Chapter 285 She is the Future Empress (3)
“HongHua Sect’s Xianying Liu Yi Qi Si Wu IX Shi Jiu Lin Meng Chang, Qi Huang?”
The young soldier subconsciously read it out.
“Hmph! So what if a waist token of an immortal elder is lost? I’ve long said that even the Immortal Alliance can’t save you if you intend to rebel.” Constable Peng said with a contemptuous smile.
“Indeed, cultivators are not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, but that doesn’t mean the imperial court cannot crack down on them if they commit crimes,” Xia Wei whispered into her young lady’s ear, her delicate face filled with worry.
“I know, it’s just that this name sounds so familiar?” Liu Yingyue furrowed her brows slightly.
“Captain Tao, hurry up, don’t let this guy run away,” Constable Peng urged.
“Wait! HongHua Sect’s Qi Huang? Could this be…”
Captain Tao also realized something, looking at Qi Huang with surprise and uncertainty on his face.
“What is it?” Constable Peng asked curiously.
“Are you an idiot? Do you remember who the Emperor personally appointed as an Imperial Concubine?” Captain Tao couldn’t help but curse.
“HongHua Sect… Qi Huang?” Constable Peng looked at the waist token again, and his expression changed drastically.
“What is your relationship with Immortal Qi Huang of the HongHua Sect?” Captain Tao asked, trying to remain calm.
“You should know that a cultivator’s waist token cannot be easily given to outsiders. Other matters are not for a mere captain like you to inquire about,” Qi Huang said with feigned profundity.
Captain Tao’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter as he began to analyze the current situation. The two servants, Liu Yingyue and Xia Wei, were stunned. They never dreamed that this “neither male nor female” person would be so well-hidden and have connections with Immortal Qi of the HongHua Sect.
Constable Peng felt something was amiss. A sinister look flashed across his face as he said to the young soldier, “Captain Tao, you don’t need to worry too much. Although Qi Huang is an Imperial Concubine, she hasn’t entered the palace yet. She has no official position, so why should we be afraid of her?”
“Heh heh, that’s true, but you should know very well that historically, all Imperial Concubines personally appointed by the Emperor have become Empress with a nine out of ten probability. If you dare to offend someone close to her now, you’ll have to wait until she ascends the throne and then slowly torment your entire family, young and old, for generations to come,” Qi Huang said deliberately to intimidate him.
“Who are you trying to scare? Those who enter the palace indeed become Empresses, but more than half of them die on the way for various reasons. So, in terms of probability, she is more likely to become the latter,” Constable Peng said mockingly.
Everyone looked at each other, because this was also true. The Imperial Concubine personally appointed by the Emperor entering the palace would harm the interests of many people. The best way was to nip her in the bud.
“How dare you curse the future Empress? It seems that letting you farm is being merciful,” Qi Huang narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.
Captain Tao did not speak. His expression became more and more solemn. This matter had nothing to do with him, and he had no reason to take such a big risk to offend an Imperial Concubine personally appointed by the Emperor. However, if they withdrew now, it would seem too cowardly. Thus, he was in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.
“Captain Tao, what are you waiting for?” Constable Peng urged excitedly, because he knew that the longer this dragged on, the more variables there would be. Rather than this, it would be better to resolve it sooner.
“Forget it. This matter involves an Imperial Concubine, and it’s no longer something a mere captain like me can control. Let the lords above handle it.” Captain Tao finally decided to pass this thorny problem to someone else. He took out the Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device and reported the matter to his superior, Shi Sima.
“What? ‘He’ has the waist token of Immortal Qi of the HongHua Sect?” Shi Sima was extremely surprised upon hearing this.
“Yes, because this matter involves an Imperial Concubine, your subordinate dared not make a decision without authorization, so I wanted to ask for your instructions, my lord.” Captain Tao said respectfully.
“You stay put there and absolutely do not make a move. Wait for me to discuss it with the Governor,” Shi Sima commanded after a long hesitation.
Captain Tao took the order and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally thrown this thorny problem to someone else. In an instant, he felt as if he had thrown off a great mountain.
Shi Sima dared not delay. He immediately picked up the Thousand Li Traditional and reported the matter to the highest administrative official of Yongning Prefecture, Governor Niu.
“What? Qi Huang? Why is her person interfering in this matter?” Governor Niu was also caught off guard.
“Your humble subordinate doesn’t know either. That ‘kid’ might be here to buy things, or perhaps has some acquaintance with the shopkeeper of Juyin Auction House. That’s why he offered help,” Shi Sima analyzed.
“Qi Huang is an Imperial Concubine personally appointed by the Emperor. She is not the ordinary merchandise selected from dozens of prefectures. Historically, such women eventually became Empresses, and if nothing unexpected happens, she will too,” Governor Niu muttered to himself, then subconsciously asked, “You said this kid’s waist token, could it be stolen?”
“The possibility is not high. I don’t know Qi Huang’s cultivation level, but her Main Body is the renowned Hong Ling, the Immortal. Who could steal something under her nose? Moreover, if such a thing happened, it would have spread long ago,” Shi Sima analyzed.
“If it wasn’t stolen, then she gave it to him willingly. I heard that cultivators never give their waist tokens to outsiders easily. From this, it can be seen that this kid and Qi Huang must have an unusually close relationship,” Governor Niu took a deep breath and said.
“Yes, so your humble subordinate thinks it’s not worth offending the future Empress of Xihui Dynasty for a murder case. Moreover, this matter has little to do with Juyin Auction House,” Shi Sima persuaded with a respectful tone. Although he held military power in his own prefecture, according to the establishment of Xihui Dynasty, his official position was still lower than that of the Governor, making him only the second-in-command.
Governor Niu fell silent. After a moment, he said, “I will have all constables withdraw from Juyin Auction House. Please have Shi Sima withdraw those soldiers as well.”
“Yes, sir.” Shi Sima silently breathed a sigh of relief and then obeyed the order.
…
Not long after, Constable Peng and Captain Tao respectively received the news.
The heavy stone in Captain Tao’s chest was lifted. He was a sensible person and knew that such matters were not for a small fry like him to get involved in. Naturally, it was best for the matter to be resolved easily. Constable Peng was miserable. He had sworn an oath, and if the other party pursued the matter seriously, his troubles would not be over.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency… Sir, and Manager Liu, we will leave immediately. Your auction tonight can proceed as scheduled. I guarantee that no one will dare to come and harass you again.” Captain Tao stepped forward to apologize, preparing to withdraw as soon as possible.
Constable Peng’s eyes rolled. He also stepped forward and said, “Yes, I was too reckless before. I will bear all the losses, and I guarantee that such a thing will not happen again.”
Liu Yingyue was stunned. She never dreamed that such a dead end would be resolved by this “unremarkable” guy. She was almost afraid to make a decision.
“Captain Tao may leave. Only you!” Qi Huang looked at Constable Peng and said, “As a constable, you must keep your word. Go back and resign honestly, don’t wait for the Emperor to issue a decree. Otherwise, it might not be as simple as losing your official uniform.”
Constable Peng’s face turned ashen, but he dared not retort. He led a group of civil officials and retreated in a sorry state.
“Young Master, thank you. You have helped me greatly again this time!” Liu Yingyue walked over and bowed.
“You’re welcome. I am also helping myself,” Qi Huang waved her hand generously. After all, she needed the auction house to help her sell Cat’s Eye Tears, and she had things to ask for their help, so she naturally wouldn’t stand by and watch. Xia Wei looked at Qi Huang with complex emotions, her eyes no longer filled with scorn.
“Xia Wei, write a notice and post it at the door, saying that the auction will proceed as scheduled tonight, and instruct the workers to hurry up with the preparations.” Liu Yingyue gave instructions, then turned and said to Qi Huang, “Young Master, let’s chat in the guest room.”
Qi Huang knew that the other party wanted to maintain confidentiality, so she followed. As they went upstairs, Qi Huang felt a bit awkward, because the beautiful shopkeeper was wearing a very tight-fitting, high-slit silver-white qipao skirt, which revealed the entire curve of her waist and hips from behind. Her perfect hourglass figure was simply impeccable. Moreover, as the hemline continuously lifted with her steps, revealing her beautiful legs intermittently, it made her blush.
‘Doesn’t this woman know she might be exposed? She has no sense of prevention at all.’ Qi Huang thought absentmindedly. In fact, she didn’t know that a woman would only be so casual when she fully trusted a “man.”
The two quickly entered the guest room. Liu Yingyue took out the silver notes obtained from auctioning Cat’s Eye Tears during this period and handed them to Qi Huang.
“Why is it only fifty thousand taels? Did you not sell many bottles?” Qi Huang asked doubtfully after a brief glance. She had left dozens of bottles of pure tears here, and the reserve price for each bottle… or rather, the minimum desired price, was twenty thousand taels of silver. After deducting the auction house’s commission, these fifty thousand taels of silver meant that at most three or four bottles were sold.
“Alas! To be honest, young master, since you left, our auction house has successfully held one auction, and this is the silver obtained from selling those three bottles of Cat’s Eye Tears,” Liu Yingyue sighed.
“What’s going on? Didn’t I already help you get rid of the mole last time?” Qi Huang asked her doubts.
