Yuan Huirou's face was pale, her voice sounding particularly weak. "Your Majesty, are you joking?"
She instinctively searched their expressions for any trace of jest, only to painfully realize that they seemed completely serious.
Was she the one going mad, or had the Emperor and her father lost their minds?
Yuan Huirou was baffled—and utterly shocked.
Pei Lingyue sighed. "This Emperor and the Grand Tutor merely wish to express our apologies in this manner."
He glanced at Yu Miaohua's head—the task completion notification still hadn't appeared. It seemed this round of punishment was unavoidable.
Well, at least the Grand Tutor was keeping him company.
Yuan Huirou's emotions were complicated. The Emperor, as the exalted Son of Heaven, was actually apologizing to her for this matter. She ought to be moved and overwhelmed by the honor.
If she were even slightly wiser, she would gracefully accept this olive branch and magnanimously declare that she didn’t mind—after all, both the Emperor and her father had acted for the greater good.
A few well-chosen, considerate words would have sufficed to paint her as virtuous and understanding, stirring the Emperor’s gratitude and guilt.
Yet, the moment she recalled the torment she had endured, Yuan Huirou’s heart felt clogged, making it impossible to utter the words "it’s alright."
"Why didn’t you tell me the truth?"
Yuan Xinji replied, "It was my suggestion. Your Highness is pure-hearted, and I feared that knowing in advance might inadvertently reveal the truth."
He couldn’t explain the mission to his daughter, so he could only use the greater good as justification.
Yuan Xinji had prepared himself to shoulder all the blame alone, but to his surprise, the Emperor had stepped forward to share the responsibility. Even knowing His Majesty was motivated by the mission rewards, Yuan Xinji couldn’t help but feel touched.
As for his daughter, guilt weighed heavily on him.
Though Yuan Huirou acknowledged her father’s reasoning, resentment still simmered within her.
Stiffly, she said, "How could I possibly strike the Emperor and my own father? If word got out, the censors would drown me in their condemnations."
She spoke the truth—even if these two permitted her to strike them, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Wait… had her father anticipated this and deliberately put her in this position?
Yuan Huirou began to suspect as much.
Yu Miaohua observed the three of them locked in a stalemate and made a decision. She picked up the remaining birch rod from Su Ning’s tray and swung it at Pei Lingyue.
Pei Lingyue instinctively flinched but, remembering the mission, forced himself to endure the strike.
After striking the Emperor, Yu Miaohua flicked her wrist and delivered another lash to Yuan Xinji.
Calmly, she announced, "Done."
Yuan Huirou was stunned.
Miaohua—she actually went through with it?
Wasn’t she afraid of losing her position as Noble Consort?
Truly, her sister from another mother.
Once the shock faded, Yuan Huirou was so moved her eyes nearly welled up with tears.
She hurriedly explained to Pei Lingyue, "This has nothing to do with Noble Consort Hui. I was the one who asked her to do it."
Yu Miaohua blinked, then declared with unshakable confidence, "If His Majesty insists we strike, how can we defy the imperial decree? Right, Your Majesty?"
Admittedly, wielding the rod had felt oddly satisfying—though she hadn’t used much force, and their robes had softened the blows. It couldn’t have hurt much.
[Host, you’re so bold! You actually went through with it!]
The Palace Intrigue System had been thoroughly shocked by Yu Miaohua’s actions. This host of his… was timid one moment and fearlessly audacious the next.
[For the mission rewards, I had to take the risk. So, is the task complete? Hurry up and hand over the rewards!]
In truth, Yu Miaohua hadn’t overthought it. She simply couldn’t let the standoff continue or allow this grievance to fester. Of course, if she admitted the truth, Tongtong would surely nag her again, insisting that as the heroine of a palace drama, she must curry favor with the Emperor and never offend him. So, she used the mission as her shield.
Even if… the Emperor truly grew angry, presenting him with peanuts later would surely placate him. Yu Miaohua was beginning to understand His Majesty’s temperament.
Evidently, the Palace Intrigue System bought her reasoning.
[Seeing the host so proactive with missions now truly moves me!]
At long last, his perseverance was paying off!
[Congratulations, Host, for completing Main Mission 5.3: Clear Noble Consort Hui’s name, expose the mastermind, and make them pay. Mission rewards have been issued.]
Yu Miaohua relaxed—it seemed there were no loose ends left.
Pei Lingyue couldn’t help but smile. Finally, this mission was settled.
His expression softened. "Noble Consort Hui is considerate and thoughtful, deeply pleasing to This Emperor."
Yu Miaohua, the recipient of this praise, nearly burst with the urge to complain.
[Tongtong, has His Majesty been under too much stress lately? Has he developed some… unconventional preferences? Getting struck and then praising me for it?]
[Would the host like me to investigate?]
[No, don’t tell me! I don’t want to know! Such matters are beyond the understanding of someone as innocent as me.]
Yu Miaohua mentally waved the idea away.
The system was at a loss for words. A naive young girl who enjoys ogling male deities?
Pei Lingyue’s smile froze on his face. Consort Hui was perfect in every way, except for her occasional lack of reverence toward him, the Emperor. How dare she slander his reputation in her thoughts like this!
And that Tongtong spirit—it spoiled Consort Hui far too much, indulging her every whim by investigating whatever she asked.
Yuan Xinji struggled to suppress his laughter. Just for the chance to witness the Emperor’s embarrassment, getting whipped once would be worth it—no, even ten lashes would be worth it.
Yuan Huirou spoke softly, "Your Majesty, if something like this happens again, I hope you won’t hide it from me."
No wonder the Emperor had granted Mingyao the privilege of choosing her own marriage—it must have been out of guilt.
Thinking of her only daughter, the last traces of resentment in Yuan Huirou’s heart dissipated.
Pei Lingyue thought to himself: That depends on whether Tongtong assigns a similar mission again.
Of course, he agreed readily.
"There won’t be a next time."
Yuan Huirou’s gaze fell on the thorny whip, and she suddenly smiled. "Your Majesty, may I keep this whip as a gift?"
She planned to display it prominently in her palace so the Emperor would see it every time he visited.
Unaware of her scheme, Pei Lingyue saw no harm in such a small request and nodded in agreement.
Yuan Huirou chose the very whip Yu Miaohua had used to strike him earlier, occasionally flashing a meaningful smile at it.
Yuan Xinji: "…"
A vague sense of foreboding crept over him.
Well, his daughter usually stayed in the palace—if anyone suffered, it would be the Emperor. And since His Majesty was known for his leniency toward meritorious officials, he probably wouldn’t take it too seriously.
Pei Lingyue clearly still had matters to discuss with the Grand Tutor and dismissed them with a wave.
Yu Miaohua and the others left in high spirits.
As high-ranking consorts, their every move was scrutinized. Yuan Huirou made no effort to conceal the whip, and soon, news of Consort Hui leaving the Qian Yuan Palace with it spread throughout the harem.
Everyone assumed the Emperor had bestowed it upon her.
But while His Majesty usually gifted jewels and silks, this time, he had presented a plain thorny whip—an anomaly that naturally sparked rampant speculation.
Eventually, one theory gained widespread acceptance:
The Emperor had given Consort Hui the whip so she could punish those who offended her.
Surely, it couldn’t be for her to whip him, could it?
Yuan Huirou soon caught wind of the rumor. After laughing heartily in her palace, she began carrying the whip with her whenever she went out.
Surprisingly, it worked wonders—conflicts in the harem dwindled, and quarrels became far less frequent.
Even the Empress grew curious about the whip. After holding back for days, she finally asked Yu Miaohua about it.
Delighted to see Her Majesty’s rarely seen gossipy side, Yu Miaohua eagerly spilled the details.
The Empress listened in stunned silence.
She knew the Emperor would go to great lengths for mission rewards, but she never imagined he’d stoop to this—letting someone whip him.
At that moment, she truly felt at peace.
"So… did you actually strike him?"
Yu Miaohua blinked. "I did. Since Sister Yuan didn’t dare, I did it for her."
The Empress paused, then sighed regretfully. "What a pity I wasn’t there…"
Otherwise, she could’ve seized the chance to whip the Emperor too—knowing he wouldn’t retaliate for the sake of the rewards.
Missing such an opportunity was truly a shame.
Though the Empress understood the Emperor’s reasoning, understanding didn’t stop the occasional urge to beat him up.
Yu Miaohua’s eyes nearly popped out of her head—had she heard correctly?
Realizing she’d accidentally spoken her mind, the Empress calmly corrected herself, "I was only joking."
[Her Majesty definitely meant it. I knew I wasn’t the only one who wanted to whip the Emperor!]
[Tongtong, your harem system is still lacking! Have you ever seen a harem protagonist who whips the Emperor and gets praised for it? Such a monumental achievement deserves more rewards, don’t you think?]
[You can’t just settle for the status quo—you have to fight for what you deserve!]
[…Host, you’re right. A rare accomplishment like this warrants compensation from the Transmigration Bureau.]
[Wait here—I’ll be back soon.]
Successfully manipulated by Yu Miaohua, the system set off to demand its rightful dues.
The Empress was speechless.
Compared to this, Yu Miaohua’s attitude toward the Emperor was practically respectful. Her treatment of the spirits was the real audacity.
The harem system returned after fifteen minutes, its voice brimming with excitement.
[Host, I’ve learned to stand up for myself!]
[Congratulations on completing the hidden mission: Become the Emperor’s Beloved, Even If You Torment Him, He’ll Still Cherish You. Reward: One bottle of Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment and a simplified recipe for it.]
Yu Miaohua’s eyes lit up at the reward.
[Is this really the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment from wuxia novels? The legendary remedy for broken bones?]
The Black Jade Discontinuity Ointment produced by the system can achieve the effects described in martial arts novels. Although the basic version doesn’t have such miraculous healing properties, it is exceptionally effective for bruises, sprains, and fractures, significantly accelerating bone recovery.
I’ve also found out for the host that after upgrading, the rewards previously obtained from missions will be added to the system’s store, becoming exchangeable items.
Yu Miaohua praised the system for once.
"Good job, you’ve finally done something useful. So skills like the Dragon King’s ability, the Heavenly Thunder Strike, and the Black Jade Discontinuity Ointment will all be available in the store later, right?"
After all, some skills and miraculous medicines weren’t available in the store and could only be obtained as rewards. Yu Miaohua thought the Dragon King’s ability was particularly impressive.
And that "Favorable Weather" buff would probably be added to the store as well.
She suddenly felt motivated to complete more missions.
"Yes~"
The system was also delighted, as it was rare for the host to praise it.
After finishing her conversation with the system, Yu Miaohua quickly returned to Guanju Palace, preoccupied with thoughts of the Black Jade Discontinuity Ointment.
Meanwhile, the Empress relayed the new information to the Emperor.
Pei Lingyue suddenly felt that the lash he had endured wasn’t in vain. The so-called Black Jade Discontinuity Ointment sounded incredibly useful—he could mass-produce it and send it to the military camps, where it would surely come in handy.
If just one lash earned him such a reward…
He couldn’t help but say to the Empress, "If Consort Hui stabbed me and I forgave her without holding a grudge, would I get something even better?"
Even though she was long accustomed to the Emperor’s temperament, hearing such words from him still left the Empress utterly shocked.
Her expression turned complicated. "Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, you must not recklessly endanger your imperial body."
Pei Lingyue coughed lightly. "I was just speaking hypothetically. I wouldn’t actually do it."
But his expression betrayed a hint of eagerness.
The Empress said, "Consort Hui isn’t the type to harm others without reason—unless she despises someone to the core. If Your Majesty truly does something to earn her hatred, you’ll lose her trust forever."
Pei Lingyue, momentarily intoxicated by the thought of rewards, sobered up instantly.
His standing in Yu Miaohua’s heart was already lower than many others. If he pushed his luck any further…
Better not risk it.
Relieved to have dissuaded the Emperor, the Empress let out a sigh.
......
With the framing of Consort Hui resolved, Yu Miaohua returned to her peaceful daily life.
Having been preoccupied with the consort’s affairs, she had neglected her calligraphy practice and noticed some regression. Feeling guilty, she promptly resumed her lessons and began visiting the Jiang residence frequently again.
She also observed that more and more people on the streets were wearing cotton clothing.
Yu Miaohua stopped by a fabric shop to check—currently, a bolt of cotton cloth cost no more than 800 coins, significantly more expensive than hemp cloth but far cheaper than silk. It also provided better warmth.
As cotton cultivation expanded, Yu Miaohua estimated the price could drop by half, making it affordable for even more commoners.
With the weather turning colder, she heard that many were buying cotton to make padded jackets for winter.
Having seen the Great Qi’s disaster forecasts for the next three years, Yu Miaohua knew that in December two years later, the capital and neighboring prefectures would face a once-in-a-century winter storm.
So far, the court had not only promoted cotton but also taught civilians how to build heated brick beds (kang), which should reduce deaths from freezing.
Yu Miaohua turned her attention away and asked Hong Xing, who had accompanied her, "Is there anything you’d like to buy?"
Whenever she went out, she made sure to wear a veil to avoid being recognized.
Hong Xing looked around and said, "This servant would like to buy some embroidery thread."
Yu Miaohua nodded. "I’ll join you."
For her, shopping wasn’t just about buying things—she enjoyed the experience itself.
After purchasing the thread, Hong Xing happily selected a gold ring from a jewelry store.
Inspired, Yu Miaohua also browsed the shop and eventually chose an exquisitely crafted gold-inlaid jade crab hairpin. The crab’s body was carved from white jade, glowing softly in the sunlight. Its eyes were made of delicate gold wire wrapped around tiny pearls, while its claws were formed from slender blue gemstones.
The hairpin cost twenty taels of silver. Yu Miaohua hadn’t brought enough coins, but she had silver notes with her and decided to exchange them at a money house first.
When she returned, she found someone else eyeing the crab hairpin.
At her appearance, the shop assistant sighed in relief. "This young lady has already reserved it and paid a deposit."
Yu Miaohua handed over the silver, but the girl competing for the hairpin—about fifteen years old, with an air of arrogance—offered, "I’ll pay fifty taels. Sell it to me instead, alright?"
[Host! Someone’s trying to steal your purchase! Put her in her place!]
[This isn’t stealing—it’s just business.]
Yu Miaohua asked, "Where’s the money?"
She quite liked the craftsmanship of the hairpin and had already memorized its design, planning to have a new one made later. The extra thirty taels of silver would be perfect for treating herself to a lavish meal.
The young girl seemed taken aback by her reaction, pausing for a moment before turning to her maid and demanding, "Where's the silver?"
Unable to hold back, she pressed Yu Miaohua further, "Are you really selling it to me?"
Yu Miaohua replied, "Of course. Don’t you like this hairpin?"
The maid fumbled with her purse, stammering, "Your Highness, we didn’t bring enough silver today."
A princess? Which royal household did she belong to? She must not have visited the palace often before—Yu Miaohua had no recollection of her.
[Tongtong, which princely house does she belong to? Look it up.]
If this princess had ever attended a palace banquet, the system would surely have records of her.
[Host, no relevant records found.]
Yu Miaohua didn’t think anyone would dare impersonate a princess. Perhaps she simply hadn’t entered the palace in the past two years?
The girl grew irritated. "Then hurry back and fetch it!"
Yu Miaohua said, "I’ll be dining at Moonlit Pavilion later. If you bring the silver, you can find me there."
With that, she left with Hong Xing and her guards in tow.
At Moonlit Pavilion, Yu Miaohua reserved a private room—the cheapest option costing at least ten taels. She instructed the waiter that if someone came looking for her and could describe her attire, they could be directed to her room.
Having earned an easy thirty taels today, Yu Miaohua generously ordered two lavish feasts—one for her guards.
Hong Xing couldn’t help but ask, "Mistress, are you really giving up that hairpin for her?"
Yu Miaohua replied, "It’s thirty taels. Why wouldn’t I sell it?"
After a pause, she added, "Maybe it’s just not something I love enough. If it were truly precious to me, I’d never part with it."
Midway through the meal, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing the unidentified princess who had wanted to buy the hairpin—now standing beside a tall, elegant man. His handsome features carried a warm, gentle smile, and there was something vaguely familiar about him.
[Ahhh, Host! This is one of your former potential romance targets—Fu Congbai, nephew of Princess Consort Zhuang!]
Upon seeing her, the man feigned just the right amount of surprise. "This humble official pays his respects to Her Majesty the Noble Consort."
[Host, that surprised look is totally fake! He knew it was you all along!]
Yu Miaohua agreed. Since he was Princess Consort Zhuang’s nephew, the girl’s identity became obvious—she must be the youngest princess of the Zhuang household.
The Zhuang royal family had two princesses, both born to a concubine. Neither had attended the New Year’s banquet due to illness. As for this year’s Imperial Birthday celebrations, their absence likely had other reasons.
Yu Miaohua had assumed that after the celebrations, this princess would have left the capital with Prince Zhuang for their fiefdom. Yet here she was, still in the city.
[Host, judging by her age, she’s probably Pei Yuesheng of the Zhuang household, fifteen this year.]
The young princess Pei Yuesheng muttered awkwardly, "My apologies. I shouldn’t have tried to take the hairpin from you."
Fu Congbai wore an apologetic expression. "My cousin has been spoiled and can be rather willful. If she has offended Your Majesty, I offer my deepest apologies on her behalf."
Yu Miaohua glanced at him. "She hasn’t offended me."
Then she turned to Pei Yuesheng. "Did you bring the silver?"
[Tongtong, she definitely picked a fight over that hairpin on purpose today.]
[She must have known who I was all along.]
[Host, aren’t you angry?]
[Why would I be? If she’s doing this, it’s surely at her parents’ insistence. She can’t refuse them.]
If Yu Miaohua sought retribution, it would be from the girl’s parents, not her.
Pei Yuesheng, now devoid of her earlier arrogance, kept her eyes lowered, looking almost docile. "I brought it."
Her maid stepped forward, presenting a box of silver.
At Yu Miaohua’s signal, Hong Xing accepted the payment, and Yu Miaohua handed over the hairpin.
Fu Congbai remarked, "Your Majesty is far more gracious and forgiving than I imagined. Thank you for overlooking my cousin’s behavior."
Having trained in the art of detecting insincerity, Yu Miaohua immediately sensed the subtle manipulation in his words. Was he trying to elevate himself by putting Pei Yuesheng down?
She smiled. "The young princess has a refreshingly straightforward personality. I find it quite endearing and feel no offense. However, your lingering presence here risks creating misunderstandings about our relationship—now that would be truly offensive."
Pei Yuesheng, standing beside Fu Congbai, nearly burst into laughter but hastily covered her mouth.
Flustered, Fu Congbai bowed. "This official has been thoughtless. I shall take my leave at once."
Just as Pei Yuesheng turned to follow him, Yu Miaohua called out, "Young Princess."
Pei Yuesheng paused.
Yu Miaohua asked, "Have you eaten lunch yet?"
"No," she admitted.
Yu Miaohua idly stirred her teacup, raising her eyes with a faint smile. "If you don’t mind, join me for a meal."
She noticed Pei Yuesheng instinctively glance at Fu Congbai upon hearing this. In other words, her status as a noblewoman might hold less weight in Prince Zhuang’s residence than the nephew of the Princess Consort Zhuang.
And so, Pei Yuesheng was persuaded by Yu Miaohua to stay for a meal before returning.
Yu Miaohua went straight back to the Jiang residence and only returned to the palace after her afternoon studies concluded.
Once back, she pondered for a moment before reporting her encounter with the people from Prince Zhuang’s household to Pei Lingyue.
"This concubine believes they may have intentionally sought to approach me."
Pei Lingyue was surprised—Yu Miaohua had actually noticed this? He had always assumed she was carefree and indifferent to such matters.
Pei Lingyue remarked, "The Princess Consort Zhuang returned to the capital last month, supposedly to prepare for the Empress’s grand birthday celebration next year. They likely wish to establish goodwill."
The Empress had never been one for extravagance, often forgoing celebrations from the provinces in previous years and merely hosting a modest banquet in the palace. But next year marked her fortieth birthday, and of course, it had to be a grand affair.
Yu Miaohua had long begun planning the birthday gift for the Empress. Not only did the gift need to be exceptional, but auspicious signs also had to be arranged.
The Empress had always been so kind to her—she wanted to make sure Her Majesty shone the brightest at the banquet.
Pei Lingyue decided to keep Fu Congbai occupied. If Fu Congbai had been Yu Miaohua’s target of affection, he might have grudgingly tolerated his presence.
But since he wasn’t, he could go find somewhere else to be.
Come to think of it, last year, the Taoist temple where Prince Zhuang resided had reportedly emitted sounds resembling firecrackers.
After that, Prince Zhuang’s household had become noticeably more active.
…
Prince Zhuang’s Residence.
After her return, Fu Congbai reported the events of the afternoon to his aunt.
"...I had intended for my cousin to act haughtily and offend Consort Hui, after which I would step in to apologize on her behalf, thereby gaining Consort Hui’s acquaintance. But for some reason, Consort Hui seemed displeased with me."
"Yet she was quite lenient with my cousin—not only did she overlook her rudeness, but she even invited her to dine together." Fu Congbai was handsome and had rarely faced rejection from women before; today was a first.
The Princess Consort Zhuang was stunned. "She actually preferred your cousin?"
She had previously learned something by chance—a prince from the grasslands had once disguised himself, attempting to seduce Consort Hui, only to fail and retreat with his entourage of handsome men in disappointment.
Prince Feng’s heir had also been accused of coveting Consort Hui, though the Emperor dismissed the accusation. Still, the heir’s eagerness toward her was undeniable.
Rarely had she heard of Consort Hui actively vying for favor. Instead, she maintained excellent relationships with the Empress, the Noble Consort, Consort De, and even Lady Sun, among other concubines. Under her care, Lady Sun had even regained her health and successfully conceived.
Prince Zhuang’s household had two consorts, four concubines, and numerous attendants—at least a dozen women served the prince.
Though the Princess Consort Zhuang outwardly played the role of the magnanimous wife, she knew deep down she could never truly regard these concubines as sisters. If any gained favor, she would find ways to suppress them. She certainly didn’t want any of them bearing the prince’s children.
Consort Hui… she probably didn’t love the Emperor at all, despite his endless devotion to her.
Did she have someone else in her heart?
No, that didn’t seem likely either.
Recalling Consort Hui’s starkly different treatment of her nephew and Pei Yuesheng, the Princess Consort Zhuang couldn’t help but entertain a thought—could it be that Consort Hui, rather than favoring men, actually preferred women?
