"So, Miaohua, what type do you like?" Yuan Huirou eagerly came to ask Yu Miaohua.
Sun Shanlan also cast a curious glance at Yu Miaohua.
After obtaining the safe childbirth pill, Yu Miaohua had given one to Sun Shanlan, who eventually gave birth smoothly to the Fifth Prince on the nineteenth day of the first month and was conferred the title of Consort Sun. Once she recovered from postpartum confinement, Sun Shanlan often visited the Guanju Palace.
Recently, the biggest gossip in both the capital and the imperial harem was the emperor's decree to hold a selection for Yu Miaohua to choose divine consorts.
At first, the imperial consorts thought the emperor was merely joking. But when officials began compiling lists of eligible, outstanding young men, they realized he was dead serious—and surprisingly, no ministers openly opposed it. Or rather, any opposition was swiftly suppressed before gaining momentum.
They scoured historical records but found no precedent for such a thing.
After the initial shock, the consorts happily joined in the excitement, with some even recommending their own relatives' sons.
Three days had passed since the decree was issued, and Yu Miaohua still felt dazed, as if dreaming. Hearing Yuan Huirou's question, she twitched her lips. "I don’t have any particular preferences."
[Host, you clearly like the Crown Prince and Scholar Shen’s faces.]
Ever since the emperor’s decree, the system seemed to see a glimmer of hope for task completion and had become lively again.
Yu Miaohua thought the system was overthinking things. The emperor might include Shen Sushang on the list, but the Crown Prince and Pei Yuheng? Impossible.
For this task to succeed, none of the three could be missing.
[System, give up. This task is different from the others—it can’t be completed. Be good, the next task will be better.]
Yuan Huirou privately mused: Given how the emperor’s eyes lit up at the mention of salt, it was clear he would go to any lengths to ensure all three men made the list.
"You should still pick according to your preferences," Yuan Huirou advised. "Otherwise, if the emperor chooses someone you dislike, seeing them every day would be unbearable."
Yu Miaohua waved her hand. "Then just banish them to the cold palace."
Wait—if she really selected divine consorts, would she still live in Guanju Palace?
The emperor wouldn’t allow other men to freely enter the harem.
Yuan Huirou was quite clear on this matter. "You’d definitely get a new residence. Isn’t Prince Zhuang’s mansion readily available?"
The Prince Zhuang’s mansion was built to princely standards. With some expansion, it would be perfect. Then she could visit often.
Prince Zhuang Pei Lingjun and his consort, as the masterminds behind the rebellion and collusion with foreign powers, had been sentenced to execution.
Prince Zhuang’s sons were all stripped of titles and exiled. The mansion’s assets were confiscated. Yuan Huirou had once heard the emperor mention that the estate was reserved for Yu Miaohua.
Yu Miaohua was happy to accept a grand mansion—after all, it was a prince’s residence! Buying one herself would cost at least hundreds of thousands of taels.
But…
"Who’ll pay their stipends? Surely not me?"
Like the consorts, who received allowances based on rank, if she really selected divine consorts… Yu Miaohua had no intention of footing the bill.
"And how would their ranks be determined?"
This barrage of questions left Yuan Huirou stumped. "I’ll go find out for you," she said before rushing off.
After she left, Sun Shanlan asked, "Do you really plan to take divine consorts?"
Yu Miaohua replied, "If I don’t have to support them, I don’t mind."
Choosing a few handsome ones would be pleasing to the eye.
But if she had to pay? No thanks.
Come to think of it, with the recent peace in the harem, no new tasks had been triggered.
Yu Miaohua took a sip of the tea Qingluo had brewed for her.
…
While Yu Miaohua’s Guanju Palace remained tranquil, the storm raged in the imperial court.
The selection of divine consorts was unprecedented. Despite the emperor and many ministers pushing the decree through with an iron fist, questions remained: How should the selection proceed? What were the criteria?
"First, they must be handsome. Second, they must excel in both civil and martial arts, with upright character."
"Moreover, they must have no attendants."
Pei Lingyue directly adopted the system’s original standards. These conditions would undoubtedly eliminate most eager candidates.
While sharing a woman with other men might seem humiliating, when that woman was a divine maiden, it was different.
The ministers had come to understand that from the start, the emperor had never treated Yu Miaohua as a mere favored consort but as a transcendent figure akin to a state preceptor—what other emperor would be so generous as to select men for his own consort?
Gaining the divine maiden’s favor might bring divine blessings. Offering a family’s son in exchange for such benefits was a worthwhile trade.
Thus, many noble families were tempted to compete for a spot.
Pei Lingyue saw right through them—as if he’d allow unworthy candidates to taint the list and drag down the Crown Prince’s standing.
"Your Majesty, aren’t these conditions too strict?" a minister dared to protest.
Pei Lingyue’s tone turned dangerous. "Do you intend to insult the divine maiden with inferior men? Are you not afraid of divine wrath?"
At these words, the ministers recalled how the former Prince Zhuang and his wife had been swept into the sky by a dragon’s tail—even landing in the ancestral temple—and promptly sobered up.
"Those who meet the requirements may submit their names."
"Finalize the list within a month."
Pei Lingyue, spoiled by the swift completion of past tasks, found this one taking longer than usual.
He consoled himself: This was all to unlock more future tasks.
Only patience would yield the rewards he desired.
…
Upon receiving the news, Pei Yuheng eagerly joined the selection.
He had thought all hope was lost, but the emperor’s sudden decree to choose divine consorts for Yu Miaohua was a godsend.
Missing this chance would haunt him forever.
Pei Lingyou asked, "You’re really participating? This time, the emperor plans to select several for her."
His proud son—could he truly endure this?
Pei Yuheng replied, "None can match me in looks, talent, or status. Besides, I’ve shared hardships with the divine maiden. How could they compare?"
Seeing his son’s determination to stake everything on the divine maiden, Pei Lingyou, as a father, could only support him.
On the bright side, becoming a divine consort would grant the Prince Feng’s household an extra layer of protection.
Pei Yuheng sharpened his knives. "Father, help me investigate the candidates and dig up their scandals."
"Hmph, the son of the Ministry of Works’ vice-minister frequents pleasure quarters—how dare he set his sights on the divine maiden? Shameless!"
Pei Lingyou nodded. "Understood."
Even though he was only a commandery prince at present, Pei Lingyou still wielded considerable influence—perfect for helping his son gather information this time.
"Who do you think your main competitors will be?"
Pei Yuheng had clearly done some preliminary research and already had a list in mind.
"Pinghuai Duke, Xuan Marquis, Song Xinghe..." After listing several names, Pei Yuheng hesitated before adding, "Shen Sushang."
Pei Lingyou frowned slightly. "If it's Shen Sushang, then he’s undoubtedly your biggest rival."
As if recalling something, his expression darkened. "I suspect the Emperor had already been considering candidates for Yu Miaohua’s divine consort last year."
"Shen Sushang was clearly handpicked by him."
Otherwise, why would the Emperor insist on the Grand Preceptor taking Shen Sushang as a disciple and repeatedly create opportunities for them to interact?
Shen Sushang and Yu Miaohua were, in a way, senior and junior disciples, making their relationship far closer than others. If Shen Sushang had such intentions, Pei Lingyou’s seemingly clever but somewhat single-minded son might not stand a chance.
After some thought, Pei Lingyou said, "Shen Sushang is a rational man—he might not even participate. If necessary, we could also apply some pressure through his family."
Pei Yuheng seemed hesitant. "Actually, there’s one more person."
"Who?"
"The Crown Prince."
This time, Pei Lingyou was genuinely shocked. "How is the Crown Prince involved in this?"
Given the Crown Prince’s character, he would strictly adhere to propriety and keep his distance from Yu Miaohua.
Pei Yuheng stated firmly, "He may hide it well, and nothing seems amiss on the surface, but my instincts don’t lie."
The Crown Prince was far too meticulous when it came to Yu Miaohua.
Though the Crown Prince had an impeccable reputation, Pei Yuheng had never seen him show such attentiveness to anyone else. Yet his words and actions appeared so measured and restrained, not a single misstep—proof that he must have rehearsed them countless times in his mind.
The more cautious he was, the more it highlighted her significance.
Pei Lingyou was dumbfounded: Was this the so-called intuition between rivals in love?
His expression turned peculiar: I wonder if Pei Lingyue knows about this?
Frankly, he almost hoped the Crown Prince would throw caution to the wind—it would be quite entertaining to watch Pei Lingyue’s reaction. Though he had submitted to Pei Lingyue’s authority and even admired his magnanimity, that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy seeing him in an awkward spot.
Glancing at his solemn son, Pei Lingyou suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
If the Crown Prince and his son ended up competing… he might have to sacrifice his son’s chances just to see Pei Lingyue’s reaction.
……
In less than ten days, Pei Lingyue had received over a hundred self-recommendation petitions.
Among the three main candidates, Pei Yuheng was the least of his worries. On the very first day, he had submitted a petition—one so thorough it even listed the number of estates and farmlands he owned. Sigh. If Yu Miaohua were his daughter, he’d have chosen such a sincere son-in-law without hesitation.
Pei Lingyue’s covert operatives had been busy lately, investigating every candidate for the divine consort position.
He had no intention of letting any unqualified opportunists slip through.
Compared to Pei Yuheng, Pei Lingyue was exasperated by Shen Sushang and his own son’s lack of initiative.
As for Shen Sushang… he’d leave that to the Grand Preceptor. He had faith in the Grand Preceptor’s methods.
But the Crown Prince… Perhaps he should ask the Empress to drop a few hints?
He refused to let his own son lose to the son of a mere prince—the thought alone was unbearable.
Just as Pei Lingyue was about to head to the Phoenix Palace to discuss the matter with the Empress, a palace attendant announced, "The Crown Prince has arrived."
Pei Lingyue settled back into his seat, waiting for his son to enter.
Seeing the Crown Prince, he softened his expression. "Is there an issue with today’s memorials?"
Recently preoccupied with the divine consort selection, Pei Lingyue had delegated some of the memorials to his son for review.
The Crown Prince’s handling had grown increasingly astute, putting Pei Lingyue at ease.
Pei Chiyan replied calmly, "I’ve come to recommend myself."
The surprise struck so swiftly that Pei Lingyue froze in place.
[Note: Today’s update is a bit short—I’ll write more tomorrow. Mwah!]
