Quick Transmigration: Drama Queen's Daily Life Chapter 1463 - 1452: The Lady Who Doesn’t Seek Status

"Immortal Path" became even more explosively popular than "Heroic World"; the Purple Cloud Continent turned into a place everyone longed for, and Lu Xiaoman’s encounters and dangers left people utterly astonished.

Especially the young ladies, who held the heroine Lu Xiaoman in the highest esteem, because she broke the shackles of propriety, resolutely refused the marriage arranged by her family, and fearlessly set foot on that perilous and uncertain Immortal Path. She was decisive in the face of trouble, clever in her actions, never afraid of hardship and danger—wasn’t that exactly the freedom and courage they sought?

So not only in the streets and markets, but also among the noble ladies of the Marquis Mansions, this storybook "Immortal Path" spread like wildfire. Whenever they gathered, what they talked about most was the plot in this book, and whenever a new volume came out, the bookshop could never keep up with demand.

As it became more and more fashionable among the common folk, the noble ladies in the palace also heard of this storybook; even the Empress one day put off the Concubines’ morning greetings just so she could finish reading the novel as soon as possible.

Yet the spread of this novel had both benefits and drawbacks. The good side was that women all became a bit more confident, and other storybook writers, seeing this, imitated it and produced quite a few similar works. Though far inferior to "Immortal Path," at least the result was a flourishing of many voices.

The downside was that even though Ye Qiu had clearly marked "purely fictional" on every volume, there were still people who took it seriously and made a fuss about going to seek that illusory Immortal Path.

Even the Holy Emperor felt a bit tempted. How many Emperors of old sent Daoists to search for Penglai Fairy Island? What ruler doesn’t long for immortality? Especially since Ye Qiu’s storybook described everything so vividly, the scenes in the text felt like they’d been witnessed with one’s own eyes—it was no wonder people yearned for it.

Fortunately, the current Holy Emperor was a wise ruler. From the storybook he also understood that the road of Cultivation was not easy. First one had to abandon all ties to the mortal world. He was the Emperor—was he to give up his supreme position, give up the people of this World, just for that vague Immortal Path?

What’s more, the book also said that an Emperor naturally carries the aura of royalty; even without Cultivation he is protected by Heaven. If he governs diligently and wisely, then even if he does not become an Immortal in this life, in the next he can be born with excellent Spirit Roots and devote himself to the Immortal sects.

Though he set aside that obsession, the Holy Emperor remained utterly captivated by the storybook. And Ye Qiu loved to break off the plot: whenever the story reached an especially thrilling or dangerous moment, the volume would end. If one wanted to know what happened next, one could only wait another ten or so days.

Even though the Holy Emperor knew that writing a storybook took time, he still wanted to meet the author, to have him explain how things turned out in the end. Did Lu Xiaoman ultimately find the Immortal Path?

When others came asking, the bookshop owner would conceal Ye Qiu’s identity, but when the Holy Emperor personally sent people to inquire, could he still hide it? Terrified, the bookshop owner confessed Ye Qiu’s identity.

"Oh? It’s actually a woman?" The Holy Emperor was greatly surprised. "Such a grand, expansive work was written by a young noble lady who hasn’t even reached coming of age?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, that is what the bookshop owner said."

"Now that is truly strange." The Holy Emperor pondered. Although he wanted to meet the author, he couldn’t summon a young noble lady into court just because he wanted to know what happened next in the story. It seemed he’d have to discuss it with the Empress.

"Which family’s daughter is she?" The Holy Emperor asked another question.

"She is a Lady of the Zhongyong Marquis Mansion."

"So she is Marquis Zhongyong Zhang Aiqing’s niece?" The Holy Emperor mused. It seemed better to approach Princess Consort De; the niece of the Zhongyong Marquis Mansion was also Princess Consort De’s niece, was she not?

When the Holy Emperor came to see her, Princess Consort De was a bit taken aback. After learning that the famed Mr. Yang Liu was actually her own niece, she was even more astonished. Since when had her family produced such a figure? Even without the Emperor’s order, she would have wanted to meet her.

The Holy Emperor’s investigation and Princess Consort De’s summons were no secret, so very soon everyone in the capital learned who this Mr. Yang Liu they had always revered really was.

They had assumed only men could write such a masterpiece. Learning that it was a noble lady, they did not feel disappointed. Especially the young ladies of the various mansions, who admired Ye Qiu all the more. Look, this wildly popular storybook was written by one of their womenfolk—could the men do as well?

Because Princess Consort De summoned Ye Qiu and Zhang Yanjing to enter the palace together, Ye Qiu was teased by her along the way: "You really hid it well from me. Who would have thought that the Mr. Yang Liu we’ve been fretting over and yearning to meet is actually you, my cousin! Why didn’t you tell us?"

Ye Qiu smiled faintly. "It was only a whim at first. I never thought it would have such an impact."

Zhang Yanjing sighed. "With just a moment’s whim you’ve achieved something this big. If you ever truly put your mind to it, how much more impressive would you be?"

"Cousin, you’re making fun of me again. What great things can we women do? At best we can write storybooks."

"Ah, if only the Purple Cloud Continent and Immortal Path in your books were real. The immortal women there are all so formidable and self‑possessed!"

"With our joint efforts, someday women’s status will rise."

Leaving aside Ye Qiu’s entering the palace, once people learned that Mr. Yang Liu really was Ye Qiu, Jian Yunchi showed a "so it is indeed her" smile. He even felt a burning urge to meet her, to discuss with her how she had managed to write those two great works, "Heroic World" and "Immortal Path."

Yet while some admired her greatly, others disliked her, and at the head of those who disapproved were none other than Ye Qiu’s two Aunts.

Aunt from the elder branch of the Li Family blamed Ye Qiu for, as a noble lady, showing her face in public and casting away feminine reserve, while the Duan Family hated that Ye Qiu’s fame outshone theirs. Her two sons cared more and more about Ye Qiu, especially the younger: recently, whenever she mentioned her niece Duan Yinyin, the boy grew impatient. If that wasn’t being bewitched by Ye Qiu, then what was?

And why was Ye Qiu so intent on raising her own reputation? Did she think that just because she’d received commendation from the Holy Emperor and Princess Consort De she was worthy of her son? Impossible!

What pleased the Old Lady, however, was that ever since her grand‑niece entered the palace, the number of people coming to inquire about Ye Qiu’s marriage had greatly increased. They said that even though she was still observing mourning, it didn’t matter; once the mourning period ended, the two families could then discuss the marriage.

Previously the Old Lady saw that her grand‑niece didn’t want to marry one of their own boys, and if she married into another family, with lower status, the Old Lady was unwilling. Now, although the rank of those inquiring wasn’t high, it was at least a good start. Perhaps better prospects would appear later. So she did not agree to any proposal, merely saying they would talk after Ye Qiu’s mourning period was over.

Because she kept deferring like this, the second branch’s Duan Family grew even more suspicious that the Old Lady and Ye Qiu were harboring some ulterior plan. She cursed them both incessantly in private and tightened her control over her two sons. Whenever they came home, she would make sure they stayed by her side, absolutely forbidding any chance for them to meet Ye Qiu.

She acted so obviously that the Old Lady—no fool—could see it clearly. Who was this guarding against? Ye Qiu had already stated openly that she would not marry any of her cousins; what exactly was the woman doing?

Moreover, where was her grand‑niece so lacking that she deserved such disdain? Irritated, the Old Lady deliberately sought out trouble for the Duan Family, giving the elder branch’s Li Family a fine show to watch.