With the golden finger granted by the system, Yu Miaohua felt considerably more at ease—at least she wouldn’t have to worry about someone sneaking into her bed in the middle of the night.
Pei Lingyue suppressed his irritation but couldn’t help saying, “This time, I didn’t thoroughly investigate Zhao Qian’s background, almost allowing such a person to appear before you… As compensation, how about selecting ten more?”
Yu Miaohua: “??”
Was this reasonable? Normally, shouldn’t the remaining candidates undergo stricter vetting instead?
Yu Miaohua had truly never met an emperor so determined to push people into her life, urging her to expand her harem.
[…Your Majesty, he has absolutely no awareness that his own son is also on the list.]
Yu Miaohua couldn’t resist complaining to the system.
[This must be what they call selfless devotion.]
Pei Lingyue raised an eyebrow. In his view, though the crown prince was intelligent, he lacked the tempering he himself had undergone at that age.
This was the perfect opportunity to test him—to see if he could make his rivals retreat and win Yu Miaohua’s heart.
Seeing that Yu Miaohua genuinely had no intention of selecting additional candidates, Pei Lingyue felt a pang of regret but couldn’t push too obviously. He had to yield to her wishes.
Well, there was always another selection in three years.
Time flew, and soon it was the twenty-fourth of March.
The selection was held in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Due to Zhao Qian’s incident, the court had re-examined the list, eliminating five candidates. With the addition of the crown prince, Pei Yuheng, Shen Sushang, and three from the grasslands, the final number stood at exactly thirty.
The final choice was left to Yu Miaohua.
She had already made up her mind—aside from the crown prince, Pei Yuheng, and Shen Sushang, who were non-negotiable, the rest would be scrutinized with her "fiery golden eyes."
[System, once the selection’s done, let’s arrange a divine sign!]
[What kind of sign would the host like?]
[How about lotuses blooming underfoot? For those who qualify, lotuses will appear beneath their feet.]
The scene would undoubtedly be breathtaking.
[For the crown prince, golden lotuses.]
Out of respect for the empress, Yu Miaohua felt the crown prince deserved special treatment.
Moreover, despite his busy schedule, he had still found time to write novels for her. Though she assumed it was for the sake of Great Qi’s interests, he had put in the effort, and that deserved acknowledgment.
Truthfully, compared to Pei Yuheng’s pure affection, the crown prince’s interest, rooted in political benefit, made her feel more at ease.
Love was inherently possessive. Overly intense or complicated emotions made her instinctively recoil.
Perhaps it was because she preferred stability, reluctant to embrace too much change.
Yu Miaohua gazed at the sea of dark-haired candidates, a trace of helplessness crossing her expression.
The selection was far grander than she’d imagined.
The entire imperial harem—from the empress down to the lowest-ranking ladies—had turned up, clearly here for the spectacle.
The court officials were also present in full force, more punctual than they’d ever been for morning court.
This was also Yu Miaohua’s first time seeing all the potential divine consorts—and she had to admit, the sight was a feast for the eyes.
Every candidate stood over six feet tall, each with exceptional looks.
The grassland delegation, unlike their previous bare-chested attire, were dressed in traditional riding gear, exuding a rugged charm. Among them, Prince Ceren was undoubtedly the most striking, with a red-and-black flower painted on his left cheek.
[Ahhh! That’s the grassland’s blazing sun chrysanthemum—it means “you are the eternal sun in my heart,” a declaration of love in their culture. Ahhh, Prince Ceren is so bold! This is an outright confession. Such passionate devotion is truly heart-stirring.]
The Great Qi officials who overheard this exchange gritted their teeth in frustration: If Prince Ceren were chosen, he’d be the crown prince’s greatest rival. With his aggressive pursuit and fox-like allure, could their noble and composed crown prince really compete? Surely the crown prince wouldn’t stoop to such tactics.
Yu Miaohua: “…”
The pressure was back.
She could only hope the crown prince would manage these men properly and keep them out of her chambers.
The Great Qi candidates’ attire was equally elaborate, with several sporting exotic designs she’d never seen before. Clearly, they’d all dressed to impress.
Among them, the crown prince was the biggest surprise.
He wore crimson robes embroidered with orchid motifs.
The crown prince usually favored blues, greens, and browns. This was the first time Yu Miaohua had seen him in red. Compared to his usual cool detachment, the vibrant hue lent him a dazzling, almost mesmerizing beauty. The contrast left a deep impression.
Yu Miaohua’s gaze drifted toward him involuntarily. His solemn expression only heightened the allure, adding an irresistible air of restraint.
[I was wrong.]
[Host, what’s the matter?] The system was startled—this was the first time the host had admitted fault.
[I shouldn’t have said the crown prince resembled that idol from my past life. That disgraced celebrity isn’t fit to tie his shoes.]
[…Glad the host finally realizes this.]
[If the host doesn’t tone it down, everyone will notice how much you admire the crown prince’s face.]
Mindful of her divine image, Yu Miaohua quickly averted her gaze, adopting a serene and holy demeanor—one she’d practiced countless times in private.
As the emperor of Great Qi, Pei Lingyue delivered a brief speech, praising the divine maiden’s virtues and declaring it an honor for both Great Qi and the grasslands to serve her.
Pei Lingyue turned to Yu Miaohua. “I think it’s time for them to showcase their talents.”
This felt excessive to Yu Miaohua.
She hurriedly replied, “For me, first impressions matter more.” Talent displays could be skipped. After all, she’d already found Plum Blossom Mountain’s recluse—she didn’t need others writing novels for her.
She had initially considered saying “virtue” was more important, but fearing it might disparage the rejected candidates, she settled on “first impressions.”
After a pause, she added, “Everything I have today is thanks to heaven’s favor. I’ve decided to let heaven make the choice for me.”
With that, she activated her "fiery golden eyes" skill.
As she spoke, a golden beam descended from the sky, enveloping Yu Miaohua.
Her dark eyes turned gold.
The skill activated.
Her gaze swept over the assembled candidates, and those she looked upon felt an uncanny sensation of being laid bare.
The first was Rong He, dressed in blue scholar’s robes.
Rong He was a second-rank scholar from the same imperial examination as Shen Sushang. His great-grandfather had been a notorious bandit who murdered a lookalike scholar, assumed his identity, and rose to the third rank in court.
[Wait, seriously? Does he know about his family history?]
Yu Miaohua, mid-skill, was so shocked by the first candidate’s background that she nearly lost her composure.
The system used its authority to conduct an investigation. Since it was helping Yu Miaohua select divine consorts, it could pull some strings this time.
[Host, he knows about his origins! His father tampered with his great-grandfather’s medicine when he fell ill to keep the secret. Rong He learned the truth back then and tacitly approved of his father’s actions.]
[Such poor character—disqualified!]
The ministers and concubines who could see the dialogue were thoroughly entertained.
Their trip here was worth it—they got front-row seats to the drama. Who would’ve thought Rong He was such a man? He was famously known as a gentle scholar in the Hanlin Academy. Truly, appearances can be deceiving.
Yu Miaohua moved on to the next candidate: Li Zongming, the son of General Li.
After reviewing his background, she found no major issues with Li Zongming himself or his family lineage for three generations.
[Oh, host. He’s terrified of ghosts.] The system uncovered a weakness.
[So he wants to serve you because he believes being near you will ward off evil spirits.]
Yu Miaohua was stunned.
Li Zongming looked like the fearless, rebellious type—yet he sought to serve her out of sheer terror of ghosts?
How pitiful.
[Keep him for now.]
Next up: Qin Jiuru.
He volunteered as a divine consort because he was in love with his cousin. However, his maternal family had long fallen from grace, and his parents refused to let him marry her, insisting on a more socially advantageous match. So he chose to become a divine consort, using the role as a shield.
Yu Miaohua’s sharp eyes also uncovered Qin Jiuru’s father’s corruption—embezzling funds meant for river management.
[??? Using me as a shield? Disqualified! His father’s a corrupt official—disqualified, disqualified, disqualified!]
One after another, the revelations left Yu Miaohua overwhelmed by the sheer amount of drama.
Among them, Pei Yuheng also had quite a few skeletons in his closet—mostly his father’s.
After all, Prince Feng had once attempted rebellion—and actually went through with it.
Pei Lingyue cast a knowing, amused glance at Prince Feng.
The prince, who had been watching his son with concern, shuddered involuntarily.
Truly, no man’s dark secrets could escape unscathed.
Yu Miaohua had initially worried that her discerning vision would leave her with too many candidates, forcing her to pick nine out of a dozen.
But now…
After the screening, only seven remained. Honestly, if not for the mission requirements, Pei Yuheng’s background would’ve disqualified him too.
[System, these seven will do. Now, summon the Lotus Steps.]
[Got it, activating now.]
The golden pillar of light surrounding Yu Miaohua gradually faded.
She lowered her eyes and said calmly, "I believe I’ve heard divine guidance."
The men before her tensed instantly.
Li Zongming sighed inwardly—he was sure he’d be rejected.
After all, his intentions weren’t pure. He just wanted to bask in the divine aura around the goddess. Surely Buddha wouldn’t choose someone like him.
"Li Zongming, your feet—?" Rong He’s surprised voice rang in his ear.
Li Zongming instinctively looked down and saw a white lotus slowly blooming beneath his feet.
Huh?
Was it really growing because of him?
Rong He frowned. A divine miracle had appeared around Li Zongming? Was he chosen?
No, it must be a mistake. He was supposed to stand in Li Zongming’s spot but had moved for better visibility. That position should’ve been his.
"Li Zongming, step back," Rong He urged, driven by resentment.
Li Zongming took a step back—and the lotus followed.
It really was because of him.
"Li Zongming, first selection."
Yu Miaohua’s voice rang out. She quite liked someone with no ulterior motives toward her.
Most eyes turned to Li Zongming.
Then, one by one, lotuses bloomed beneath the chosen candidates. Two from the grasslands were selected: the fifth prince, Ceren, and the young general, Peng Si.
Among them, the most dazzling was the crown prince. The golden light radiating from his lotus was nearly blinding.
Honestly, the system would’ve preferred a rainbow-colored lotus for the prince, but Yu Miaohua insisted gold was the noblest choice.
She didn’t want the prince’s divine miracle to look like something out of a magical girl show—it would ruin his image.
Pei Lingyue was pleased: Yu Miaohua clearly knew who mattered most. The prince’s treatment was exceptional. He could now spread the word that heaven had specially anointed the crown prince.
[Congratulations, host! Main Quest 6.2 completed: Appoint three romanceable targets as divine consorts. Rewards have been distributed.]
[Host has triggered Main Quest 6.3: Appoint one grassland candidate as a divine consort. Reward: One year of favorable weather for both the grasslands and Great Qi.]
Hearing the quest completion prompt, Yu Miaohua quickly told the system:
[System, announce the favorable weather reward publicly.]
Did she look like someone who did good deeds anonymously? Such blessings had to be proclaimed far and wide!
Watching her enthusiasm, the system almost wanted to tease her: Did the host really not fear an annual divine consort selection event in the future?
