Volume 5, Chapter 279 – Did She Run Away with the Money?

“Isn’t that so? You’re so enthusiastic toward my son, if it’s not because you have feelings for him, then what is it?”

Prefect Dong made his self-righteous speculation.

“I’m sorry, Qi Huang-meimei, I really can’t compete with that dog emperor! So I can only hand you over to someone else. It’s brother Yu who has failed your heartfelt intentions. Of course, if Hongling-meimei is willing to sacrifice herself to fulfill our relationship, I would be grateful to her for a lifetime.”

Dong Yu, standing nearby, also made his self-indulgent attempt to save face.

“You’re overthinking it. My enthusiasm toward you is merely out of basic courtesy.”

Qi Huang explained helplessly, thinking to herself: ‘I treat you as a brother, yet you’re thinking of getting me into bed, does this make any sense?’

This time it was the Dong family’s turn to be stunned. They immediately pulled long faces, after all, being slapped in the face publicly would leave anyone unable to remain indifferent.

“Since that’s the case, then I’m powerless to help. I can only follow His Majesty’s wishes.”

Prefect Dong spoke in a cold, harsh tone.

“Fine! Thank you for the trouble, Uncle Dong.”

Qi Huang’s expression remained unchanged, still maintaining that same enthusiasm.

“What are you doing? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t enter the palace?”

Cheng Hongling questioned through mental transmission from the side.

“He’s handling my citizenship registration procedures, not marriage registration. Only a fool would pass up such an advantage.”

Qi Huang responded.

After a short while, Qi Huang successfully completed her citizenship registration procedures. From this moment on, she officially became the Cheng family’s second young lady. Although she had forged identity papers before, she had never had official household registration.

The Dong family trio felt uncomfortable and left in a huff.

“By the way, Chief Steward Zhong said that on the first day of next month, he’ll personally come to escort you into the palace. If you’re not here, he’ll make the Honghua Sect disappear along with you.”

Prefect Dong spoke gleefully as he left, sounding less like he was delivering a message and more like he was enjoying a joke.

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“Quite the bold tone. I’d like to see how he plans to escort me away when the time comes.”

Qi Huang smiled disdainfully.

“Little Huang, it’s already June 16th. Can you cultivate qi before next month?”

Cheng Yuan inquired with concern.

“Where would I need that long? At most three to five days would be enough.”

Qi Huang raised her chin confidently.

“That’s good! As long as you cultivate qi, he wouldn’t dare take you away.”

Cheng Yuan smiled confidently.

“Husband, why are you so certain? Previously when the Honghua Sect encountered difficulties, Sect Master Qin repeatedly sent people to seek aid from the Immortal Alliance, but they remained inactive. Isn’t it somewhat inappropriate for us to place our hopes on these people?”

Jiang Linian spoke with worry.

“My dear wife, you don’t understand this. Previously the Immortal Alliance didn’t help because those were the Honghua Sect’s private matters. But this current affair involves the agreement they signed with the imperial family. If they let it slide, how would they maintain their authority in the future?”

Cheng Yuan patiently explained.

“Father is right. This matter involves the Immortal Alliance’s own interests, so they absolutely cannot stand by and watch. That emperor should understand this principle too, so he definitely won’t turn against the Immortal Alliance over Qi Huang, the cost would be too great.”

Cheng Hongling also chimed in agreement.

Jiang Linian suddenly understood and finally felt completely at ease.

Qi Huang had originally planned to go out immediately to handle her business, but unexpectedly encountered this situation, so she could only temporarily calm down and cultivate. After all, protecting her chastity was the most important priority.

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The news that the current emperor had personally selected Qi Huang as an imperial consort spread throughout the entire Western Radiance Dynasty in less than ten days. For a time, the streets and alleys were all discussing it, for a simple reason, this matter set countless precedents.

First, the selection of imperial consorts had always been handled by the inner palace, with the emperor almost never interfering. Historically, imperial consorts who were personally selected by the emperor had an eight or nine out of ten chance of becoming empress, since their starting point was already higher than other concubines.

Second, this was the first time in Huangtian Commandery’s history that a girl had become an imperial consort, and moreover, one personally selected by the emperor.

Third, this was also the first time in history that an emperor had chosen a cultivator’s doppelgänger as an imperial consort.

In any case, each of these points was quite explosive, so everyone in the Western Radiance Dynasty believed that as long as Qi Huang was willing to enter the palace, she would definitely become the mother of the nation in the future.

Therefore, those whose interests were threatened naturally wouldn’t sit idly by.

On this day, Empress Zheng Zhao of the Western Radiance Dynasty summoned Elder Zuo, the highest-ranking official of the Immortal Alliance in the country, to her chambers.

Elder Zuo, being one of the supreme experts of the Western Radiance Dynasty’s cultivation world, was a genuine Divine Realm master. However, unlike Ye Donglai, he had been entangled in trivial matters for a long time, so he didn’t possess that immortal, transcendent aura. Instead, he emanated a sinister killing intent.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!”

Elder Zuo cupped his hands slightly. Since cultivators weren’t subject to imperial authority, he naturally didn’t need to perform the kowtow ritual.

“Elder Zuo, no need for formalities. Please sit!”

Empress Zheng elegantly pointed to the chair below. Although she was nearly forty, she maintained herself well, and combined with her full, voluptuous figure, she not only didn’t look old, but actually possessed a mature charm that young girls lacked.

“I wonder what instructions Her Majesty has for summoning me?”

After brief pleasantries, Elder Zuo went straight to the point. After all, as a man in the empress’s chambers, it wasn’t appropriate for him to stay long.

“Haha, Elder Zuo is indeed straightforward. Since that’s the case, I won’t beat around the bush.”

Empress Zheng’s smile remained unchanged as she continued: “I wonder if Elder Zuo has heard about His Majesty personally selecting a young girl named Qi Huang from the Honghua Sect in Huangtian Commandery to be an imperial consort?”

“The emperor personally selecting an imperial consort isn’t common. This matter has been spreading throughout the Western Radiance Dynasty, causing quite a stir. I’ve naturally heard of it.”

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Elder Zuo’s expression remained unchanged.

“So how does Elder Zuo plan to respond?”

Empress Zheng pressed further.

“Respond to what?”

Elder Zuo asked impassively.

“Why must Elder Zuo play dumb? The emperor personally selecting an imperial consort isn’t common, and personally selecting a cultivator as an imperial consort is even more unprecedented. If this matter succeeds, I’m afraid your position as an elder of the Immortal Alliance will come to an end.”

Empress Zheng kindly reminded him.

“Not necessarily. I’ve already inquired about this. That girl was poisoned with Qi-Leaking Powder and can never cultivate qi again. If she can’t cultivate qi, then she’s not a cultivator. If His Majesty wants to personally select her as an imperial consort, what does it have to do with my Immortal Alliance?”

Elder Zuo asked calmly.

“But the problem is that she’s just a doppelgänger, not a complete person. Her main body is precisely the Fairy Hongling known throughout our Western Radiance Dynasty. Can you be certain that the Immortal Alliance’s higher-ups won’t charge you with dereliction of duty?”

Empress Zheng smiled mockingly.

“I’m not certain, but your position as empress is definitely coming to an end. Throughout history, women personally selected by the emperor have all become mothers of the nation.”

Elder Zuo sneered.

“Exactly! So we’re now in the same boat, which is why I sought you out.”

Empress Zheng stated her purpose directly.

“What does Her Majesty want me to do?”

Elder Zuo asked knowingly.

“Why must Elder Zuo pretend to be confused when you understand perfectly? Right now in the entire Western Radiance Dynasty, you’re the only one with the ability to stop this matter.”

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Empress Zheng spoke frankly.

“But Your Majesty, if I were to do that, I would inevitably offend His Majesty. I’m afraid the losses would outweigh the gains.”

Elder Zuo countered.

“But you would gain the eternal support of me, the empress.”

Empress Zheng showed her sincerity.

Elder Zuo smiled noncommittally and said: “How about this, allow me to consider it?”

“Then Elder Zuo must hurry. His Majesty will send someone to escort that Qi Huang into the palace on the first day of next month.”

Empress Zheng reminded him.

A few days later, Qi Huang successfully cultivated qi again, which meant she had returned to the ranks of cultivators.

Having resolved the urgent crisis, the heavy burden in Qi Huang’s heart was lifted. She then headed toward the prefectural city, as she had three purposes for this trip: first, to search for large spatial storage rings; second, to collect the three medicinal materials that her main body needed; and third, to collect the money from auctioning the cat’s tears.

Since the second reason was so righteous and noble, Cheng Hongling naturally had no grounds to object. Moreover, she had already promised that she would never again easily restrict her doppelgänger’s freedom.

After disguising herself, Qi Huang soon arrived at the prefectural city. But when she saw the Golden Fortune Auction House, her vision went dark, the place had closed down.

“What’s going on? Did that beautiful manager run away with the money?”

Qi Huang was so angry that her chest ached dully.