The system pretended to be hesitant, remaining silent for a long while before speaking in a voice tinged with weariness and helplessness. "Sigh! Master, if you want an early death, that's fine, but you can't keep being this lazy. You need to properly experience mortal life, or we won’t be able to explain ourselves to the Immortal Venerable when we return!"

Yue Fuguang cried out in protest. "Haven’t I been down-to-earth enough? Look at the past three years—I was in the Taoist temple, falling ill every few days, helping others eagerly, working hard. Who wouldn’t say I was a diligent, sensible little wretch? Doesn’t this acting deserve an award?"

Yue Fuguang felt that her sarcastic remarks should help minimize the suspicions Emperor Mingxi and his court might have about her behavior during those three years in the temple.

She had heard that Emperor Mingxi had already sent people to investigate her past at the Taoist temple.

Those in power were inherently distrustful. No matter how many unbelievable things she had done, they wouldn’t overlook even the smallest detail.

[Master, you said it yourself—that was acting. You need to truly think of yourself as the mortal Yue Fuguang, not the Immortal Lord Yue Fuguang.]

"When have I ever acted like Immortal Lord Yue Fuguang? My master sealed away ninety-nine percent of my memories. I barely remember anything about the immortal realm.

The seven fairies sneaking down to meet their mortal lovers don’t count. The immortal Zihua’s crush on his little disciple doesn’t count. The thousand-year-old white snake spirit descending to bear a child with a mortal doesn’t count.

And ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍as for the Great Sage’s journey to the West—who even knows where he and his disciples are now?"

[Master remembers quite a lot of immortal gossip. Little Pearl isn’t insisting you become a genuine mortal girl.

After all, this is ancient times—women have low status. Master shouldn’t have to endure humiliation. Mortals are mere ants. If anyone dares provoke you, Little Pearl will strike them down. But you can’t just laze around doing nothing.]

"Fine, fine. I’ll find something fun to do. Little Pearl, why do I feel like I’m becoming more and more childish?"

[Master, your spirit is being influenced by this young body. It’ll improve as you grow older.]

Meanwhile, Emperor Mingxi and his ministers, walking toward the front hall, overheard the divine artifact referring to them as ants yet again. They were numb to it by now.

Usually, they were the ones calling others ants. But now, being repeatedly dismissed as insignificant—well, the more they heard it, the more they got used to it!

"Fuguang, today is your big day. Besides me, the Empress Dowager and the Empress have also prepared gifts for you. They’ve already been sent to your courtyard. Take a look later and see if you like them. If not, we can exchange them next time."

Yue Fuguang smiled and nodded. "Sure. I’ve also prepared return gifts for the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Your Majesty can deliver them for me."

"Good. What did you prepare for them?" Emperor Mingxi asked, sounding like nothing more than an ordinary elder making small talk with a younger relative.

It didn’t matter if the conversation was trivial—the more they interacted, the closer their bond would grow. The emperor and his ministers hadn’t given up on the matter of the miraculous seeds.

"Some skincare products and perfumes." All system-made—affordable, effective, and free of the dubious additives found in the modern world.

Women, regardless of age, never stopped caring about beauty.

She was certain these gifts would win over the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

Yue Fuguang mused that if she just focused on wholesale and retail of women’s products from the system, she could make a fortune—lying back and counting coins.

But for a transmigrator like her, what use was wealth she couldn’t take with her? It might as well be dirt.

"System, I have to complain—you guys are way too stingy. How many ‘high-end’ systems like you don’t even come with an inventory space?

What’s the point of earning money in this world if I can’t take it with me? Tell me, what’s the point? Where’s my motivation to work?"

The system, seeing its host on the verge of a meltdown—and hearing her call it a "high-end system"—felt a twinge of guilt.

It quickly soothed its sweet-talking host. [Host, host, don’t be angry. If you ruin your health, no one can replace you. Didn’t we agree that once we save enough points, we’ll buy a storage ring? That thing is soul-bound—as long as your spirit remains, the ring will always be yours.]

"You think I don’t want to buy one? A storage ring costs 100,000 points! Do I look like some kind of desperate fool? Right now, I don’t even have 1,000 points. Are you going to give me a loan?"

[Well… that could be arranged.]

"You might dare lend, but I wouldn’t dare take it! 100,000 points is almost enough to buy back one of my hands. I can’t bear to spend that much—and don’t treat me like a sucker."

[But you won’t even consider the cheaper 10-cubic-meter storage pouch.]

"How can a 10-cubic-meter pouch compare to a 500-cubic-meter ring? Besides, that thing isn’t soul-bound. Do you think it’d survive a dimensional jump?

If I can’t get a storage bracelet, shouldn’t I at least aim for a ring?"

She had never worried about money in her life—who’d have thought transmigrating would force her to become frugal?

[It’s because your spirit is too weak. You can only bind one storage item.]

"So now it’s my fault?"

The system sensed its host’s irritation, and its little white orb form scrunched up in distress.

[Fine, fine, it’s my fault, okay? Don’t worry—when the system store has a sale, we’ll grab one.]

"System, stop feeding me empty promises. In three years, the store only had two sales—both for luxury items. Do I look like someone who can afford those?"

[Then let’s expose more secrets and earn more points.]

Soon, the group arrived at the banquet hall. Emperor Mingxi couldn’t possibly dine with everyone, but he still wanted to maintain the illusion of mingling with the people.

So Old Madam had a sheer silk screen set up in the banquet hall—guests on both sides could vaguely see each other, but not clearly. It was all about the aesthetic of subtlety.

Once everyone was seated, cold dishes were served first. Thinking of her points—and her so-called elder brother—Yue Fuguang couldn’t wait to stir up trouble.

She decided to serve these people an appetizer before the main course.

"Hey, Little Pearl, is that woman in the red dress Wei Shujun, my ‘brother’s’ fiancée?"

[Master, that’s her. Since today’s the adoption ceremony, she had to attend as your future sister-in-law.]

"Sister-in-law? As if she’s worthy! How far has she gotten with Xu Shao, that junior disciple of Wei Chen?"

[They’ve kissed, hugged, and even lifted each other up. They’re just waiting until your brother marries her next year before taking the final step.]

"Seriously? If they’re so in love, why not just come clean? As far as I remember, their affair started before the engagement with my brother was even discussed."

[Because Xu Shao is poor—he can’t afford the lavish lifestyle Wei Shujun is used to. Besides, he’s only a scholar right now. Who knows when he’ll pass the imperial exams and become an official?

Wei Shujun, a nobleman’s daughter, can’t endure hardship. Being a scholar’s wife is beneath her. So she just wants to keep Xu Shao as a secret lover.]

"So this woman is playing both sides—enjoying Xu Shao’s body and sweet words while eyeing my brother’s money and status?"

Hearing the unspoken thoughts, the crowd subtly glanced at the oblivious Wei mother and daughter. Seeing that the in-laws had merely adopted a daughter today—and even the Emperor had graced the occasion—the two felt their faces glowing with pride.