When Feng Zhao returned to Fengming Palace, she also received her system reward.
【Congratulations, host, on successfully completing the initial task of building a good relationship with your “father.” Please continue to work hard.】
【Your reward for this mission is a C-grade character card.】
“What does that mean?”
【It means the host can summon a C-grade servant. The summoned character will be absolutely loyal, and after summoning, their identity file will be automatically generated in this world—no bugs, no inconsistencies.】
In other words, Feng Zhao could freely summon a person, and once they appeared, everyone would naturally have complete information about them in their minds. Nothing would seem out of place.
“Fuling betrayed me. I just happen to be short of a personal maid.”
“Then summon a maid. Preferably someone with some martial ability and who can identify poison.”
【Sorry, host. C-grade character cards do not include special skills. Loyalty is guaranteed, but at most they have very basic fighting skills. Nothing exceptional.】
Feng Zhao asked, “How exactly are these character card grades divided? Can you explain clearly?”
【Yes.】
【Character cards are divided into A, B, and C grades. The further down the alphabet, the weaker the abilities.】
“So my current card is the worst one?”
【Yes.】
Feng Zhao was unhappy. She started bargaining.
“Your system is really stingy. You made me raise a child and fight for the throne right from the start, and you still give me such bad rewards? How am I supposed to work like this?”
“Not acceptable. You must give me a better card. Even games have beginner gift packs!”
The system remained silent for a long while.
Finally, it gave in.
【We can upgrade you to B-grade as an exception.】
“No. A-grade.” Feng Zhao refused without compromise. “Do you even know how stingy a beginner pack like this is?”
“If the rewards are too small, how am I supposed to get anything done? We’re both working toward the mission, right?”
This time the system was silent even longer.
Finally, it squeezed out a response.
【Upgrading card as an exception. Please confirm your main skill.】
【Poison mastery or combat.】
“Can’t I have both?”
【Host, do not be greedy.】
“Fine…” Feng Zhao looked slightly regretful but clearly taking advantage of the situation. “I can handle fighting myself. I need help identifying poison. I choose poison mastery.”
Fuling’s incident must never happen again.
【Received. Summoning character.】
【Character successfully summoned!】
A maid knelt before Feng Zhao.
“Your servant Lianqiao greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years.”
The girl had an ordinary appearance—so ordinary she could disappear in a crowd without notice.
Feng Zhao was satisfied with this kind of inconspicuous maid.
“Rise. From today on, you are the head maid of Fengming Palace. You will be responsible for all food and items entering this palace. If you detect poison, do not make a scene—report to me first.”
“Yes, I obey your command!”
With Lianqiao, Feng Zhao could finally eat and drink in peace without worrying about poisoning or schemes.
She was in a good mood and played with a cat for a while.
The black cat was extremely wild and difficult to tame, with strong aggression. The moment someone approached, it would immediately stand alert. If someone tried to touch it, it would show its claws.
A maid had once been scratched because of carelessness.
So Feng Zhao didn’t try to pet it. Instead, she used a teasing stick to play with it through the cage.
The cage was large enough for eight or nine cats, giving the black cat plenty of space.
Strangely, the cat showed no interest in the toy and didn’t play at all.
“How strange. Does it not like it?”
Lianqiao had never raised a cat before and didn’t understand its behavior, so she simply offered food. The cat still didn’t respond.
“So you’re a cold and aloof cat. Not playful, not greedy.”
Feng Zhao placed the toy aside.
“That’s fine too. Too noisy and I would find it annoying.”
She didn’t notice that when she said the word “annoying,” the cat inside the cage stiffened for a moment and began scratching its claws more intensely.
“Your Majesty, should we give the cat a name?” Lianqiao asked.
Feng Zhao thought for a moment and said immediately, “Its fur is completely black. Let’s call it Little Black.”
The black cat’s clawing intensified.
“Uh… Your Majesty, isn’t that a bit too casual?”
“Is it? That’s how names are usually given. Black cat = Little Black, white cat = Little White, yellow cat = Big Yellow.”
“……”
Somehow Lianqiao felt relieved the cat wasn’t yellow—otherwise it would be called “Big Yellow.”
In any case, regardless of what others thought, the cat’s name was decided:
—Little Black.
..
Meanwhile, after Feng Ying returned to court, Wen Meier in the Furong Palace was so anxious she nearly tore her hair out.
“I thought Feng Ying and Feng Zhao still had a bad relationship and would clash immediately, but they didn’t just get along—they were even laughing together! Feng Ying even gave Feng Zhao a cat!”
Cats weren’t rare, but this gesture signified closeness. She felt a strong sense of danger.
“No. This cannot continue. If their relationship fully stabilizes, my son’s path to the throne will be obstructed!”
A sharp light flashed in Wen Meier’s eyes. She called her head maid, Yunxiang.
“Go. Execute my plan. We cannot wait any longer!”
Her plan was the same one as before—to destroy Feng Zhao’s chastity and ruin her reputation as Empress.
Yunxiang hesitated.
“Your Majesty, acting now that Feng Ying has returned is risky.”
“What is ever without risk? The struggle for the throne is life or death. For my son’s future coronation, a little risk is nothing.”
Another reason Wen Meier was so anxious was—
“The late Emperor’s coffin cannot remain unsealed for long. Before he is buried, the court must select a new emperor and complete the sealing ceremony.”
Yunxiang no longer tried to persuade her.
“Yes. This servant will arrange it immediately.”
Wen Meier warned, “Be careful. We’ve pressured Feng Zhao too much recently—she’s already started biting back!”
To them, Feng Zhao’s changes were initially shocking, but upon reflection, they dismissed it.
A cornered rabbit bites. Especially when the throne is involved.
As for Feng Zhao accepting Feng Ying’s gift—it was just patience before she became Empress Dowager.
..
Back in Fengming Palace, Feng Zhao sneezed several times.
Of course, she wasn’t narcissistic enough to think someone was thinking of her.
No one in the palace wanted her to live well. They all wanted her dead—or to see her humiliated under Wen Meier’s foot.
“Lianqiao, keep a close watch on Fengming Palace these days. No unauthorized entry is allowed.”
To avoid trouble, Feng Zhao decided she would not leave Fengming Palace for the next few days.
“Once the late Emperor is sealed and buried, the situation will be settled. These next few days are especially important.”