Chapter 338 You Act Too Badly, Let Me (6)
Qi Huang now knew who had made a move against her, but she was still baffled as to how the other party had managed to create such a grand spectacle. However, the two soon provided her with the answer.
“The strength of these Heavenly Punishment Realm experts is truly terrifying. With just a single strand of hair, they can make a cultivator’s clone die silently and inexplicably. That Qi Huang probably still doesn’t know what happened!” Empress Zheng said with a triumphant look on her face.
“Yes, who knows, she might even think she did something wrong and was struck by lightning!” Xiao Huan also mocked.
“This time, we have my sister to thank. Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t know how to get rid of that little fox spirit. If I had let her enter the palace, the consequences would have been unimaginable,” Empress Zheng said with lingering fear.
“Your Ladyship, with this method, from now on, as long as someone threatens Your Ladyship’s position, we can use the same trick. Place a strand of hair from a Heavenly Punishment Realm expert on the other party, and no one will be able to survive,” Xiao Huan offered a brilliant plan.
“You’re thinking too simply. Finding a strand of hair from a Heavenly Punishment Realm expert is easy, but the Heaven-Concealing Water used to mask the aura is extremely precious. My sister had to use all her might to get even a little bit of it. Therefore, I can only pray that there will be no more Imperial Concubine ordinations in the future,” Empress Zheng said with a serious tone.
“I don’t think so. After five Imperial Concubine ordinations have died consecutively, His Majesty must have completely given up,” the old palace maid beside her said with great certainty.
“I hope so,” Empress Zheng’s eyes showed a hint of anticipation.
“So that’s how it is, so insidious!” Hearing this conversation, Qi Huang roughly understood. Her inexplicable lightning strike was because the other party had secretly placed a strand of hair from a Heavenly Punishment Realm expert on her, and then summoned heavenly punishment.
Qi Huang recalled the scene at the time, and a shiver ran down her spine. If she hadn’t happened to use the golden cicada’s escape trick, she would probably be imprisoned in the main body’s sea of consciousness by now.
“But how did she place that hair on me?” Qi Huang fell into thought again. She clearly remembered that she had not been touched by any outsider along the way.
“Could it be…” A flash of inspiration struck Qi Huang’s mind. The Wide-Sleeved Flowing Immortal Dress appeared in her mind, as it was the only imperial gift she had used. If a strand of hair was hidden on it, and then the Heaven-Concealing Water was used to hide the aura, let alone the Shentong Realm, even the Heavenly Punishment Realm might not be able to discover it.
“Your Ladyship, what should we do about that imposter Imperial Concubine?” Xiao Huan asked again.
“Dispose of her? Why should we dispose of her? Since she’s a fake, she poses no threat to me,” Empress Zheng retorted.
“Even so, others don’t know. If you let her continue to interfere, it will also affect your reputation. Impersonating an Imperial Concubine is a grave crime. It’s easy for you to get rid of her,” Xiao Huan suggested.
Hearing this, Empress Zheng fell into thought. After a moment, she asked the old palace maid beside her, “Aunt Zou, what do you think? Should we deal with this imposter Imperial Concubine?”
“Your Ladyship, this old servant asks you, where do you think this imposter came from?” the old palace maid asked calmly.
“She must have been arranged by the inner palace, because only they have the ability. This time, Steward Zhong failed to protect the Imperial Concubine properly and found a substitute for Qi Huang to avoid His Majesty’s punishment. That would be an internal matter,” Empress Zheng said after a little thought.
“Impossible, this Qi Huang is an Imperial Concubine. As soon as she enters the palace, she might be summoned by His Majesty. So even if that old eunuch had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to do something like that,” the old palace maid addressed as Aunt Zou shook her head.
“Then what is your opinion?” Empress Zheng asked after a moment of contemplation.
“This old servant believes it was His Majesty’s decree,” Aunt Zou inferred with certainty.
“His Majesty’s decree? The Imperial Concubine died, and he didn’t get furious. Instead, he even let the inner palace find a woman to impersonate the Imperial Concubine? Why?” Empress Zheng was a bit confused.
“Of course, it’s to save face,” Aunt Zou then explained the mystery within the palace, guessing Lin Tu’s plan almost completely. Finally, she added, “Therefore, we absolutely cannot expose this imposter, otherwise, it would be undermining His Majesty and slapping His Majesty in the face.”
“What a formidable old palace maid,” Qi Huang was a little surprised, thinking that the palace was truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
“Heh heh, so that’s how it is! I understand now!” Empress Zheng suddenly laughed.
“Why is Your Ladyship laughing?” Aunt Zou asked respectfully.
“Aunt Zou, very few people in the palace have seen Cheng Hong Ling or Qi Huang. Now only we know that the Imperial Concubine is an imposter. Other imperial consorts don’t know. They must be plotting how to target her. Once the imposter is forced to reveal her identity, it will definitely anger His Majesty. We’ll have a good show to watch,” Empress Zheng’s face showed a schadenfreude expression.
“Your Ladyship is absolutely right,” the old palace maid also showed a rare smile.
…
“Laugh, laugh, laugh as happily as you are now. I guarantee that you will cry as sadly in the future.” Qi Huang said mockingly, then withdrew her spiritual sense.
The next morning, Qi Huang got up. Since she knew that the Empress’s spies had already gone back, she didn’t need to pretend to be sick anymore. After all, the unlucky Ouyang Tong was still starving.
Qi Huang went to the public kitchen to get food, and then delivered it to Ouyang Tong.
Ouyang Tong had been starving for a whole day again. She almost cried out when she heard Qi Huang’s voice.
“I’m sorry, I was sick yesterday,” Qi Huang explained apologetically.
“It’s okay. I’m already very happy that you could bring me food,” Ouyang Tong replied with a choked voice.
Qi Huang, being a man at heart, couldn’t stand to see girls cry. At this moment, she almost rushed in to clarify, but in the end, reason prevailed. After all, it was only two days until the first day of the lunar month. Patience for a moment could prevent much greater trouble.
At noon, what Empress Zheng had said finally happened. A woman called “Consort Hui” came to the Shangyi Bureau with a few attendants, wandered around, and then left.
“Am I overthinking things?” Just as Qi Huang was about to lower her guard, the other party returned and brought dozens of palace maids and eunuchs with her.
Consort Hui ordered her subordinates to search the Shangyi Bureau perfunctorily, and then went to inform Shangyi Zhou that she had lost something important and wanted all Imperial Concubines and palace maids to come out for questioning.
Next, the entire Shangyi Bureau exploded. Qi Huang was naturally called into the courtyard.
“I just lost a jade pendant. Has anyone seen it?” Consort Hui questioned.
The Imperial Concubines and palace maids below looked at each other, all showing confused expressions.
“She’s an imperial consort, and a single jade pendant caused such a commotion in the entire Shangyi Bureau. Can’t she search more herself?” Qi Huang complained inwardly.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Consort Hui changed the subject without any preamble: “Since no one knows, then forget it. I heard that the Imperial Concubine has arrived at the Shangyi Bureau. Which one is she? Come out and let me have a good look. Is she really as outstanding as the legends say.”
‘As expected, her intentions are not just for the pendant. But you should at least pretend to be discreet. You caused such a big scene and just gave up like this.’ Qi Huang felt speechless.
The Imperial Concubines and palace maids below looked at each other again, and no one spoke.
“What? Are you all mute? Do you want me to order my people to cut out your tongues so you can stop talking forever?” Consort Hui said angrily.
“Your Ladyship, that Imperial Concubine is not here,” Shangyi Zhou quickly reported.
“Didn’t I ask all the Imperial Concubines to come out and assemble? Does she dare to disobey?” Consort Hui’s face immediately turned cold.
“Your Ladyship, Eunuch Zhong gave the order not to disturb her if it’s not necessary,” Shangyi Zhou explained hesitantly.
“Is Eunuch Zhong bigger than me, or am I bigger? Hurry up and call her out to greet me!” Consort Hui scolded.
“But… but…” Shangyi Zhou was put in a difficult position. On one side was Consort Hui, and on the other was a potential future empress. Offending either would be bad.
“But what? An Imperial Concubine who just entered the palace, and we don’t even know if she can pass the selection. Where does she get off acting so high and mighty? Are you also planning to disobey?” Consort Hui’s expression became even more ferocious.
“Yes, yes, yes, this humble subject will go and call her right away.” Shangyi Zhou was frightened and scrambled away.
“Alas! Poor Ouyang Tong, it seems she’s going to suffer again. I wonder if she can continue to act this time,” Qi Huang shook her head helplessly, preparing to take Ouyang Tong’s place at any moment. Although she didn’t want to personally intervene, she didn’t want the grand opera to be ruined.
Not long after, Ouyang Tong arrived with Shangyi Zhou, looking timid and submissive.
“Are you the Imperial Concubine Qi Huang?” Consort Hui questioned with sharp eyes.
“Yes… yes I am…” Ouyang Tong replied with a trembling voice.
“How dare you wear a veil when you see me! Don’t you know this is a great disrespect?” Consort Hui suddenly roared, directly giving her a show of dominance.
Ouyang Tong was already guilty, and after being yelled at like this, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
“Is this the so-called Imperial Concubine? Even a cultivator, her courage is too small!” Consort Hui raised the corner of her mouth triumphantly.
“Hurry up and get up, and take off the veil,” Shangyi Zhou quickly went to help Ouyang Tong.
Ouyang Tong finally managed to stand up, then tremblingly reached out and took off her veil, revealing her beautiful face. Although Steward Zhong had advised her not to take it off, she had no other choice now.
“Is this the clone mark of a cultivator? But her appearance is just so-so, not as miraculous as the legends claim,” Consort Hui said with a disdainful smile.
A rustling discussion also faintly arose in the courtyard. The Imperial Concubines all showed expressions of relief. This so-called Imperial Concubine was indeed beautiful, but not to the extent that they could not compete with her. It seemed that rumors were indeed unreliable.
Ouyang Tong lowered her head in shame. She had always been proud of her appearance, but unexpectedly, she still couldn’t meet everyone’s expectations of the Imperial Concubine. At that moment, she felt extremely wronged, and large drops of tears rolled down her cheeks.
“They even say that Cheng Hong Ling is one of the twin beauties who closed the moon in the cultivation world. I think she just hired people to brag about herself,” Consort Hui seized the opportunity to add insult to injury.
“Shut up!”
Just then, Qi Huang’s voice rang out.
