Chapter 75: Why is it so hard to keep a low profile?
“This is unbelievable, where did this reckless fool come from.”
Qi Huang was also startled, truly fearing what might come.
The Imperial Garden fell into a dead silence. Everyone turned their gazes to Ouyang Tong, their eyes filled with unconcealed aggression, like spears tearing apart her shoddy disguise.
Ouyang Tong’s breathing grew rapid, sweat appearing on her forehead like dew drops on morning leaves, dense and numerous. Her already weak legs felt as if they had lost their bones, teetering precariously.
“Second Brother, you’re saying she isn’t Qi Huang? Are you questioning the peace and order of the palace? Can just any stray come in!”
Lin Tu’s face was ashen, sending shivers down one’s spine.
“Yes, this woman is not Qi Huang. I can be certain of it.”
Lin Kang ignored him, stating it again.
“I must remind you, even a prince must take responsibility for his words, so I hope you will consider carefully before speaking.”
Lin Tu warned, subtly implying.
“Thank you, Brother Emperor, for the reminder! However, since I dare to speak, I naturally have absolute confidence.”
Lin Kang remained unyielding.
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Lin Tu’s eyes, but he calmly asked, “Oh? Then what is this absolute confidence you speak of?”
“Naturally, it refers to the corroborating evidence – both human and material!”
Lin Kang stepped forward, standing before Ouyang Tong, and spoke eloquently. “Firstly, for human evidence, as far as I know, Cheng Hong Ling participated in the Evergreen Convention at Golden House Mountain near the Imperial Capital four years ago. It hasn’t been long since then, and a person’s features wouldn’t change that drastically.”
Ouyang Tong lowered her head fearfully, like a prisoner undergoing trial.
“Elder Zuo, I recall you presided over that Evergreen Convention. Tell us truthfully, is she Cheng Hong Ling?”
Lin Kang questioned Elder Zuo standing by.
“Your Highness, although not much time has passed, she was too young at the time. As the saying goes, a woman changes greatly between eighteen and eighteen. I truly dare not jump to conclusions.”
Elder Zuo hesitated before giving a vague answer.
“You call Elder Zuo your human witness? You heard his words clearly. Do you have anything else to say?”
Lin Tu intended to brush it off.
“It’s alright! He’s not the only human witness.”
Lin Kang remained unhurried, continuing, “As everyone knows, the Evergreen Convention in the Cultivation World is held every three years. Although Cheng Hong Ling did not come to the Imperial Capital last year, she still participated in the Evergreen Convention in Yongning Prefecture. There were many witnesses at that time.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Huang felt a faint premonition.
“Coincidentally, two days ago, I encountered a cultivator in the Imperial Capital who had participated in that Evergreen Convention.”
Lin Kang turned his head and called out to his retinue, “Ah San, tell His Majesty if this woman is Cheng Hong Ling’s clone.”
As he finished speaking, one of the attendants stepped forward, cast a malicious glance at Ouyang Tong, and then bowed respectfully to Lin Tu. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this commoner can guarantee with his life that she is not Cheng Hong Ling’s clone.”
“How could this be? If she isn’t Qi Huang, then who is she?”
“What audacity! To dare impersonate an Imperial Concubine, such a crime of deceiving superiors and betraying inferiors warrants the extermination of nine generations of kin.”
“The key is that she actually managed to sneak in. The palace’s security really is nothing more than this.”
“This will make His Majesty appear foolish, not even realizing the Imperial Concubine has been swapped.”
…
As these words were spoken, the entire Imperial Garden erupted in a frenzy. The matter was too sensational, and no one could maintain order.
Ouyang Tong clenched her fists tightly, her legs trembling uncontrollably, but due to an intense will to survive, she desperately propped up her faltering body.
“It seems my plan has utterly failed,” Qi Huang thought helplessly. She couldn’t understand where she had gone wrong to allow some newcomer to exploit a loophole.
Lin Tu’s expression began to turn ashen, but he was not one to give up easily. He continued, “Is this the human witness you speak of? What about the material evidence?”
“As for the material evidence! It’s very simple!”
Lin Kang, believing victory was in his grasp, spoke with a hint of smugness. “I’ve heard that Cheng Hong Ling, as a child, consumed the seeds of the Jinming Flower and activated them with pink bamboo water. I believe everyone in the royal family knows that once a woman undergoes such an experience, she will exude an enchanting natural fragrance from head to toe! Just like Concubine Xiang of the previous dynasty, who received a high score of eight points for her body fragrance during the Phoenix Selection Token trials, which led to her being crowned Concubine Xiang.”
Lin Kang changed his tone here. “However, this woman’s body fragrance is only worth three points. How could she be Cheng Hong Ling’s clone?”
“Golden Life Flower? What is that?”
The surrounding people began to whisper, as this item was extremely precious, and over ninety percent of those present had never heard of it.
“The Golden Life Flower is a very rare Heavenly treasure. When consumed by a child, it will completely transform their foundation and bones, regardless of the lineage they inherited from their parents, making them tall and handsome. If it’s a woman, and additionally activated with pink bamboo water, she will exude a captivating body fragrance! This is not a secret in the Cultivation World or among the royal families.”
“My heavens, there’s such a good thing in this world. If there were enough of it, wouldn’t the world be filled with handsome men and beautiful women?”
“I wonder how much this thing costs. I must give one to my children in the future.”
“Indeed, in the Cultivation World, strength is paramount. But in the secular world, appearance can determine most of one’s future, for both men and women.”
…
Everyone in the Imperial Garden showed shocked expressions.
“Second brother knows quite a lot, even knowing that Cheng Hong Ling consumed Golden Life Flower seeds.”
Lin Tu couldn’t help but mock.
“There’s nothing I can do. I am in the Imperial Capital and have been fortunate to receive Your Highness’s care. I have nothing much to do usually, so I enjoy gathering gossip. If you don’t believe me, you may send someone to verify.”
Lin Kang casually replied, then took out a box of rouge from his embrace. “This box of rouge was bestowed by Your Highness upon my beloved concubine. It contains Golden Life Flower pollen, which is why it smells so fragrant. If you don’t believe me, you can come forward and sniff it to see if this woman has the same scent.”
When Lin Kang finished speaking, no one stepped forward. After all, the Emperor had not yet spoken.
“Brother Emperor, why don’t you personally verify it?”
Lin Kang pressed on.
Seeing this, Lin Tu’s expression became somewhat contorted. He never dreamed that his own brother would ruin his plan. This was truly a case of guarding against outsiders but not against insiders.
Lin Tu knew that his act could no longer continue. If he questioned it further now, he would appear to have something to hide. Therefore, the wisest course of action was to sacrifice a pawn to save the king, minimizing the losses.
Having made up his mind, Lin Tu acted decisively, pointing at Ouyang Tong and shouting sternly, “Audacious commoner, how dare you impersonate an Imperial Concubine! Who gave you such courage?”
Ouyang Tong was already a startled bird. Hearing such a roar, her spirit broke. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed.
Qi Huang, with quick reflexes, immediately used her Spiritual Sense to support Ouyang Tong’s body.
Steward Zhong also trembled upon hearing this. He knew the Emperor intended to sacrifice a pawn to save the king, and he was certainly not going to escape.
“Heh heh, an Imperial Concubine was impersonated. Does Brother Emperor know nothing about it? It seems the security in this palace is truly nothing more than this! I am genuinely concerned about your personal safety.”
Lin Kang said sarcastically from the side.
“Speak, who are you? And how did you manage to sneak into the palace?”
Lin Tu approached and questioned, like a mountain crushing down, bringing immense pressure to Ouyang Tong.
Ouyang Tong knew she was doomed. Tears streamed down her face, her pale lips trembling, unable to utter a complete sentence.
“Brother Emperor, she is but a mere woman. Without any help from within the palace, she couldn’t even enter the inner chambers, let alone the main gate. I suggest a thorough investigation into this matter.”
Lin Kang continued to add fuel to the fire, unwilling to let his imperial brother off the hook.
Steward Zhong’s face turned even uglier, his features twitching, wrinkles appearing as if he had aged decades in an instant.
As for the four women in the pavilion, some rejoiced while others worried. Consort Hui and Consort Li rejoiced, as Ouyang Tong could no longer threaten them. However, Empress Zheng and Consort Jin worried, as they knew the inside story and understood that once the truth came out, it would greatly impact Lin Tu’s reputation and could even shake his throne.
“Guards! Take her into the Ministry of Justice prison and interrogate her thoroughly to get to the bottom of this matter.”
Lin Tu, fearing Ouyang Tong might say something she shouldn’t, commanded the nearby guards.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Tong wore an expression of utter despair, for the Ministry of Justice prison was a place where, once entered, life was worse than death.
“Alas! Why is it so difficult to keep a low profile?”
At this moment, Qi Huang’s faint voice echoed, clear and pleasant, like the song of orioles in a valley, reverberating through the Imperial Garden.
