How rude! How could anyone say he’s gone mad?
The Imperial Noble Consort still lacks his composure—always so easily startled.
Beside Yu Miaohua, Pei Yuesheng stood frozen, her expression blank.
Was the Emperor serious? When she had mentioned this to the Imperial Noble Consort earlier, it was only as a joke. Could her words have inadvertently inspired the Emperor? Would the historians later record this incident and include her name in the annals? Would that count as another way to leave her mark in history?
Pei Yuesheng’s thoughts had already spiraled away—or perhaps, subconsciously, she was using this mental distraction to soothe the shock she was feeling.
Yu Miaohua struggled to dissuade the Emperor from this thunderously absurd suggestion, mainly because she truly couldn’t tell whether he was serious or just teasing her.
"Your Majesty, dreams aren’t always reliable."
Having already spoken his mind, Pei Lingyue was determined to press forward. "After the late Emperor’s passing, I’ve only dreamed of him twice. If it weren’t for something important, the late Emperor wouldn’t have appeared to me. The last time he did, he revealed your existence, and Great Qi was transformed because of it."
[Wait, does selecting divine consorts for me really have the power to change Great Qi? Normally, the Emperor doesn’t even show much respect to the late Emperor—he hasn’t even replaced his memorial tablet yet!]
Yu Miaohua swallowed a torrent of unspoken words, venting only to her system.
[It actually can bring change.]
Hearing the system’s voice, Yu Miaohua perked up suddenly.
[Congratulations, Host! You’ve triggered a new main quest, 6.1: Place three romanceable targets on the divine consort candidate list. Reward: Solar evaporation method for salt production. This includes not only the technique itself but also purification methods to remove bitterness.]
[Go for it, Host! Use solar evaporation to drive down salt prices! If this method is implemented, prices could drop to 30% of current levels. With full-scale adoption, they might even reach 20%.]
Pei Lingyue: !!!
What was this solar evaporation method that could slash prices so drastically? Currently, salt was still expensive for commoners, forcing them to adopt bland diets. Did they prefer tasteless food? Of course not—they were simply trying to save money.
Who would have thought that his impulsive idea would trigger such a mission?
Truly, he was a man blessed by the heavens.
Pei Lingyue had already been considering this path, but the reward only solidified his resolve.
Unaware of his decision, Yu Miaohua remained lost in her own whirlwind of thoughts.
Of course, given Pei Lingyue’s earlier proposal to select divine consorts for her, no one would question her dazed state—it was only natural under the circumstances.
Yu Miaohua was familiar with solar evaporation. Unlike the current method of boiling well salt, this technique involved creating evaporation ponds, channeling seawater, and allowing it to crystallize under the sun before further refining.
The specifics, however, were beyond her. The beauty of the system’s reward was that every step was meticulously detailed—foolproof instructions that would save countless trials and errors.
The reward was undeniably tempting, but this mission was unlike previous ones—it directly challenged the world’s ideological norms.
[System, have you forgotten that, technically, I’m a generation above the Crown Prince and Pei Yuheng? Even if the Emperor really intends to select divine consorts for me, those two would never be options.]
Yu Miaohua couldn’t help but feel relieved that the system didn’t enforce mandatory missions—no "fail and die" ultimatums. Even main quests could be abandoned, skipped in favor of the next.
So she gave up without hesitation. She was perfectly content with her current life and had no desire to court disaster.
[Host, don’t give up so quickly! There’s always a way—where there’s a will, there’s a workaround.]
[It’s fine. There’ll be other missions later. I’ll cooperate fully then—even dating the Crown Prince is on the table. Let’s just skip this one for now.]
Yu Miaohua placated the system with empty promises.
Right now, dating the Crown Prince seemed far easier than this mess.
[You can’t take it back—I’ve already recorded this.]
The system had grown shrewd, preemptively saving her words as evidence.
Pei Lingyue, meanwhile, was determined to claim both the mission reward and the arranged dates—who knew what new quests they might trigger?
He wanted it all!
...
The New Year holiday in Great Qi lasted seven days. Once it ended, Pei Lingyue eagerly summoned all the officials he deemed worthy.
This group included even fifth-rank officials, doubling the previous assembly.
Pei Lingyue gazed at the sea of heads before him, his mood buoyant—these were all trusted ministers Yu Miaohua had helped him select.
Of course, those not chosen weren’t necessarily lacking in character—some simply fell short in capability. But as the Son of Heaven, Pei Lingyue naturally preferred ministers who were both virtuous and talented.
Just for her talent-spotting ability alone, he had to help Yu Miaohua complete more missions and ascend further.
His tone was uncharacteristically warm and lively. "Gentlemen, a few nights ago, the late Emperor appeared to me in a dream."
Had this been the first time, the ministers might have believed him. But after witnessing divine manifestations themselves, they saw right through the Emperor’s tactics.
The late Emperor was merely a convenient excuse.
They waited in silence, curious to see what the Emperor would propose this time.
As long as it benefited Great Qi, they were willing to play along.
"The late Emperor reprimanded me for failing to grant the Imperial Noble Consort the treatment befitting a divine maiden—specifically, for not selecting three thousand divine consorts for her."
Pei Lingyue understood the art of persuasion well. Had he proposed selecting just nine consorts, the ministers would have opposed the idea outright. But by inflating the number to three thousand, their focus shifted to the absurdity of the quantity.
As expected, the ministers could no longer contain themselves.
"Three thousand consorts? Your Majesty, we implore you to consider reality. Dreams should not be taken at face value." They couldn’t outright accuse the Emperor of fabrication, so they opted for gentle dissuasion.
While emperors were often said to possess three thousand consorts, no one actually selected that many!
What was the Emperor playing at?
Pei Lingyue narrowed his eyes. "Are you implying that the late Emperor is the type to whimsically invade my dreams for amusement?"
"We dare not."
Exhausted, the ministers glanced at Jiang Kangyou.
As for Yu Weixu, he chose to feign invisibility. In all his years, he had never encountered such a situation—the Emperor wanting to assemble a harem for his daughter.
How would future generations view this? Would they accuse his daughter of bewitching the Emperor into madness?
As a father, Yu Weixu was deeply troubled.
Jiang Kangyou lived up to expectations and stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, three thousand is excessive. Not just anyone is worthy of the Imperial Noble Consort. Might we reduce the number?"
Having mentored the Emperor, Jiang Kangyou was the first to discern Pei Lingyue’s true intentions, even without prior coordination.
The other ministers twitched at the response—this wasn’t the rebuttal they’d hoped for.
Meanwhile, Yuan Xinji and a faction of officials remained neutral. They saw no need to oppose immediately—after all, this wasn’t about selecting paramours for their own wives.
Besides, the Imperial Noble Consort had brought so many benefits to Great Qi. What harm was there in letting her have a few men?
Pei Lingyue was quite pleased: As expected of his teacher, they shared a tacit understanding.
Deliberately frowning, Pei Lingyue said, "The Grand Preceptor makes a fair point. Quality is indeed more important than quantity. Do any of you have recommendations?"
At this, the ministers fell silent.
Was the Emperor truly serious about this selection?
"Your Majesty, have you consulted the Imperial Noble Consort herself?"
Pei Lingyue replied, "The Imperial Noble Consort is naturally reserved and would never voice her preferences outright."
The ministers quickly read between the lines: Understood—the Imperial Noble Consort must have refused.
They couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. If she were later branded as a femme fatale, it would be entirely the Emperor’s doing.
They resolved to spread word of her virtuous reputation among the common folk.
"What kind of man does the Imperial Noble Consort favor?" Yuan Xinji inquired.
Pei Lingyue shot him an approving glance—the Grand Tutor truly knew how to play along.
A faint smile graced his lips. "We believe she would admire men like the Crown Prince, Prince Feng’s heir, and the top scholar Shen Tan!"
The truth was now laid bare.
At last, the ministers grasped the Emperor’s true intentions.
Immediately, protests erupted.
"Your Majesty, this is highly improper! It must not be allowed!"
"Prince Feng’s heir is one thing, but the Crown Prince is the future ruler of the realm. If he were to become a divine consort..."
Pei Lingyue cut in, "If he were chosen, it would be an honor for the Crown Prince."
Just imagine the endless rewards that would follow. Even if the Crown Prince were mediocre, such blessings could elevate him into a sage ruler in the eyes of the people—let alone the fact that he was already exceptionally gifted.
"But—but..."
Several outspoken ministers still attempted to dissuade the Emperor. Their sympathy extended not only to the Imperial Noble Consort but also to the Crown Prince.
As for Prince Feng’s heir and Shen Tan, the ministers overlooked them, with the Crown Prince bearing the brunt of their concerns.
Pei Lingyue declared, "This is also the will of the divine."
"If the Crown Prince and the others are included in the selection, the gods will bestow upon us the salt evaporation method."
The salt evaporation method? Great Qi already had its own salt production techniques.
Some ministers scoffed dismissively.
Pei Lingyue continued, "This new method can reduce the price of salt to just thirty percent—or even twenty percent—of its current cost. It will also purify the salt, eliminating its bitter taste."
Everyone present understood the significance of salt.
Those who had initially dismissed the reward now wavered upon hearing how drastically the new method could slash prices.
"Your Majesty, can this truly be done?"
Pei Lingyue replied, "When have the gods ever spoken falsely?"
"The divine maiden’s status is incomparably noble. Only the most exceptional men are worthy of her."
"Indeed, whether it be the Crown Prince, Shen Tan, or Prince Feng’s heir, all are rare and outstanding candidates. We must trust the judgment of the gods."
As for the opinions of the three men in question, they were conveniently overlooked.
In the face of such immense benefits, even ethics could be brushed aside.
If necessary, they could simply alter the divine maiden’s identity.
Though a few ministers still found this arrangement distasteful, they were outnumbered.
Someone then remembered that the divine maiden’s own father, Yu Weixu, was present.
They asked him which candidate he preferred.
Yu Weixu replied woodenly, "All are fine choices."
Pei Lingyue was satisfied. "That’s more like it."
His tone turned cheerful. "There’s no need to rush. Once we achieve a decisive victory over Liang Country and expand Great Qi’s territory, we shall proceed with selecting the divine maiden’s consort."
He had also received word that the ships he had dispatched were returning in a few days, laden with boatloads of corn seeds. This year, corn could be cultivated across Great Qi.
Though he had obtained corn seeds as a reward last year, the quantity had been insufficient even for the imperial estates, let alone nationwide planting. The return of these ships would resolve the pressing shortage.
The ministers breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had feared the Emperor, blinded by rewards, would recklessly rush into the selection.
This delay was ideal—it gave them time to shape public opinion and minimize opposition.
...
January 12th.
In Dongshao City, Liang Country’s general Yu Hui asked his deputy, "Any movement from that Marquis of Wulie?"
The Marquis of Wulie’s fearsome reputation had initially put Yu Hui on high alert. He had ordered his troops to stand ready.
But after two days of no attack from Great Qi, Yu Hui began to relax.
The deputy said, "Dongshao City is easily defended and hard to attack. Given your own renown, General, the Marquis of Wulie must be too intimidated to advance."
Yu Hui liked that.
A smirk crossed his face. "The Marquis of Wulie is past his prime."
If they could hold out until reinforcements arrived, they would deal Great Qi a crushing blow—and he would be hailed as Liang Country’s god of war.
Then his expression darkened as he recalled something.
Originally, Great Qi’s Prince Zhuang had sent them a letter promising powerful weapons to ensure their victory on the battlefield.
But before the weapons could be delivered, news arrived that Prince Zhuang had been imprisoned for colluding with Liang Country. He still wondered what those supposedly formidable weapons were.
The deputy added, "The Wang family has sent their young lady as a gift. They say she is a peerless beauty..."
During his stay in Dongshao City, Yu Hui had gladly accepted many tributes of wealth and women.
His mood improved again. "Very well. Let her attend to me these next few days."
If she pleased him, he might even take her back and grant her a proper status.
The Wang family’s daughter was gentle and lovely, and Yu Hui grew quite fond of her. For days, he indulged in her company, losing himself in her charms.
But late one night, as Yu Hui slept soundly, a thunderous explosion shook the earth.
He jolted awake. An earthquake?
BOOM—
Another deafening blast, this time from the direction of the city gates. The ground trembled beneath him.
Yu Hui didn’t even wake the beauty beside him. Barefoot, he rushed outside.
Chaos reigned. Some soldiers hadn’t even dressed, shivering in the cold night air.
BOOM—
Another explosion.
Would this earthquake never end?
"General! The city gates have collapsed!"
Yu Hui saw a bloodied man staggering toward him. From the voice, he recognized his deputy.
The deputy dropped to his knees, weeping. "Great Qi used some terrifying divine weapon! They destroyed the gates without losing a single soldier!"
Yu Hui staggered, his lips trembling with terror. "That wasn’t an earthquake?"
If such a weapon could obliterate city gates, what would it do to people?
The thought made him shake even harder.
How could they possibly fight this?
Surrender. They had to surrender.
...
January 15th: Dongshao City surrendered to Great Qi.
January 19th: Duping City surrendered.
January 21st: Zhan’an City surrendered.
Within a single month, Great Qi crushed Liang Country’s defenses, conquering nine cities with unstoppable force.
On the twenty-eighth day of February, the King of Liang Country presented the head of the Liang Witch God, declaring his submission to Great Qi and willingness to become part of its dominion.
The neighboring nations, who had been eagerly awaiting a bloody conflict between Great Qi and Liang, were left utterly stunned.
Their disbelief only grew when they learned of Great Qi’s casualties—or rather, the lack thereof.
Great Qi’s losses were negligible, almost nonexistent.
Rumors spread that on the battlefield, Great Qi had unleashed weapons as powerful as thunder itself, effortlessly demolishing city walls and crushing the morale of the Liang people.
Even the citizens of Great Qi found it hard to believe.
Could it really be true?
Over the past few years, Great Qi’s national power had flourished, and the people had been confident in their eventual victory.
But even the most optimistic among them had never imagined such an overwhelming triumph—conquering an entire nation within a month with minimal losses.
Had it not been for the surrender letter and the Witch God’s head delivered as proof, many would have suspected the court of exaggeration.
Details of the battle soon spread among the populace.
The devastatingly powerful weapons, it was said, had been bestowed by the gods as a gift to the Divine Maiden, all because she could not bear to see the people of Liang suffer.
The Champa rice, corn, cotton—all of these were dowries prepared by the gods for the Divine Maiden.
"Wait, dowries? Shouldn’t they be bridal gifts?"
In a teahouse, as the storyteller listed the divine offerings, a citizen voiced his confusion.
The storyteller, who had already received subtle guidance from officials, calmly replied, "They are indeed bridal gifts."
"Though His Majesty treasures the Divine Maiden as if she were a jewel, he cannot offer her the position of empress, leaving her somewhat slighted."
"After receiving a dream visitation from the late emperor, His Majesty has decided to select a divine consort for the Divine Maiden."
The teahouse fell into stunned silence before erupting into fervent debate.
"This… this is improper, isn’t it?"
"The Divine Maiden is His Majesty’s consort—how can she have her own harem?"
The storyteller responded, "If we refuse, we risk offending the gods. If they withdraw their favor, there may be no more divine gifts."
"..."
"Well… perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to consider it," one citizen cautiously agreed.
"His Majesty must have his reasons for this decision."
Recalling the drastic improvements in their lives over the past two years, the people made a pragmatic choice. They had no desire to return to the hardships of three years ago, nor did they wish for the gods to revoke their blessings upon Great Qi.
"More divine gifts like Champa rice would certainly be welcome."
Suddenly, someone piped up, "If selecting one consort brings one gift, could we choose more? What if the Divine Maiden took hundreds?"
If each divine consort meant another heavenly blessing, then they would gladly welcome the Divine Maiden taking as many as she pleased.
