Chapter 75: Her Acting Skills Are Too Bad
“Look quickly, she… she she…”
An Imperial Concubine washing clothes pointed at Ouyang Tong and stammered.
“What ‘she’ are you talking about? Haven’t you seen someone wear a veil? You haven’t worn one?”
Her companion rolled her eyes.
“All those who can become Imperial Concubines are carefully selected girls from every state and every county. It is natural to wear a veil when going out to hide their appearance and avoid trouble.”
“Her surprise must be because she hasn’t worn one before, but with her looks, she doesn’t need to.”
“But this woman is truly pretentious. Wearing a veil even after arriving at the palace. She really thinks highly of herself. Aren’t we all the most outstanding girls from every state and every county?”
…
The companions around her complained one after another.
“Are you all stupid? I’m not talking about the veil, but the mark on her forehead? You don’t know what that is, do you?”
The girl from before argued back in embarrassment.
“What is that? A tattoo?”
“So she’s a delinquent girl, daring to enter the palace with a tattoo. If the steward sees it, she’ll probably be swept out on the spot!”
“Swept out? You’re thinking too simply. For such a behavior that corrupts public morals, she’ll probably be taken out and beheaded as a public example.”
…
Several girls said with schadenfreude, after all, one less Imperial Concubine meant one less competitor.
“What a bunch of bumpkins, that’s the mark of a female cultivator’s clone. You don’t even recognize this?”
The previous girl covered her fair forehead in frustration.
“What? Clone? How can there be a cultivator’s clone in the Shangyi Bureau?”
“Yes, haven’t you heard? there’s a very famous girl among this batch of Imperial Concubines, that is Qi Huang, who was personally appointed as an Imperial Concubine by His Majesty.”
“Right, right, I remember now. That’s the clone of Hong Ling Immortal of HongHua Sect. Because she lost her True Qi, she entered the Palace to become an Imperial Concubine.”
“She is on par with the Saintess of Shuiyu Valley as the ‘Moon-Concealing Twin Beauties’ of the Cultivation World in the Xihui Dynasty. In that case, wearing a veil can be explained.”
“The Moon-Concealing Twin Beauties of the Cultivation World do not include the mortal world. I don’t believe she can be more beautiful than me!”
“Hurry up and shut up, do you want to die? An personally appointed Imperial Concubine entering the palace will most likely become an Empress. If you criticize her like this, you won’t have a good future.”
…
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the entire Shangyi Bureau began to stir.
Ouyang Tong did not expect such a big commotion, and she became even more on edge.
On the contrary, Qi Huang saw the entire Shangyi Bureau through the Recording Mirror. Inside, there were many beautiful girls, mostly around sixteen or seventeen years old, each with her own charm. Because there were no men, everyone was unguarded, it was truly a spring garden. Thinking of having to blend in and stay there for a few days, she greatly admired her wise decision.
Because it was too noisy outside, the stewards of the Shangyi Bureau were also alerted, and they came out one after another.
“Greetings, Steward Zhong. Is this Imperial Concubine Qi?”
The leader, a middle-aged woman with high cheekbones, asked respectfully.
“It is Imperial Concubine Qi. This eunuch has specifically brought her to register. I will have to trouble you to take good care of her in the future.”
Steward Zhong introduced.
“We dare not! We dare not! She is a personally appointed Imperial Concubine. It is my honor to work for her.”
The leading middle-aged woman said nervously, and her attendants echoed.
“Imperial Concubine Qi, this is the head of the Shangyi Bureau, Steward Zhou. To stand firm in the harem, you will have to learn poetry, music, and etiquette from her.”
Steward Zhong introduced to Ouyang Tong.
“Yes… yes… Please, Steward Zhou, take good care of me from now on…”
Ouyang Tong’s voice trembled slightly. After all, when she entered the palace three years ago, Steward Zhou was the head of this place. Although she didn’t stay for a few days and was still wearing a veil now, she felt…
Steward Zhou looked at Ouyang Tong with doubt, thinking that the clone of a cultivator was nothing special, stuttering when talking to her.
“Steward Zhou, given Imperial Concubine Qi’s special identity, please trouble you to arrange a private bedroom for her. Do not disturb her often and do not assign her any dirty or tiring work. If anything happens to her, you will not be able to bear the consequences.”
Steward Zhong instructed.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Steward Zhou nodded repeatedly, then said enthusiastically, “Would you like me to send two palace maids to serve her?”
“That’s not necessary, after all, she doesn’t have an official title yet.”
Steward Zhong quickly declined. He had laid the groundwork precisely to ensure Ouyang Tong’s identity would not be exposed. Asking for two maids would be like tying a knot in a noose.
“This subordinate obeys the order.”
Steward Zhou naturally did not dare to have any objections.
“Alright, let’s go in and register her now.”
Steward Zhong arranged immediately.
The rest was simple. Because Ouyang Tong had the identity of a personally appointed Imperial Concubine as a cover, even though she was wearing a veil, the stewards of the Shangyi Bureau did not say much and quickly registered her.
Ouyang Tong was guilty and her body was trembling slightly, as if she had a fever.
Steward Zhong’s face gradually showed dissatisfaction, but in front of so many people, he couldn’t reprimand her directly.
“Steward Zhou, how many Imperial Concubines have arrived in this batch?”
After registration, Steward Zhong inquired about the situation.
“Reporting to the official, there are a total of three hundred Imperial Concubines in this batch, and one hundred and fifty-one have arrived.”
Steward Zhou replied respectfully.
“It’s already the 24th of the lunar month, and the first selection will be on the first day of next month. Why have only half of them arrived?”
Steward Zhong’s old face fell.
“Your Excellency, you should also know that it is a time of chaos. Some states and counties are far from the Imperial Capital. It is not easy to survive and reach here. Therefore, the situation has not been much better in the past.”
Steward Zhou reminded her.
Qi Huang was a little shocked when she heard this, but after thinking about it, she understood. After all, not everyone had her treatment. Most Imperial Concubines could only be escorted by constables from their respective counties or by escorts hired by their families. It was reasonable for them to get lost on the way.
“Of course, this eunuch understands, but this time it’s really too few. I don’t know if we can gather two hundred people by the first day of next month.”
Steward Zhong said helplessly.
Steward Zhou also fell silent upon hearing this. Those were all living lives.
Next, Ouyang Tong received a set of daily necessities from the Shangyi Bureau and then followed Steward Zhong to her bedroom.
As soon as she entered, Ouyang Tong slumped onto the chair and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with lingering fear.
“You’ve disappointed me too much. Such a small situation has scared you like this. If it weren’t for the female officials’ trust in me, you would have been exposed long ago.”
Steward Zhong reprimanded her sternly after closing the door.
“Your Excellency, please forgive me. This servant has done her best, but the pressure is too great. When I came three years ago, these were the same stewards. I don’t know if they still remember me.”
Ouyang Tong explained with a hint of a sob.
“How long did you stay here three years ago?”
Steward Zhong asked coldly.
“Less than ten days. After being eliminated in the first selection, I chose to stay and become a palace maid, and then I was assigned to serve Consort Yu in the cold palace.”
Ouyang Tong sighed in relief.
“If that’s the case, what are you afraid of? Each batch of Imperial Concubines has two to three hundred people, and you didn’t interact with them for long, plus you’re still wearing a veil!”
Steward Zhong said helplessly.
“But… but I’m still afraid. After all, one wrong move means losing your head.”
Ouyang Tong explained weakly.
“That’s because you’re not immersed enough in the role! As long as you’re immersed, you won’t be afraid.”
Steward Zhong taught her.
“In such a situation, this servant cannot calm down, let alone get into character?”
Ouyang Tong said with red eyes.
“It’s up to you! Either act well for me, or die.”
Steward Zhong said impatiently, then took out a Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device from his怀 and handed it to her: “This Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device can be used to contact me. Speak if there’s anything. Since you can’t act, then stay out of the house as much as possible. Just get through these six or seven days, and everything will be fine.”
“Yes.”
Ouyang Tong trembling took the Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device.
“Alright, this eunuch has other matters to attend to and cannot stay with you all the time. Remember what I said, go out less, and try not to show your face, because no one can guarantee that someone among these Imperial Concubines has seen Cheng Hong Ling or Qi Huang.”
Steward Zhong warned her again, then left, looking back several times.
Ouyang Tong wanted to say something but stopped, and finally closed her mouth resignedly.
“Oh my, this young lady’s acting skills are too bad. She can’t compare to me at all. Fortunately, I chose to stay, otherwise, let alone six or seven days, she wouldn’t even last three days.”
Qi Huang couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.
“It’s easy for you to say that. She’s just an ordinary person. Once her identity is exposed, she will die. She’s acting with her life on the line, anyone would be scared!”
Yaoyao, who had transformed into a cat-eared girl, couldn’t help but retort.
“Acting with one’s life on the line, isn’t that the basic quality of an actor? I’ve done it more than once before, you just don’t know.”
Qi Huang proudly raised her delicate chin.
“Stop talking nonsense. Since you’ve decided to help her, hurry up and find a way to blend in, otherwise, who knows what will happen later.”
Yaoyao urged impatiently.
“I want to too! But how can I openly stay inside?”
Qi Huang had a headache, and the cat-eared girl beside her also frowned, deep in thought.
Suddenly, half a day passed. A few men from the adjacent guest room caught Qi Huang’s attention because these guys kept going to the Imperial Palace gate to peek, and then returned with a sigh, not knowing what they were trying to do.
Qi Huang was curious, so she used the Recording Mirror to take a peek.
