Chapter 303: Do you still dare to take me into the palace?
On the first day of August, the weather was clear, with bright sunshine, which was rare in HongHua Sect.
Qi Huang was in a good mood and got up early to take care of her Ghost Tomatoes. Because of her efforts during this period, her planting scale had expanded dozens of times. One or two hundred Ghost Tomatoes in the greenhouse were growing vigorously, with fist-sized fruits hanging all over the branches. At a glance, they were all a mysterious and dreamy purple, as if entering a paradise.
Of course, the reality was that this place was not a paradise, but hell! As soon as ordinary people touched it, their skin would fester and their lives would be in danger. Therefore, for safety reasons, Qi Huang no longer let Yuan Jie manage it.
Qi Huang observed carefully. Seeing that the fruit of a Ghost Tomato was too small, she took out her treasured sword, cut her finger, and fed it some “fertilizer.” Because of the extraordinary ability brought by “Shui Linglong,” she was able to grow vegetables with ease, harvesting once every quarter.
‘At this rate, I will definitely break through to the Heavenly Punishment Realm within a year.’
Qi Huang yearned with great confidence, but then she realized a problem she had overlooked before: ‘Ordinary cultivators will immediately attract heavenly punishment once they step into the Heavenly Punishment Realm, so they can only stay in seclusion and resist heavenly punishment with all their might. If I enter the Heavenly Punishment Realm, will I also attract heavenly punishment? If that’s the case, what’s the point of participating in the Evergreen Convention?’
The more Qi Huang thought about it, the more uneasy she became, so she consulted Cheng Hong Ling.
“I don’t think so. Ordinary cultivators will suffer heavenly punishment when they step into the Heavenly Punishment Realm because this world can no longer accommodate their powerful bodies, but your cultivation level is only in the Juling Realm, and your body is pitifully weak,” Cheng Hong Ling speculated after thinking hard for a long time.
“If that’s the case, does it mean that even if my spiritual sense is strong enough to match that of an immortal, as long as my body is weak enough, I can still stay in the cultivation world?” Qi Huang had a sudden idea, and her tone was very excited. As long as she had a choice, who would be willing to abandon their friends and relatives in this mortal world? Anyway, she was not willing.
“Logically, it should be so, but this is just my guess. After all, there has never been anyone like you whose spiritual sense far exceeds their cultivation level.” Cheng Hong Ling explained cautiously.
‘I hope so, otherwise, how can I participate in the Evergreen Convention a year later? I can’t possibly suppress my strength on purpose for the Evergreen Convention, right?’ Qi Huang prayed silently. She was not someone who liked to trap herself.
“I have a question. Why haven’t the people from the Immortal Alliance appeared yet? Aren’t they the most anxious right now?” Cheng Hong Ling asked curiously.
“Do you think Elder Zuo wants me to enter the palace?” Qi Huang retorted.
“Of course not. In the eyes of outsiders, you are just a clone, not an independent person at all. Therefore, regardless of whether you have True Qi or not, once you enter the palace, it will damage the reputation of the Immortal Alliance.” Cheng Hong Ling answered without hesitation, but then changed the subject: “However, losses are divided into big and small. If you really lose your True Qi, then whether you are a cultivator or an independent person, the right to interpret it will be in their hands. In this case, the emperor will take you in, and he can afford to compensate for the loss of the Immortal Alliance.”
“Indeed, the possibility of them making secret deals is very high, so I also thought that the people from the Immortal Alliance might not intervene before.” Qi Huang agreed, and then added: “However, after thinking carefully, I changed my view. The right to interpret is indeed in their hands, but people have their own mouths. So, in order to minimize the losses, the Immortal Alliance will definitely send people. Firstly, they can expose my lies in public, and secondly, they can show the seriousness of the Immortal Alliance. Even if I am taken into the harem, they will not suffer too much public pressure. It’s simply killing three birds with one stone.”
After analyzing, Qi Huang continued: “Moreover, what if I really recover my True Qi? The Immortal Alliance cannot bear such a loss. Elder Zuo, who can reach such a position, must be a smart person. He should understand how to choose, so what should come will eventually come.”
“That makes sense, but whether Elder Zuo is a smart person or not is unknown. After all, the Immortal Alliance is a place full of corruption. What if he is really foolish enough not to send anyone? Are you going to hide your True Qi and obediently go into the palace with Eunuch Zhong as a concubine, or directly slap the Immortal Alliance in the face? I must remind you that the consequences of the latter are very serious,” Cheng Hong Ling teased.
“Become a concubine? Impossible! Never in this lifetime! No matter how serious the consequences are, it’s impossible. If that Elder Zuo is really that stupid, don’t blame this Immortal Fairy for being cruel. This time, I will definitely give the Immortal Alliance a big slap.” Qi Huang said sinisterly, completely unaware that her self-proclaimed title was problematic.
Cheng Hong Ling was also shocked to hear Qi Huang call herself “this Immortal Fairy,” but she quickly realized that this was the result of being assimilated too much by her clone. She didn’t know if it was good or bad.
As noon approached, Eunuch Zhong finally arrived, followed by hundreds of guards and dozens of palace maids. The scale of the reception was not like receiving an Imperial Concubine, but more like receiving an Empress returning to the palace.
“What a grand procession! So many people have come to welcome just one Imperial Concubine. Even the Empress’s carriage is no more than this!” Someone in the crowd exclaimed.
“What a fuss over nothing. As long as you can enter the palace, the chosen Imperial Concubine is the future Empress,” someone next to them scoffed dismissively.
“Then wouldn’t the current Empress be sitting on pins and needles? If I were her, I would try every means to get rid of Immortal Qi.”
“Who says not? I heard that the person who attacked HongHua Sect not long ago was instigated by her.”
“Heavens! Fortunately, that ‘Thousand Shadows’ was strong enough, otherwise, not only Immortal Qi, but the entire HongHua Sect might have been buried with them this time.”
…
The onlookers along the way discussed animatedly, clearly attributing all the credit to “Thousand Shadows,” because Qi Huang was playing that role that night. As for the real Thousand Shadows, why would he refuse such easily gained credit? He naturally wouldn’t explain to Lin Tu, which was why this matter didn’t arouse everyone’s suspicion.
After receiving the notification, Qi Huang was too lazy to change her clothes, because she knew that the other party would not dare to take her away, even if the Immortal Alliance didn’t show up. However, just to show hospitality, she still prepared to personally go and “clarify.”
The two parties met in the plaza. As the matter was of great importance, her three family members accompanied Qi Huang, and the high-level figures of HongHua Sect were all present.
“Qi Huang, I believe Prefect Dong has already informed you. You have been chosen as an Imperial Concubine by His Majesty. Today, this eunuch is here to escort you into the palace by imperial decree. Receive the decree!” The obese Eunuch Zhong stepped forward with the imperial decree to inform her.
Qi Huang did not receive the decree but smiled relaxedly: “Eunuch Zhong, I have one thing I don’t understand. I am just a clone, and strictly speaking, I am not an independent person at all. Why would His Majesty still choose me as an Imperial Concubine?”
“It seems Prefect Dong did not fulfill his responsibility!” Eunuch Zhong snorted coldly and said, “This is all thanks to His Majesty. He allowed you to be registered in the household, and naturally, you have become a complete person. So, you must be grateful and receive the decree, and enter the palace to serve him. This is your opportunity to repay his kindness.”
“Even so, I am still a clone of a cultivator, right? I have the right to refuse to enter the palace, don’t I?” Qi Huang asked again, pretending to be ignorant.
“Judging by your demeanor, you don’t want to enter the palace?” Eunuch Zhong asked in surprise, as the girl in front of him was completely different from what he had imagined.
“Of course, being an Imperial Concubine is not as promising as cultivating!” Qi Huang answered without hesitation.
“Unfortunately, I’m afraid this matter is not up to you!” Eunuch Zhong’s expression turned icy: “Your main body, Cheng Hong Ling, is indeed a cultivator, but you are not. Without True Qi, you are an ordinary person and naturally a subject of His Majesty. Have you heard the saying: If the ruler wants his minister to die, the minister has no choice but to die? Therefore, you have no right to refuse any of his requests.”
“Heh heh…” Qi Huang continued to smile calmly and said, “How does Eunuch Zhong know that I have lost my True Qi? What if I still have True Qi?”
“Hmph, it seems you know nothing about the court’s intelligence capabilities! A clone who has been poisoned by Xieqisan, and whose cultivation is so low, why would she still have True Qi?” Eunuch Zhong showed a hint of mockery on his face. After all, he already knew that the girl in front of him had offended the Emperor, so she had completely lost any chance of becoming the Empress.
“It seems your court’s intelligence capabilities are indeed not very good. You believe rumors! Who told you I was poisoned by Xieqisan?” Qi Huang teased with a smile, then extended her fair right hand: “If you don’t believe me, you can have someone come and check!”
Eunuch Zhong narrowed his eyes slightly. For the sake of prudence, after a moment of thought, he ordered a maid, who had clearly practiced martial arts, to step forward to check.
‘Even a maid is a cultivator. They really think highly of me.’ Qi Huang couldn’t help but mock herself.
The maid held Qi Huang’s wrist and then infused a trace of True Qi to examine her. After a moment, she respectfully withdrew.
“How is it?” Eunuch Zhong asked, lowering his head.
The maid leaned closer and whispered the situation she had detected.
“What?” Eunuch Zhong’s face instantly changed.
“How is it? Do you still dare to take me into the palace now?” Qi Huang asked with a bright smile.
Eunuch Zhong’s expression shifted rapidly, and for a moment, he was flustered: ‘She actually still has True Qi in her body. So, should I take her away or not? If I take her away, I will surely offend the Immortal Alliance thoroughly. If I leave her, then what about His Majesty’s dignity?’
“Reporting to the Sect Leader, Steward Cai from the Immortal Alliance is requesting an audience!” Just then, a disciple ran over to report to Qin Quan.
