Volume 5, Chapter 273 – I Don’t Want to Be an Imperial Consort (Part 1)

‘Has it really gotten to the point where she can’t even control her expressions? Isn’t this just foolish?’

The family of three grew even more solemn upon hearing these words, their gazes toward Qi Huang tinged with increasing pity.

This was exactly the reaction Qi Huang wanted. If she didn’t play the sympathy card, how else could she act recklessly?

“Little Ling, is there really no cure for her condition?” Jiang Linian gently stroked Qi Huang’s head as she asked with concern.

“It’s not that there’s absolutely no cure, but… I’m not a real physician. Besides, her condition can’t be revealed to outsiders,” Cheng Hongling replied after a moment of thought.

“What do you mean?” Jiang Linian asked, puzzled.

“Mother, have you considered this? If we seek treatment, we’d have to explain the situation to others. But in this mortal world, the gender ratio is already severely imbalanced. If people found out there is a way to change genders, or worse, that her body was originally a man’s, what do you think would happen?” Cheng Hongling warned.

“Ah—”

Jiang Linian’s face instantly paled.

Beside her, Cheng Yuan’s breath hitched. Neither of them was foolish, they understood the gravity of the situation. If this were exposed, it wouldn’t just be the Western Radiance Dynasty; the entire cultivation world might come after their daughter.

“Then what should we do? If we can’t treat her, do we just watch her suffer?” Jiang Linian looked down at Qi Huang with doting worry.

“There’s only one solution now, we must find a way to force my Spiritual Wisdom Soul to talk. Since this started because of her, she must know a way to fix it.”

Cheng Hongling repeated this, but her expression remained tense. She knew it wouldn’t be easy. How could she force answers from her own soul fragment? She couldn’t beat it, couldn’t kill it, there was simply no way to coerce it.

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter whether I’m treated or not. The headaches only come when I think about that issue. If I just stop thinking about it, won’t I be fine?” Qi Huang said with feigned nonchalance.

If Cheng Ling really was spineless, then Qi Huang wouldn’t have to keep up the act of being mentally unstable.

“Nonsense! How can you ignore an illness? Do you expect us to just watch you suffer? If it weren’t for the need for secrecy, I’d scour the Western Radiance Dynasty for physicians, surely someone would have a solution!” Cheng Yuan immediately scolded.

“Father, I know you care about her, but I must remind you again, this matter absolutely cannot be shared with outsiders,” Cheng Hongling reiterated.

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“Don’t worry, I was just venting. I’m in my forties, do you really think I don’t understand the stakes?” Cheng Yuan quickly assured her.

“Also, after what happened this time, I strongly suggest you both move to the Honghua Sect. While I have some strength, I can’t be everywhere at once. If something happens, I might not be able to reach you in time,” Cheng Hongling advised.

“Moving to the Honghua Sect isn’t impossible, but what about my business?” Cheng Yuan hesitated. He wasn’t greedy for wealth, but without money, his daughter would lack resources.

“You could move your business there too! It might not be as bustling as the prefecture, but it still has over a hundred thousand people. Surely that’s enough to sustain your trade?” Qi Huang chimed in, trying to mediate.

Cheng Yuan wavered. Logically, it made sense, but it would mean abandoning his current clientele and starting over, which was why he had never moved to the Honghua Sect before.

“Husband, as parents, we should prioritize not burdening our child, even if it means earning less. She’s already under enough pressure,” Jiang Linian gently reminded.

“Alright!”

Cheng Yuan had an epiphany and nodded without hesitation.

“Perfect! From now on, if you need to restock, just send servants to the prefecture. If you must go yourself, I’ll be your bodyguard!” Qi Huang volunteered.

After all, she often needed to visit the Golden Fortune Auction House in the prefecture anyway, it was on the way.

“No need. You’re a patient,” Cheng Yuan replied with a faint smile.

“I’m only mentally ill, it doesn’t affect my combat ability! Haven’t you heard the phrases ‘mad with battle lust’ or ‘completely berserk’? They mean the crazier someone is, the stronger they fight!” Qi Huang argued.

“…”

Cheng Yuan and his wife exchanged glances before sighing in resignation. With reasoning like that, no one would believe she wasn’t mentally ill.

The family’s discussion ended there. It was already late, so they decided to rest.

Having been recognized as their second daughter for so long, this was actually Qi Huang’s first time staying overnight in their home. The novelty amused her.

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With no servants around, Jiang Linian personally prepared a room for her.

When Qi Huang offered to help, she was gently refused. Left with nothing to do, she sought out Cheng Yuan instead.

“Father, can you tell me more about your time in the Honghua Sect?” Qi Huang asked curiously.

“There’s not much to say. My talent was too poor, so that bastard Elder Wu used me as a sacrificial pawn. When I left, my fellow disciples mocked me. Little Ling already knows all this, don’t you have any memories of it?”

Cheng Yuan’s tone was heavy, clearly reluctant to revisit the past.

“Actually, when I was Huang Qi, my experience was pretty similar to yours,” Qi Huang said with a self-deprecating smile.

“Oh? Really? Now that I’d like to hear.”

Cheng Yuan’s interest was piqued.

Delighted that her ploy had worked, Qi Huang recounted her past in detail.

“To think our experiences were so alike… and now we’re father and daughter. What a twist of fate,” Cheng Yuan mused.

“Indeed! As long as you don’t reject me!” Qi Huang replied, touched.

“Why would I reject you? First, you saved my life. Second, even if only a toe of yours carried the Cheng family’s bloodline, you’d still be my daughter.”

Cheng Yuan’s declaration was firm.

“Thank you… Father.”

Qi Huang’s eyes stung. After all, who didn’t yearn for acceptance?

“Don’t worry, Father. I know what you’re thinking. Who says bloodlines decide everything in the cultivation world? I’ll uphold your ideals for you!”

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Qi Huang vowed in return, repaying kindness with loyalty.

“Don’t bother. My ideals… you can’t protect them.”

Cheng Yuan shook his head slowly.

“Why not? You don’t know how strong I am now, and my fighting style has nothing to do with bloodlines!” Qi Huang insisted.

“Really?”

For a moment, Cheng Yuan’s eyes brightened—but then dimmed again.

“It doesn’t matter. To outsiders, you’re my daughter’s doppelgänger, blessed with my wife’s superior bloodline. If you’re strong, they’ll say it’s only natural. They care about who you are, not how you fight.”

Qi Huang fell silent. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Who’s to say people wouldn’t claim her powerful Divine Sense was just another gift from her bloodline?

“I underestimated how complicated this would be.”

Qi Huang sighed. The only way to prove them wrong would be if she still had trash-tier bloodlines, but thanks to Cheng Hongling’s Feminizing Human Skin Mask, even the weakest part of her was still decent.

And so, her plan teetered on the brink of collapse, forcing her to seek another approach.

In the following days, Cheng Yuan and his wife relocated to the Honghua Sect, bringing his business with him.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang found time to play matchmaker. First, she donned a veil and told her two sworn brothers that she was friends with Fairy Hongling and wanted to introduce them to the fairy’s maids.

Then, she returned to the Honghua Sect as herself, bringing the two maids to the prefecture for a meeting. This fulfilled her promise while keeping her identity secret.

To avoid recognition, she altered her appearance drastically and kept her distance.

Though Yuan Jie and Tang Ping were puzzled as to why Fairy Hongling would introduce them to outsiders, they weren’t foolish. If their mistress recommended them, these men had to be decent, whether they were from the sect or not. So they raised no objections.

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As for He Qiang and Liu Keqian, their eyes nearly popped out when they saw the women. While not as stunning as immortal maidens, they were leagues above Xie Mei or Qu Zhen.

Thus, with the men eager to impress and the women far from picky, things progressed swiftly. Yuan Jie took a liking to the steady Liu Keqian, while Tang Ping was drawn to the cheerful He Chao.

Overjoyed at the news, Qi Huang approached Elder Ruan to have two new identity plaques engraved, one for Liu Keqian and Yuan Jie, the other for He Chao and Tang Ping. These plaques became the couples’ shared property.

Qi Huang’s reasoning was simple: to prevent her brothers from being tempted into betraying the girls after entering the Honghua Sect. Unlike the mortal world, the sect was practically a kingdom of women. Any man, no matter how worthless, would have admirers throwing themselves at him.

She knew the maids only agreed to the match because she had introduced the men. She couldn’t betray their trust.

With this matter settled, Qi Huang’s biggest worry was resolved. She swore to herself, never again would she play matchmaker. Being a Red Thread Goddess ¹ localized term for 红娘 (Hóngniáng), a traditional matchmaker figure in Chinese culture , was harder than achieving immortality!

In the Imperial Palace of the Capital…

Emperor Lin Tu was reviewing memorials submitted by his officials, attended by eunuchs and palace maids. Though nearly sixty, he sat with impeccable posture, his face glowing with vitality, his tall frame exuding silent authority.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, his gaze froze on one memorial, a report about the Honghua Sect’s recent attack by the Severed Immortal Sect, and how both Cheng Hongling’s main body and doppelgänger had been poisoned with Qi-Leaking Powder.

“Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger was hit with Qi-Leaking Powder. Since her cultivation was weaker, her qi completely dissipated…”

Reading this, Lin Tu burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Heaven itself aids me!”