[Pei Chiyan's favorability toward the host has reached ninety-nine. You have completed the task "Raise Pei Chiyan's favorability to ninety." Reward: Rapid-fire musket technology and two modern pistols.]
Yu Miaohua, who had been watching the TV drama XX Dynasty, jolted awake at the notification.
[Favorability at ninety-nine? Really? That’s practically the level of a life-and-death bond, isn’t it?]
Pei Chiyan always presented himself as gentle and easygoing to the outside world, getting along with everyone (except Pei Yuheng). But for someone like him, breaking into his heart was even harder.
Yu Miaohua had originally assumed that among the three targets, Pei Yuheng’s progress would be faster. After all, his feelings were always straightforward, and he was aggressively expressive.
Yet, to her surprise, Pei Chiyan had overtaken him, coming from behind.
This proved that compared to romance, building friendship-based favorability was far more reliable. Among the three, Shen Sushang’s favorability had stalled for now.
Yu Miaohua didn’t mind. Initially, she hadn’t even planned to pursue side quests, so this outcome was already an unexpected delight. One shouldn’t be too greedy.
[Host, push for full marks! I’m sure there’ll be a reward that’ll absolutely amaze you once you hit the max.]
Yu Miaohua sighed. This wasn’t something she could achieve just by trying. Full favorability was too lofty a goal—she didn’t dare hope for it. As for the system’s empty promises, she chose to ignore them.
[A reward that’ll amaze me? Like sending me back home?]
[...Uh...]
[Or letting me reincarnate with my assets?]
Her previous body was long dead, probably cremated by now. Even if the system sent her back to her original world and crafted her a new body, she’d still be an undocumented person—unless the system could fabricate a new identity for her.
The system fell silent.
Yu Miaohua quickly shifted her attention to the current reward.
A rapid-fire musket… Wasn’t this the ancestor of modern machine guns?
[System, how many rounds can this musket fire consecutively?]
[It can hold 28 rounds. The ammunition formula is included.]
This reward was genuinely impressive, worthy of a ninety-favorability achievement. Excellent.
The modern pistols were equally remarkable.
After receiving the package, Yu Miaohua immediately opened the system’s backend and searched for "pistol." Sure enough, the shop now listed modern pistols, each with twenty bullets, priced at 500 points.
The cost was within an acceptable range.
Of course, with two pistols already in hand, she didn’t need to exchange for more right now.
In the past, she would’ve handed over such rewards immediately.
But now…
She could pair them with the celestial projection. Once the projection ended and the modern world left a deep impression on this era, she could then present the pistols as proof.
[System, is our video edited yet?]
[Done and done. You can count on me.] The system perked up again.
Yu Miaohua clicked to preview it. She had to admit—the system’s editing skills were impeccable. The colossal bridges spanning oceans, dam structures as massive as mountains, and missile launch sequences… all left a striking impact.
Interspersed were scenes of ordinary life, with women visible in every profession.
The video was too long, though. Yu Miaohua closed it halfway.
She’d have to watch it in full when it was projected in the sky anyway.
The system was a little disappointed she hadn’t seen the ending.
It had prepared a special surprise for her at the very end.
Well, perhaps it was better she didn’t know yet. The joy could wait.
......
Thanks to his son Pei Chiyan’s "fishing" operation, Pei Lingyue had successfully rooted out a batch of destabilizing elements in the court.
What annoyed him, however, was that the Half-Moon Country and Fan Country were now clamoring to send people to "serve the Divine Maiden."
Hah. As if he didn’t know their intentions—they just wanted to win Yu Miaohua over.
If not for the fact that the grasslands would eventually become part of Great Qi, Pei Lingyue would never have allowed those nomads near the Divine Maiden’s residence.
Unless the system deities issued a quest, Fan Country and Half-Moon Country could keep dreaming.
The women’s imperial examination was unprecedented in history. A poor start could easily create long-term problems.
Thus, Pei Lingyue had been preoccupied with preparations.
Soon, good news arrived from the firearms division. In just a few months, Pei Yueli had not only mastered the blueprints obtained from the deities but also improved the "Sky-Shaking Thunder," enhancing its power and accuracy.
"Excellent! Pei Yueli is truly remarkable!" As expected of a genius worthy of a divine quest to recruit her.
The firearms division had struggled for ages with little progress, yet Pei Yueli achieved results within months of joining.
He decreed that Pei Yueli be granted the title of "Anlan County Princess," with Anlan as her fief. Though she was already called "Princess," noble titles were typically bestowed upon marriage. Now, her rank was officially confirmed, complete with a fief—where she could collect taxes and raise her own guard—unlike other princesses. Even imperial princesses didn’t necessarily receive land.
Pei Lingyue wanted the world to know that merit, regardless of gender, would never go unrewarded.
He also established a new position: Firearms Division Envoy, responsible for overall operations, including research.
Previously, he had assigned a trusted agent to manage the division while Pei Yueli handled development. To test his theory, Pei Lingyue directly appointed her as the envoy—a fifth-rank official.
After the decree was issued, Pei Yueli entered the palace to receive her honors.
"Imperial Uncle, isn’t this reward excessive?" More than the fief, Pei Yueli valued the official title of Firearms Division Envoy.
A fifth-rank position meant she could now attend court assemblies alongside other officials.
She was certain that even if her birth father had ascended the throne, he wouldn’t have dared defy convention to grant her such authority.
Her gamble had paid off.
Pei Lingyue smiled warmly. "You’ve earned it."
After a pause, he added, "It was the Divine Maiden who persuaded me to give you this opportunity. You should visit her residence later to express your gratitude."
She would have done so regardless. The Divine Maiden was her and her sister’s greatest benefactor, the one who had transformed their lives.
Pei Yueli knew many disapproved of her leading the firearms division, but she didn’t care.
"If you see words appearing above the Divine Maiden’s head, don’t be alarmed. It’s normal."
Words… above her head?
How could such a thing happen?
Baffled, Pei Yueli arrived at the Divine Maiden’s residence half an hour later—and froze at the sight.
[Yueli is so outstanding! A genuine female official with real authority, eligible for court sessions!]
[Congratulations, host! Hidden quest "Change Pei Yueli’s Fate: From Rebel to Renowned Firearms Pioneer Destined for History Books" completed. Reward: 1,000 points and one Life-Extending Pill.]
Pei Yueli: "..."
She finally understood why the Emperor had specifically spoken those words to her.
So, the Divine Maiden truly had deities by her side.
And who would have thought? Beneath the Divine Maiden’s dignified and gentle exterior lay such a lively and playful heart.
A renowned master of firearms manufacturing, recorded in the annals of history?
Had she just secured her place in history?
Pei Yueli selectively ignored the prefix of "rebel traitor" and could only focus on this one fact.
She forced herself not to reveal any clues in front of Yu Miaohua, accompanying her in conversation and sharing a meal before finally leaving the Divine Maiden’s residence.
Pei Yueli now grasped how the Divine Maiden had obtained those miraculous artifacts—by completing tasks assigned by the deities.
The seemingly peculiar behavior of the Emperor and the Grand Preceptors also made sense now.
So, they could all see it too!
In the past, even as a noble princess, she had been unable to perceive those things. But after becoming the ambassador of the firearms battalion, she could suddenly see them…
No wonder the Emperor had abruptly decided to advocate for women’s imperial examinations.
Pei Yueli had always been sharp-witted, and after witnessing the conversation between the Divine Maiden and the deities firsthand, she pieced everything together.
She didn’t even bother returning to the Zhao Manor, instead heading straight back to the palace.
She faintly realized that her actions might further solidify the Emperor and the Grand Preceptors’ resolve to push for women’s imperial examinations.
As expected.
Upon learning that Pei Yueli could now see the divine dialogue, Pei Lingyue couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter.
His guess had been correct!
Female officials were feasible!
Pei Yueli, personally chosen by the deities, had indeed passed the test.
"You may take your younger sister to visit the Divine Maiden in your spare time. She must be quite lonely in that residence."
Pei Yueli thought to herself: Was the Emperor truly concerned about the Divine Maiden? More likely, he just wanted to know if the deities had assigned her any new tasks.
From what she’d seen, the Divine Maiden was far from bored in the princess’s residence—she knew how to entertain herself and seemed much happier than she had been in the palace.
"This subject obeys Your Majesty’s decree," Pei Yueli replied respectfully.
Suddenly remembering something, she curled her lips into a smirk.
"Your Majesty, this subject’s name will be recorded in history."
Pei Lingyue’s smile froze.
"What?"
Pei Yueli continued, "The deities said my name is recorded in history as a renowned master of firearms manufacturing."
Pei Lingyue clutched his chest: How could the deities practice such blatant favoritism? They actually revealed heavenly secrets to Pei Yueli!
He didn’t even know how posterity would remember him, yet Pei Yueli already knew her legacy.
All his reverence for the deities had been wasted!
Pei Yueli deliberately feigned regret. "Though this subject would also like to know how Your Majesty and the Grand Preceptors are remembered in history, alas, the deities did not say. Next time, I’ll try to inquire on Your Majesty’s behalf."
Pei Lingyue: "…"
They had been able to see the deities for so long, yet none of them knew their own historical reputations.
This was utterly infuriating.
Pei Yueli wasn’t offering to help out of kindness—this was pure, unadulterated gloating.
Having been thoroughly provoked, Pei Lingyue decided he shouldn’t be the only one stewing in frustration.
The Grand Preceptors had to suffer alongside him.
So the next day, he summoned Jiang Kangyou and the others and relayed the incident.
Shaking his head with a sigh, he said, "Grand Preceptors, you must strive harder. Princess Anlan has already secured her place in history. What about you?"
"After decades in office, surely you cannot let a teenage girl outshine you."
The smiles vanished from Jiang Kangyou and the others’ faces.
The number of aggrieved individuals had increased.
Pei Yueli: grinning
Pei Lingyue: not grinning.
One more chapter to go!
