Qianyuan Palace.
Pei Lingyue initially thought Yu Miaohua had come to see him about selecting divine consorts, but to his surprise, it was to meet privately with Chi Yan and Shen Sushang.
He was naturally quite pleased, though he still had questions to ask.
"Why?"
Yu Miaohua replied, "I want to understand their personal thoughts."
Pei Lingyue understood. "If they dislike the idea, you plan to remove them from the list, right?"
This was indeed something Yu Miaohua would do.
At times, Pei Lingyue couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world Yu Miaohua had lived in during her past life. Despite her lofty status now, she never let it go to her head and often seemed almost reverently cautious.
[Ahhh, Host, don’t be reckless!]
[Think about it—if all three of them make the list, you’ll get potatoes! Though they aren’t the improved varieties from later eras, combined with the fertilizer and farming techniques from earlier rewards, a yield of ten dan per mu is easily achievable.]
[With such a game-changer, are you really going to pass it up? With this, unless you rebel, three lifetimes of wealth and luxury are guaranteed.]
Pei Lingyue’s breathing grew rapid. Ten dan per mu—what kind of divine crop was this?
He had once thought corn was the sweetest treasure of his heart. But compared to potatoes, corn now seemed like yesterday’s news.
This reward had to be secured!
Externally, they would frame it as a betrothal gift for Chi Yan. After all, Chi Yan’s treatment couldn’t possibly be worse than Pei Yuheng’s.
Pei Lingyue suddenly felt a competitive urge.
Suppressing his excitement, he said calmly, "You needn’t worry. They volunteered."
Yu Miaohua’s eyes widened slightly, her clear gaze flickering with doubt. "Really?"
Why couldn’t she trust the Emperor? Was he truly not pressuring them?
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Pei Lingyue was the type to sell out even his own son for the sake of profit. Of course, for Great Qi, an emperor who prioritized national interests was a praiseworthy ruler.
Pei Lingyue’s lips twitched. Just how little credibility did he have in her eyes?
"Wait a moment…"
He turned back to his desk and pulled out three memorials from the very bottom.
Yu Miaohua opened them—they were self-recommendation letters from Pei Chiyan, Pei Yuheng, and Shen Sushang. The Emperor hadn’t lied to her.
She had come to see him on a whim, so there was no way he could have prepared these in advance.
Holding the three memorials, she finally said, "I’d still like to meet them first."
Pei Lingyue wasn’t worried they would refuse and quickly made the arrangements.
Watching his eagerness, Yu Miaohua mused—from the very beginning, the Emperor had intended to treat her as a mascot, not a favored consort.
Of course, compared to being a real imperial favorite, she much preferred her current status as the Divine Maiden.
She pondered—if she ended up selecting the Crown Prince and the others, she’d likely lose her position as Imperial Noble Consort.
At this thought, she poked her system.
[System, if I’m no longer Imperial Noble Consort, will the previous rewards be taken back?]
[Ahhh? How could you not be Imperial Noble Consort?]
[I mean, if I really choose nine divine consorts, I probably can’t remain Imperial Noble Consort, right?]
[…That’s a bit ahead of schedule. Let me ask the Transmigration Bureau.]
A short while later, the system returned.
[Host, don’t worry, the rewards won’t be revoked. If we select the Crown Prince, wouldn’t you technically be the Crown Princess? Once he ascends the throne, wouldn’t that complete the "Mother of the Realm" mission? Oh my heavens! Ahhh, Host, you must pick the Crown Prince! No matter how many you choose, he must be one of them!]
The system had long given up on the "Exemplary Empress" achievement, but now, with the Emperor’s divine consort selection scheme, the once-impossible task was suddenly within reach. How could it not be thrilled?
Yu Miaohua: "…"
She suddenly realized the system’s excited rambling might actually become reality. Wait—but what kind of Crown Princess would have divine consorts?
While she was lost in thought, Shen Sushang arrived first.
"Junior Brother."
Snapping back to attention, Yu Miaohua pushed a plate of pastries toward him. "These peach blossom cakes aren’t too sweet. They’re quite good—try some."
Shen Sushang obligingly picked one up and took a bite, smiling faintly. "They are indeed delicious."
Yu Miaohua hesitated before speaking. "If I end up selecting you, would it cause you trouble? If you were pressured, I can remove your name later."
Her junior brother had always aspired to be a virtuous official like their mentor. If he became her divine consort, some might dismiss him as someone who relied on looks to curry favor. Would he see this as an insult?
Shen Sushang shook his head. "I don’t foresee any trouble. I’m glad to be of help."
His senior sister was kind-hearted and soft-spoken—no match for the scheming types among the divine consorts.
With him by her side, at least he could prevent her from being devoured and exploited by those with ulterior motives.
"Being your divine consort would also earn the people’s trust more easily and help me realize my ambitions. This is an opportunity many would envy. Senior Sister, you should have more confidence in your status."
Yu Miaohua hadn’t expected such words from her junior brother.
She began to understand—he saw becoming her divine consort as a duty.
Hearing this, she relaxed.
"If you ever meet someone you love, let me know."
She couldn’t bear to ruin his life.
Once she’d milked all the rewards from the system, she’d ask for his true wishes then.
Watching Yu Miaohua’s relieved expression, Shen Sushang smiled faintly. Someone he loved… He wasn’t sure if this protective urge counted as affection. But at the very least, he didn’t regret his decision.
After finishing half the plate of pastries, Shen Sushang left.
The palace servants soon brought fresh snacks—Yu Miaohua noticed these were Pei Chiyan’s favorites. Having often visited the Phoenix Palace, she was familiar with the Crown Prince’s preferences.
Not long after, the Crown Prince arrived.
He wore a cyan robe today, his jade-like face as striking as ever.
Yu Miaohua had to admit—she’d always been fond of the Crown Prince’s looks, and today’s outfit was particularly pleasing. Love it!
"Care for some?"
Pei Chiyan didn’t refuse, though he privately wondered if Yu Miaohua had offered the same to Shen Sushang earlier.
After sampling two pastries and sipping tea, he set his cup down, fingertips lightly tracing its rim.
As the saying goes, familiarity breeds ease—Yu Miaohua was much more relaxed now than earlier. "The Emperor said you submitted a self-recommendation memorial. Is that true?"
She didn’t mention she’d already seen it.
Pei Chiyan coughed lightly. "The Divine Maiden is radiant with virtue, her sacred blessings vast…"
Yu Miaohua didn’t expect him to outright recite the praises written about her in the memorial. She quickly interrupted, "Alright, I know I’m outstanding. No need to flatter me."
Though she often boasted about herself in front of her system, hearing someone shower her with compliments to her face still made her cringe so hard she could dig her toes into the floor.
A faint smile flickered in Pei Chiyan’s eyes.
"Are you truly sure you won’t regret this? You’re the Crown Prince of Great Qi—your reputation can’t afford any blemish."
Pei Chiyan’s brows furrowed slightly. "If I’m chosen by you, it would be my honor."
[Wahh, Host! He’s willing to defy the world just to stand by your side—he’s so in love, I’m crying myself to death!]
For the system, simply sharing a scene together counted as sugar. In its eyes, Pei Chiyan’s words were practically a marriage proposal. Full marks!
[It’s not exactly defying the world, is it? Seems like quite a few commoners sympathize with us both.] Most of the anger was directed at the late emperor anyway.
Yu Miaohua asked, "So if I really do pick you, you won’t be upset?"
Pei Chiyan nodded. "It would be a validation for me. If you’re willing to name me as your first choice, I’d be even happier."
He had dropped the formal royal pronoun.
[First choice? Fine, we’ll grant his wish! Most men probably have a superiority complex about being number one.]
[Host, can’t you think more romantically?! The Crown Prince clearly wants to be your top priority!]
The system was practically fuming at its host’s obliviousness.
But Yu Miaohua couldn’t be blamed. The system’s habit of shipping anything and everything had left her somewhat desensitized to romantic implications.
She figured it was better not to overinterpret things like her system did.
Yu Miaohua pressed, "Can I ask why you volunteered yourself?"
Pei Chiyan gazed at her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Because I like you."
It felt like an explosion went off in Yu Miaohua’s head, leaving her dizzy and blank.
Had she heard that right?
The Crown Prince just confessed to her?
Rather than feeling bashful or delighted, she was mostly bewildered, shocked, and confused.
Wait—since when was the Crown Prince such a hopeless romantic?
Unconsciously, a look of resistance crossed her face—not because she disliked him, but because she instinctively recoiled from romantic advances.
[Congratulations, Host! You’ve completed the hidden side quest "Crown Prince’s Direct Confession." Reward: one Wisdom Pill and 1,000 points.]
Never had the system’s voice sounded so sweet to her ears.
She checked the Wisdom Pill—consuming one would boost her IQ by 10 points. A second pill would add 8, and a third would add 5. The maximum intake was three pills per person.
Noticing her expression, the Crown Prince suddenly chuckled. "Would you prefer to hear the truth or a lie?"
Yu Miaohua’s attention snapped back. "So what you said earlier was just flattery to make me happy?"
She wasn’t sure which answer she wanted to hear.
Pei Chiyan lowered his gaze. If she knew it was the truth, would it make her happy?
No—it would only trouble her.
His feelings, as they were now, would only burden her, making her reflexively pull away.
He made his decision.
"Yes. That’s right."
[...Wahh, Host, why did you have to ask that?!]
The system, which had been happily shipping them moments ago, now wept over its shattered delusion.
[Come on, don’t cry. We got a quest achievement, didn’t we?]
Yu Miaohua half-heartedly comforted the system before musing, "So you’re also trying to protect me, right?"
She assumed his motives were similar to her junior brother’s.
Pei Chiyan gave another quiet "Mm." "Shen Sushang alone isn’t enough to deter those people."
"With me here, I’d like to see who dares scheme against you in my presence."
His tone was calm, but a rare edge of lethality seeped through.
Yu Miaohua accepted this explanation easily.
"But won’t this interfere with your future search for a Crown Princess?"
Pei Chiyan replied, "A grandmaster once said I shouldn’t marry young, or I’d meet an early demise."
"How young is ‘young’?" Yu Miaohua couldn’t help asking.
"Before thirty."
He had originally planned to say twenty-five, but if Yu Miaohua actually tried to find him a bride by then... so he hastily amended it to thirty.
Yu Miaohua gaped.
Thirty?!
The court officials would lose their minds if they found out.
Pei Chiyan blinked innocently. "If the ministers learn I can’t marry until after thirty, they’ll probably urge His Majesty to depose me for the sake of the imperial lineage."
He spun the lie effortlessly, painting himself as a pitiable figure.
Yu Miaohua bought it completely. She looked at him with sympathy. "Don’t worry, I won’t dismiss you before you turn thirty!" For Empress’s sake, she had to protect the Crown Prince! Ugh, last month when I gave Father that Longevity Pill, I should’ve checked Pei Chiyan’s lifespan too. Which grandmaster gave him this fortune? Could it have been Pei Chiyao’s doing?
"Many thanks for the Divine Maiden’s protection."
"No need, it’s only right."
This was just mutual shield-bearing, wasn’t it?
Yu Miaohua felt much more at ease.
Meanwhile, the unjustly maligned court officials: Excuse me?!
