hall, ensuring someone would "accidentally" discover it. This way, everyone would learn of her devoted care for Noble Lady Sun.
The sutra would be completed in another half-month.
"For lunch, have them prepare a bowl of vegetarian noodles and a side of cold cucumber salad," she instructed her maid.
Most of the maids in Qionghua Palace had been replaced by the Emperor months ago—none were her trusted confidantes. Concubine Xian remained cautious around them, careful not to reveal any of her covert maneuvers.
Fortunately, a few of her spies in the palace had escaped the Emperor's purge, though most had been exposed during her recent scheming.
She mused that once she successfully adopted the new prince, she would lay low until the child grew older. After Li Zhaoyuan was sent to the nunnery, she would still need to find a way to silence her permanently.
She held damning evidence that could doom the Li family, and since Li Zhaoyuan remained unaware of her involvement in the plot, she might not resort to mutual destruction. Still, only the dead could truly keep secrets.
"Your Highness, you've been fasting for ten days now. Will you continue with the vegetarian diet?"
Concubine Xian smiled faintly. "A few more days. I only hope the Buddha will see my sincerity and grant Noble Lady Sun peace and health."
Her words were genuine—the physician she had bribed had confirmed that Noble Lady Sun was carrying the son she had longed for.
After a moment's thought, she added, "Very well, I’ll maintain the fast until the New Year."
She had also fasted for Li Zhaoyuan once, as if mourning their past friendship in advance.
"With such devotion, the Buddha will surely protect Noble Lady Sun."
The imperial kitchen didn’t dare serve only the requested dishes and discreetly added braised beef and roasted lamb chops. Concubine Xian distributed the meat among her attendants, earning their gratitude.
After lunch, news arrived that Li Zhaoyuan had been punished. Concubine Xian feigned shock. "To think she was the one who framed Concubine Yuan… How foolish."
Li Zhaoyuan had been exposed faster than expected—had the plot unraveled outside the palace?
With her son estranged, Concubine Xian no longer received outside updates as swiftly as before.
Still, she wasn’t worried about being implicated. Her role in the scheme had been minimal.
She had merely let the Sun family know of Noble Lady Sun’s resentment toward them. In their fear, they had sought out the Li family.
The Lis, eager for a prince to secure their future, had readily conspired with them.
That they managed to bribe someone close to Concubine Yuan, however, surprised even Concubine Xian.
Though Concubine Yuan had now been cleared, her temperament ensured she would never adopt Noble Lady Sun’s child if misfortune befell her.
That child was destined to be hers.
At last, she could sleep peacefully.
The next day, in high spirits, Concubine Xian was abruptly handed an imperial decree—her downfall. Stripped of her rank, she was granted a flask of poisoned wine.
Her mother, the elderly Madam Qin, was given a length of white silk. After the Qin family’s fall from grace, only the stubborn old woman had remained at Concubine Xian’s beck and call, sealing her own fate.
The decree listed Concubine Xian’s countless crimes over the years—framing fellow consorts, colluding with officials, eliminating rivals… Many deeds were so old she had forgotten them.
Kneeling in shock, she realized Li Zhaoyuan had betrayed her. Many of the accusations had been carried out by Li Zhaoyuan herself.
Why would Madam Li turn against her so suddenly? Had she abandoned the Li family’s survival?
The eunuch delivering the decree explained, "Madam Li has learned the truth about her past pregnancy."
Concubine Xian’s face turned ashen. So that was why Madam Li hated her enough to drag her down.
Yesterday, she had laughed at Madam Li’s misfortune. Today, the tables had turned.
At least Madam Li had kept her life, while she… The Emperor hadn’t even granted her a final audience, merely sending a eunuch with poison. She had even doomed her own mother to follow her into the afterlife.
After years of ruthless ambition, this was her end—while fools like Yuan Huirou thrived in the palace. The irony was unbearable.
She looked at the eunuch. "I am still the Second Prince’s birth mother. Let me see Yao’er once."
The Emperor had spared no mercy, not even for the sake of the Second Prince.
The eunuch replied calmly, "His Majesty has sent the Second Prince to the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to his mother."
He paused. "His mother is now Consort Shu."
"Consort Shu?" Concubine Xian repeated. "Which Consort Shu?"
When had such a title appeared in the palace? For a moment, she wondered if she was still dreaming.
Her body trembled slightly. Was the Emperor altering her son’s lineage records?
"His Majesty posthumously honored the late Noble Consort Lan as Consort Shu and registered the Second Prince under her name."
Concubine Xian suddenly remembered—Noble Consort Lan, renowned as the capital's top talented lady, had entered the palace and quickly won the Emperor's favor. Back then, fearing that Noble Consort Lan might bear a son and threaten her own position, Concubine Xian had supported Li Zhaoyuan, using the child in her womb to frame Noble Consort Lan.
Though Noble Consort Lan wasn’t banished to the cold palace, she was demoted to a mere talent and eventually died in sorrow.
And now, her own son had been directly given to Noble Consort Lan.
The Emperor… was determined to erase her existence entirely.
A bitter smile twisted Concubine Xian’s lips as she drained the cup of poisoned wine in one gulp.
……
The Emperor’s two decrees made it clear to the entire harem—it was Concubine Xian and Li Zhaoyuan who had schemed against the Imperial Noble Consort and cursed Noble Lady Sun. Truly, appearances could be deceiving.
As the contents of the decrees spread, the harem erupted in shock.
Over the past year, the concubines had all sensed that Concubine Xian wasn’t as indifferent as she pretended to be, but none had imagined the depths of her treachery.
Li Zhaoyuan had merely been a pawn in her schemes.
Alongside their astonishment came a chilling realization—they had once regarded Concubine Xian as a gentle, kind-hearted elder sister. The only reason she hadn’t targeted them was that they lacked the Emperor’s favor and were thus worthless in her calculations.
The scandal of Concubine Xian and Li Zhaoyuan was so shocking that the imprisonment of the Sun and Yuan families’ second branch was almost overlooked.
With the truth revealed, the Imperial Noble Consort’s house arrest was naturally lifted.
A steady stream of lavish gifts flowed into Yong'an Palace. The Emperor even granted the Eldest Princess of Yong'an Palace the privilege of choosing her own marriage.
When Yu Miaohua visited Yong'an Palace, the Imperial Noble Consort was cheerfully burning the white silk flowers she had made during her confinement.
Spotting Yu Miaohua, Yuan Huirou waved her over. "I knew you’d come. I had the kitchen prepare your favorite pastries."
Yu Miaohua glanced at the silk flowers. "These are for Concubine Xian, aren’t they?"
Yuan Huirou nodded. Though Concubine Xian was dead, she had no intention of forgiving her. Burning these flowers was merely a send-off.
This time, she had truly been on the brink of ruin because of Concubine Xian and Li Zhaoyuan’s schemes.
Her confinement had also opened her eyes to the fickleness of human nature.
Some of the concubines who had once clung to her now avoided her like the plague. While she understood their self-preservation, it still stung.
Now that her name had been cleared, a few concubines dared to show up at her door with congratulatory smiles. Yuan Huirou couldn’t even be bothered to maintain superficial politeness—she barred them from entering Yong'an Palace entirely.
As soon as Yu Miaohua sat down, Su Ning personally served her tea.
After a few sips, Yu Miaohua set the cup aside. She hadn’t just come to check on Yuan Huirou—she was here for the gossip.
"Elder Sister Yuan, I heard your second uncle was thrown into prison. Was he involved in your ordeal?"
Yuan Xinyi, the younger brother of the Grand Tutor, had languished in the lowly position of a Ministry of Works official for years without promotion—proof of his incompetence.
A few days ago, he had been impeached by censors for bribery and factionalism, stripped of his official rank, and imprisoned.
The timing was too coincidental. Yu Miaohua suspected the second branch had a hand in framing Yuan Huirou.
Before Yu Miaohua could continue, Yuan Huirou dismissed the attendants.
After all Yu Miaohua had done for her, Yuan Huirou saw no reason to hide the truth.
"Yes, the second branch was involved. How else do you think Li Zhaoyuan and the others managed to mimic my handwriting and even replicate my embroidery?"
Her lips curled in scorn. Her own family had stabbed her in the back for personal gain.
"As for Siqi, her beloved had just become a provincial scholar. His wife had passed half a year ago. The second branch promised that if their scheme succeeded, they’d arrange for her to marry him and even secure him a magistrate’s post."
For the sake of a man, her own maidservant had betrayed her.
Yu Miaohua frowned. "What did your second uncle stand to gain?"
As long as Yuan Huirou remained the Imperial Noble Consort, the second branch would always benefit from her status.
Yuan Huirou scoffed. "Because they saw me as an obstacle to their ambitions."
"My second uncle always believed his daughters were more talented than me. Yet, I was the one chosen for the Emperor’s harem, while my cousins were rejected. They assumed I’d pulled strings."
"Do they really think my father would favor his nieces over his own daughter?"
"After I gave birth to Mingyao and my health suffered, the second branch wanted to send one of their own to ‘consolidate the Emperor’s favor.’ My father refused. When the Emperor ascended the throne and I was named Imperial Noble Consort, their resentment must have festered."
"Early this year, they set their sights on the Crown Prince’s harem."
Yu Miaohua hadn’t expected the gossip to involve the Crown Prince.
Daring to scheme around the Crown Prince—these people had nerves of steel.
Yuan Huirou laughed bitterly. "They didn’t dare aim for the Crown Princess’s position, of course. They merely suggested my niece was a great beauty and would be honored to serve as the Crown Prince’s consort."
Yu Miaohua had never heard of this—likely because the Grand Tutor had suppressed it.
"My father had planned to send my nephew to Bailu Academy. After this incident, he canceled it outright as a warning to the second branch."
Bailu Academy was a renowned institution in the Great Qi Dynasty, boasting a strong faculty that included several retired great scholars.
Yu Miaohua remarked, "They definitely don’t think it’s their own fault. Instead, they believe your family is blocking their path to success."
Yuan Huirou nodded. "Exactly. They probably assume that if something were to happen to me, my father would, for the sake of the Yuan family, support a new faction in the palace and agree to send someone else into the Crown Prince’s harem."
She had a good relationship with the Empress. If she recommended her niece, the Empress might agree out of respect for her.
What Yuan Huirou didn’t know was that, with the palace intrigue system in place, the Emperor, Empress, and court officials had already reached a consensus on this matter. Even the heavens couldn’t overturn their decision.
The thought of her second uncle’s family’s disgusting schemes made Yuan Huirou sick to her stomach.
Since this was her family’s disgrace, she had few people to confide in. Yu Miaohua was one of the very few she trusted to speak openly with.
"My aunt from the second branch even sent a request for an audience, hoping to plead with me. Can you believe her audacity?"
"This whole ordeal has made me realize I was wrong before. I gave them too much face, which made them think I was an easy target to bully."
Yu Miaohua sympathized deeply with Yuan Huirou. "Did you see her?"
At this, Yuan Huirou perked up.
"Of course I did. And the moment she stepped into my Yong’an Palace, she violated the rules I had just established—she entered with her left foot first. It was clear she had no sincerity in apologizing."
"Seeing that my aunt hadn’t properly learned palace etiquette, I sent Nanny Zhao back with her to teach them the rules thoroughly."
Yu Miaohua knew her friend wasn’t the type to let herself be wronged.
After venting to Yu Miaohua, Yuan Huirou felt much better.
Yu Miaohua, too, enjoyed the juicy gossip and stayed for lunch at Yuan Huirou’s invitation.
At noon, Pei Lingyue also arrived.
When Yu Miaohua saw Pei Lingyue, she suddenly remembered the mission.
[Wait, System, have the mission rewards been claimed yet?]
Those who deserved punishment had already been dealt with, and those who should be imprisoned were behind bars. The rewards should have been distributed by now.
[I was just about to tell you, Host! The mission isn’t actually completed!]
Yu Miaohua was stunned.
[System, are you sure you’re not mistaken? Could any of these people be innocent? Or is there still someone who escaped capture?]
[The mission requires exposing the mastermind behind the scenes and making them pay. The backend shows it’s incomplete.]
Yu Miaohua pondered. The people arrested had solid evidence, confessions, and witnesses. There was no chance they were framed. That meant… there was still a hidden mastermind?
[Ugh, how many people are involved in this plot? Poor Sister Yuan, why are so many people out to harm her? Who else is behind this?]
Pei Lingyue, who had been about to check the mission progress, felt his heart sink upon seeing the conversation.
It seemed there was no avoiding it after all.
He would have to expose the Grand Tutor. Not just him—Pei Lingyue himself would also need to step forward.
He couldn’t keep hiding behind others.
For the sake of the rewards, Pei Lingyue decided to take the risk.
After lunch, he gently reassured Concubine Yuan.
…
After the meal, Yu Miaohua, satisfied with all the gossip she’d absorbed, went back to take a nap.
When she woke up, she considered visiting Consort Li to see the kittens. She had ordered a new cat scratching post and thought it would be the perfect gift to bring along.
But before she could leave, Chai Xiu summoned her.
Yu Miaohua was puzzled. Did the Emperor have something to discuss?
Come to think of it, she had been wondering whether to send the Emperor a dream message, hinting that there were still loose ends to tie up.
They had come so far in the mission—it would be unbearable to leave it unfinished now.
When she arrived at Qianyuan Hall, she found that not only had the Emperor summoned her, but he had also called for Yuan Huirou and even the Grand Tutor, Yuan Xinji.
Yuan Huirou looked just as confused as Yu Miaohua, completely in the dark.
After paying their respects, Yuan Huirou leaned in and whispered, "Do you know why the Emperor summoned us?"
Yu Miaohua shook her head. "No idea. You don’t know either?"
"No one told me. My father wouldn’t say a word."
Yuan Huirou was furious. When she arrived, her father had avoided her gaze the entire time, refusing to give her even a hint. Was this really her biological father?
Yuan Xinji noticed the undisguised glare his daughter, the Imperial Concubine, was giving him and knew it was directed at him.
He sighed inwardly: Simply pushing the blame onto the second branch wasn’t enough to complete the mission. He would have to confess the truth.
For the sake of obtaining those peanuts, even if his daughter glared at him for a whole year, it would be worth it.
After a short wait, the Emperor arrived.
Wait—what was that in the hands of the attendant behind him?
Yu Miaohua was stunned: Were those thorned branches?
[Thorned branches? A plea for punishment? Who’s apologizing? Surely not me or Sister Yuan?]
Yuan Huirou’s mouth fell open slightly, equally bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
Pei Lingyue gave a subtle signal, and everyone else withdrew, leaving only Su Ning among the palace attendants.
Su Ning held two thorny branches in her hands, one of which was wrapped with golden thread.
She was utterly baffled.
Yu Miaohua turned to the Emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, what are these branches for?"
[Are they meant to whip me and Sister Yuan? If so, I’ll protest!]
Yu Miaohua thought that if she were to be whipped for no reason, she wouldn’t mind calling down divine retribution when the time came.
[Host, calm down!]
[Calm down? If they’re not for me and Sister Yuan, are they meant for them to whip themselves?]
Pei Lingyue sighed, his gaze sweeping over Yu Miaohua’s visibly indignant expression. He spoke gently, "The Grand Tutor and I have kept something from you."
Yu Miaohua’s pupils dilated slightly, her face blank with confusion.
Kept something from them?
From her and Sister Yuan?
Wait—could it be about the incident where Sister Yuan was framed?
Suddenly, understanding dawned on her. "Your Majesty, is there another mastermind behind this?"
How infuriating. She had been burning with curiosity about the culprit’s identity for so long.
At least she could breathe a sigh of relief—it wasn’t meant for them.
"There’s actually someone else involved?" Concubine Yuan blurted out in shock. "Is it Consort Hua?"
"Could it be because she’s the Princess of Daliang, making it difficult to deal with her?"
Yu Miaohua found this reasoning plausible.
"Are these branches meant for us to whip her?"
Yuan Huirou immediately picked up the branch wrapped in golden thread, her face alight with eagerness. If the Emperor confirmed Consort Hua’s involvement, she would storm straight to Qionghua Palace and teach her a lesson.
Pei Lingyue took a deep breath, reminding himself repeatedly: This is for the sake of Great Qi.
At least everyone else had been dismissed, so even if he embarrassed himself, the damage would be limited.
He smiled faintly. "No, it’s not Consort Hua. It was me and the Grand Tutor who framed you."
"Though our intention was to lure out other factions, we still caused you unjust suffering, Concubine Yuan."
Yuan Huirou stared at her own father in disbelief, waiting for him to refute the Emperor’s words.
Under her gaze, Grand Tutor Yuan Xinji sighed. "I instructed Su Ning to plant the doll beneath your bed."
Su Ning immediately dropped to her knees.
Yu Miaohua was completely stunned.
[Ahhh?! Seriously?!]
[So these two branches are for them to whip themselves??]
[Oh my heavens!]
Yuan Huirou looked down at the branch in her hand, struggling to speak. "Your Majesty… are you saying this because you want me to whip you?"
"Yes," Pei Lingyue replied solemnly.
The branch slipped from Yuan Huirou’s grasp.
Darn it… I’m late again today! I really need to fix my update schedule soon. Woe is me.
