Chapter 75: Find a Palace Maid to Impersonate Qi Huang
Eunuch Zhong’s facial muscles began to stiffen upon hearing this, he couldn’t even maintain his fake smile. His toes dug into the ground, and an air of awkwardness emanated from his entire body.
“Serves you right! For cursing me against lightning strikes from heaven.”
Outside the Imperial Palace, Qi Huang, holding the Recording Mirror, let out a gloating laugh.
On the other side, Eunuch Zhong stood awkwardly for a while before stammering, “This… this is probably not possible!”
“Why not? Does this Empress not even have the right to see a mere Imperial Lady?”
Empress Zheng’s smile turned sinister.
“That’s not it, it’s just that Imperial Lady Qi caught a cold on the way, and it might be contagious to your Ladyship, so it’s best not to meet.”
Eunuch Zhong quickly concocted a reasonably convincing excuse.
“Is that so? Then, never mind. You can bring her to my palace another day.”
Empress Zheng said nonchalantly. She knew the truth but still made such a demand, clearly to deliberately make things difficult for Eunuch Zhong, as that old eunuch was lying to her.
“Yes.”
Eunuch Zhong said with a grim expression.
“Alright, Eunuch Zhong, take your time. This Empress still has some firecrackers left to set off.”
Empress Zheng dismissed him.
‘Still setting them off! Aren’t you annoying!’
Eunuch Zhong was extremely annoyed, but he naturally didn’t dare to show it, so he continued with the Imperial Lady Guard.
Qi Huang secretly observed the Empress. She didn’t know if this woman had tried to harm her, but with her current strength, even if she knew the other party was the culprit, she couldn’t act within the palace. The risk would be too great.
Therefore, Qi Huang had decided from the beginning to just enter the palace to scare these concubines, and plan revenge when she had absolute strength in the future. It wouldn’t take long anyway.
Eunuch Zhong quickly led the Imperial Lady Guard to Changshun Hall, which was the sleeping quarters of the current Emperor Lin Tu.
A moment later, Eunuch Zhong was summoned. As he was apprehensive, his steps were slightly shaky, unlike a master.
“What is that old eunuch afraid of? With his strength, if that dog emperor really wanted to behead him, he could just run away.”
Qi Huang couldn’t understand no matter how hard she tried.
“You say it so easily! Have you ever thought about why Eunuch Zhong, with such great strength, didn’t become emperor himself? Instead, he was willing to be a servant?”
Yaoyao reminded.
“Because he’s a eunuch?”
Qi Huang guessed.
“Who decreed that eunuchs can’t be emperors? And do you think he’s that self-aware?”
Yaoyao retorted.
“Then there’s only one reason: Lin Tu has something that makes him wary.”
Qi Huang quickly reacted.
“Isn’t that obvious? You don’t think the Lin clan controls the Xihui Dynasty through benevolence and virtue, do you?”
Yaoyao said disdainfully.
“It seems the Lin clan is not as simple as it appears on the surface.”
Qi Huang fell into thought.
Meanwhile, Eunuch Zhong had already met Lin Tu. Because he had failed to complete the mission, he prostrated himself.
“Eunuch Zhong, where is Imperial Lady Qi? Why didn’t she return with you?”
Lin Tu asked calmly while drinking tea.
Eunuch Ma beside him showed a smug expression.
“Your Majesty, this old servant deserves to die. The Imperial Lady Guard encountered bad weather in Ronghua County, and Imperial Lady Qi went missing due to a thunderstorm. We searched the entire county but couldn’t find her.”
Eunuch Zhong desperately kowtowed.
“Is that so? Are you sure it was due to the weather, and not something man-made?”
Lin Tu slowly put down his teacup, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
“Your Majesty, how would this old servant dare to deceive you? All the members of the Imperial Lady Guard saw what happened at the time. If you don’t believe me, you can question them.”
Eunuch Zhong lay prostrate on the ground, desperately explaining.
‘This old fellow is really courting death. He still dares to lie at a time like this.’
Eunuch Ma beside him sneered inwardly.
“Let me ask you, did you announce to the outside that Imperial Lady Qi is dead?”
Lin Tu’s eyes narrowed gradually.
“No! Absolutely not! Imperial Lady Qi’s body was not found at the scene, how could this old servant dare to claim she is dead?”
Eunuch Zhong seemed to realize something and quickly explained.
“Eunuch Zhong! I don’t know whether to call you smart or foolish!”
Lin Tu showed a perplexing smile.
Eunuch Zhong didn’t dare to say anything and could only tremble on the ground.
“I can forgive your offense, but you must remember one thing: Imperial Lady Qi is not missing, nor is she dead. She has returned to the Imperial Palace with you. Do you understand?”
Lin Tu stood up and instructed.
Eunuch Zhong heard this and felt like he had gone from hell to heaven. He never dreamed that he had committed such a heinous crime, yet this usually ruthless monarch could be lenient. It was like a dream.
Eunuch Ma on the side was also stunned, and then a look of deep disappointment appeared on his face. Clearly, his beautiful dream was shattered.
Qi Huang, who was secretly observing with the Recording Mirror outside, was caught off guard. She couldn’t understand why this cruel and heartless dog emperor would be so lenient with an old eunuch. It was completely illogical.
Eunuch Zhong, being seasoned, quickly realized that His Majesty was doing this to save face. After all, four Imperial Ladies had already died in the selection. If this one also couldn’t be brought into the palace, what would be left of his dignity?
“Thank you, Your Majesty! This old servant will never forget your great kindness and will repay it with my life.”
Eunuch Zhong, having understood the Emperor’s intentions, kowtowed excitedly.
“It’s good that you understand my good intentions! How will you explain to those people outside? I don’t need to teach you, do I?”
Lin Tu reminded.
“This old servant understands.”
Eunuch Zhong quickly kowtowed.
“Very well, find a palace maid later, register her at the Shangyi Bureau, and tell her that from now on, she is Qi Huang.”
Lin Tu continued to give instructions.
“This old servant understands Your Majesty’s meaning, but Imperial Lady Qi has a mark of a clone on her forehead, and she is exceptionally beautiful. There are probably very few women in this world who can impersonate her.”
Eunuch Zhong showed a troubled expression.
“So, you must warn that palace maid: the moment her identity is exposed, she dies. Of course, you all die too!”
Lin Tu said indifferently.
Eunuch Zhong’s face turned pale again, but he still obediently accepted the order. After all, even an ant clings to life. Having a chance is better than nothing.
“By the way, there are people from the Empress in the Imperial Lady Guard. You know what can be said and what cannot be said, so you judge accordingly.”
Lin Tu said, his words shocking.
“What?”
Eunuch Zhong was greatly alarmed. He finally understood why the Empress’s behavior had been so strange before. It wasn’t a welcome reception, but rather a deliberate celebration. A sense of humiliation immediately arose within him.
“Palace maids in the harem, it’s not unusual for them to be close to the Empress.”
Lin Tu said casually.
“This old servant understands, but if there are people from the Empress in the group, she probably already informed her Ladyship about the Imperial Lady’s disappearance. Is it still useful for us to hide it?”
Eunuch Zhong asked with concern.
“The Imperial Lady is missing. The Empress no longer has a threat, so she won’t foolishly expose my lie. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be in her current position. Just do as I say.”
Lin Tu smiled confidently.
“This old servant accepts the order.”
Eunuch Zhong immediately accepted the command. Although he still had many doubts, he knew that he shouldn’t ask questions that shouldn’t be asked.
Qi Huang outside saw everything clearly. Her young heart was profoundly shocked. She never imagined that a person would go to such lengths for the sake of his reputation. Is this what they call the Son of Heaven? Does reputation outweigh human life!
“Indeed, this is the Emperor. If another Imperial Lady dies on the way this time, his authority will plummet to the bottom. How can he win over the people and rule the empire in the future? Do you think his reputation is important?”
Yaoyao revealed the secret.
Qi Huang suddenly understood, but she still felt a little uncomfortable. No matter how important reputation is, it cannot be more important than human life. An Emperor governs the empire with benevolence and virtue, with wisdom, not with authority, and certainly not with schemes and trickery.
At this moment, Eunuch Zhong had already retreated from Changshun Hall. He dared not delay and immediately called the Imperial Lady Guard to a secluded spot to give instructions.
Upon hearing that they had temporarily escaped disaster, the members of the Imperial Lady Guard were so excited that tears flowed. They all pledged not to leak the news of Qi Huang’s disappearance.
Eunuch Zhong announced the disbandment of the Imperial Lady Guard on the spot and then began to search for a palace maid to impersonate Qi Huang. Since the person to be impersonated was exceptionally beautiful, this palace maid also had to be beautiful enough and steady enough.
“Her!”
Eunuch Zhong didn’t deliberate for too long. After all, he was the chief of the internal affairs, so he was familiar with the palace maids.
