Yu Miaohua was puzzled. "Why would they bomb Fengyi Palace during my investiture ceremony?"
What did Fengyi Palace ever do to them?
Pei Yueli's lips curled into a cold smile. "Because they prey on the weak."
[...System, so in the eyes of Prince Zhuang’s household, compared to me, even the Empress has become a soft target?]
Isn’t there something wrong with that logic?
"They fear that if they act against you, divine retribution will strike them."
Yu Miaohua understood. Her reputation as the Divine Maiden was so formidable that even her enemies hesitated to move against her directly. But attacking the Empress? That required no such caution.
Pei Yueli continued, "If Fengyi Palace is struck by 'heaven’s wrath' during the investiture ceremony, it would imply the Empress is unworthy of her position—that the heavens favor you instead."
Yu Miaohua frowned. As the beneficiary, even if people sensed something amiss, they would suspect her involvement.
Especially since "divine retribution" was so easily linked to her.
Her fists clenched. "Thank you for telling me this," she said to Pei Yueli.
[How dare they frame the host with false divine retribution? Unforgivable! Host has triggered Main Mission 5.7: Teach Prince Zhuang’s household a lesson and show them what true divine retribution looks like. Reward: Three weather-related skills and 1,000 points.]
Even without the mission, Yu Miaohua was determined to make Prince Zhuang’s household regret their actions.
She asked Pei Yueli, "Do you have any evidence of Prince Zhuang’s rebellion?"
Pei Yueli shook her head. "My father is very cautious in that regard."
If she had such proof, she would have long since presented it to the Emperor to avenge her maternal family. Her mother’s early death might well have been tied to this.
Yu Miaohua suspected the weapons were forged on that island—hence the complete lack of leaks.
No matter. The Emperor already knew its location and had likely seized control by now.
"Then you must have evidence to clear your maternal family’s name?"
Pei Yueli had spent years feigning obedience to Prince Zhuang, even accompanying him frequently in recent years. Yu Miaohua was certain someone as sharp as her would have gathered something.
Pei Yueli nodded. "I’ve obtained the account books."
"Keep them with you on New Year’s Day," Yu Miaohua advised. "You might need them."
Pei Yueli paused. Was she implying what she thought?
"To avoid suspicion, I won’t keep you and your sister here today."
Pei Yueli forced down her surging emotions. She had waited years—a few more days wouldn’t matter. She couldn’t afford carelessness now.
Before leaving, she handed Yu Miaohua a pouch. "The explosive that can destroy buildings—I stumbled upon it by accident."
Yu Miaohua’s stunned expression made Pei Yueli’s lips curve into a rare, genuine smile.
[Holy—! Pei Yueli is this incredible? System, did she just invent gunpowder?!]
The pouch couldn’t possibly contain gunpowder, could it?
[Not quite, Host. This is an early prototype—different ratios. More flammable than explosive, and unstable, prone to moisture.]
[But inventing a primitive version single-handedly proves her genius.]
No wonder the system had tasked her with recruiting Pei Yueli. She wasn’t just talented—she was a prodigy!
Had Pei Yueli sided with Prince Zhuang instead, she could have caused the Emperor serious trouble.
Yu Miaohua considered rushing to Qianqing Palace but decided against drawing attention.
With her investiture days away, the Emperor would visit soon enough.
[Host, how will you complete the mission? Divine lightning for Prince Zhuang and his consort?]
The system adored smiting people—like an addictive game of whack-a-mole.
[Using lightning again? So unoriginal! Let’s try something new!]
[The old emperor’s sins should also be shared.]
[Old emperor?] The system was curious.
[The late emperor, obviously!]
...
When the Emperor visited Guanju Palace, Yu Miaohua relayed Pei Yueli’s situation to Pei Lingyue.
Pei Lingyue marveled at Yu Miaohua’s innate talent for winning loyalty.
Despite his frequent contact with Pei Yueli, she had always held back—nothing like her openness with Yu Miaohua.
"Your Majesty, Yueli is a once-in-a-generation genius."
Pei Lingyue knew this well. It explained Prince Zhuang’s unyielding ambition—gunpowder had emboldened him.
To weaken the throne, he’d even sold weapons to Daliang. Madness.
Thankfully, heaven had sent Yu Miaohua. She’d exposed Prince Zhuang’s schemes and provided superior weapons, neutralizing the threat.
As for Pei Yueli—as the Imperial Noble Consort said, her brilliance shouldn’t be wasted.
He couldn’t rely solely on Yu Miaohua’s divine gifts forever. Talents like Pei Yueli, bound to the throne by blood and circumstance, were invaluable.
"If she’s willing, I’ll give her the opportunity," Pei Lingyue declared.
Assured, Yu Miaohua smiled.
But Pei Lingyue was more curious about her plans for the new mission.
Yet despite multiple visits, neither she nor the system discussed it.
The Empress Dowager, Empress, Noble Consort, and Virtuous Consort were equally in the dark.
The Empress had confirmed that after the system’s upgrade, both the Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort could now see the system’s divine form.
His allies were multiplying.
Now, only testing court officials and noblewomen remained.
As the Emperor’s frequent visits to Guanju Palace continued, the concubines watched with mixed feelings.
The Virtuous Consort’s maid fretted, "The Imperial Noble Consort’s favor is unprecedented. Sooner or later, she and the Empress will clash. My Lady, is it wise to align so openly with her now?"
For now, the Imperial Noble Consort held the advantage—but who could predict the future?
The Empress, after all, had the Crown Prince.
Her mistress had always been friendly with the Imperial Noble Consort, but never this blatant. These days, she might as well move into Guanju Palace.
Consort De sighed, "Alright, don’t believe the rumors outside. Her Majesty the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort are on excellent terms."
The palace maid looked troubled. "In the past, whenever such talk arose, Her Majesty the Empress would swiftly suppress it. But now, she’s letting it spread… She used to send gifts to Guanju Palace often, but lately, even that has dwindled."
Consort De replied, "I’ll only say this to you. The Imperial Noble Consort and the Empress are merely putting on a show for others—they want to see who in the court and the inner palace is eagerly awaiting their discord. Just make sure the servants in our palace don’t foolishly get caught up in it."
In the past, Consort De had often worried, fearing they would tear each other apart.
Now, she had grown indifferent.
What was there to worry about? The Emperor was no fool for love; he was simply greedy for the Imperial Noble Consort’s mission rewards. In contrast, the Empress treated the Imperial Noble Consort with far more sincerity.
For the sake of those rewards, both the Emperor and the Empress could turn a blind eye to the Imperial Noble Consort’s affairs with other men.
Compared to that, any supposed rivalry between the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort was trivial. Consort De had suddenly become enlightened.
The Imperial Noble Consort had no real skill for palace intrigue—she relied entirely on the Emperor, the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and others to fight her battles for her.
When it came to missions, everyone was equal. Consort De even mused that, for the right reward, the Empress might one day willingly step down. It wouldn’t surprise her.
…
Time flew by, and soon it was the first day of the new year.
For Yu Miaohua, the investiture ceremony was already familiar—once was practice, twice was routine. Previously, the ceremony had been held before noon, but this time, the Imperial Astronomers had divined an auspicious hour: a quarter past the Hour of the Dog, or 7:15 in the evening.
Yu Miaohua suspected the late timing was because the Music Bureau hadn’t had enough time to rehearse new performances, so they’d simply scheduled it for nightfall. That way, after the ceremony, the Emperor could graciously dismiss the officials with a banquet.
Of course, holding it at night also suited Yu Miaohua just fine. Fireworks were far more impressive in the dark.
Dressed in the regalia of the Imperial Noble Consort, she arrived before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Hmm?
Yu Miaohua noticed that, compared to her last investiture, the civil and military officials, along with the titled ladies, were standing much farther away.
[System, why are they standing so far back?]
This time, even more officials were in attendance—every seventh-rank official and above in the capital had come.
According to the Emperor, this was so they could bask in her good fortune. Yet here they were, keeping their distance to the point where she could barely make out their faces.
[Perhaps it’s for your safety, Host?]
[Good point. System, where’s Prince Zhuang?]
Yu Miaohua’s attention quickly shifted to Prince Zhuang and his consort.
[Here! Do you see them?]
The system helpfully marked their location on the map and zoomed in on their image.
The imperial relatives stood in separate groups, organized by princely or princess households, regardless of gender.
Prince Zhuang’s entourage was sizable—besides Prince Zhuang and his consort, there were Pei Yueli, Pei Yuesheng, and the second son of Prince Zhuang’s household. As for Fu Congbai, before the winter hunt, the prince’s consort would have surely secured him a spot, but now things were different. The heir to Prince Zhuang’s household remained in his fiefdom and hadn’t returned to the capital.
[Make sure you control things precisely later. Don’t let innocent people get caught up in it.]
[Don’t worry, I’ve got this.]
Yu Miaohua stopped chatting with the system and strode toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
She didn’t notice the sudden change in expression on several officials’ faces as they caught sight of her—nor how they were swiftly escorted away after a tap on the shoulder.
Prince Zhuang Pei Lingjun did notice the departure of a few ministers, but he paid it no mind.
His heart swelled with eager anticipation as he waited.
He had already arranged for those alchemical pills to be delivered to Fengyi Palace.
Once the auspicious hour arrived, the pills would be ignited, and the side halls of Fengyi Palace would collapse in a fiery explosion.
The main hall was beyond his reach, but the unoccupied side halls had been easy to tamper with.
In a way, he was doing the Imperial Noble Consort a favor—removing the obstacle in her path. Surely she’d thank him if she knew.
Watching her father’s barely suppressed grin, Pei Yueli’s lips curled slightly. Go ahead, laugh. You won’t be laughing for long.
She didn’t know what the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort had planned, but her father wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Her gaze shifted to her younger sister, who instinctively stepped closer under her scrutiny.
Prince Zhuang’s consort, noticing Pei Yueli’s smile, felt her own good mood dim. "You seem to be in high spirits."
Pei Yueli replied, "Today is the Imperial Noble Consort’s grand occasion. I’m happy for her."
The prince’s consort said meaningfully, "Indeed, it is a grand occasion."
Her eyes drifted toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
It was almost time. Fengyi Palace should be exploding any moment now.
Fengyi Palace wasn’t far from the Hall of Supreme Harmony—the blast should be audible here.
But as the moments stretched on, Yu Miaohua had already received the edict and seal, formally becoming the Imperial Noble Consort, and still—no sound came from Fengyi Palace.
Prince Zhuang’s consort frowned. What’s taking so long? Did something go wrong?
A sense of foreboding settled over her as she stared in the direction of Fengyi Palace.
Nearby, the consort of Prince Zhao noticed her odd behavior. She had half a mind to say something, but remembering her husband’s warning to steer clear of Prince Zhuang’s household, she held her tongue.
Once the investiture ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony concluded, protocol dictated that the imperial relatives enter to pay their respects to the Imperial Noble Consort.
Prince Yong, as the eldest in seniority, led the procession.
Then—boom!
The sound came from Fengyi Palace.
Prince Zhuang’s consort’s pulse quickened. She instinctively looked at her husband—and saw the same wild excitement in Pei Lingjun’s eyes.
It had finally happened!
Unable to contain herself, she blurted out, "Wait—didn’t you all hear that?"
Her sharp voice cut through the silence, drawing every eye to her.
She gestured vaguely. "That direction—didn’t you hear something?"
She had almost said Fengyi Palace, but stopped herself in time. Such foresight would only implicate their household.
Everyone strained their ears.
At first, the sound was faint—easy to miss—but then it grew louder, like the crackle of fireworks.
Unease flickered across the faces of those present.
Wang Yaning, Yu Miaohua’s mother, wasn’t the least bit surprised. Her daughter never had an investiture without some kind of spectacle—she was used to it by now. With a daughter destined for the history books, Wang Yaning had cultivated an unflappable demeanor.
Her gaze landed on her husband, who had disappeared earlier and only just returned. He looked shaken, as if he’d seen a ghost.
Honestly, today’s our daughter’s big day—what’s wrong with him?
She resolved to question him properly once they got home.
For now, everyone’s attention was fixed on the distant, firecracker-like explosions.
They watched as the newly appointed Imperial Noble Consort emerged from the Hall of Supreme Harmony, adorned in the resplendent attire befitting her rank, her radiant beauty rivaling even the most exquisite peonies and peony-like flowers.
A curious expression flickered across her face. "That seems to be coming from the Phoenix Palace. Shall we go and take a look?"
The Empress couldn't help but laugh—clearly, it was Yu Miaohua's doing, yet she feigned innocence so convincingly.
Truth be told, she was just as eager to find out what spectacle Yu Miaohua had orchestrated this time.
The Princess of Zhuang had been waiting for this very moment, hoping the entire court would witness the Phoenix Palace struck by divine retribution.
And so, the crowd made their way toward the palace.
As they neared the Phoenix Palace, a thunderous boom echoed through the air. Above the palace, fiery serpents of flame spiraled upward, exploding at their zenith with a deafening roar that drained the color from their faces. Instinctively, they covered their ears, and the more timid among them nearly bolted in fear.
Yet, the sight of Yu Miaohua standing calmly among them steadied their nerves.
If the Imperial Noble Consort remained unshaken, surely there was nothing to fear.
The fiery serpents burst apart, their scattered embers coalescing into the silhouette of a phoenix against the ink-black night sky.
A phoenix?
A phoenix had appeared above the Phoenix Palace?
The spectacle continued as more serpents erupted, transforming into shimmering constellations of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Qilin. The cascading sparks rained down like a waterfall, casting flickering patterns of light across their awestruck faces. The fireworks reflected in their widened eyes, etching the scene indelibly into their memories.
First came the legendary auspicious beasts, then a breathtaking display of flowers—peonies, peony-like blooms, orchids—each transformation more mesmerizing than the last. They stared, spellbound, afraid to blink lest they miss a single moment.
Every witness stood transfixed by the unending spectacle, knowing this night would forever be seared into their minds. Some reached out, fingers grasping at the falling embers, only to clutch empty air.
"Auspicious signs! These are auspicious signs!"
Tears welled in the eyes of many ministers as they beheld the sight.
Yang Zhaopei turned her gaze to Yu Miaohua—this was no divine omen. It was a gift, meticulously prepared by Yu Miaohua for her.
In stark contrast, the Prince and Princess of Zhuang stood pale and ashen, devoid of any joy.
Why hadn’t the Phoenix Palace collapsed or burned? Where was the divine retribution they had arranged?
Could this truly be a message from the heavens?
Was fate demanding their surrender?
No. They refused to yield so easily.
The fireworks above the Phoenix Palace lasted a full quarter of an hour.
This was the "A Thousand Blossoms in Full Bloom" that Yu Miaohua had summoned for this very day.
And the Phoenix Palace was not the only site graced by such wonders.
As the sky returned to stillness, the brilliance fading like a fleeting dream, a collective sigh of longing rose from the crowd. Was it over?
No—not yet.
Another familiar explosion echoed in the distance.
"Is that… the Guanju Palace?" someone murmured.
Pei Lingyue strode forward without hesitation. "Let’s go see."
And so, they were treated to another breathtaking display at the Guanju Palace, a sight so magnificent they could have watched it endlessly without tiring.
Next came the Empress Dowager’s Palace of Tranquil Longevity… and finally, the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
Pei Lingyue watched the fireworks above the hall with mixed emotions. He was pleased—after all, Yu Miaohua hadn’t forgotten him this time.
Yet his satisfaction was tinged with irritation. He’d been saved for last!
As if he were an afterthought, while the other three were the main event.
Who else but Yu Miaohua would dare treat the Son of Heaven with such casual disregard? She respected him as emperor—but only just barely.
Fortunately for Pei Lingyue, he remained unaware that Yu Miaohua had initially overlooked him entirely. It was only after her system reminded her that she grudgingly added him to the lineup.
When the nine dragons above the Hall of Heavenly Purity faded, the crowd waited, half-expecting another spectacle. But none came.
Was it truly over?
After such dazzling splendor, the return to silence left them hollow, adrift in the aftermath.
Even the Prince of Zhuang, who had been fixated on divine retribution, now wore an expression of wistful melancholy.
Yu Miaohua observed him coolly and spoke to her system.
System, summon a tornado. Hurl the Prince and Princess of Zhuang straight to the Imperial Ancestral Temple—let them kneel before our ancestors and atone for their crimes!
Just make sure they don’t die!
Oh, and knock down the late emperor’s memorial tablet while you’re at it!
Should it shatter into pieces?
…Use your judgment.
Honestly, why was the system asking her? It should’ve taken the initiative.
Understood.
Several ministers, still lost in the afterglow of the fireworks, overheard Yu Miaohua’s words and nearly choked.
Wait—what did the Imperial Noble Consort just say about the late emperor’s tablet?!
Pei Lingyue’s eyes lit up with sudden delight.
He decided to forgive Yu Miaohua for relegating him to last place.
As for the Empress Dowager, she resolved to dip into her private coffers later. What a thoughtful child Yu Miaohua was.
Coo, coo, coo.
