If it were anyone else who managed to hunt so much game on the first day, people would surely whisper about foul play. In such a vast forest, how could the prey just throw themselves at her?
But then they saw it was Consort Hui.
Oh, well, that explains it.
With Consort Hui, anything was possible. Even a qilin might appear to offer her gifts. So what if mere animals willingly ran toward her?
They were simply paying tribute to the divine maiden!
It was clear that Yu Miaohua’s reputation as a divine maiden was deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds.
No one suspected Lu Lingyun had helped her either. In their eyes, Lu Lingyun wasn’t the type to cheat for someone else. Besides, even during his previous victories in the winter hunts, he had never managed to bag so much game in a single day.
As for those who had actually planned to cheat—they knew exactly where those animals had come from. They had arranged it! But no matter how well they’d set things up, the animals had minds of their own and insisted on running toward Consort Hui. They couldn’t very well jump out and claim the prey was meant for them, so they had no choice but to swallow their frustration.
Yu Miaohua’s younger sister, Pei Miaoping, had also done well on the first day, though her haul paled in comparison to her sister’s.
She stared at Yu Miaohua’s pile of game, eyes nearly popping out of her head. “So… so much! Where did you even find all these, sister?”
Yu Miaohua thought back. “At first, the Marquis of Wulie taught me how to track animal footprints. Then we just ran deeper into the woods, and these creatures practically appeared on their own.”
“Guess I just got lucky. Thanks, nature.”
This statement nearly made Fu Congbai, who happened to be nearby, spit blood in frustration.
Pei Miaoping sighed in admiration. “Luck is a kind of skill too.”
Yu Miaohua nodded. She liked that saying. After all, she had no guilt accepting praise today—she hadn’t even used any shortcuts or cheats.
Fu Congbai retreated to a corner to nurse his wounded pride.
Pei Yuesheng strolled over to him, deliberately feigning surprise. “Cousin, you only managed two rabbits and three pheasants today?”
Fu Congbai forced a smile. “Just… bad luck today.”
Pei Yuesheng sighed dramatically. “You really need to step it up. I can’t have you slacking off like this. I’ve been singing your praises to Her Highness, you know. Thank goodness she didn’t ask me about your hunt today—I’d have been mortified.”
Normally, Fu Congbai loved lecturing her with an air of superiority. Now, the tables had turned, and Pei Yuesheng was the one dishing out criticism.
Fu Congbai’s face burned with humiliation.
“Tomorrow will be better,” he muttered.
Pei Yuesheng beamed. “I look forward to your performance then. Don’t disappoint me.”
Fu Congbai resolved to have another batch of game delivered tomorrow. Surely, the animals wouldn’t all flock to Consort Hui again.
And so, on the first day of the winter hunt, Yu Miaohua’s mountain of game left everyone else in the dust. The combined totals of the second to fifth places didn’t even match hers.
Yu Miaohua was practically floating with pride. If not for the last shred of her self-control, she might have swaggered around like an invincible conqueror.
But her joy didn’t last long.
By nightfall, her arms ached terribly. Today’s exertion had been too much for her—her muscles were strained from the constant bow-drawing.
Nanny Su, the Empress Dowager’s skilled masseuse, was specially sent over to tend to her. The massage was agonizing, and Yu Miaohua had to bite back screams, tears welling in her eyes.
Still, the results were immediate. She visibly relaxed afterward.
She needed to hunt just as much tomorrow. Though her first-day performance was stellar, securing a top-three finish under normal circumstances, there was always the risk of others suddenly outperforming her.
She was determined to claim the rewards of this mission and refused to falter at the final hurdle.
People like the Duke of Pinghuai, the Marquis of Xuan, General Xiang—they were all formidable competitors.
Thankfully, Crown Prince Pei Chiyan only shot a few ceremonial arrows and didn’t participate in the competition, or else Yu Miaohua would have had one more rival to worry about.
When she woke the next morning, she was greeted with several pieces of news.
The Duke of Pinghuai had been dragged into a drinking session the previous night, overindulged, and then tripped during a late-night trip to relieve himself. He had no choice but to withdraw from the hunt.
The Marquis of Xuan had eaten too much undercooked roasted meat last night, resulting in a stomachache that kept him up all night. His condition for tomorrow was uncertain, but today, hunting was out of the question.
General Xiang had insisted on demonstrating his legendary archery skills, only to pull a muscle in his thigh. Now he walked with a limp.
Earl Shen had caught a chill from the wind and was nursing a headache, requiring two days of rest.
Yu Miaohua listened to all this gossip with a dazed expression.
These were her strongest competitors. She had been worried they would surge ahead, yet they had eliminated themselves?
[System, did you really not pull any strings for me? Pushing people, causing stomachaches… that’s not very nice.]
【Really not! How could I waste energy doing such a good deed without leaving a name? It’s just that the host has some luck on her side.】
After confirming that the system hadn’t secretly cheated for her, Yu Miaohua set the matter aside and sighed in agreement.
News of this quickly spread throughout the hunting grounds, with everyone whispering that the Duke of Pinghuai and the others had simply been unlucky.
Fu Congbai, who had been eager to steal the spotlight, also breathed a sigh of relief. With these competitors out of the way, his chances had significantly improved.
While accidents had happened in previous years, nothing compared to this year—so many top contenders had been eliminated all at once.
Fu Congbai couldn’t help but wonder: Had someone deliberately targeted the Duke of Pinghuai and the others?
Was that person insane? For the sake of a mere title, they’d made enemies of so many powerful families—what were they thinking?
Even he, who secretly wished for more competitors to drop out, wouldn’t dare pull too many underhanded tricks, fearing the consequences if exposed.
Well, it wasn’t his problem anyway.
Many shared Fu Congbai’s suspicions, and soon, wild conspiracy theories began circulating as people speculated among friends and family about who could be behind it.
Yu Miaohua was the first to be ruled out.
As the "Goddess" favored by the heavens, she had no need for such underhanded tactics. Her reputation was already impeccable, and she didn’t require any additional accolades to bolster her standing.
Pei Miaoping was also dismissed as a suspect. The Pei family, though rising in influence, lacked the deep-rooted power of other noble houses. Moreover, as a woman with her father stationed far from the capital, she wouldn’t have the means to bribe so many people into acting on her behalf.
The real culprit, everyone reasoned, would have to meet certain criteria: a strong contender capable of placing in the top ranks, someone young and hungry for glory to elevate their status, and with a powerful enough family backing to mobilize resources.
After much speculation, Fu Congbai and another earl emerged as the prime suspects—though no one dared say it outright.
At first, Fu Congbai remained blissfully unaware of the rumors. That is, until Pei Yuesheng, ever eager to twist the knife, decided to enlighten him.
"Cousin, what’s going on? Everyone’s saying you framed the Duke of Pinghuai and the others? The Duke’s family isn’t one to be trifled with—what if this tarnishes Prince Zhuang’s reputation?"
Fu Congbai was stunned. "What are you talking about?"
He wasn’t an idiot—why would he risk making so many enemies?
Pei Yuesheng continued, "They’re saying you pushed the Duke of Pinghuai to make him fall, and that you poisoned Marquis Xuan to give him stomach trouble."
Fu Congbai felt like he was suffocating. Just moments ago, he’d been laughing at others’ misfortunes—now, the blame had landed squarely on him.
If he had actually done it, fine. But these accusations were completely baseless!
"It really wasn’t me! Didn’t you defend me when you heard?"
Pei Yuesheng put on an indignant expression. "Of course I did! I told them you’d never do such a thing, that I wouldn’t stand for them slandering you. But then they said my defensiveness proved their suspicions were right. I’m sorry, cousin—I failed to clear your name. You won’t blame me, will you?"
She added sympathetically, "It’s only because you’re so outstanding that they’re jealous. Don’t worry—the truth will come out. You shouldn’t care what they think."
Fu Congbai’s heart sank.
He knew this logic well—after all, he’d often preached the same lofty advice to Pei Yuesheng about ignoring gossip. But hearing it directed at himself was a different matter entirely.
Pei Yuesheng was a princess of Prince Zhuang’s household. Even if her reputation took a hit, her status ensured no shortage of suitors.
But as a man aiming for glory and leadership of the Fu family, his reputation couldn’t afford even a single stain.
Rumors spread like wildfire. Even if he was innocent, the more people talked, the more doubt would fester.
Even if he won first place now, people would only say he’d cheated his way to victory. And truthfully, he had arranged for some "assistance"—though those plans had backfired when the prey inexplicably fled toward Consort Hui’s camp. If anyone dug deeper, they might uncover traces of his schemes.
Regret gnawed at him. He never should have joined this winter hunt—now he was left with nothing but trouble.
Watching his barely contained fury and remorse, Pei Yuesheng offered a few half-hearted words of comfort before gracefully taking her leave.
Attending this hunt had been the best decision. Seeing Fu Congbai in such a predicament was deeply satisfying.
Served him right! After all the times he’d used her as a stepping stone to boost his own reputation, he was finally getting a taste of what it felt like to be falsely accused.
She knew full well Fu Congbai was innocent—he wasn’t foolish enough to provoke so many powerful families. But so what?
She’d be delighted to see the Fu family suffer.
...
Yu Miaohua noticed Pei Yuesheng’s cheerful demeanor after breakfast. "What mischief have you been up to? You look pleased."
Pei Yuesheng blinked innocently. "No mischief—I was doing a good deed."
She’d only gone to kindly warn her cousin, after all.
"Just happened to see someone I dislike in a tight spot... doesn’t that count as a good thing?"
"It's a good thing," Yu Miaohua declared firmly.
Pei Yuesheng held her hand and said, "Your Highness must take first place!"
Yu Miaohua replied, "I'll do my best."
Pei Yuesheng then turned to Pei Miaoping and said, "Miaoping is sure to rank in the top three."
Pei Miaoping brimmed with confidence. "That's what I think too."
After a moment’s thought, Pei Yuesheng added, "Of course, safety is the most important thing."
Yu Miaohua smiled. "Don’t worry, I won’t recklessly gamble with my life. But Miaoping does need to be careful."
She had always been troubled by her sister’s short lifespan.
Yu Miaohua currently had no shortage of points—she had already set aside enough to exchange for life-extending pills for her sister. Though the effects of the pills diminished with each use, this was her only sister, and she was willing to exchange for three of them to prolong her life.
Watching her sister single-mindedly pursue becoming a general, Yu Miaohua couldn’t help but suspect: Had she suffered injuries on the battlefield that drained her vitality?
Well, hopefully, after the system upgrades, there will be more protective tools available.
After chatting for a while, they set off for the hunting grounds.
When the time came, everyone rushed into the forest.
The day before, quite a few had gone in the same direction as Yu Miaohua. But today, several who had originally planned to head left like her immediately changed course upon seeing her path.
Yu Miaohua: ???
[System, am I some kind of virus? Why is everyone avoiding me?]
Lu Lingyun was still accompanying Yu Miaohua today, as he had been responsible for her safety these past few days.
Noticing her expression, Lu Lingyun chuckled and said, "They’re worried that if they go with Your Highness, they’ll end up empty-handed again."
That had been Fu Congbai’s experience yesterday—he only managed to bag some game in the afternoon after switching to a different area.
So that was it.
[This must be what it feels like to stand at the pinnacle of invincibility. How lonely it is to be unmatched.]
Lu Lingyun suddenly coughed violently, drawing concerned looks from his subordinates.
He quickly explained, "It’s nothing—just swallowed some wind."
Consort Hui’s inner thoughts were not only lively but also full of theatrics.
Given her temperament, it was almost laughable that some speculated she was scheming and manipulative… Lu Lingyun almost felt indignant on her behalf.
Yu Miaohua continued deeper into the forest. Today, she had brought even more guards than the day before.
Mainly because she had noticed she had an uncanny knack for stumbling upon large groups of prey. Without enough hands, she’d have to wait for guards to transport the game before continuing—a waste of time.
Now, with enough people, even if some were sent to deliver the hunted game, the rest could still escort her safely.
Her horse, Xueluo, let out a soft whinny and trotted toward the northeast.
Yu Miaohua made a sound of surprise but followed Xueluo’s lead. After all, their hunting was largely left to chance.
After riding for a while, she spotted several pheasants. She immediately drew her bow—only for the startled birds to take flight, causing her first arrow to miss.
Typical performance.
She kept shooting. On every outing, two guards were assigned solely to carry her arrows.
Finally, on her third attempt, she successfully hit one.
Feeling she had improved, Yu Miaohua cheered inwardly.
She quickly hunted all the pheasants in the area and moved on.
Then, she encountered a wild boar charging recklessly toward them.
After a chaotic scramble, Yu Miaohua managed to bring it down.
Despite the winter chill, she was drenched in sweat.
With this boar, today’s results wouldn’t be disappointing.
Her confidence in completing the mission grew.
Over the next few hours, Yu Miaohua steadily added to her haul. She even managed to hunt two wolves!
Yu Miaohua was incredibly proud! For a beginner, her results were extraordinary. Though she knew her success was largely due to the guards, who corralled the prey and prevented escape. Without them, her poor aim would have let everything get away.
Still…
"Today’s luck isn’t as good as yesterday’s—didn’t run into any deer herds."
Lu Lingyun thought to himself: Yesterday’s antelope and deer herds had clearly been prearranged by someone trying to cheat. They just hadn’t counted on running into Yu Miaohua, who ended up benefiting instead.
Those people probably wouldn’t repeat the setup today.
Under these circumstances, Yu Miaohua’s continued success was nothing short of miraculous luck.
Overall, Yu Miaohua was quite satisfied with today’s harvest.
"Hunting is actually quite fun—no wonder everyone enjoys it."
"If Your Highness likes it, I can organize a few more outings in the future."
Yu Miaohua had contributed so much to Great Qi and usually behaved impeccably. Granting her this small wish was only natural. If any censors dared criticize, he’d shut them down immediately.
Hmm, he should invite the Crown Prince along too.
Lu Lingyun had some inkling of the Emperor’s intentions.
"Sounds great!"
Yu Miaohua found Lu Lingyun to be truly remarkable—his straightforward and candid nature made interactions with him effortless, requiring little mental exertion on her part.
Though the forest was vast, the sheer number of participants in the winter hunt meant Yu Miaohua inevitably crossed paths with others throughout the day. After exchanging polite greetings, they would tacitly go their separate ways.
As the day drew to a close, Yu Miaohua glanced up at the sky and decided it was time to head back. Her haul wasn’t as impressive as the previous day’s, but it was still quite respectable.
Just as she was about to exit the woods, she encountered the Emperor.
The Emperor seemed to be in high spirits. "Today, I hunted a magnificent peacock!" he declared.
Peacocks weren’t native to these woods—clearly, officials had released one there days prior.
Yu Miaohua smiled. "This forest likely holds only that one peacock. Your Majesty’s luck is truly exceptional."
Pei Lingyue also considered himself fortunate. He had been wandering aimlessly, with even his attendants unaware of his intended path, yet he had still managed to cross paths with her.
Since they were nearing the forest’s edge, they slowed their pace, leisurely riding their horses.
[Ahhh! Host! Danger!]
[The system detects two enraged wild beasts—let me scan them. Holy—! A black bear and a tiger! They’re charging straight toward us!]
Yu Miaohua knew the forest housed both black bears and tigers, but after two days without spotting any trace of them, she had nearly forgotten their presence. Now, they had stumbled right into their path.
Between the two, the black bear was undoubtedly the greater threat. Memories of past cases where black bears had mauled humans flashed through her mind, draining the color from her face.
[System! Before they harm anyone, I authorize you to use the "Heavenly Strike" skill immediately.]
She recalled possessing a weather-based skill that could summon a thunderous strike on demand.
[Host, don’t panic. You’ll be fine. With so many guards here, they’ll risk their lives to protect you. There’s no need to waste the skill.]
[I know. It’s their duty to shield me, and they’ll charge into danger without hesitation. I won’t be hurt, but they might. They have families too. Skills can be repurchased, but lives can’t. If a skill can save lives, it’s a bargain.]
Her upbringing in her past life had long shaped her values—Yu Miaohua couldn’t bear the thought of others suffering or dying for her sake.
Lu Lingyun, overhearing the exchange, was visibly moved.
Truly befitting of a divine maiden, he thought. Despite her exalted status, she held an equal reverence for every life, never taking others’ protection for granted.
He couldn’t help but recall his younger self, the man who had once grieved and raged at every subordinate’s injury.
But as he climbed the ranks, he had grown accustomed to such sacrifices.
He had nearly forgotten that initial sentiment.
With deep respect, he bowed toward Yu Miaohua.
[Host, the beasts are four li away! At their current speed, they’ll reach us in half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.]
Yu Miaohua did the math—about five minutes?
She immediately called out, "I have a terrible premonition. Wild beasts may be approaching. Everyone, stay alert."
At that moment, she was grateful to be seen as a divine maiden—her warnings wouldn’t be dismissed.
The moment her words left her lips, the entire group tensed.
Pei Lingyue ordered, "We must leave the forest at once."
Half a cup of tea’s time was enough to escape. In the woods, the beasts held the advantage, but outside, in open terrain, their numbers and weapons would turn the tide.
Moreover, guards stationed at the forest’s edge could provide immediate reinforcements.
The group spurred their horses into a gallop.
Soon, the roars of a bear and the snarls of a tiger echoed behind them.
Many paled—it was a black bear and a tiger.
Once outside the forest, they formed a defensive formation under Lu Lingyun’s direction.
Then, the tiger and black bear came into view.
The bear was monstrously large, standing like a wall, exuding overwhelming menace.
A volley of arrows rained down—the tiger quickly collapsed in a pool of blood.
Though wounded, the black bear wasn’t fatally struck. Pain only fueled its fury, and with an earth-shaking roar, it charged again.
[Host, the bear’s been drugged! It’s hyper-aggressive and less sensitive to pain. It’ll fight until death.]
[So someone’s using it to kill? Is the target me or the Emperor?]
[Ah, it’s aimed at you, Host! Dodge—there’s a hidden arrow coming your way! If necessary, I’ll activate the "Indestructible Body" buff for you.]
To the system, the host’s safety was paramount. With plenty of points to spare, a buff was a small price to pay.
Pei Lingyue glanced away briefly and sighed in relief: it seemed there was no need to worry about Consort Hui’s safety. He ought to worry about himself first.
Yu Miaohua: "!!"
Damn it, if she exchanged for this thing and an arrow shot at her, wouldn’t it produce a crisp metallic clang upon impact?
The mental image was so absurd that she had the strong urge to reject it outright.
Before the hidden weapon could reach Yu Miaohua, it was knocked down by a dagger.
Yu Miaohua looked over and saw that it was Pei Chiyan.
After doing this, Pei Chiyan turned his attention back to the black bear in the field, drawing his bow and aiming at its heart.
Not far away, the bear’s massive paw was poised to strike a guard.
If that blow landed, even if the guard managed to survive, he would likely be left crippled.
But before Pei Chiyan could release his arrow, a dazzling bolt of lightning split the sky and struck the bear directly.
The bear stiffened, then with a thunderous crash, its enormous body collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Pei Chiyan instinctively turned to look at Yu Miaohua.
Her expression was grave, her eyes burning with unmistakable fury.
[In accordance with the host’s will, the weather skill was exchanged for a divine lightning strike.]
...
The guard, Zhuo Mingxi, slumped weakly and fell from his horse, landing hard on his backside. Though the pain was sharp, his heart was too full of shock and relief at having narrowly escaped death to care.
Just moments ago, he had been so close to the bear that he could smell its overwhelming, nauseating stench.
He had truly believed he was going to die.
At that moment, he hadn’t even had the strength to dodge.
All he could think was that if he died here, the Emperor might reward his family with riches in recognition of his sacrifice. He wondered if it would be enough to sustain them for the rest of their lives.
But he had survived—saved by a bolt of lightning.
No, it wasn’t the lightning that had saved him.
It was Consort Hui.
His luck had always been terrible; there was no way such a timely strike of lightning could have been mere coincidence.
The heavens must have heard Consort Hui’s silent plea.
Could it be that someone of his lowly status mattered to a noble like her?
"Are you alright? Where are the imperial physicians? Summon them at once!"
Yu Miaohua rode over on her snow-white horse, Snowfall, her voice laced with concern. Had he suffered a concussion from the fall?
Zhuo Mingxi snapped out of his daze and scrambled to his feet. "This humble servant is unharmed. Thank you, Consort Hui, for saving my life."
Yu Miaohua waved a hand. "It was the heavens who saved you, not me."
But no one present believed her.
Who else but Consort Hui could command the favor of the heavens?
"Is the bear still alive?"
Pei Lingyue approached as well, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the fallen beast.
He intended to find out who was behind this.
[System, what’s the bear’s condition?]
[The lightning strike has paralyzed it for several days, and with its injuries, it likely won’t survive the night. For now, it’s completely immobilized—rest assured, I’ve got this handled!]
Yu Miaohua said, "It seems there’s still a breath left in it."
Pei Lingyue’s expression darkened. "Investigate this bear thoroughly."
Yu Miaohua was genuinely furious. The mastermind behind this had no respect for life whatsoever. To target her, they were willing to sacrifice countless innocent lives.
She would make sure they paid dearly for this.
The imperial physicians arrived swiftly and examined the bear. One of them bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the bear was drugged, which made it even more aggressive."
Pei Lingyue ordered a full investigation, and everyone who had come into contact with the bear was rounded up for questioning.
Yu Miaohua looked down at the barely alive bear and had an idea. "Your Majesty, there’s no need for such trouble. We can simply ask the bear who drugged it."
Chu Yunxia arrived late, just in time to hear this remark.
Her eyes flickered with faint disappointment as she took in Yu Miaohua’s unharmed state. She had hoped the bear might injure Yu Miaohua—or at least create enough chaos for her to strike and collect a blood sample.
But Yu Miaohua hadn’t suffered a single scratch.
In her frustration, Chu Yunxia couldn’t resist retorting, "It’s just a beast. How could it possibly answer you, Consort Hui? How delightfully naive of you."
The words "delightfully naive" dripped with sarcasm.
[System, activate Mind Reading!]
Yu Miaohua hadn’t expected to use this skill in such a situation rather than during the hunt.
She smiled at Chu Yunxia. "Though it’s just an animal, it’s far cleverer than some waterlogged brains here."
Turning to the bear, she said, "You may not be able to move, but you can still make noise, right?"
With Mind Reading active, the bear understood her perfectly.
"If you understand me, make two sounds."
Chu Yunxia couldn’t help but cover her mouth in amusement. Was she seriously talking to a bear?
Then she heard the bear grunt twice.
Chu Yunxia: "??"
This couldn’t be real.
I've adjusted my schedule to an early bird routine and can no longer stay up late.
So the update time will be changed to 12 PM noon instead. Mwah!
