This year was no exception.
Almost all the concubines’ ranks were elevated.
The most notable among them was Hua Qingqing.
She leaped from the rank of Zhaorong to the position of a first-rank concubine.
At once, the other Concubines looked at her, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
Hua Qingqing had long been prepared for this. During her investiture, she was poised and graceful, not at all intimidated.
The palace had a tradition of holding a New Year’s vigil, but as the Emperor had not yet recovered from his illness, he could not stay for long.
After a few rounds of wine, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager took their leave early.
Hua Qingqing, concerned for the Seventh Prince, also rose to leave not long after.
When she returned to the Moon Viewing Pavilion, everyone rushed forward to congratulate her.
"Congratulations, Princess Consort Zhen! Our felicitations!"
Hua Qingqing ordered for reward money to be distributed.
Everyone was beaming with joy, and the entire Moon Viewing Pavilion was steeped in a celebratory atmosphere.
Tonight, Hua Qingqing was not required to attend to the ailing Emperor.
She could stay in the Moon Viewing Pavilion and spend time with the Seventh Prince.
Outside the palace walls, someone was setting off fireworks.
Brilliant fireworks boomed, exploding across the night sky in a magnificent, colorful display.
Xi Xiang carefully shut the doors and windows, lest the noise from outside disturb the resting Princess Consort Zhen and the Seventh Prince.
The fireworks faded, and midnight arrived.
This signified that the new year had finally come.
The New Year’s vigil could now come to an end.
However, a startled cry suddenly echoed from within Hanzhang Hall.
"His Majesty has fainted! Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"
Soon, the Chief Imperial Doctor came rushing over.
After examining the Emperor, he discovered that His Majesty’s condition had unexpectedly worsened!
Word of this soon reached the Empress Dowager.
All traces of the Empress Dowager’s sleepiness vanished. She hastily dressed and hurried to Hanzhang Hall in her sedan chair.
Afterward, the imperial consorts from every palace rushed over, and among them, of course, was the newly promoted Princess Consort Zhen, Hua Qingqing.
She and the other Concubines waited for news in a side hall.
Everyone was fraught with anxiety.
A little eunuch ran in, and all eyes immediately turned to him.
Someone impatiently stepped forward to ask, "How is the Saint?"
The little eunuch replied, "The Saint has just awoken. He wishes to see Lady Shufei and Princess Consort Zhen."
The Lady instinctively glanced at Hua Qingqing.
Hua Qingqing looked back at the Lady.
With a silent, mutual understanding, neither of them asked why. They simply followed the little eunuch out.
The other Concubines watched them leave, a bitter taste in their mouths.
They were all the Emperor’s women, yet now, gravely ill, he only thought of the Lady and Princess Consort Zhen.
The comparison was simply galling.
The moment the Lady and Hua Qingqing stepped into the bedchamber, the thick smell of medicine assaulted them.
The Empress Dowager sat by the bed, her head bowed as she wiped away tears.
The Emperor lay on the bed, his face pale and his expression haggard. His breathing was shallow, and he looked to be in a very bad state.
Zuo Ji stepped forward to announce, "The Lady and Princess Consort Zhen are here."
Hua Qingqing and the Lady stepped forward and paid their respects.
The Emperor struggled to speak, his voice hoarse. "Come closer. I have something to say to you."
The two women obediently approached, stopping beside the bed.
"I am not long for this world. I don’t know how much longer I can last, but the throne of Great Zhou cannot be left without a successor. I intend to choose one between the Sixth Prince and the Seventh Prince and establish him as the Crown Prince."
The Emperor’s voice was soft and feeble, but his words landed like a bombshell.
It exploded in the minds of the Lady and Hua Qingqing!
...
Hua Manman was fast asleep when she was suddenly jolted awake by the system’s notification tone.
"DING! Your system is now online!"
She hadn’t heard that sound in a long time, and it took her a moment to register it.
She asked in surprise, "System? Why are you back already?"
The system replied plaintively, "You don’t sound very happy to have me back."
Hua Manman let out a hollow laugh.
"Haha, of course not! I missed you terribly while you were away."
’Yeah, right!’ the system thought. ’As if I’d believe that nonsense!’
Getting back to the matter at hand, the system said in a serious tone.
"I’ve already submitted the report about Li Ji possessing the Mind Reading Technique. The Mainframe has provided three possible solutions."
Hua Manman perked up, all ears. "Go on."
System: "The first option is to erase Li Ji’s Mind Reading Technique and wipe his memories, making him forget everything related to the system."
Hua Manman frowned. "Would he forget me in the process?"
The system sounded uncertain. "Well... perhaps... it’s a possibility that could... happen."
Hua Manman shot down that option without a second thought.
System: "The second option is to end your mission prematurely and send you back to the modern world. That way, it wouldn’t matter if Li Ji knows the system exists, because the system would no longer be in this world."
’I’d have to be an idiot to choose that option!’
’I’m pregnant right now! If I went back to the modern world, what would happen to Li Ji? What would happen to my baby?!’
Suppressing her anger, Hua Manman asked, "And the third option?"
System: "The third option is to first wipe Li Ji’s memory, and then send you back to the modern world. It’s safer with double protection!"
Hua Manman: "..."
She swore through gritted teeth, "You @#$%!"
The system whined, "You’re swearing again!"
Hua Manman: "You deserve it!"
The system sounded aggrieved. "These solutions came from the Mainframe. I’m just in charge of carrying them out. Swearing at me won’t do any good."
’After all, I’m just an employee,’ it thought. ’What did I do wrong?’
Hua Manman demanded, "Did the Mainframe not consider that Li Ji might go insane if I suddenly disappear?"
The system offered an objective assessment: "Li Ji is a madman even without you."
Hua Manman pressed, her voice dangerously low, "Whose side are you on?"
For some reason, the system sounded a little sheepish.
"I’m... I’m neutral."
Hua Manman took a deep breath. ’I can’t argue with an idiot,’ she told herself. ’It’ll just make me an idiot, too.’
She forced herself to remain calm and not let her emotions cloud her judgment.
It was at times like this that she needed to think clearly about how to respond.
The system asked her which option she would choose.
Hua Manman replied without hesitation, "I choose option four."
The system was baffled. "But we only have three options?"
Hua Manman stated unequivocally, "I reject all three of your options."
The system muttered, "The Mainframe said that if you refuse to choose, it will automatically implement the third option."
Hua Manman let out a laugh born of pure fury.
"You’re so sure I’m powerless to resist, aren’t you?"
"What are you scheming now?" the system asked warily.
Hua Manman: "First thing tomorrow morning, I’m going into the palace to see Hua Qingqing. Since none of you treat me like a human being, why should I act like one? I’ll just kill Hua Qingqing and her son. We can all go down together!"
The system was genuinely frightened. "Don’t do anything rash!"
Hua Manman sneered. "So you do know fear? Fine. You want me to behave? Then cancel all three of those bullshit options!"
The system whined miserably.
"Those three options were set by the Mainframe. I don’t have the authority to change them."
Hua Manman: "Then go to the Mainframe and relay my message. You people brought me to this world without so much as a word, and now you want to send me back by force without my consent? I’m telling you, not a chance in hell!"