“System! Come out and tell me, what’s wrong with my face?” Qin Manman held onto the mirror, avoiding the curious and puzzled gazes of her maid who was holding the mirror, gritting her teeth as she silently called out within her heart.
The face of this body was originally quite ordinary. Being generous, one could say she was a beautiful maiden, but being critical, she was unremarkable in every way, only passable to look at. The only advantage was her young age and good skin texture, as smooth and tender as a peeled boiled egg. However, to women from the future who were accustomed to various skincare products, this so-called “natural” skin was nothing special.
The system quickly popped up and calmly explained, “Host, I’ve said it before. I am the Beloved Consort System for palace intrigue. Your beauty relies on gaining the Emperor’s favor. The higher the Emperor’s favor, the more beautiful you will become. Once you climb to the position of a favored concubine, you will be the most beautiful woman in the entire world. So, you should hurry up and enter the palace.”
“I already know that! You repeated it several times when you bound to me. But I still need to follow the proper process to enter the palace, and at the earliest, it will be next year!” The system was well aware of this, but it kept urging her relentlessly, and Qin Manman interrupted it irritably. She pointed to her eye area and said, “I’m asking about my eyes and eyebrows! What happened?”
She had originally described the appearance of Lin Meiren, the delicate and timid beauty from a TV drama. The other person was indeed the dream lover of many talented men throughout history, “Two brows, seemingly furrowed yet not, smoke-like and dewy eyes, seemingly weeping yet not.” It instantly illuminated her delicate features, producing better results than cosmetic surgery and causing no pain or the need for a surgeon’s knife on her face.
When she looked in the mirror, sometimes she would involuntarily become entranced by her own pair of moist and radiant eyes. After possessing such captivating beauty, who would willingly return to their previous plain appearance? Qin Manman was no exception.
The system responded coldly, “Host, I’ve mentioned this before. The level of your beauty is determined by the Emperor’s favor towards you. When your favorability reaches one hundred, you can unlock the ‘spring mountain eyebrows and autumn water-cut pupils’ in the shopping mall’s first row. When it reaches five hundred, you can unlock the second row, ‘cherry-like lips and slender willow waist,’ and so on. Your previous ‘smoke-like brows and dewy eyes’ were also due to the Emperor’s initial favorability towards you. Your talent made a name for itself in the capital, and even though he is the ruler of the deep palace, he couldn’t have been completely unaware. He has also appreciated your poetry, so even before you entered the palace for the selection, your favorability with him was over one hundred, allowing you to have the basic beauty you had before.”
Otherwise, the host would still have an ordinary appearance to this day. If it weren’t for her affluent family background, allowing her to wear luxurious clothing, she might have had her limelight stolen even by slightly attractive maidservants when standing next to them.1Harsh
With a favorability of over one hundred, this was already quite high. Qin Manman, this host, was the most talented host he had ever seen. Even before entering the palace, she had gained the Emperor’s special attention, possessing such a high favorability. Although this favorability score wasn’t very high, it had already left an impression in the Emperor’s mind. It was like being a step ahead on the path of palace intrigue. His previous hosts from other dimensions had remained unknown for a long time after entering the palace, with the Emperor having no impression of them whatsoever. This showed how talented Qin Manman was.
“I know that! I’m asking, my eyebrows and eyes were perfectly fine, how did they suddenly disappear? Can favorability increase and then decrease like this?” Qin Manman sighed and called over her personal maidservant, wanting to leave the table early using the excuse of not feeling well.
The system spoke seriously, “Of course, the Emperor is a person, not a god. Just like ordinary people, they can raise or lower their impression of someone they meet for various reasons, and this applies even more to emperors. They have the same emotions and desires as regular people. Throughout history, emperors have been known for their strong affections as well as fickleness. They may adore a woman, make solemn vows, but it doesn’t guarantee their love for her throughout their lives.” As the woman’s appearance ages and her physical condition declines, even if she once received the Emperor’s utmost favor, there will come a day when her beauty fades and love departs. Such examples are countless in the annals of history.
Therefore, it’s natural for this favorability to fluctuate like an elevator. Although it’s produced by the Reincarnation Company, it also understands the ways of the world. In fact, it’s precisely because of this understanding that it was labeled as a semi-finished product.
“Well, can you see why the Emperor’s favorability towards me decreased?” Qin Manman furrowed her brows.
“I can’t…” Because it’s a semi-finished product, “I can only help you peek into the Emperor’s activities and detect the fluctuations in the favorability at different stages. But as for why it decreased, my abilities are limited, and I can’t do that for now.” Additionally, this favorability is divided into stages. In other words, until you reach a certain stage, it can’t even detect how much favorability the Emperor has toward you. For example, anything below five hundred belongs to one stage, and if the Emperor’s favorability doesn’t break through that stage, it won’t be detectable. It only concluded that the Emperor’s favorability decreased when it observed your charming eyes and eyebrows suddenly lose their effect in public.
“Alright,” Qin Manman said unhappily, pursing her lips, thinking that her system was truly useless. She covered her face with her sleeve, wanting to quietly leave.
Just then, the sister of this body, Qin Shanshan, arrived. She looked worriedly at Qin Manman and spoke in a gentle tone, “Manman, I heard from Da Juan that you’re not feeling well, so I rushed over to see how you’re doing. What’s wrong with your health? Do you want me to call a doctor?”
Qin Shanshan was widely acknowledged as a great beauty. At this moment, she is dressed in a pink butterfly long dress, with a light purple chiffon outer layer. She has a fairy-like updo on her head, making her figure look graceful. She wears a pair of transparent green bracelets on her fair wrists, which complement her delicate skin. The whole person exudes a bright and elegant aura.
Even though Qin Manman is a woman herself, she can’t help but be attracted by this face and feel a deep sense of jealousy. They share the same mother, so how can there be such a huge difference in genetics? The original owner was truly unfortunate. She had an older sister like this, and a five-year-old younger sister who was also cute and lovely. Both her older and younger sisters inherited their mother’s beauty, while the original owner inherited her less-than-remarkable looks from her father.
Not to mention this older sister who has been beautiful since childhood, she is proficient in various arts and is a talented young woman with some reputation. Even her marriage is something that many envy.
“I’m fine, just a bit tired, so I want to go back early to rest.” Qin Manman declined her sister’s kindness. She had received the memories of the original owner and knew that she had always lived in the shadow of her sister. As a result, she had a very self-conscious and timid personality. Before falling into the water, she was actually on her way to meet her sister, although it was mostly because she wanted to catch a glimpse of her future brother-in-law, Li Gongzi, who was known for his outstanding appearance and talents. However, it didn’t hurt for Qin Manman to put the blame on her sister, thinking that maybe her good sister had pushed her into the water with honeyed words and a hidden agenda. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that the original owner happened to slip and fall into the water?
Waking up one day, she had become her.
“But I heard from Da Juan that when you suddenly felt unwell, I had already summoned Doctor Zhou in advance. Should I call someone to send him away now?” Qin Shanshan looked embarrassed, appearing as if she had made a big deal out of a small matter without proper consideration, eliciting sympathy from those around her.
People began to speak up, saying, “It’s not a problem. Since you’ve already called the doctor, it’s good to have a checkup even if you’re not sick.”
“Yes, Miss Qin, take this opportunity to get a Ping’an pulse2“Ping’an pulse” (平安脉) refers to a specific type of pulse diagnosis; this is a pulse that indicates a state of general well-being and balance in the body. It suggests that the patient is in good health with no significant imbalances or health issues diagnosis from Doctor Zhou. It’s not easy for ordinary people to have Doctor Zhou, who’s of such advanced age, readily available.” Only dignitaries and nobles like those in the Qin family had the ability to summon Doctor Zhou at will.
“With Doctor Zhou’s reputation, if he came all the way here and was sent away without even getting a chance to examine, it might offend him. It’s not worth it; let’s just let him take a look.”
Da Juan, who had been the messenger, also took the opportunity to speak, “That’s right, Miss Qin. Our young lady was worried when she suddenly heard that you were leaving your seat, thinking that you might not be feeling well. After all, you fell into the water not too long ago, and your health might not have fully recovered. So, she became anxious and quickly called Doctor Zhou over. If you’re fine, let Doctor Zhou check, and our young lady will feel relieved. If Doctor Zhou says you’re fine, then we can all be at ease, right?” In other words, consider this a favor to accept.
So, before Qin Manman could even voice her refusal, she was decided upon by others in just a few words. She was so angry that she gritted her teeth secretly and wanted to tear her good sister apart. Her state of mind was already not right at this moment, and she was eager to avoid being in the spotlight. But with just a few words from her good sister, she was pushed back into the spotlight. If she refused, it would be seen as ungratefulness.
The methods of these people from the inner residence were indeed clever. This modern person was somewhat inexperienced compared to the ancient people who were well-versed in the inner workings of the household.
Just then, an elderly man with white hair arrived with a medicine box in hand. After surveying the people around him with his cloudy and aged eyes, he bowed and said, “May I ask which one of you is Second Miss Qin?” When he was summoned, it was said that Second Miss Qin was unwell. Recently, Second Miss Qin had gained significant fame, and almost everyone in the streets and alleys had heard of her “Qianli Gong Chuanjuan”3according to my friend Google “Qianli Gong Chuanjuan”千里共婵娟) is a phrase in Chinese that can be roughly translated to “Sharing the Beauty of the Moon from a Thousand Miles Away.” It is a poetic expression that often refers to the act of appreciating the beauty of the moon from a distant location or from afar song, which he had even sung himself. Coupled with her “indescribable nobility,” he hurriedly picked up his medicine box and rushed over.
However, upon arrival, he realized that there were too many young gentlemen and ladies, each with their clever servants and maids. He was left feeling overwhelmed and couldn’t tell who was who, almost mistaking someone for another.
At this moment, the esteemed physician held a high position, and everyone politely greeted him. Then, they pointed at Qin Manman and said, “Doctor Zhou, it’s her.”
Qin Manman forced a smile and said, “It’s me.” However, in her heart, she cursed silently. Could it be that this old man received money or some benefits from Qin Shanshan? Throughout the journey, he kept asking the singing girls if she was the one. Was he deliberately trying to make fun of her? She had originally come quietly to see a doctor, but now she was drawing even more attention to herself.
“Manman, Doctor Zhou is here. Why haven’t you pulled down your sleeve yet? Could it be that you have something on your face? Let Doctor Zhou take a good look. Did you develop a rash from drinking alcohol?” Qin Shanshan expressed her concern as she pulled at Qin Manman. Her watery and beautiful eyes were filled with worry, and she kept urging her to lower her sleeve, reassuring her that her sister was here.
Qin Manman couldn’t fail to see through her intentions. Flames of anger burned in her eyes, but she couldn’t push her sister away because she was right beside her. If she made a sudden move, her sleeve would inevitably fall down.
Not to mention that Qin Shanshan was already at the age of maturity, in the most beautiful years of a young girl. The curves under her clothes were ripe like peaches, and the area where her arm touched was fragrant and soft. When Qin Manman thought about the original owner of this body, who had a flat figure like bean sprouts and no amount of soy milk could make a difference, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She couldn’t contain herself and muttered, “Bitch!”
Qin Shanshan was momentarily taken aback, releasing her hand, and a puzzled expression appeared on her beautiful face. She asked, “Manman, what did you just say? What does ‘bichi’ mean?” The young girl’s face darkened, and she had muttered something about a “Bichi” with a tone of gritted teeth, making Qin Shanshan feel that it wasn’t a compliment.
Realizing that she had cursed out loud and had been heard, Qin Manman’s face changed for a moment. Soon, she put on a smile and explained, “When I said ‘Biqi’4“Biqi” (碧池) in Chinese can be translated to “Jade Pond” or “Emerald Pond”; Biqi is pronounced like bee-chee so yeah good save there Manman, I was actually quoting a poem. It goes, ‘Graceful and jade-like, standing by the emerald pond, with graceful charm, the beautiful lady is enchanting.’ I was complimenting you on your beauty, sister!”
The banquet happened to be set by the riverbank, and there were beautiful women along the riverbank. As expected, Qin Shanshan believed her explanation, blushing shyly as if she felt embarrassed by the compliment. Her face had a rosy hue, her eyes even more watery. She said, “My little sister, you’ve always had a way with words. Otherwise, how could you come up with such a lovely compliment? You, little rascal, always know how to please me.”
After saying that, she playfully tapped her sister lightly, with very little force, but it almost made Qin Manman spit blood. Because after her spontaneous recitation of the poem, everyone had praised it with “what a great poem,” and then they went on to praise the beauty described in the poem, affirming that the poem was accurate. This caused Qin Miss’s embarrassment to become even more evident. In a visible place, her delicate and jade-like neck turned red. For a moment, she appeared astonishingly beautiful, catching the eyes of many men.
Qin Manman had inadvertently dug herself into a hole, and she was left breathless by the situation.
After praising her for quite a while, everyone finally remembered the reason for being there—to seek medical attention. So, they didn’t let her off the hook and urged her to extend her wrist, calling for the doctor to take a look. During this peaceful period, the interactions between men and women were relatively open-minded, with the exception of private affairs being exchanged. It wasn’t as constrained as in later periods heavily influenced by Confucianism.
But with so many people and the enthusiastic persuasion from the noble ladies, Qin Manman couldn’t resist. Caught off guard, she pulled down the sleeve that covered her face, and the room fell into a deathly silence, while she suppressed her anger.
“D-Doctor, please examine Second Miss Qin’s condition quickly. She must be truly ill5I’m crying lololol,” someone said, his face visibly changing. Although he felt that he might be unwell too or perhaps his vision was blurry, he rubbed his eyes, touched his forehead, and didn’t find any signs of fever.
“Y-Yes, we have other matters to attend to. We won’t disturb you any longer,” the others quickly found excuses to leave, leaving behind Miss Qin, who covered her red lips in astonishment and stared with watery eyes. She asked, “Sister, what happened to your face? Did you secretly remove your makeup?” This was her little sister whom she had known since childhood. She had suddenly become much more beautiful earlier, almost unrecognizable.
The insincere and deliberately inquisitive attitude almost made Qin Manman lose her temper. She could only say, “Yes, I just removed my makeup.” This managed to steer the conversation away from her changed appearance, but even without makeup, her natural beauty couldn’t compare to Miss Qin’s.
Everyone now knew that Second Miss Qin’s natural appearance was like this. When they recalled her earlier stunning beauty, they couldn’t help but marvel. How miraculous was this makeup art that could transform a single eyelid into a double eyelid, make short eyelashes long and curled, enlarge the eyes, add a captivating sparkle to them, make them as lively as a young deer, not to mention the finely arched eyebrows. While each of these features alone might not be remarkable, together, they turned an ordinary woman into someone of astonishing charm.
It turned out that the talented woman was quite plain-looking, even less beautiful than the maidservants in their house. It seemed that talented women were meant to be admired from afar and not to be trifled with.
This scene was coincidentally observed by Li Gongzi. He had mentioned to her that after today’s poetry banquet, he would talk to Miss Qin and they would formally annul the engagement. But now, when Qin Manman looked at him, he seemed to hesitate again, as if he were having second thoughts!
In the days that followed, no matter how Qin Manman sent letters and invitations in private, Li Gongzi would reply but avoid meeting her. It seemed that he appreciated her talent but preferred her sister’s appearance. This indecisive man was still full of internal conflict, and in the end, the matter of breaking off the engagement seemed to be unresolved once again.
This left Qin Manman completely bewildered, and she felt a surge of anger, biting her lips until they bled. Honestly, she wasn’t particularly fond of Li Gongzi. After all, she was going to enter the palace as a consort, and he was the person the original owner had liked. She had initially planned to seduce him to seek revenge for the original owner. However, she hadn’t expected that men in this world could be so shallow! They valued appearance over talent!
If it weren’t for this incident, Qin Manman wouldn’t have realized just how important the emperor’s favor was to her. She had been content with the admiration and pursuit of these pseudo-gentlemen outside the palace. But now she was firmly resolved to enter the palace. She began to feel that the time until next spring’s selection was excruciatingly long.
She turned to the system and said, “Since you can’t figure out why the emperor’s favorability towards me has decreased, you must at least be able to gather information about his whereabouts, right?” Otherwise, this system would be too useless!
Before entering the palace, she needed to unlock “Eyebrows like spring mountains, autumn waters cut by pupils6is a poetic description often used in classical Chinese literature and poetry to praise someone’s exceptionally beautiful and captivating eyes. It symbolically compares the person’s eyebrows to the shape of spring mountains and their pupils to the cutting effect of autumn waters” again. Otherwise, among a group of beautiful maids, her plain appearance would never stand out. How could she win the emperor’s favor based solely on her literary talents? If she were the emperor, she would also look at the most attractive one first among a group of beauties, and only later at the ones with ordinary looks. There were plenty of beautiful women in the palace. When would she ever gain the emperor’s favor?
Qin Manman started to feel anxious and deeply contemplated her future.
The system didn’t want the host to doubt its abilities, so it said, “Three days from now, the emperor will visit the Lotus Pond in disguise for a private visit. This is your opportunity.”
“Lotus Pond? Great!” Qin Manman’s eyes lit up, and she began to search high and low. Didn’t TV dramas often depict scenes where the emperor visited commoners in disguise and fell in love with a maiden? If she could capture the emperor’s heart in one fell swoop, then entering the palace ahead of schedule wouldn’t be a difficult task.
Author’s note: This is an update to fill in for yesterday’s update. There will be another update tonight, likely after 11 PM!
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