Chapter 75: Imperial Concubine Selection, Nothing More Than This (Part 2)
“I was selecting Imperial Concubines in the Imperial Garden this morning, as everyone knows. What are they doing here at this time?” Lin Tu said with slight displeasure.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Consort of Prince Kang is very curious about the selection of Imperial Concubines, so she wishes to implore you to allow her to witness it and broaden her horizons!” the guard explained quickly.
“Truly troublesome.” Lin Tu gritted his teeth. He just wished this selection of Imperial Concubines could be concluded quickly. It seemed someone always failed to see the bigger picture.
“Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. If they want to watch, let them watch. We are all family anyway,” Consort Hui said, pretending to be clever.
Lin Tu could not tolerate it any longer and questioned, “Are you telling me what to do?”
“Uh… Your concubine dares not… Your concubine dares not!” Consort Hui trembled and immediately knelt to admit her mistake. She had no idea what she had said wrong.
Qi Huang naturally knew the reason and thought to herself, “Serves you right! Trying to defile a cultivator, what an utterly wicked woman!”
Empress Zheng and Consort Jin exchanged glances, revealing expressions of schadenfreude on their faces.
“What about Elder Zuo?” Lin Tu, not wanting to deal with Consort Hui, turned to ask the guard again.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Elder Zuo says he has an urgent matter and must see you now,” the guard said cautiously.
“What arrogance! He *must* see me? Who does he think he is?” Lin Tu became furious, slamming the table, startling most people around him.
“Your Majesty, it’s best not to offend people from the Immortal Alliance,” Consort Jin advised. If there was any woman present who was not afraid of Lin Tu, it was her. Firstly, she was the most favored, and secondly, she had given birth to an exceptionally outstanding daughter.
Hearing this, Lin Tu calmed down somewhat. He took a deep breath and said, “Summon them in!”
“Yes!” The guard, relieved, retreated cautiously.
Not long after, Prince Kang and his wife, along with Elder Zuo, walked in, each followed by several attendants or servants behind them.
“Greetings, Imperial Brother!” Prince Kang and his wife knelt and paid their respects. Although they were brothers, they had to observe the ruler-subject protocol in public.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Elder Zuo, however, merely cupped his fist in a symbolic greeting. As a cultivator, he naturally did not need to abide by worldly rules.
“No need for formalities. What brings you to see me today?” Lin Tu asked for the second time symbolically, then ordered two canopies to be placed on either side of the pavilion and tables and chairs to be set up, inviting both parties to take their seats.
During this time, Elder Zuo kept staring at the group of Imperial Concubines and soon discovered Ouyang Tong, who bore the mark of a clone, among them. A look of confusion then appeared on his face.
‘Strange, I’ve seen Cheng Hong Ling before. Although she was a little girl back then, within just four or five years, she shouldn’t have changed so much, right? Her features look completely different.’ Elder Zuo was puzzled but did not dare to jump to conclusions.
Lin Tu, on the other hand, saw everything. He suddenly realized he had overlooked a very serious problem: Had Elder Zuo of the Immortal Alliance met Cheng Hong Ling or Qi Huang before? If so, this old man could expose that imposter at any moment, and the play he had directed would no longer be sustainable, rendering him a laughingstock to the world.
‘Should I tell him the truth?’ Lin Tu had this thought, but he couldn’t make up his mind. ‘But if I do that, he will surely mock me!’
‘But if I don’t inform him, and that imposter is exposed, I will be ridiculed by everyone in the world. How can I command respect then?’ Lin Tu thought again.
Weighing thepros and cons, Lin Tu decided it was better to tell Elder Zuo the truth. Being looked down upon by one person was better than being mocked by the entire world.
Having made up his mind, Lin Tu left his chair and went directly to Elder Zuo’s side, then said, “Elder Zuo, may I have a word in private?” Elder Zuo looked confused but still gave Lin Tu face, and the two left the scene.
The imperial consorts exchanged glances, unsure of Lin Tu’s intentions. The others in the Imperial Garden were also bewildered. Qi Huang, however, was the only one with some understanding. This was because Cheng Hong Ling had long ago warned her that this dog emperor likely intended to tell Elder Zuo the truth to prevent his scheme from being exposed. Qi Huang was impressed that her main body, despite being a thousand miles away, could predict most of what was about to happen here.
Seeing the Emperor leave, Eunuch Zhong sensibly paused the test.
Meanwhile, Lin Tu led Elder Zuo to a secluded spot and then revealed the truth.
“What? Qi Huang had an accident? Then who is the person among the Imperial Concubines today with the clone mark?” Elder Zuo asked, shocked.
“That’s a fake Qi Huang. I had someone impersonate her,” Lin Tu stated directly.
“Why would you do that?” Elder Zuo’s expression became more astonished.
“Since I ascended the throne, none of the Imperial Concubines I personally selected have survived to enter the palace. I have been ridiculed by the world for it. Therefore, this time, Qi Huang must enter the palace, whether real or fake. Otherwise, how can I command respect in the future?” Lin Tu explained.
“Heh, so Your Majesty did this for face!” Elder Zuo reacted after a moment of thought.
“I’m not afraid of your ridicule. I am indeed trying to save face. After all, an emperor’s face is related to the stability of his throne! So, I implore Elder Zuo to keep this secret for me and not expose that imposter.” Lin Tu spoke in softer tones than usual.
“Your Majesty is joking. Don’t I also have something in my hands that you possess? How dare I not?” Elder Zuo said sarcastically.
“Then thank you, Elder Zuo,” Lin Tu said with a perfunctory thanks and then changed the subject. “The guard just said you had an urgent matter to see me. What is it?”
“Actually…” Elder Zuo was about to answer when his eyes suddenly widened, and his face was immediately covered in clouds of suspicion.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Tu asked, confused.
“This is too strange! If Qi Huang had an accident, her main body, Cheng Hong Ling, would surely know. Why would she have told me those things?” Elder Zuo muttered to himself.
“What did Cheng Hong Ling say?” Lin Tu pressed.
“She told me that Qi Huang had safely arrived at the palace and had even cultivated True Qi again, and that today would be her first selection. That’s why I rushed here to confirm this matter,” Elder Zuo revealed everything after a slight hesitation.
“How is this possible?” Lin Tu was stunned.
Thus, the two began to ponder. A moment later, Elder Zuo confirmed, “Has Your Majesty confirmed with Cheng Hong Ling that Qi Huang is dead?”
“No. If I did that, it would be equivalent to admitting guilt, and the matter could no longer be hidden,” Lin Tu shook his head.
“Is Your Majesty not worried that she will publicize this matter?” Elder Zuo asked curiously.
“No. There are always intelligent people in the HongHua Sect. The death of an Imperial Concubine is a matter of my face, and I haven’t revealed it to the public. They won’t be foolish enough to be the first to act, unless they no longer wish to stay in the Xihui Dynasty,” Lin Tu said confidently.
“Your Majesty is indeed bold and meticulous!” Elder Zuo expressed some admiration, then added, “In that case, is there a possibility that this Qi Huang is actually not dead?”
“Impossible. Based on Steward Zhong’s description of the situation at the time, I can be one hundred percent sure that it was Heavenly Punishment. Let alone a clone in the Juling Realm, even Cheng Hong Ling would have died. Moreover, under such immense pressure, she wouldn’t have been able to recall her main body,” Lin Tu made a firm judgment.
“Then this is indeed strange. What purpose does Cheng Hong Ling have in doing this?” Elder Zuo took a deep breath.
After pondering for a long time without reaching a conclusion, they could only return to their seats for now. Steward Zhong also resumed the test. The Imperial Concubines who were called stepped forward one by one. Those with a composite evaluation below six points were eliminated on the spot, while those above six points naturally passed the initial screening.
Most of the over a hundred Imperial Concubines held onto a sliver of hope. It was only when they saw that nine out of ten of their companions who went up were eliminated that they truly realized how strict the Phoenix Selection Token was. Qi Huang was unfazed. After all, this was used to select concubines, and it concerned the future of the royal family, so naturally, there would be no leniency.
On the other side, Prince Kang also glanced at Ouyang Tong in the crowd intentionally or unintentionally. A moment later, he opened the treasure fan in his hand, which had a sound-shielding effect, and then whispered to a follower dressed as a subordinate, “Ah San, didn’t you say you saw Cheng Hong Ling at the Evergreen Convention in Yongning Prefecture a year ago? Take a good look at that Imperial Concubine with the lotus-shaped mark on her forehead. Is it her?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, this humble one can confirm that it is not Cheng Hong Ling,” Ah San replied with certainty after observing Ouyang Tong.
“Heh, as expected!” Prince Kang then sneered and said, “Imperial Brother! Imperial Brother! It seems that today is destined for me to give you a surprise.”
As everyone watched with anticipation, Steward Zhong finally called out the name “Qi Huang.” The entire Imperial Garden fell silent, as everyone desperately wanted to know if the personally selected Imperial Concubine was as miraculous as the rumors suggested. Ouyang Tong knew that success or failure was in this moment. She took a deep breath and then moved her legs forward with difficulty.
