Chapter 1

"Ahh, Host! Hurry to the Plum Garden! The emperor is there right now! If you miss this chance, who knows when you’ll get another opportunity to 'accidentally' run into him. Quickly freshen up and get ready!"

Yu Miaohua ignored the frantic voice in her head, happily showing off the eggplant she had just picked to her system.

"Look, System, at this perfect roundness, this jewel-like glossy purple—this is absolutely the king of eggplants! And it’s all thanks to my own hands. Tonight’s dinner is settled—I’ll have Cuiwei make stir-fried eggplant with string beans."

"Host, don’t make me beg on my knees. Forget about that eggplant! Completing the palace intrigue mission is what matters!"

"Relax, let me pick the best string beans first. Only the most flawless ones deserve to share the pot with my eggplant."

Yu Miaohua calmly brushed off the palace intrigue system’s nagging in her mind, expertly giving it the "read but reply randomly" treatment.

Yu Miaohua had entered the palace this past February. She had no idea who she’d offended, but within half a month, the orchid she gifted to Consort De was found to be laced with poison. A matching vial of poison was then discovered in her own quarters, and her maid Yuzhu testified against her, claiming she had poisoned Consort De out of jealousy. With both witnesses and evidence stacked against her, Yu Miaohua was stripped of her rank as a Talented Lady, demoted to commoner status, and banished to the cold palace.

Misfortune never comes alone. The harsh conditions of the cold palace soon left her bedridden with a high fever. If not for the unwavering loyalty of her two maids, who spent their savings to summon a imperial physician, she would have died there.

The ordeal also awakened memories of her past life in the modern world—and with it, any desire to compete for the emperor’s favor vanished entirely. Even with the wisdom of a second life, she knew her IQ and EQ hadn’t magically improved. Palace intrigue was a game for the sharpest minds, and she wanted no part in it.

The cold palace wasn’t so bad. It was peaceful, the air was fresh, and it came with a spacious courtyard—practically a luxury villa by her past life’s standards. Even if she had worked herself to the bone in her previous life, she could never have afforded such a place in the capital.

So Yu Miaohua embraced her new life of leisure, turning the cold palace into her personal farm with her two maids.

They cleared out empty rooms to raise chickens and transformed the courtyard into a vegetable garden, planting eggplants, string beans, and other crops.

For rice and seasonings, they traded eggs. The imperial kitchen, unwilling to bother cooking for a disgraced concubine, was happy to withhold part of her rations and deliver the rest to her directly.

By the time the courtyard was lush with vegetables and the chickens had grown plump and started laying eggs… the palace intrigue system appeared.

"Host, charge forward! Complete my missions, and you’ll trample noble consorts, kick down empresses—becoming a virtuous empress is within your grasp!"

"First, our goal is to leave the cold palace, meet the emperor, and clear your name. Complete this mission, and you’ll receive seeds for triple-harvest rice. Promotion and riches are just around the corner!"

Yu Miaohua shook her head at the memory of the system’s enthusiastic pitch. She wasn’t biting. Life was good as it was. If she went seeking the emperor now, she might lose even the cold palace.

After picking two more eggplants, she moved on to the string beans.

"Host, stop obsessing over those beans! All you do is eat, eat, eat! Don’t you want to be a legendary virtuous empress?"

"At the very least, aim for favored consort status!"

"If you don’t go to the Plum Garden now, the emperor will leave!"

"Ahhh! He’s in a good mood today—he’d actually listen to you! This chance won’t come again!"

"Waaah, he’s already gone! Three months, and we haven’t completed a single mission! You’re the worst host I’ve ever had! I’ll never forgive you! Never!"

The system’s whining was too much. Yu Miaohua expertly muted it, restoring peace to her mind.

She hadn’t meant to bind with the palace intrigue system in the first place. It had appeared while she was half-asleep, and she’d absentmindedly agreed, thinking it was a dream. Now she was stuck with it.

Yu Miaohua walked to another patch of soil, plucking a handful of garlic shoots. "Qingluo, I want stir-fried eggplant and string beans for dinner."

Her two maids, Qingluo and Cuiwei, were skilled in their own ways—one excelled in embroidery and sewing, the other was a talented cook.

Qingluo cheerfully agreed. "What else would you like, miss? Steamed eggs? Or stir-fried cucumber with eggs?"

Just then, Cuiwei walked in from the courtyard, carrying a basket. "How about chicken stew with mushrooms? I picked some fresh ones today."

The recipe for chicken stew with mushrooms had been taught to Qingluo by Yu Miaohua—though she only knew the theory. If she cooked it herself, the taste would be… questionable.

Though banished to Jinhua Palace (the cold palace), Yu Miaohua wasn’t confined to its walls. The area had no guards, and the nearby orchard was open for exploration. There was even a dog hole in one wall—likely dug by a previous disgraced concubine—that led straight to the orchard.

Yu Miaohua’s mood brightened. "Then tonight’s menu is stir-fried eggplant with string beans, chicken stew with mushrooms—and let’s add some vermicelli and cabbage too."

They had over a dozen chickens. Sacrificing one for dinner was no issue.

She inspected Cuiwei’s mushrooms—all safe, edible varieties. Her past life in the countryside had given her plenty of experience foraging.

Qingluo took the vegetables and mushrooms to wash, while Cuiwei settled down with an embroidery frame to stitch handkerchiefs. These could be traded for supplies—winter was approaching, and the cold palace’s thin, cotton-stuffed quilts wouldn’t be enough. More handkerchiefs meant more rabbit pelts for warmth.

Yu Miaohua offered to help, but her maids shooed her away, insisting she rest after her "hard work" picking vegetables.

Yu Miaohua: "…"

Fine. Time for some "TV."

She retreated to her room, where an herbal sachet—Cuiwei’s handiwork—hung from the bed canopy, filling the air with the scent of mugwort.

Picking up a well-worn storybook from the shelf (its pages dog-eared from countless readings), she flipped to a random page and pretended to be engrossed—a cover for releasing the system from its timeout.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t checked in today.

She tapped the virtual "sign-in" button, and a notification popped up:

"You have signed in for 92 consecutive days. Reward: 9 points."

Yu Miaohua was satisfied.

Compared to the main quest, the check-in points were just a drop in the bucket, but they were more than enough for her needs. The points from check-ins usually ranged from 1 to 10, and she had pretty good luck—most of the time, she got over 5 points. These points could be used to buy things from the mall.

Detox pills, beauty pills, longevity pills that added ten years to one’s lifespan… these items were all expensive, costing over a thousand points. But entertainment options were much cheaper.

For example, a manga only cost two points, a novel one point, and a TV series three points.

"I will never forgive you, you heartless, ungrateful woman! I’ve seen through you. You’ve lost my love, and I’ll never smile while exchanging goods for you again! You’ll never know what a precious thing you’ve lost!"

The system, which she had just released from the "blacklist," was clearly full of resentment toward her.

Imagining the system coldly exchanging goods for her made Yu Miaohua want to laugh, but if she did, the system would probably get even angrier.

"Ahem, come on, System, don’t be mad. The emperor’s already left, and the quest can’t be done anytime soon. If you keep sulking, you might short-circuit yourself. No one’s going to take care of you if you get sick from anger, you know?"

It wasn’t the brightest to begin with—if it short-circuited, it’d become even dumber.

The system grew even angrier: And whose fault is it that I’m like this?! This woman had zero awareness that she was the root cause of all its suffering!

"How about this—I’ll give you four of my points today."

Yu Miaohua said generously.

After all, a single TV series could keep her entertained for days. Sharing a few points with the system wasn’t a big deal. Poor thing—it really was unlucky to end up with a slacker like her as its host.

The system swiftly deducted four points.

"This was your idea, not mine. I’m not that easy to appease. I’m still mad."

"Mhm, mhm."

Yu Miaohua opened the TV series library, and the overwhelming variety left her dazzled.

"System, help me filter out the ones with toxic relationships, angsty love stories, male leads who are ‘nice guys’ to everyone, or harem tropes…"

She listed a bunch of conditions. Last time, she’d picked a drama where the male lead’s family had wiped out the female lead’s entire clan, yet after he apologized, she forgave him just like that. They ended up together and even had twins. That had pissed Yu Miaohua off so much she couldn’t sleep all night, regretting the time she’d wasted on that garbage.

The palace intrigue system, expressionless, filtered out over two hundred series according to her demands.

Yu Miaohua browsed through them one by one and finally settled on a fluffy time-travel romance to watch.

Living in a mansion spanning hundreds of square meters, raising chickens, growing vegetables, and binge-watching TV series every day with the system—wasn’t this the leisurely, carefree retirement life she’d dreamed of in her past life?

So it was only natural that she lacked motivation to complete quests, right?

The series she picked featured a female lead who was a master chef. After time-traveling, she won the male lead’s heart first through his stomach, then with her charm. It followed the classic "bickering leads turn lovers" trope.

Watching the female lead whip up one delicious dish after another, Yu Miaohua’s mouth watered.

That pear-stir-fried chicken looked absolutely mouthwatering. She’d never seen that cooking method before.

She already had chicken and mushrooms—all she needed were pears.

The orchard did have pear trees, and it was currently peak season. Yu Miaohua had gone picking with Qingluo before, but the pears were so sour she couldn’t even finish one and ended up tossing it. Sour pears would actually be perfect for cooking.

She could also exchange for chili seedlings from the mall and later tell Cuiwei and the others she’d found them in the orchard.

No helping it—she’d been craving spicy food for ages! A single chili seedling cost 100 points, but she was willing to splurge. She’d barely used her points before, so she could afford it!

A woman of action, Yu Miaohua immediately set out to make it happen. When Cuiwei and Qingluo saw her heading out, they asked where she was going.

Yu Miaohua waved them off. "Just tend to your own tasks. I’m going to pick some pears."

She’d been to the orchard several times before. It was usually deserted, with no dangerous animals—just the occasional mouse or bird. Cuiwei and the others weren’t worried about her running into trouble.

Yu Miaohua slipped through the dog hole with practiced ease and wandered around until she spotted the pear trees.

Dammit! After not visiting for a while, she realized the pears on the lower branches had all been picked. She’d have to climb higher.

Yu Miaohua scrambled up the tree, arms and legs working in tandem. Since she hadn’t climbed trees in this lifetime, it was trickier than expected.

Climb. Fall. Fail.

Second attempt—fail.

Third attempt—fail.

…

Undeterred, she cheered herself on: "Only food earned through hardship can be cooked into the most delicious dishes! Let’s go!"

The system muttered drily from the sidelines.

"If you put even half this effort into completing quests, you’d have already left the cold palace and become the emperor’s favorite consort by now."

Yu Miaohua pretended not to hear and kept trying.

Victory!

This time, she finally succeeded.

Sitting on the branch, Yu Miaohua swelled with pride. After such a struggle to get up here, she was determined to pick as many pears as possible—she could always pickle the extras if she couldn’t finish them all.

She busily stuffed pears into her sack when the system suddenly let out a thunderous "HOLY SHT!"

"HOLY SHT!!"

"Host! The emperor’s coming to the orchard! Instead of the imperial garden, the peach orchard, or the exotic animal park, he had to come HERE of all places! This is what they call ‘two hearts beating as one’!"

"Host, your bond with the emperor is clearly written in the stars! No matter how hard you try to avoid it, fate won’t let you escape!"

"Quick! Host, go for it!"

The system was so worked up it wished it could take over and kick its host out of the tree to complete the quest itself.

Yu Miaohua’s face paled. She turned and, sure enough, saw a group of people approaching in the distance.

What the hell?! she cursed inwardly. The palace was enormous, and the emperor had countless places to stroll—why did he have to come to the orchard now? She’d never even heard of him visiting this place before!

Was there still time to flee?

She dismissed the thought almost immediately.

No, if she climbed down now, she’d definitely be spotted—and might even get stabbed as an assassin. She wasn’t confident she could descend successfully in one go either.

She scanned her surroundings, shifting to a spot where thick foliage completely concealed her.

Perfect. As long as she stayed silent, the emperor would never notice her! Her hiding spot was excellent—the dense leaves covered her thoroughly.

"Host, what are you doing?! Why are you hiding now? If you keep slacking off like this, I swear I’ll cry."

Yu Miaohua remained merciless.

"Go ahead and cry, then."

She held her breath, staying perfectly still.

The group drew nearer.

Yu Miaohua instinctively stopped breathing and even closed her eyes. Some people were sensitive to being watched—better not risk it.

Just keep walking, she willed. Don’t linger near this tree!

The next moment, Yu Miaohua heard a stern voice.

"Who's up in that tree?"

Yu Miaohua's eyes flew open—Holy crap, is the emperor's eyesight that sharp?

The system's gloating voice chimed in.

[Stop struggling! You can’t escape. Go on, hide—see if I care!]

[Hahaha, here comes the main quest—Main Quest 1.1: Serendipitously encounter the emperor, clear your name, and win his pity. Reward: Triple-cropping Champa rice seeds.]

The system’s triumphant laughter echoed in Yu Miaohua’s mind.

...

Emperor Pei Lingyue halted three zhang away from the pear tree.

Was he seeing things? Why did it look like lines of text were floating out of that tree?

"Who's up in that tree?"

A spirit? A monster?

Chapter 2

As an emperor with lofty ambitions, Pei Lingyue's goal had always been to be remembered in history as a wise and illustrious ruler. This year, Great Qi had been plagued by misfortune—natural disasters struck one after another, and to make matters worse, a corruption scandal among officials had erupted. His mind had been entirely preoccupied with court affairs, leaving him no time to visit the imperial harem for months. Only now, with most of the pressing matters resolved, did he finally allow himself a moment of respite.

He first went to the imperial garden, where he encountered Consort De, who had just recovered from an illness. Consort De had always been gentle and considerate, bearing him children and enduring hardships without complaint. This time, she had suffered yet another grievance, and Pei Lingyue had no choice but to patiently console her. He even drank the soup she had specially prepared for him—though it nearly sent him to an early grave. Consort De was perfect in every way, except for her inexplicable habit of adding oranges to her broth.

Next, Pei Lingyue wandered into the pine grove, where he came across the Noble Consort. Her father had recently rendered great service to the court, and out of respect for him, Pei Lingyue felt obliged to show her some courtesy. Though the Noble Consort was not particularly bright and had a knack for saying things that stung, he endured it.

By the afternoon, he had run into Consort Xu in the orchid garden and Concubine Zheng among the peonies. Far from relaxing, he only felt more exhausted.

Determined to find peace, Pei Lingyue chose the secluded plum grove, thinking that at least here, he wouldn’t encounter any concubines and could finally enjoy some solitude.

No concubines appeared, but instead, he stumbled upon a group of imperial children holding hands and wreaking havoc among the flowers. The four princes and princesses chattered noisily, their voices grating on his ears.

Pei Lingyue refused to give up. He was determined to find a truly quiet place. In the end, he settled on the orchard—a spot even more remote than the cold palace.

The orchard was serene and tranquil, the crisp air refreshing to both mind and body. Pei Lingyue’s slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. Here, at last, he could wander undisturbed.

But less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he witnessed the most bewildering scene of his life—was he hallucinating? How else could he see lines of words appearing on the tree?

[OMG!!]

[Ahhh, Host! The emperor came to the orchard! Instead of the imperial garden, the peach grove, or the exotic animal park, he chose this place! This must be what they call "two hearts beating as one"!]

[Host, your fate with the emperor is clearly written in the stars! No matter how much you try to avoid it, it’s useless!]

[Quick, Host! Go for it!]

What was a "host"? Was the emperor referring to him? And what were those symbols between the words—some new form of punctuation?

Was this anomaly caused by some spirit in the garden?

He glanced at his attendants and guards, but their expressions remained calm, showing no signs of shock or fear.

A thought occurred to him—could it be that only he could see these strange words? Was this some kind of scheme targeting him alone?

Pei Lingyue paused and called out, "Who’s in the tree?"

His eyes gleamed with faint suspicion and a hint of lethal intent. If this creature posed a threat to his empire, he would ensure its utter destruction.

The next moment, more lines of text floated from the tree.

[Hahaha, main quest, here we come—Main Quest 1.1: Encounter the emperor, clear your name, and win his sympathy. Reward: Seeds of Champa rice that yield three harvests a year. Completing each task also grants 20 points.]

Pei Lingyue’s gaze fixed on the words "Champa rice that yields three harvests a year," his pupils dilating slightly.

Rice that could be harvested three times a year? This could feed countless more of his people.

This was no malevolent spirit—it was a divine blessing, heaven answering his prayers.

A grievance?

What grievance did she have? He would see justice done for her.

As for the part about "winning his sympathy," Pei Lingyue dismissed it outright. That was irrelevant.

At his words, the guards behind him tightened their grips on their swords, eyeing the tree warily.

...

Meanwhile, Yu Miaohua, still perched in the tree, was panicking, silently communicating with her system.

[System, if I climb down now, will I get stabbed to death? Will they think I’m an assassin? I’m so scared! I shouldn’t have gone out today—I should’ve checked the almanac. It clearly said today was inauspicious for travel!]

If she died, so be it—she’d already lived over a decade in this life, which was more than she’d expected. But she couldn’t bear the thought of implicating her family.

[Host, don’t panic! We have a newbie protection package. Once activated, you’ll have a three-day invincibility shield—no blade or arrow can harm you.]

Yu Miaohua took a deep breath. The more nervous she was, the more her mind raced.

[Oh god, if I really become invincible, they’ll either think I’m a monster or a goddess.]

Both options were dangerous. Unless absolutely necessary, she didn’t want to go down that path.

[The goddess route isn’t bad! We could exchange for the "lotus steps" effect—every step you take, a lotus blooms beneath your feet.]

Yu Miaohua refused outright. She’d checked the system’s backend—that effect cost 1,000 points and lasted only a year. This palace intrigue system was downright shady, always trying to trick innocent, helpless little her into taking out loans.

One of Pei Lingyue’s guards respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, shall I investigate?"

Pei Lingyue tore his gaze away and quickly replied, "No. Don’t frighten her."

What if his Champa rice vanished out of sheer terror?

The earlier text had seemed like a conversation between two people. Were there two individuals in the tree? He grew even more certain that only he could see these words.

If he could just resolve her grievance, he would obtain the miraculous rice seeds…

The reward was too tempting. Even the usually cautious Pei Lingyue was willing to take the risk.

"None of you are to approach," he reiterated, then took a few steps forward. This distance allowed his guards to protect him if needed while still demonstrating his sincerity.

He looked up—an uncomfortable gesture for an emperor accustomed to looking down on others. Through the branches, he could vaguely make out a figure, though their face and form remained hidden. Pei Lingyue did his best to appear benevolent. "Come down. No one will harm you."

Hearing this, Yu Miaohua gritted her teeth and decided to descend.

But… climbing down was harder than climbing up. She tried three times and failed each time.

She couldn’t just jump, could she?

Since Yu Miaohua was facing away from him, Pei Lingyue still couldn’t see her face. He only watched as she clung to the trunk, sliding down a bit before scrambling back up, unable to find a foothold.

Her attire resembled that of a low-ranking concubine, though more worn. Her hair was bare, not even adorned with a silk flower.

After witnessing her third failed attempt, Pei Lingyue’s eyelid twitched.

Then, clear as day, another line of text appeared above her head.

[I’m crying, Host! Can’t you climb down more gracefully? Our image is ruined! Completely ruined!]

【How can this be my fault? I never expected the Emperor to come to the orchard at this time! Next time, I’ll practice harder—make sure every move I make while climbing trees is textbook-perfect, elegant and enchanting.】

【Next time?! You still think there’ll be a next time?!】

Pei Lingyue couldn’t take it anymore. “Zhou Lin, fetch a ladder.”

The guards, who had been on high alert, were left speechless by this turn of events. Was this really an assassin? Then again, it could be a ploy to lower their guard.

Hearing that someone was bringing a ladder, Yu Miaohua stopped struggling and simply waited on the tree. It seemed the Emperor had no intention of treating her as an assassin—otherwise, why bother with a ladder?

Zhou Lin vanished in a flash and reappeared just as quickly, carrying a wooden ladder.

As he set it up and turned to leave, Yu Miaohua hastily called out, “Could you hold the ladder steady for me?”

Otherwise, what if it tipped over?

At this point, she had already lost all dignity today—what was one more humiliation? Yu Miaohua had resigned herself to the situation.

Pei Lingyue’s voice was low. “Do as she says.”

When the woman in the tree spoke, Pei Lingyue found her voice oddly familiar—could she actually be one of his concubines?

Since when did his harem include a consort who enjoyed climbing trees?!

With the ladder in place, Yu Miaohua descended smoothly, still clutching her bag of pears. She wouldn’t have encountered the Emperor in the orchard if not for these pears—she absolutely had to take them back, or this whole ordeal would’ve been for nothing. Besides, the bag also held the pepper seedlings she’d exchanged for a hundred points.

She quickly curtsied. Though she had regained memories of her past life, the etiquette ingrained in this lifetime remained intact. “This commoner, Yu, greets Your Majesty.”

Since she’d been demoted to a commoner, she probably no longer counted as a consort, right?

Yu Miaohua’s beauty was undeniable—it was why she’d been selected for the palace in the first place. Even with dust smudged on her face and leaves tangled in her hair, her natural charm shone through. Standing there, she turned the orchard into a mere backdrop.

Her striking looks, combined with the rarity of the surname “Yu” in the harem, helped Pei Lingyue place her almost immediately.

Wasn’t this the same Yu who had been accused of poisoning Consort De six months ago and banished to the cold palace? The opportunity for that triple-harvest rice rested with her?

An injustice… So she had been framed back then?

Six months ago, Pei Lingyue had been overwhelmed by court affairs when the poisoning scandal erupted in the harem. Furious and presented with irrefutable evidence, he had swiftly condemned the culprit to the cold palace. Now, it seemed there might have been more to the story.

For the sake of that rice, there had to be more to it!

“Why are you here?”

Yu Miaohua kept her head bowed, doing her best to appear meek. “This humble one wished to pick some pears.”

Would shedding a few tears help her case? But she couldn’t force herself to cry.

“Did you come alone? Where are your maids?” Pei Lingyue glanced up at the tree—no one else was hiding there. Did that mean Yu Miaohua had been talking to spirits invisible to human eyes?

She remained perfectly still. “This humble one came alone.”

【Host, hurry and plead your innocence! Ask the Emperor to reopen the investigation! Do you really want to stay in that wretched cold palace? Look how patient he’s being with you—he didn’t immediately order your execution. He must have fallen for you at first sight!】

【If he didn’t fall for me six months ago, why would he now? Do you really believe that? Unless it’s because my tree-climbing antics make me seem refreshingly unpretentious, and he’s smitten at first sight, utterly captivated at second glance.】

Even saying it out loud felt absurd.

Still, she had to try. What if the Emperor’s tastes were truly unconventional?

Yu Miaohua began her plea. “Your Majesty, I was wronged—I never poisoned Consort De… She treated me with such kindness. How could I harm her? That maid was bribed! I beg Your Majesty to reopen the case and clear my name—”

She pinched herself to force out a few tears, adding a soft sob for effect.

Yu Miaohua was about to swear a minor oath—otherwise, her plea might seem insincere, and the Emperor would never believe her outright!

The next moment, she was proven wrong.

Pei Lingyue gave a slight nod. “I believe you are not that kind of person. I will investigate this thoroughly and uncover the truth.”

Yu Miaohua’s unspoken oath died in her throat. She stood there, stunned.

Huh?

The Emperor just… accepted it? Without even pressing for details?!

So he really did have a thing for the naive, tree-climbing type? His tastes were truly unique!

Chapter 3

The system was so moved it let out a deafening cheer.

["Ahhh, Host! You're amazing! I knew you had the talent to be a favored concubine—our good days are finally here!"]

Yu Miaohua still felt a bit dazed, as if she were floating on clouds. None of this felt real.

["Maybe my charisma is just too overwhelming."]

That was the only explanation she could come up with—otherwise, it made no sense.

Not only was she puzzled, but even Pei Lingyue’s closest attendants couldn’t understand it. The Emperor’s attitude toward Yu Miaohua seemed… unusually special. If she really had been wronged, the harem was about to undergo a major upheaval.

The matter involved rice that could yield three harvests a year, so Pei Lingyue was even more invested than Yu Miaohua. He couldn’t help feeling frustrated with her lack of ambition. She had suffered such a grave injustice, yet she had quietly endured half a year in the cold palace without once trying to catch his attention. If he hadn’t stumbled upon her today, would she have resigned herself to a lifetime of wrongful condemnation?

Within a month, he would get to the bottom of this!

Pei Lingyue ordered his attendant Chai Xiu to escort Yu Miaohua back. Once she was out of sight, he swept a cold glance over the others. "Not a word of today’s events leaves this place."

The surrounding servants bowed in compliance.

When Cuiwei and Qingluo saw Yu Miaohua being escorted back by Chai Xiu, the Emperor’s personal attendant, they were shocked. Cuiwei turned deathly pale—had they violated palace rules by leaving the cold palace? Would they be punished? Qingluo, however, remained more composed. After all, things couldn’t possibly get worse than they already were.

Chai Xiu smiled warmly at them. "His Majesty has ordered a reinvestigation into Madam Yu’s case. Serve her well—your fortunes are yet to come."

He could see how much the Emperor valued Yu Miaohua and saw no harm in currying favor early.

Of course, he had also taken note of the flourishing plants and livestock in the cold palace. Chai Xiu couldn’t help but marvel at Yu Miaohua’s resilience. Most concubines, after being banished to the cold palace, would wither away in both appearance and spirit within months. Yet here she was, growing vegetables and raising plump chickens. Those birds really did look delicious.

After Chai Xiu left, Cuiwei and Qingluo crowded around Yu Miaohua. "Miss, what happened? Did you run into His Majesty in the orchard?"

From Chai Xiu’s words, it sounded like the Emperor not only hadn’t punished her but actually believed in her innocence?

After the long walk back, Yu Miaohua had calmed down. "Yes, I met His Majesty and told him about our wrongful accusation. He’s agreed to reopen the investigation into the poisoning case."

Hearing this confirmation, Cuiwei’s heart finally settled, and she clasped her hands in prayer. "Thank heavens! Thank heavens!"

"Miss, you’re incredible! You actually succeeded!"

"Yeah, if it were me, I’d be too nervous to even speak!"

Yu Miaohua simply smiled as her maids showered her with praise. That’s right—keep praising her! She was just that amazing! The details didn’t matter; the result was what counted. Of course, she hadn’t forgotten the most important thing.

"Pears! I want pear-fried chicken!"

She had suffered too much for this dish—she deserved to eat her fill and soothe her traumatized soul.

"Oh, and I found a strange plant in the orchard with bright red fruit. It looks festive—let’s cultivate it and see if the fruit is edible."

……

The orchard was remote, and with Pei Lingyue’s warning, the harem remained oblivious to his encounter with Yu Miaohua.

The framing of Yu Miaohua had happened six months prior. To avoid alerting anyone, Pei Lingyue discreetly tasked his shadow guards with investigating, starting with the palace maid Yuzhu, who had committed suicide. Though she was gone, her family remained.

Three days later, the preliminary findings on Yuzhu’s family were presented to Pei Lingyue.

Over the past six months, her relatives had met with a series of "accidents." Her brother, drowning in gambling debts, had fled to another region to escape creditors. The rest of her family had perished in a fire that broke out in the dead of night.

The perpetrator’s methods were brutally straightforward—this was a clear case of silencing witnesses. The only surviving relative was Yuzhu’s missing brother, cutting off the trail.

Pei Lingyue ordered a decoy to pose as Yuzhu’s brother, returning home with a show of newfound wealth to lure out the assassin.

The ploy worked. The mastermind, hearing rumors, quickly took the bait and was captured by the shadow guards, then hauled off to the imperial prison.

Two days later, Pei Lingyue reviewed the confession and immediately issued an edict: Consort Ming and her entire family were to be imprisoned for poisoning Consort De and framing Yu Miaohua. Consort Ming and her attendants were swiftly taken away.

The culprit behind Yu Miaohua’s downfall was Lin Shu, a fellow concubine who had entered the palace at the same time. The Lin family was the wealthiest salt merchant in Jiangzhou, with deep pockets and even deeper connections. Lin Shu’s aunt had once served the late Emperor as a low-ranking consort, and over decades, the family had cultivated a network within the palace. With money and influence, Lin Shu had orchestrated Yu Miaohua’s downfall.

As for the motive, Pei Lingyue didn’t care. He only wanted justice.

When the news spread, the harem erupted in shock.

The poisoning of Consort De had been the most scandalous incident in years, a favorite topic of gossip among the concubines.

Many had lamented Yu Miaohua’s fate—with her striking beauty, she could have risen through the ranks if she’d stayed out of trouble. What a waste! But now it turned out she had been framed?

Wait—why would the Emperor suddenly remember her after six months? Who had whispered in his ear?

The higher-ranking consorts remained composed, while the lower-ranked ones cautiously observed the Emperor’s next move.

Yu Miaohua had suffered greatly, wrongfully imprisoned in the cold palace for half a year. Surely the Emperor would compensate her—perhaps even promote her. She might just become their greatest rival in the fight for favor!

……

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The shrill announcement came just as Yu Miaohua was eating dinner. She sat at her own table, while Cuiwei and Qingluo shared another. Yu Miaohua would have preferred to eat with them, but they refused. After half a year of effort, she’d only managed to convince them to share a table between themselves.

Tonight’s meal included mushroom chicken soup, stir-fried loofah with eggs, and braised chicken wings.

At the announcement, Cuiwei and Qingluo immediately set down their chopsticks, exchanging excited glances.

Yu Miaohua, meanwhile, hurriedly swallowed her mouthful—why did the Emperor have to come now, right in the middle of dinner?

Now she didn’t know whether to keep eating or not.

["Ahhhh, Host! The Emperor has uncovered the truth! We can complete our first main quest and leave the cold palace! Aren’t you thrilled?"]

Look how hard it has struggled—no other system has waited half a year just to see the first glimmer of a completed task. Even the palace intrigue system was moved to shed two lines of electronic tears.

Yu Miaohua, however, only wanted to complain.

[If he had arrived half an hour later, after I finished my meal, I’d have been much happier.]

Though inwardly grumbling, when Pei Lingyue appeared in her line of sight, Yu Miaohua still managed to put on an expression of pleasant surprise mixed with emotion, her long lashes glistening with unshed tears, making her look utterly pitiable. She gracefully curtsied, her posture elegant and poised.

"Your Majesty, have you finally come to believe in this concubine’s innocence?"

Being gazed upon with such trusting gratitude by a beautiful woman would stir even the heart of an emperor who ruled the world—that is, if Pei Lingyue hadn’t seen Yu Miaohua’s inner thoughts. He nearly laughed in exasperation. She actually thought he’d come too early and interrupted her meal?

He watched as Yu Miaohua’s conversation with that unknown entity continued.

[Host, that look was perfect. The next Oscar for Best Actress goes to you.]

[I practiced that expression a thousand times in front of a water jar until my eyes nearly cramped. Cuiwei almost thought I was possessed and even secretly stuffed salt packets under my pillow.]

Pei Lingyue’s faintly raised lips twitched downward.

Hah, it was all an act. But what was an "Oscar"?

For the sake of the three-harvest-a-year rice, he held back.

"Rise. You’ve suffered these past six months. I’ve uncovered the truth—you are innocent." He personally helped Yu Miaohua up, his face filled with tender sympathy.

Yu Miaohua feigned delight. "Then I no longer need to remain in the Cold Palace?"

Pei Lingyue nodded. At that moment, a round of applause echoed in Yu Miaohua’s mind.

[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: "Encounter the Emperor, Clear Your Name, and Win His Pity." Reward: Seeds of Champa rice, capable of three harvests a season.]

The system conveniently ignored the additional twenty points.

Yu Miaohua was thrilled—though she had one concern.

[System, how do I retrieve these seeds?] she asked mentally.

The system replied swiftly, clearly well-prepared when it came to rewards.

[Don’t worry, they’ve already been placed in your storage box, swapped with the seeds you bought earlier. There’s enough to plant half an acre. Oh, and this mission also rewarded you with a map marking the origins of crops in this world. You can retrieve it later when the time is right.]

Yu Miaohua relaxed. She had previously planned to grow rice in the courtyard and had bought seeds from other palace servants. Well, she could just claim she didn’t remember who she’d bought them from. The system was so thoughtful.

Seeds! And even a map! These were exactly what Pei Lingyue needed most. His personal visit hadn’t been in vain.

His gaze deepened as he looked at Yu Miaohua, as if she were the only one in his sight.

Yu Miaohua was startled by his expression—Wait, what had she done? Why was the Emperor suddenly looking at her so affectionately? Was it because she looked especially beautiful today? But she wasn’t wearing any makeup—the Cold Palace hardly provided such luxuries. Back then, they hadn’t been allowed to bring cosmetics, only hastily packing silver, gold, and banknotes.

Ah, well. Some beauties were simply born too radiant for their own good.

She tilted her head and asked, "Your Majesty, after leaving the Cold Palace, may I still grow vegetables and rice in the courtyard?"

Even if she left the Cold Palace, given her rank, she’d only be assigned a side chamber—hardly a place where she could plant crops. Which high-ranking consort would tolerate their garden being turned into farmland? The main occupant of her former palace had been Consort De.

She quickly justified herself. "When I first entered the Cold Palace, the false accusations left me so despondent that I nearly lost the will to live. It wasn’t until I started gardening that my mind found respite. Through this, I gradually discovered solace for my soul. If I can no longer tend to the rice, I would feel as though I’ve lost a part of myself."

For the sake of rice cultivation, Yu Miaohua was willing to play the sympathy card.

Cuiwei and Qingluo listened with tears in their eyes—their mistress had suffered so much that she’d resorted to farming just to ease her sorrow. They had been oblivious to her pain, even rejoicing when she seemed to recover. They hadn’t cared for her enough.

Yu Miaohua’s request aligned perfectly with Pei Lingyue’s intentions. Even if she hadn’t brought it up, he would have steered her toward it. Now, he could skip the effort.

Maintaining his tender expression, he said, "Of course. I was blinded by deceit before, causing you undue hardship. By imperial decree: Yu Miaohua, gentle in nature and diligent in virtue, is hereby promoted to the rank of Jieyu and granted residence in Guanju Palace."

Guanju Palace was the closest to his Qianyuan Hall, allowing him to visit frequently and monitor her mission updates. Based on Yu Miaohua’s conversations with that deity called "System," this wouldn’t be her only task. Moreover, Guanju Palace had a spacious courtyard, perfect for her rice cultivation.

Yu Miaohua was stunned.

She had assumed that, at best, she’d be promoted to Meiren after this ordeal—but Jieyu? A leap in rank? Did the Emperor love her that much?

More importantly, she would now live in Guanju Palace—the legendary Guanju Palace!

Guanju Palace had been the residence of Empress Zhenyi, the most beloved consort of the previous emperor. This formidable woman, despite her humble origins, had risen to unparalleled favor through her beauty and intellect. Had she borne a son, the throne might not have gone to the current emperor. After her death, the late emperor had posthumously honored her as empress, disregarding the dignity of his first wife. Since the current emperor’s reign, Guanju Palace had remained vacant.

This was a blatant label of "favorite consort," guaranteed to draw the envy of the entire harem.

Imagining the tidal wave of hostility she’d face the moment she left the Cold Palace, Yu Miaohua nearly fainted. Your Majesty, such favor is too much for this humble concubine to bear!

The system’s voice echoed dryly in her mind.

[Host, rein it in. Don’t overdo the charm. No more seducing the emperor—we’re on the virtuous path, not the femme fatale route.]

The host was too capable, leaving the system struggling to keep up.

Yu Miaohua felt more wronged than Dou E, wishing the heavens would vindicate her! How had she seduced the emperor? Her head ached—how was she supposed to suppress this uncontrollable allure?