Volume 5, Chapter 319 – Entering the Palace

The constables couldn’t answer. Their bodies were pressed against the ground like lizards, completely immobilized. The only visible change was the twitching of their facial muscles, contorted in terror.

Qi Huang withdrew her divine sense with disdain, then picked up the waist token and identity plaque on the table, idly toying with them.

“Y-you… you…”

The constables regained their freedom, stumbling backward in panic. But their limbs trembled so violently they couldn’t even stand, as if they had seen a ghost.

“What, ‘you’? Follow the original plan—escort me into the palace now, and you’ll be free. Otherwise, you die immediately.”

Qi Huang narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. From what she had observed, those who delivered consorts into the palace needed proper documentation. Since she was putting on an act, it had to be convincing enough to avoid suspicion.

“Y-yes… yes…”

Constable Yao was the first to react, stammering out a reply.

“Let’s go!”

Qi Huang stood up impatiently and strode leisurely toward the door.

Constable Yao gritted his teeth, gripping the chair for support as he forced himself to stand. The other constables helped each other up and followed behind her like frightened servants.

‘Hmph!’

Qi Huang sneered inwardly. These fools actually thought they could silence her? How laughable.

The constables were utterly cowed. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that this seemingly harmless little lamb was actually a human-shaped beast. Though they had countless questions, none dared speak a word, survival came first.

And so, under Qi Huang’s lead, they arrived at the palace gates.

Constable Yao took a deep breath, steadying himself before stepping forward to negotiate.

“Why is she wearing a veil?” A guard pointed at Qi Huang.

“Sir, this humble girl caught a chill on the road,” Qi Huang replied, trying to bluff her way through. After all, her main identity was somewhat well-known, best to keep her face hidden if possible.

“Inside the palace, it doesn’t matter if you have a chill or a stroke, you will remove that veil.”

Clearly, palace guards weren’t so easily fooled.

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The constables exchanged nervous glances, their expressions growing even more panicked.

Qi Huang didn’t argue further. She reached up and removed the veil, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face. Apart from the forehead ornament, there was nothing else obscuring her features. If they insisted on seeing her face, so be it. If she was recognized, she’d just reveal her hand then and there.

The guards’ eyes widened instantly, some even drooling at the corners of their mouths.

“Sir? Sir? What’s wrong? Having a stroke?” Qi Huang seized the chance to mock them mercilessly.

“Move along!” The inspecting guard snapped out of his daze, his face flushing with embarrassment as he waved them through.

‘Hehe…’

Qi Huang smirked in satisfaction and strode confidently through the palace gates, her entourage following like they were treading on thin ice.

“Chen Yuzhu? There’s actually a beauty like this among the new Consort candidates? She outshines even Consort Jin and the Sixth Princess!”

“Strange. How have we never heard of such a peerless beauty before?”

“What’s so strange about that? The Western Radiance Dynasty is vast and abundant, you think you’ve heard of everyone?”

“Regardless, the imperial concubines are in for trouble. A beauty like this will surely stir up a storm of blood in the rear palace.”

The guards’ whispers drifted faintly to her ears.

Since Qi Huang already knew the location of the Office of Palace Ceremonies, she didn’t waste a single moment, heading straight in that direction.

The constables had no idea what was happening, but they didn’t dare ask, trailing behind her like obedient servants.

“What’s your plan once you enter the Office of Palace Ceremonies? Help Ouyang Tong fake her way through? Or replace her and play the role yourself?”

Yaoyao’s curious voice echoed in her mind through their soul resonance.

“We’ll play it by ear. If I can help her muddle through, I won’t get involved. When the first of the month comes, I’ll just find a chance to disappear.”

Qi Huang thought for a moment before answering.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to scare those imperial concubines?”

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Yaoyao reminded her.

“A nobleman’s revenge can wait ten years, and I won’t even need that long. For now, it’s better to be cautious.”

Qi Huang’s reply was perfectly rational.

“What if she can’t pull it off? If you have to step in and act, what if someone recognizes your real identity?”

Yaoyao pressed.

“Then those concubines are just unlucky. I’ll scare them to death.”

Qi Huang grinned smugly.

“And what if you can’t escape? What if that dog emperor catches you and forces you to bear his children?”

Yaoyao teased maliciously.

“No problem. I just won’t reveal my true qi. When the selection comes on the first of the month, I’ll make a grand scene in front of everyone. Let’s see how he dares keep me then.”

Qi Huang spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion.

“Let’s hope everything goes as you wish.”

Yaoyao’s tone was noncommittal.

The palace was enormous. Qi Huang led the constables through twists and turns, taking a full two quarters of an hour before they finally reached the Office of Palace Ceremonies.

“Once the registration is done, you can leave. If you value your lives, stick to our agreement—don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”

Qi Huang reminded them once more.

“Yes, yes, yes!” The constables nodded frantically.

“Stop looking like you’re sending me to my death, alright? Let me be clear, this young lady is not actually a Consort, and no one sent me to the capital. So you don’t have to worry about being exposed.”

Qi Huang offered them this reassurance out of kindness.

“Really?”

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Constable Yao’s face lit up with joy. His companions quickly caught on, their expressions shifting to one of survivors who had narrowly escaped disaster.

“Honestly, in all the time I’ve known you, I’ve rarely heard you refer to yourself as ‘this young lady’.”

Yaoyao’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind again.

“Huh? Did I say that just now?”

Qi Huang wasn’t entirely sure.

“You did! And it sounded completely natural.”

Yaoyao confirmed.

“Damn it!”

Qi Huang sighed helplessly, inwardly cursing that damned Cheng Ling.

“What’s the problem? Isn’t it normal for a girl to call herself ‘this young lady’?”

Yaoyao sounded puzzled.

“N-No… nothing. It’s perfectly normal.”

Qi Huang quickly brushed it off with a laugh. ‘It’s normal when others say it, when I say it, it’s a problem.’

Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Qi Huang strode toward the Office of Palace Ceremonies’ entrance and presented herself to the two beautiful maids standing guard.

“Consort Chen, welcome.”

The two maids greeted her politely. Within the palace, Imperial Consorts held higher status than them—after all, even if their futures were uncertain, they were still considered the emperor’s women for the time being, whereas the maids were already discarded servants.

“These men escorted me here. Can they come in?”

Qi Huang glanced at the five constables.

“Apologies, Consort Chen. The Office of Palace Ceremonies is a residence for women, men are not permitted inside. Once you’ve registered, the stewards will issue a certificate for them to take back.”

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One of the maids explained courteously.

“Wait here, then.”

Qi Huang didn’t push the matter. After instructing the constables, she followed one of the maids inside.

The moment she stepped through the gates, Qi Huang’s vision blurred slightly.

Before her eyes, a dazzling array of flowers bloomed in vibrant competition. Beautiful young women laughed and played among them, their voices like singing orioles and chattering swallows. Skirts fluttered, revealing glimpses of delicate ankles, while the intoxicating fragrance of young maidens mingled with the floral scents, saturating the air. The entire scene was so dreamily perfect it made one’s head spin.

For an ordinary imperial consort, entering this place would be overwhelming, every competitor was stunning, with figures ranging from slender to voluptuous, each exuding a unique charm. Standing out among them would be no easy feat.

But Qi Huang was different. First, she wasn’t actually a woman. Second, she wasn’t here to compete. To her, this place was paradise. Her eyes roamed uncontrollably, sneaking peeks at all the most private areas, hoping to catch something… stimulating.

“What the hell are you sneakily staring at?”

Yaoyao couldn’t take it anymore.

“Staring? I’m just getting familiar with the environment. Gotta know the lay of the land to operate smoothly.”

Qi Huang’s excuse was flimsy.

“By ‘environment’, you mean those women’s bodies?”

Yaoyao pressed.

“Who told you that? Don’t spout nonsense!”

Qi Huang immediately denied it.

“Nonsense? I’m not blind. Why else would you be leering at them like that? Don’t bother lying, as a woman yourself, you know how sharp our intuition is.”

Yaoyao cut straight to the point.

“Leering? I’m looking with a critical eye! Prancing around half-naked in broad daylight, what kind of behavior is that? I’ll use a Shadow-Retaining Mirror to capture evidence of their crimes and report them later.”

Qi Huang declared righteously.