Volume 5, Chapter 318 – Fine, I’m Done Pretending

“Who’s waiting for whom? That’s not certain yet.”

Qi Huang’s divine sense extended outward, observing the subtle movements of the group.

“Constable Yao, what do you mean by that?” The youngest constable cautiously inquired.

“This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go!” Constable Yao glanced around before leading the way toward the end of the inn’s corridor.

The other constables hurriedly followed, their faces filled with confusion.

“Brothers, tell me—what are we missing right now?” Constable Yao lowered his voice once he confirmed no one was around.

“Missing what?” The constables exchanged puzzled looks. The burliest one, Dayong, ventured uncertainly, “A Consort?”

“Exactly. We have the waist token, but we’re missing the Consort. She, on the other hand, has the person but lacks the token.” A sly grin crept onto Constable Yao’s face.

“Constable Yao, are you suggesting… we have her replace the Imperial Consort we were escorting into the palace?” Dayong’s expression turned shocked, and the other constables froze mid-breath.

“Why not? The Consort we were escorting and her entire family died on the road. She was an orphan, and neither of them has any living relatives. Even if someone impersonates her, it’d be hard to expose—after all, neither of them has family left to visit the palace.” Constable Yao pointed out.

“But Constable Yao, impersonating a Consort is a capital offense! If discovered, we’re all dead for sure.” The oldest and thinnest constable, Old Zhang, hesitated.

“Old Zhang, we’re already as good as dead if we do nothing. At least this way, there’s a sliver of hope. Unless you’ve got a better idea?” Constable Yao spread his hands helplessly.

“But… but the Consort’s waist token is just a pass to enter the palace. To register at the Office of Palace Ceremonies, she’d need an identity plaque. We have the original Imperial Consort’s plaque, but they look nothing alike, it’d be obvious at a glance.” Old Zhang frowned.

“Oh? So registering at the Office of Palace Ceremonies requires an identity plaque too?” Qi Huang was momentarily surprised, but then it dawned on her—Ouyang Tong had impersonated her, a personally appointed Imperial Consort, and Chief Steward Zhong had personally escorted her in. Who would dare question it?

“I don’t even know why you’re still putting on this act. Just force them to take you into the palace. Given their situation, they’ll cooperate. Why bother with all this trouble?” Yaoyao spoke up impatiently.

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“I’m just practicing my acting skills first. There’s a bigger performance waiting in the palace.” Qi Huang brushed it off casually.

“Acting? You are Qi Huang.” Yaoyao cursed under her breath.

“The Western Radiance Dynasty is strict about identity records now. To forge a new identity plaque, we’d have to return to her registered hometown, assuming we even could, and there’s no time. But if we just replace the portrait on the existing one, that’s much simpler.” After a moment of thought, Constable Yao spoke up.

“True! Replacing the portrait only requires one of those Immortal Alliance talisman papers. Our government office has them.” Old Zhang’s eyes lit up, and the gloom on the others’ faces instantly vanished, replaced by excitement.

“But here’s the problem, did any of you bring those papers? I certainly didn’t.” Constable Yao tested the waters.

The constables glanced at each other before shaking their heads. Those papers were tied to identity plaques, so the office kept them under strict control, no one was allowed to take them out.

“If anyone has them, just hand them over. What’s the point of dragging this out? We’re all in this together now, it’s not like anyone’s going to snitch.” Constable Yao sighed in frustration.

“Fine. I brought a few.” Old Zhang reluctantly admitted.

“Old Zhang, you’re our savior!” Constable Yao was overjoyed, nearly hugging and kissing him on the spot.

“Old Zhang, why would you carry those around?” Dayong asked curiously.

“Ah… well, since they’re government property, they’re hard to sell locally. I figured I’d bring them to the capital and sell them secretly. Heard they fetch a good price here.” Old Zhang admitted awkwardly.

“You sly old fox! No wonder the office’s talisman papers never added up, you were the one stealing them!” Constable Yao laughed and scolded.

“Sorry… I just wanted to buy my son a residency slot in an immortal sect. Constable Yao, you won’t report me, right?” Old Zhang asked nervously.

“Report you? I’m barely keeping myself alive right now. Who has the time?” Constable Yao shook his head helplessly.

“Now that the plaque issue is settled, how do we convince the girl?” Dayong frowned.

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“Isn’t that obvious? Without the waist token, she can’t enter the palace. Missing the deadline means defying an imperial decree. If she doesn’t know, we’ll just have to remind her.” Constable Yao said confidently. The others nodded in agreement.

With their plan set, the constables returned to the guest room.

“Little miss, have you found your waist token yet?” Constable Yao feigned concern.

“Not yet! What am I going to do? I remember clearly, I left it under the mattress!” Qi Huang put on a worried expression.

“That’s trouble. As a Consort, if you don’t enter the palace by the first day of next month, it’s considered defiance of the imperial decree. You’ll be executed.” Constable Yao “kindly” reminded her.

“What? Really? Then I’m doomed!” Qi Huang’s face instantly fell.

“Don’t worry. I have a way to get you into the palace.” Constable Yao stepped forward, pretending to console her.

“Really? How? Uncle, if you can get me in, I’ll be forever grateful!” Qi Huang “brightened up” through fake tears.

“It’s simple. We were escorting a Consort too, but she and her family were killed by wandering spirits on the road. You can take her place.” Constable Yao suggested helpfully.

“Take her place? But if we’re caught, won’t I be executed?” Qi Huang hesitated.

“Relax. She had no close relatives left, and you’re an orphan too. No one will come to the palace to visit, so the risk of exposure is low.” Constable Yao reassured her warmly.

Qi Huang furrowed her delicate brows in thought before finally saying, “But I don’t have her waist token. Even if I wanted to replace her, how would I get in? And what about the identity plaque?”

“Don’t worry. If you agree, we’ll handle all of that.” Constable Yao promised.

“Great!” Qi Huang eagerly agreed.

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Next, Constable Yao placed the deceased Consort’s identity plaque on the table. Old Zhang took out a glowing talisman paper, snapped a “portrait” of Qi Huang, and swiftly replaced the image on the plaque—his movements smooth and practiced, as if he’d done this many times before.

“Remember, from now on, your name is Chen Yuzhu. You’re from Dongyuan Prefecture, sixteen years old. Your father was… your mother was…” Constable Yao instructed Qi Huang while handing her a note with the dead Imperial Consort’s details.

“Got it! So, can I enter the palace now?” Qi Huang skimmed the note.

“Look at her, she’s even more eager than we are!” Constable Yao blinked before laughing mockingly.

“Just a naive little girl. She has no idea how serious this is.” Old Zhang sighed.

“We can take you to the palace now, but you must remember, never speak of this to anyone, and never reveal your true identity.” Constable Yao warned again.

“No problem. You can trust my acting skills.” Qi Huang patted her chest lightly, causing a certain movement that instantly dazed the constables.

“Let’s go.” Constable Yao forced himself to look away.

“Wait! Constable Yao, there’s a huge flaw in this plan!” Old Zhang suddenly panicked.

“What flaw?” Constable Yao frowned. Old Zhang’s alarm annoyed him—right now, they needed morale, not panic.

“Think about it. If she replaces Chen Yuzhu, then she never entered the palace. The court will investigate later, and when they do, won’t it be just as easy to expose her?” Old Zhang explained nervously.

“Right! I didn’t think of that! She mentioned constables escorting her to the capital, they’re witnesses. If she doesn’t show up, the court will investigate, and she’ll be exposed.” Constable Yao realized.

“Not ‘might’, they will. The court investigates every Imperial Consort who fails to arrive on time.” Old Zhang added.

“Then what do we do now? Do we still go through with this?” Dayong asked, breathing heavily.

“Forget it. It’s not worth the risk yet.” Constable Yao shook his head after a brief pause.

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“Constable Yao, we only have a few days left! If we don’t take the risk now, when will we? Do you want to be executed?” Seeing things go awry, Qi Huang tried to persuade them earnestly.

“No need to remind us. The plan itself is sound, we just picked the wrong person. We’ll find another girl with no ties to the outside world.” Constable Yao smiled confidently.

“Right, right!” The other constables quickly agreed.

“I’ve set the stage this well, and you still won’t take the gamble? Are you even men?” Qi Huang was nearly frantic, but they ignored her.

“Pfft—hahaha! This is hilarious. Even when you’re throwing yourself at them, they won’t take you.” Yaoyao burst out laughing.

“But what about her? Just let her go? She knows everything now.” Old Zhang looked at Qi Huang.

“What do you all think we should do with her?” Constable Yao decided to put it to a vote.

“Kill her?”

“Too cruel! We’re constables! And she’s so pretty, what a waste.”

“Then let her go? But what if she betrays us?”

They exchanged uneasy glances, none able to decide.

“Fine. I’m done pretending. Cards on the table.” Qi Huang sighed, then slowly stood up. Her immense divine sense surged outward like a flood, crushing down in all directions.

The constables, caught completely off guard, collapsed like sacks of mud, their faces twisted in terror.

“Haven’t you heard? It’s easier to invite a god than to send one away. Now… shall we go to the palace?” Qi Huang smirked coldly.