Chapter 75: You Are Actually an Imperial Concubine
In the adjacent guest room, five men with distressed faces were sighing like resentful wives.
“Constable Yao, what should we do now? There are only six days left until the first selection of Imperial Concubines.”
Just then, a short young man in the corner asked the tall middle-aged man sitting at the table.
“Are you a pig? You only know how to ask me, can’t you use your brain?”
The middle-aged man scolded angrily. His face was ashen, and his beard was messy, making him look exceptionally decadent.
“I’m not a constable.”
The young man muttered.
“You’re still a person, aren’t you? If you can’t even use your brain, what’s the difference between you and an animal?”
The middle-aged man, known as Constable Yao, was furious. He slammed the table, startling the other three.
“Constable Yao, forgive me for speaking frankly, but now is not the time for infighting. If we can’t find a solution, we can’t stay here any longer. It’s better to run away as soon as possible.”
“Yes, we were escorting an Imperial Concubine, but she died on the way. How can we report back? Instead of waiting to die here, it’s better to escape and become fugitives. That way, we still have a chance to survive.”
“Let’s go now. Once the truth comes out, we won’t be able to run away.”
…
The other three constables also spoke up, all suggesting they should run away immediately.
‘So that’s how it is.’
Qi Huang suddenly understood. From their words, it was not difficult to see that these were constables escorting an Imperial Concubine to the palace. Unfortunately, the Imperial Concubine had died midway, so they were now in a desperate situation.
“They are all going to die.”
Yaoyao commented from the side.
Qi Huang did not refute. This was something even a fool could see. Failure to protect properly, leading to the death of an Imperial Concubine, was a crime that warranted a hundred deaths.
“If I were them, when else would I run if not now?”
Qi Huang expressed her opinion.
“Perhaps they are reluctant to run. In this day and age, it’s not easy to get the state’s provisions.”
Yaoyao speculated.
This was indeed the case. Constable Yao didn’t run because he was reluctant to part with his official uniform. It wasn’t easy for him to reach the position of constable, which was why he came to the Imperial Capital to see if there was any turn of events.
“Constable Yao, you don’t need to consider it anymore. The Imperial Concubine is dead, and we only have her waist token but no person. Is there any room for salvage in this matter? You can’t bring her back to life, can you?”
A slightly older-looking constable persuaded again. The waist token he mentioned was the Imperial Concubine’s waist token, which was issued by the internal affairs department to Imperial Concubines in various regions several months in advance. Imperial Concubines could only enter the palace with this token, and Qi Huang naturally had one too.
“Let’s wait a bit longer. The Imperial Concubine we escorted has no close relatives, so it’s impossible for the truth to come out so quickly.”
Constable Yao still did not yield, only taking a large gulp of tea.
“But what are we waiting for?”
The constables shook their heads helplessly.
Unwittingly, a listener took heed. Qi Huang’s beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, and she murmured, “Of course, they’re waiting for me!”
“What’s wrong?”
The cat-eared girl beside her asked curiously.
“Yaoyao, what do you think if I impersonate this deceased Imperial Concubine and enter the palace?”
Qi Huang’s clear black and white eyes were filled with wisdom.
“Hmm?”
Yaoyao’s vertical pupils contracted slightly. After a moment’s thought, she said somewhat excitedly, “You know what, this plan is indeed feasible. That Imperial Concubine wasn’t as famous as you. People in the palace definitely haven’t seen her. Furthermore, those constables, in order to save their lives, will definitely cooperate with you to act. This way, we might really be able to get by.”
“That’s great!”
Qi Huang nimbly began to take off her outer layer.
“What are you doing?”
Yaoyao quickly asked.
“Since we have a plan, when else should we enter the palace if not now? Quickly transform into clothes, as simply as possible. That previous one looks too ostentatious.”
Qi Huang urged.
“What’s the rush? That Imperial Concubine was indeed unknown, but you are different. If you impersonate her, aren’t you afraid of your original identity being recognized? Especially since the clone mark on your forehead is too conspicuous.”
Yaoyao reminded her helplessly.
“Uh, you’re right, I was too hasty.”
Qi Huang came to her senses and quickly took out the forehead pendant and put it on, then covered her cheek with a veil.
Yaoyao then transformed into a pure white Zhongshan suit, as her body was condensed from pure Yin energy, allowing her to change shapes at will.
Qi Huang put on the clothes, then carried her luggage and went out. She turned left and knocked on the door of the adjacent room.
Constable Yao and the others were guilty and on edge, so a knock on the door startled them greatly.
“Who is it?”
Constable Yao suddenly picked up the long saber beside him and questioned.
Qi Huang pondered for a moment, then said, “Esteemed sir, this humble woman is a tenant who lodged here before. I realized I left something behind after leaving. I implore you to open the door.”
Hearing a girl’s voice outside the door, Constable Yao relaxed a little. He put down the long saber and said, “There’s nothing of yours here. Leave quickly.”
“Please! That thing is very important to me.”
Qi Huang naturally would not give up easily.
“Get lost! If you don’t leave, don’t blame me for being rude.”
Constable Yao was furious. He was already agitated, how could he stand such pestering.
“Please, or this humble woman can give you some tea money as an apology.”
Qi Huang was relentless. She knew their difficult situation and that they were unlikely to make a move.
“This little vixen, will she never stop?”
A tall constable couldn’t stand it first. He picked up his long saber and walked towards the door.
“Dayong, forget it! Our identities are sensitive now, it’s not good to stir up trouble.”
Constable Yao let out a long sigh, then stood up to open the door.
When the door opened, a charming faint fragrance wafted over first. A tall, curvaceous figure appeared in the constables’ sight. Although she wore a veil, her fiery curves alone were enough to make them yearn for her.
The constables froze on the spot, the gloom on their faces swept away, replaced by a faint intoxication.
“I… I’ve disturbed you gentlemen, but… but that thing is really important to this humble… humble woman.”
Qi Huang explained haltingly and fearfully, displaying her terrified state to the fullest.
“It’s alright, come in.”
Constable Yao came to his senses and politely made way, his voice as gentle as a sissy, without even realizing it himself.
The large Dayong who had been yelling at Qi Huang was still in a daze until the long saber in his hand clattered to the ground.
Qi Huang pretended to tremble slightly in fear, then took two steps back.
“It’s nothing! We are street performers, so it’s normal to have some weapons.”
Constable Yao quickly explained, then berated Dayong beside him, “Hurry up and put it away, don’t scare the young lady.”
“Oh… oh…”
Dayong fumbled to pick up his long saber as if he had returned to his senses.
“Miss, you look for it yourself. We haven’t touched anything after coming in.”
Constable Yao enthusiastically invited her, seeming to have completely forgotten his predicament.
“Thank you, big brother!”
Qi Huang politely said thank you, then hesitantly walked in. The faint fragrance in the room became even more intense.
The few unhappy constables secretly took a deep breath, and the look of infatuation on their faces became even more obvious.
Qi Huang acted as if she was used to it and began to search the guest room.
“You’re acting quite convincingly, if I didn’t know the inside story, I would have been fooled by you.”
Yaoyao couldn’t help but tease through telepathy.
“I told you long ago, my acting skills are not comparable to a rookie like Ouyang Tong.”
Qi Huang replied proudly.
“Young lady, haven’t you found it yet? What exactly did you lose? Would you like us to help you look?”
At this moment, Constable Yao walked up enthusiastically to ask.
“Yes, there’s strength in numbers! How long will it take you to find it alone?”
Dayong beside him also echoed repeatedly.
“Oh, it’s the Imperial Concubine’s waist token. If I can’t find it, I won’t be able to enter the palace.”
Qi Huang replied with feigned anxiety.
“What? The Imperial Concubine’s waist token? You are actually an Imperial Concubine?”
Constable Yao was stunned on the spot, and the other four constables also recovered their senses, their faces showing surprise. However, they quickly returned to normal, after all, it was the final deadline for Imperial Concubines to enter the palace, and this inn was close to the Imperial Palace, so encountering an Imperial Concubine was not unusual.
“Yes, my hometown is very far from here. If I can’t enter the palace, as a weak woman alone in the Imperial Capital, I probably won’t survive for three days.”
Qi Huang said in a wailing tone.
“You can’t even survive for three days? Are you a giant baby?”
Yaoyao couldn’t help but complain.
“Are you here in the Imperial Capital alone?”
Constable Yao’s eyes rolled as he probed.
“No, the constables from the county escorted me here, but they left this morning. I only realized the Imperial Concubine’s waist token was lost when I was about to enter the palace.”
Qi Huang blinked her eyes hard.
“Then what about your family?”
Constable Yao continued to inquire.
“I am an orphan. My family died when I was very young.”
Qi Huang shook her head with feigned sadness.
“Such a coincidence?”
Constable Yao’s face showed surprise.
“What coincidence?”
Qi Huang asked with feigned ignorance.
“Nothing, you search slowly. My brothers and I will go out to eat something first.”
Constable Yao calmed himself down, then exchanged glances with the other constables before leading them out.
After Constable Yao and his men had all come out, he immediately bolted the door from the inside, for fear that Qi Huang would fly away.
“Constable Yao, what are you doing?”
Dayong asked in surprise.
“Don’t you see? The person I’m waiting for has arrived.”
Constable Yao slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
