Volume 5, Chapter 302 – She Must Enter the Palace Today

“Well?”

Steward Cai immediately inquired.

The female cultivator knew this matter couldn’t be spread openly, so she stepped closer and reported in a hushed tone.

“That’s impossible! Are you certain you didn’t misread it?”

Steward Cai’s expression stiffened before he urgently sought confirmation. If this were true, the situation would become extremely troublesome.

“Absolutely certain!”

The female cultivator’s reply was resolute.

Steward Cai’s face twisted into an ugly grimace. Now he finally understood why that old eunuch had been so aggressive earlier. He was sure his own expression looked even worse.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang watched the drama unfold with calm amusement. She was curious to see whether the Immortal Alliance or the Emperor would back down first.

The surrounding friends and family who were in the know wore similar expressions. They would be delighted to see either the Immortal Alliance or the Emperor humiliated.

Steward Cai hesitated, his eyes locked onto Qi Huang as he inwardly cursed: ‘What a calamitous beauty!’

“Steward Cai? Why are you just standing there? Are you going to let them take me or not? Say something!”

Qi Huang remained unmoved, only adding more pressure.

“Then… do you want to go?”

Steward Cai clung to a sliver of hope, if this brat willingly entered the palace, things would be much easier.

“Of course I don’t.”

But Qi Huang shook her head firmly, her crisp, melodious voice ringing loud enough to echo across the entire Honghua Sect.

Steward Cai shot her a resentful glare before turning away to contemplate his life choices.

“I’d love to see how they plan to resolve this mess!”

Cheng Hongling snorted coldly.

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“That dog Emperor is already halfway in the grave, yet he dares demand Qi Huang as an Imperial Consort? Who does he think he is? He should take a piss and look at his own reflection.”

Shen Yuan, hot-tempered as always, didn’t hold back in her scathing remarks.

“Not only that, but this dog Emperor is also a notorious tyrant. All these years, he’s been stirring up trouble everywhere, plunging the Western Radiance Dynasty into endless war and misery. And now, this foolish ruler dares lay hands on our Little Martial Sister’s doppelgänger?”

Even Ruan Lingyu, the usually composed senior sister, couldn’t help but agree.

“And how many wives does his harem already have? If not three thousand, it must be close. While so many common men struggle to find even one partner, his greed remains insatiable, utterly devoid of compassion for his people.”

Yun Fei continued the condemnation.

“It’s not just that old Emperor, the Immortal Alliance is no better. We’ve sought their help countless times, yet Steward Cai always brushed us off with excuses. Frankly, no matter who ends up embarrassed today, it’ll be a joyous occasion for us.”

Qin Quan clapped in approval.

“We owe this all to Qi Huang. If not for her meticulous planning, we’d still be trampled underfoot, never able to vent our grievances.”

Xu Mei gazed at her disciple’s doppelgänger with pride, and the others nodded in agreement.

Cheng Yuan and his wife exchanged a glance, their faces filled with unmistakable relief.

“So, who do you think will lose face this time?”

“I bet it’ll be that dog Emperor. Even if he swallowed the courage of a bear and the heart of a leopard, he wouldn’t dare oppose the Immortal Alliance!”

“I think so too! After all, the Immortal Alliance dominates the entire cultivation world, while the Western Radiance Dynasty is just a minor border state.”

The group of senior sisters began chattering away.

Meanwhile, the uninformed onlookers outside were utterly baffled.

“What’s going on? Why has everything stalled?”

“You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”

“Could it be that Fairy Qi has really recovered her True Qi?”

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“Impossible! The Qi-Leaking Powder incident was all over the Honghua Sect, there’s no antidote for that.”

“If I were her, even if I recovered my True Qi, I’d still go with the imperial envoys. With royal backing, her future would be limitless.”

“Do you think the Immortal Alliance would just stand by and watch?”

“What do you know? If she entered the palace willingly, the Immortal Alliance couldn’t interfere.”

“True. Pity you’re not Fairy Hongling’s doppelgänger, and you never will be.”

The murmurs continued among the clueless spectators.

Finally, after much deliberation, Steward Cai steeled himself and approached Eunuch Zhong for a test.

“Chief Steward Zhong, since Qi Huang has regained her True Qi, what do you…?”

He spoke cautiously, knowing the Immortal Alliance was in the wrong here.

“She didn’t regain her True Qi, she claims she was never affected by the Qi-Leaking Powder to begin with.”

Chief Steward Zhong corrected him coldly.

“Ah, I see.”

Steward Cai feigned realization before adopting a conciliatory tone.

“But regardless, she is now a cultivator. Surely you understand…?”

“His Majesty has already issued an oral decree: Qi Huang must enter the palace today. No one may stop this.”

Eunuch Zhong’s reply was unyielding.

“But she has her True Qi back, she’s a cultivator now, and she doesn’t want to go. You have no right to force her.”

Steward Cai attempted reason.

“This servant is merely following orders! If you have complaints, take them up with His Majesty.”

Chief Steward Zhong sneered.

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“But—she’s mentally ill! You saw the proof earlier. Didn’t you inform the Emperor?”

Steward Cai was growing frantic.

“I don’t care if she’s mentally ill or downright insane—today, she will come with me. Anyone who dares obstruct this will face execution without mercy.”

Chief Steward Zhong’s voice was laced with threat.

Steward Cai shrank back, no longer daring to argue. He could only take out a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact his master, Elder Zuo.

“So the rumors truly were unreliable.”

Elder Zuo inhaled deeply before asking after a pause,

“What is Qi Huang’s stance?”

“She refuses to enter the palace, that’s the biggest problem. That’s why I sought your guidance.”

Steward Cai replied.

“If she’s unwilling, then this matter is complicated. Unless the imperial envoys back down on their own, allowing them to take her by force would deal a severe blow to the Immortal Alliance’s prestige.”

Elder Zuo’s tone was grave.

“The imperial envoys won’t retreat. Chief Steward Zhong just told me that Emperor Lin Tu has issued an oral decree—no matter what, Qi Huang must enter the palace today. No one can stop it.”

Steward Cai said awkwardly.

“Who does he think he is?! A mere Emperor of a backwater nation dares to threaten the Immortal Alliance?!”

Elder Zuo suddenly exploded in fury.

“He’s only this brazen because the Immortal Alliance’s presence in the Western Radiance Dynasty is weak. Otherwise, how would he dare?”

Steward Cai sighed.

“Forget it. We’ve accepted his favors before. Go persuade Qi Huang, she must agree to enter the palace willingly. Only then can this matter be resolved cleanly. Understood?”

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After a moment of contemplation, Elder Zuo issued his command.

“Ah? What if she absolutely refuses?”

Steward Cai asked helplessly.

“There is no ‘what if’. Even if you have to beg on your knees, you must make her agree. If the Immortal Alliance suffers because of this, the blame will fall on you.”

Elder Zuo showed no mercy.

“…Yes.”

Steward Cai accepted the order reluctantly, inwardly cursing. What did any of this have to do with him? Out of nowhere, he’d been made the scapegoat. So much for mentor-disciple bonds, were they all just lies?

Knowing there was no way out, Steward Cai could only trudge toward Qi Huang with hesitation.

A faint smirk curled Qi Huang’s lips. Earlier, she had extended her Divine Sense and overheard every word of their conversation.

“Ahem… Qi Huang… perhaps you could reconsider? As a cultivator, entering the palace isn’t a bad choice. With the Emperor’s resources, you’d have unlimited cultivation materials, far better than staying in the Honghua Sect.”

Steward Cai tried to persuade her with earnest concern.

“I’m mentally ill. Would the Emperor really not mind? What if this condition is hereditary?”

Qi Huang asked curiously.

“Not at all! Not in the slightest! If you agree, we can depart immediately.”

Steward Cai hurriedly assured her.

“But I mind. The Western Radiance Dynasty is constantly at war, who knows how long it’ll even last? If I enter the palace and the nation falls, people will blame me. ‘Beauty topples kingdoms’, ‘seduction ruins the court’—it’s happened before. I don’t want to be remembered as a historical villain.”

Qi Huang shook her head calmly.

“Even if you do become a historical villain, you must enter the palace today. Otherwise, if the Immortal Alliance suffers losses, you will be held accountable, and everyone in the Honghua Sect will be implicated. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Seeing that soft persuasion wasn’t working, Steward Cai resorted to outright threats.