Chapter 317: Die if you don’t impersonate Qi Huang
“Your Majesty, this old servant believes there may still be loopholes in this arrangement. Steward Zhong has already said that Imperial Lady Qi went missing at an inn in Ronghua County. They have also searched for a long time, which must have attracted a lot of attention. So, will warning the Imperial Lady’s guards about secrecy be useful?” Eunuch Ma reminded cautiously in the Changshun Palace.
“If someone is missing, can’t they be found?” Lin Tu frowned slightly and said, “You can issue a notice on behalf of the Inner Mansion, stating that although Imperial Lady Qi encountered bad weather on her journey, she promptly summoned her main body back, and thus safely arrived at the Imperial Palace. Understand?”
“Your Majesty is wise. This way, the onlookers in Ronghua County will not suspect anything anymore.” Eunuch Ma quickly flattered, but then changed the subject: “Your Majesty, this old servant still has one thing he doesn’t understand. Why do you want Steward Zhong to find a palace maid to impersonate Imperial Lady Qi? As everyone knows, palace maids are all filtered and eliminated by previous Imperial Ladies. And at the beginning of next month, the Inner Mansion will conduct a preliminary screening for this batch of Imperial Ladies. What if she can’t pass the screening then? So, this old servant thinks it might be better to find a concubine to impersonate her?”
“Eunuch Ma, why would you think of letting a fake pass the screening? What benefit is there for me to keep her in the palace?” Lin Tu asked calmly.
“Your Majesty’s meaning is…” Eunuch Ma was a little confused.
“Qi Huang is a well-known figure, big or small, in the Xihui Dynasty. If a fake passes the screening, she will be exposed sooner or later. Instead of that, it’s better to take this opportunity to eliminate this palace maid. Then whether Imperial Lady Qi lives or dies, what she has experienced, and what will happen in the future, will have nothing to do with me. This is my true purpose,” Lin Tu sneered.
Eunuch Ma was stunned on the spot, and fear gradually appeared on his face. He never expected that Lin Tu’s scheming would be so deep, and that a dead end could be resolved so easily.
“Your Majesty’s wisdom truly makes this old servant admire greatly. The Xihui Dynasty is fortunate to have such a wise emperor as you, which is a blessing for all the people.” Eunuch Ma then praised loudly.
“Hmph, man proposes, but God disposes. Now it depends on who Eunuch Zhong finds. If she exposes her identity in advance, even if my plans are well-made, they will be in vain.” A hint of ambition appeared in Lin Tu’s eyes.
“This old servant presumes to suggest that after the palace maid registers at the Shangyi Bureau, immediately send someone to kill her, so there’s no need to worry about her exposing her identity. After all, everyone will know that Imperial Lady Qi has already arrived at the palace.” Eunuch Ma offered a suggestion, thinking he was clever.
“Eunuch Ma, if she dies in the palace, then what will my dignity be? What’s the use of all my previous arrangements? You are, after all, the Vice General Manager of the Inner Mansion, why do you speak without thinking? By what means did you attain this position?” Lin Tu’s expression turned stern.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. This old servant is ignorant, this old servant is ignorant!” Eunuch Ma was startled and quickly knelt down, kowtowing desperately.
“Hmph, luckily I didn’t let you manage the Inner Mansion back then. It seems you are indeed not up to important tasks.” A look of disdain appeared on Lin Tu’s face. Eunuch Ma’s face flushed red upon hearing this.
…
Qi Huang outside naturally saw everything. She increasingly felt that Lin Tu was terrifying. Not only was he cold-blooded and warlike, but he was also good at strategy. The common people of the Xihui Dynasty were truly unlucky to have such an emperor. It was impossible to rise up in rebellion; they could only be slaughtered.
At this moment, Eunuch Zhong had already gone alone to a section of palaces at the very back of the Imperial Palace. Although this place was also a deep courtyard, it was out of place with the prosperity outside. It was so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard, except for the occasional ghostly wails, as if one had arrived in hell.
Eunuch Zhong walked briskly and soon arrived in front of a palace, then knocked on the somewhat mottled door. After a moment, the door opened from the inside, and a palace maid with hair to her waist appeared. She had a stunning oval face, refined features like works of art, and although she wore light makeup, her bright cherry lips were still crystal clear, making one want to take a bite. There was also a small mole at the corner of her mouth, adding a touch of mature charm. Already as beautiful as a flower, she also possessed a large bone structure that most women lacked, making her extremely tall and voluptuous. Even a loose ruqun could not hide her curvaceous figure. Sunlight filtered through the thin skirt, revealing glimpses of her full, slender, beautiful legs.
When Qi Huang saw this palace maid, her eyes immediately lit up. Her mind was clearer than ever at this moment. She was a man, a man who loved beauty.
“Eunuch Zhong!” The palace maid saw that it was the Steward of the Inner Mansion and slightly curtsied.
“Ouyang Tong, how is Imperial Concubine Yu?” Eunuch Zhong asked casually, his eyes scanning the palace maid, and a look of satisfaction gradually appeared on his face.
“Still the same, she babbles all day about wanting to see His Majesty,” the beautiful palace maid named Ouyang Tong replied neither servile nor overbearing.
“Heh heh, wanting to see His Majesty after entering this cold palace, a fool’s dream.” Eunuch Zhong taunted.
“So this place is the cold palace, no wonder it’s so cold,” the peeping Qi Huang realized.
“You’ve been serving Imperial Concubine Yu for three years, haven’t you?” Eunuch Zhong then changed the topic.
“Yes, this servant entered the palace three years ago with that batch of Imperial Ladies. Because I didn’t pass the first round of screening, I stayed to become a palace maid, and was then assigned here to take care of Imperial Concubine Yu,” Ouyang Tong replied with slightly parted cherry lips.
“It’s not easy to stay in this cold palace, is it?” Eunuch Zhong probed. “Besides the mentally unstable Imperial Concubine Yu, you don’t even have anyone to talk to.”
“It’s alright, I like quiet,” Ouyang Tong’s lips twitched slightly.
“Everyone likes quiet, but it turns into loneliness after a long time. You’re at the age of a blooming flower, you shouldn’t be wasting your time here,” Eunuch Zhong pierced through her facade unsparingly and then got to the point: “Now there’s an opportunity to get out, do you want to try it?”
“Eunuch, this servant naturally wants to try, but I’m not strong enough to carry things. I don’t know if I can seize the opportunity you mentioned?” Ouyang Tong said fearfully after pursing her red lips.
“Don’t worry, you don’t need to carry anything. You just need to act,” Eunuch Zhong reassured her.
“Act?” Ouyang Tong was somewhat confused.
“Let me speak to you privately.” Eunuch Zhong then walked into the palace and took Ouyang Tong to a secluded place to explain the situation.
“Let me impersonate Imperial Lady Qi? Why?” Ouyang Tong asked doubtfully.
“Sorry, I can’t reveal the details,” Eunuch Zhong shook his head.
“But… but can I do it? Although I don’t go out much, I’ve heard her name. What if someone in the palace has seen her?” Ouyang Tong’s pretty face showed concern.
“It’s okay, you can wear a veil then. I’ll have the people at Shangyi Bureau arrange a separate room for you. You just need to spend a few days in there. After you are eliminated at the beginning of next month, you will regain your freedom. You can choose whether to leave the palace or stay,” Eunuch Zhong explained.
Ouyang Tong fell into thought, her expression changing rapidly. After a moment, she cautiously asked, “Eunuch Zhong, this servant would like to boldly ask, what will happen if my identity is exposed?”
“You will die!” Eunuch Zhong replied with a serious expression.
“Ah? Then can I choose not to agree?” Ouyang Tong probed.
“Then you will die now! Because this matter needs to be kept secret, so you no longer have a way back from the moment you heard me speak.” Eunuch Zhong’s eyelids drooped, inhumanely like a corpse.
“Alright, what needs to be done is up to the Eunuch’s arrangement.” Ouyang Tong instantly deflated.
“Very good, I like obedient palace maids.” Eunuch Zhong showed satisfaction and instructed, “Wear a veil and follow me. I will have other palace maids come to take your place.” Ouyang Tong resigned herself to her fate and did as she was told.
…
Qi Huang outside saw everything, and her mind began to ponder what to do next.
“What are you planning to do now?” Yaoyao’s voice came.
“Find an opportunity to sneak in!” Qi Huang decided after a period of thought.
