Volume 5, Chapter 276 – I Don’t Want to Be an Imperial Consort (Part 4)

“What? Did she personally tell you this?”

Prefect Dong leapt up from his chair in agitation, his plump body knocking the rice bowl to the ground, where it shattered into pieces.

“Look at you, getting so worked up! If she had confessed outright, would he still be guessing?”

His still-charming wife chided him before instructing the servants to clean up the mess.

“My apologies, Madam! I was just too excited!”

Prefect Dong hurriedly apologized. After all, this was the mortal world, where women held extremely high status, especially those with even a hint of beauty. Even in the Prefect’s residence, this was no exception.

“But you know, Cheng Hongling is a prodigy among prodigies. Though her doppelgänger may not be as exceptional as her true self, she’s still a phoenix among mortals. If our Dong family could marry her, our descendants would inherit this outstanding bloodline, greatly increasing their chances of cultivating immortality. It would truly be a stroke of ancestral fortune.”

After calming down slightly, Prefect Dong explained his reasoning.

“That may be so, but we still need to clarify the situation.”

Madam Dong gave a helpless smile before turning to their son. “Little Yu, why do you think she likes you?”

“You both know how cold and aloof Hongling-meimei ¹ little/younger sister, does not have to be related by blood yadda yadda you should be familiar with it at this point is, she’s never shown me the slightest kindness. But Qi Huang-meimei is completely different. She’s never once given me a cold look, always calling me ‘Brother Dong’ this and ‘Brother Dong’ that, treating me with such warmth. For the same person to show such completely opposite attitudes, doesn’t that mean she likes me?”

Dong Yu analyzed the situation with full confidence.

“That does make sense! I’ve heard that a cultivator’s doppelgänger shares the same personality as their main body. For someone as cold and sharp-tongued as Hongling, her doppelgänger’s excessive warmth toward Yu’er is indeed unusual.”

Madam Dong mused thoughtfully.

“In that case, I’ll go to the Cheng residence tomorrow to propose the marriage on your behalf!”

Prefect Dong could hardly contain his eagerness.

“Thank you, Father!”

Dong Yu was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear. In his view, if a girl treated him with such warmth, even if her feelings weren’t that deep, she at least had to have some favorable impression of him, so she would never refuse.

Unfortunately, Dong Yu could never have imagined that the girl he fancied was a one of a kind existence, a male soul in a female body, who merely saw him as a buddy.

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“Prefect, the Inner Palace Chief Steward, Eunuch Zhong, has arrived from the capital. He demands your presence to receive an imperial decree.”

At that moment, the steward of the residence rushed in to report.

“What? An imperial decree?”

Prefect Dong shot up from his chair again. As a minor prefect governing the backwater Huangtian Prefecture, he couldn’t even remember the last time he had received an imperial decree.

“Could it be that His Majesty has noticed my achievements and intends to reward me?”

Prefect Dong immediately began flattering himself with wild speculation.

“Stop daydreaming! Let’s hurry out to receive the decree, we mustn’t keep Chief Steward Zhong waiting!”

Madam Dong urged him anxiously.

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right, Madam!”

Prefect Dong snapped back to reality and hastily led his family to the gate to receive the decree, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers in the street.

Moments later, Prefect Dong knelt outside with several dozen members of his household to receive the decree.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees…”

Chief Steward Zhong began reading the decree—its contents were the same as what the Emperor had instructed him days earlier: Prefect Dong was to register Qi Huang into the household registry and add her to Huangtian Prefecture’s “Imperial Consort Selection Register”, to be submitted by the deadline.

“Father, what’s an ‘Imperial Consort’?”

A child asked his father in a hushed voice.

“Son, an ‘Imperial Consort’ refers to girls selected by imperial decree to become candidates for the Emperor’s harem. This is usually handled by the Inner Palace. In our Western Radiance Dynasty, the selection happens once every three years, with each prefecture required to submit ten girls who have reached the age of sixteen.”

The father whispered back.

“That’s for other prefectures. Ours is exempt.”

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A nearby man interjected.

“Why?”

The child asked blankly.

“Simple. Our Huangtian Prefecture is infamous in the Western Radiance Dynasty as a ‘rat’s nest’. In the eyes of outsiders, we’re all ugly, short, and rat-faced. How could the Emperor possibly select consorts from here and taint the imperial bloodline?”

The man explained.

“Then this Qi Huang must be the first and last of her kind?”

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

“Not surprising, she’s the doppelgänger of Fairy Hongling, after all.”

The man spoke with reverence.

“But does a doppelgänger even count as a separate person? Besides, she’s a cultivator. I’ve heard cultivators aren’t subject to imperial authority.”

Another bystander asked, puzzled.

“How should I know?”

The man snapped irritably.

“What? The Imperial Consort Selection Register?”

Prefect Dong thought he had misheard. In his decades as Prefect of Huangtian, he had never even seen what the Imperial Consort Selection Register looked like.

“Is there a problem?”

Chief Steward Zhong handed over the decree with a faint smirk.

“N-no problem at all! This humble official accepts the decree!”

Prefect Dong shuddered and hastily received the decree with both hands.

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“It’s over…”

Beside him, Dong Yu collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

“Prefect Dong, what’s wrong with him?”

Chief Steward Zhong asked curiously.

“Forgive him, Chief Steward! This is my son. He’s been suffering from a cold lately, so his health is frail.”

Prefect Dong forced a pale-faced explanation, offending an imperial envoy was no laughing matter.

“In that case, let the young master rest more.”

Chief Steward Zhong appeared magnanimous, helping Prefect Dong to his feet. After all, this was Cheng Hongling’s hometown, and her doppelgänger had been personally selected by the Emperor as an Imperial Consort candidate, her future prospects were limitless.

Madam Dong, as if granted a pardon, hurried to help her son up.

“Prefect Dong, this is the official Imperial Consort Selection Register issued by the Inner Palace. Take it. His Majesty has personally emphasized the urgency of this matter, do not delay, and none of us will bear the consequences.”

Chief Steward Zhong then ordered an attendant to present the Imperial Consort Selection Register.

“I obey!”

Prefect Dong accepted the register with both hands, sighing. “To be honest, after decades as Prefect of Huangtian, this is the first time I’ve ever laid eyes on this register.”

“Then you should thank the heavens for Cheng Hongling’s presence in Huangtian. Without her, you might never have seen it in your lifetime.”

Chief Steward Zhong reminded him.

“Indeed! Indeed!”

Prefect Dong forced a smile uglier than crying. What he wanted wasn’t just a glimpse of the register.

“Remember, handle this matter well. His Majesty holds this Qi Huang in high regard. If she enters the palace, her future will be boundless, and as her local official, you will undoubtedly benefit as well. You understand, don’t you?”

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Chief Steward Zhong pressed once more.

“This official will ensure it is done.”

Prefect Dong acknowledged the order but couldn’t resist asking, “Chief Steward, there are two things I don’t understand. Might you enlighten me?”

“Ask away, Prefect Dong.”

Chief Steward Zhong was surprisingly accommodating.

“First, this Qi Huang is merely a doppelgänger, not a true independent person. Can she really qualify as an Imperial Consort? Second, as far as I know, the Immortal Alliance and His Majesty have an agreement, the government has no authority over cultivators. What if Qi Huang refuses?”

Prefect Dong voiced his doubts.

Beside him, Dong Yu’s face instantly regained color. “That’s right! Qi Huang-meimei is a cultivator. Matters of marriage aren’t for that old Emperor to decide!”

“Prefect Dong, some questions are better left unasked. Haven’t you heard that curiosity killed the cat?”

Chief Steward Zhong’s expression darkened instantly, his robes fluttering despite the absence of wind as a terrifying killing intent radiated from him.

“Forgive me, Chief Steward! This humble official overstepped! But I fear that without a proper explanation, if she refuses to comply, it might ruin your plans.”

Prefect Dong dropped to his knees in panic, while the rest of his family turned deathly pale, some even fainted outright.

“Fine. Considering Huangtian Prefecture produced a Cheng Hongling, I’ll indulge you with an answer.”

Chief Steward Zhong sneered. “First, whether she’s a doppelgänger or not, once registered, she is an independent individual. Second, we’ve received intelligence that the Honghua Sect was recently attacked, this Qi Huang has lost all her qi. Without qi, she is no longer a cultivator. And if she isn’t a cultivator, but an ordinary person, tell me, does she belong to His Majesty? Is she subject to imperial authority?”

“Yes, yes, of course!”

Prefect Dong hurriedly agreed. He knew all too well the dangers of serving a ruler, he couldn’t afford dissent.

“In that case, if she raises any objections, this is how you answer her. Understood?”

Chief Steward Zhong leaned in with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.