Volume 5, Chapter 317 – You’re Actually a Consort?

In the neighboring guest room, five men sat with bitter expressions, sighing like resentful women.

“Constable Yao, what should we do now? There are only six days left before the first selection of the Imperial Consorts.”

At this moment, a short young man in the corner asked the tall, middle-aged man sitting at the table.

“Are you an idiot? Can’t you think for yourself instead of asking me all the time?”

The middle-aged man, referred to as Constable Yao, snapped angrily. His face was ashen, his beard unkempt, and his entire demeanor exuded exhaustion.

“I’m not the constable,” the young man muttered under his breath.

“But you’re at least human, aren’t you? If you can’t even use your brain, what’s the difference between you and livestock?”

Constable Yao flew into a rage, slamming the table so hard that the other three men flinched.

“Constable Yao, forgive my bluntness, but now isn’t the time for infighting. If we can’t find a solution, we shouldn’t linger here any longer. It’s better to flee while we still can.”

“That’s right. We were tasked with escorting a Consort, but she died along the way. How are we supposed to explain that? Rather than waiting here for death, we should escape while we still can, at least then we’d have a sliver of a chance to survive.”

“Let’s leave now. If this gets exposed, we won’t even have the chance to run.”

The other three constables spoke up one after another, all suggesting an immediate escape.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Qi Huang suddenly understood. From their conversation, it was clear that these men were constables tasked with escorting a Consort to the palace. Unfortunately, the woman had died midway, leaving them in a desperate situation.

“They’re dead for sure.”

Yaoyao, standing beside her, offered her commentary.

Qi Huang didn’t refute it. Even a fool could see the truth, failing in their duty to protect the Consort was a crime punishable by death a hundred times over.

“If I were them, I’d run right now. What’s the point of waiting?”

Qi Huang voiced her thoughts.

“Maybe they don’t want to give up their positions. In these times, it’s not easy to secure a government job with a steady income.”

Yaoyao speculated.

Indeed, the reason Constable Yao hadn’t fled was his reluctance to abandon his official post. Becoming a constable hadn’t been easy, which was why he had come to the capital, hoping for some kind of miracle.

“Constable Yao, there’s no need to keep deliberating. The Consort is dead. We only have her waist token but no person. How could there possibly be any room for redemption? Unless you can bring her back to life?”

An older constable tried to persuade him again. The waist token he mentioned was the Consort Token, issued months in advance by the Inner Court to selected women across the land. Only with this token could a Consort enter the palace, Qi Huang naturally had one as well.

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“Let’s wait a little longer. The Consort we escorted had no immediate family left. The truth won’t come out so quickly.”

Constable Yao still refused to relent, taking a fierce gulp of tea instead.

“But what are we waiting for?”

The constables shook their heads helplessly.

The speaker may have had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Qi Huang’s beautiful eyes suddenly brightened as she murmured to herself, “They’re waiting for me!”

“What’s wrong?”

The cat-eared girl beside her asked in confusion.

“Yaoyao, what if I impersonate this dead Consort and enter the palace?”

Qi Huang’s clear, bright eyes gleamed with cunning intelligence.

“Hmm?”

Yaoyao’s vertical pupils contracted slightly. After a brief moment of contemplation, she replied with growing excitement, “You know what? That might actually work. That Consort wasn’t as famous as you. The people in the palace have definitely never seen her before. Plus, those constables will cooperate with your act to save their own skins. If we play this right, we might really pull it off!”

“Perfect!”

Qi Huang swiftly began removing her outer robe.

“What are you doing?”

Yaoyao asked hurriedly.

“Now that we have a plan, why delay? Quickly transform into clothing for me—something plain. The last outfit you turned into was too eye-catching.”

Qi Huang urged.

“Why the rush? That Consort might have been a nobody, but you’re different. If you impersonate her, aren’t you afraid your real identity will be exposed? Especially that Doppelgänger Mark between your eyebrows, it’s way too noticeable!”

Yaoyao reminded her helplessly.

“Ah, you’re right. I got too carried away.”

Realizing her oversight, Qi Huang quickly took out a forehead ornament to cover her mark and draped a veil over her face.

Only then did Yaoyao relax, transforming into a pure white waist-length ruqun. Since her body was composed entirely of condensed yin energy, she could shapeshift into anything.

Once dressed, Qi Huang picked up her belongings and stepped out, turning left to knock on the neighboring room’s door.

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Constable Yao and his men, already on edge due to their guilt, were startled by the sudden knock.

“Who is it?!”

Constable Yao immediately grabbed the longsword beside him and demanded.

Qi Huang thought for a moment before speaking in a soft, pleading voice:

“Sir, this humble girl was a guest here earlier. After leaving, I realized I’d forgotten something important. May I trouble you to open the door?”

Hearing a young woman’s voice, Constable Yao relaxed slightly and lowered his sword.

“There’s nothing of yours here. Leave now.”

“Please, I beg you. That item is very important to me.”

Qi Huang naturally wouldn’t give up so easily.

“Get lost! If you don’t leave, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Constable Yao’s temper flared. Already agitated, he had no patience for further pestering.

“Please, I implore you. I can offer some tea money as an apology.”

Qi Huang persisted, knowing full well that given their desperate situation, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble.

“This damn girl just won’t quit!”

A tall, burly constable named Dayong finally lost his patience, grabbing his sword and storming toward the door.

“Dayong, forget it! Our situation is too sensitive right now. We can’t afford to stir up more trouble.”

Constable Yao took a deep breath, stood up, and went to open the door.

As the door swung open, an intoxicating fragrance wafted in, followed by the sight of a curvaceous, tall figure. Though her face was veiled, her alluring silhouette alone was enough to send the constables’ hearts racing.

For a moment, the men froze, their gloomy expressions replaced by dazed fascination.

“I-I’m sorry to disturb you, sirs… but that item is truly… truly important to me.”

Qi Huang stammered nervously, perfectly portraying a timid young woman on the verge of tears.

“It’s no trouble. Come in.”

Constable Yao, snapping out of his trance, courteously stepped aside, his tone so gentle it bordered on effeminate, something even he didn’t notice.

Meanwhile, Dayong, who had been threatening her earlier, remained frozen in place until his sword clattered to the floor.

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Qi Huang pretended to flinch in fear, taking a few steps back.

“It’s nothing! We’re street performers. Carrying weapons around is normal for us.”

Constable Yao quickly explained before turning to scold Dayong:

“Pick that up right now! Don’t scare the young lady!”

“Oh… right…”

Dayong, as if waking from a dream, scrambled to retrieve his sword.

“Miss, feel free to look around. We haven’t touched anything since we arrived.”

Constable Yao warmly invited her in, seemingly forgetting his own dire circumstances.

“Thank you, big brother!”

Qi Huang thanked him politely before hesitantly stepping inside. The fragrance in the room grew even stronger.

The constables subtly inhaled deeply, their infatuation becoming more apparent.

Unfazed, Qi Huang pretended to search the room carefully.

“Damn, you’re a good actress. If I didn’t know better, I’d have been fooled too.”

Yaoyao couldn’t resist teasing her through their Soul Tether.

“I told you, my acting skills are on a whole different level compared to amateurs like Ouyang Tong.”

Qi Huang replied smugly.

“Young lady, haven’t you found it yet? What exactly did you lose? Do you need our help?”

Constable Yao approached her eagerly.

“Yeah, many hands make light work! How long are you going to search alone?”

Dayong chimed in enthusiastically.

“Oh, it’s the Consort Token. If I can’t find it, I won’t be able to enter the palace.”

Qi Huang feigned anxiety.

“What?! The Consort Token? You’re actually a Consort?!”

Constable Yao was stunned. The other four constables also snapped out of their daze, their expressions shifting to shock. However, they quickly regained their composure—after all, it was the final stretch for Consorts to enter the palace, and this inn was close to the imperial grounds. Running into one wasn’t entirely unexpected.

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“Yes. My hometown is very far from here. If I can’t enter the palace, a weak woman like me won’t last three days in the capital without any support.”

Qi Huang spoke as if on the verge of tears.

“‘Won’t last three days’? Are you a giant baby or something?”

Yaoyao couldn’t help but mock her internally.

“Did you come to the capital alone?”

Constable Yao’s eyes flickered as he probed further.

“No, constables from my county escorted me here, but they left this morning. It was only when I tried to enter the palace that I realized I’d lost the token.”

Qi Huang blinked rapidly for effect.

“What about your family?”

Constable Yao continued his questioning.

“I’m an orphan. My family passed away when I was very young.”

Qi Huang shook her head sorrowfully.

“Such a coincidence…?”

A look of delight flashed across Constable Yao’s face.

“What coincidence?”

Qi Huang pretended not to understand.

“Nothing. Take your time searching. My brothers and I will step out for a bite to eat.”

Constable Yao composed himself, shooting a meaningful glance at his men before leading them out.

The moment they were all outside, he immediately latched the door shut behind him, as if afraid Qi Huang would fly away.

“Constable Yao, what’s the plan?”

Dayong asked in bewilderment.

“Can’t you see? The person we’ve been waiting for has arrived.”

A faint smirk curled on Constable Yao’s lips.