Volume 5, Chapter 321 – You Act Too Poorly, Let Me Do It (Part 2)

Qi Huang was quite at ease. While tidying up the bedding, she casually admired the inadvertent glimpses of her roommate’s alluring charm. As for Ouyang Tong, as long as she stayed in the bedroom, there was no risk of exposure.

After arranging the bedding and settling her luggage, it was time to change clothes. According to the regulations of the Selection Bureau, all Imperial Consorts were required to wear the standard low-cut pink ruqun upon entry. Thus, she had no choice but to change.

Qi Huang glanced around, her face showing hesitation. While she enjoyed looking at somewhat revealing beauties, that didn’t mean she was comfortable exposing herself in front of them—after all, psychologically, she was still a man.

“What are you staring at the clothes for? If you need to change, just change!” Yaoyao said impatiently.

“With them here… it’s a bit embarrassing.” Qi Huang replied awkwardly.

“Oh? I never took you for the conservative type.” Yaoyao remarked in surprise.

“Nonsense. If I weren’t conservative, what right would I have to criticize them?” Qi Huang said with a straight face.

“Seems I really misjudged you, poop-scooper. But with a spatial ring, why worry about finding a place to change?” Yaoyao reminded her.

Qi Huang suddenly realized and, clutching the clothes, walked straight out of the room. Even with a spatial ring, she still needed a secluded spot—otherwise, it’d be too conspicuous.

The three Consorts exchanged puzzled looks but didn’t bother to investigate further.

Qi Huang headed straight to the garden of the Office of Palace Ceremonies, placed the spatial ring in a hidden corner, and then entered it to change.

Yaoyao, meanwhile, transformed into a simple pink-white mòxiōng ¹ a type of chest-wrap embroidered with deep pink hibiscus flowers, perfectly matching the Imperial Consort’s attire.

Qi Huang put on the duijin top ² a cross-collared upper garment and then the skirt, her expression turning awkward. Her chest was simply too… burdensome. Wearing this outfit made her look far too exposed, just a glance downward revealed a glaring expanse of snowy-white “valley”. She tried tightening the chest ties, but breathing became difficult, and the ribbons threatened to snap at any moment.

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“What a shameless dairy cow. Criticizing others for being revealing, look at yourself! When you report them, remember to include your own name on the list.” Yaoyao couldn’t resist mocking, though her tone carried a hint of gritted teeth.

After several failed attempts to fix the issue, Qi Huang gave up. Since the Office of Palace Ceremonies was usually occupied only by women, a little exposure wouldn’t hurt, it wasn’t like she’d suffer any losses.

Exiting the spatial ring, Qi Huang hurried back to her quarters. Naturally, her striking figure drew many envious gazes along the way. While the Office of Palace Ceremonies wasn’t lacking in beauties, few matched her height and proportions.

When she returned to the bedroom, the other two roommates had also arrived. All five girls stared at her in stunned silence before jealousy flickered across their faces.

‘If I told them I was actually a man, they’d probably feel better.’ Qi Huang mused silently.

With nothing else to do, Qi Huang lay down to rest, though her divine sense remained vigilant, constantly monitoring Ouyang Tong.

As time passed, Qi Huang learned the names of her roommates from their chatter.

The tallest was Fan Ying, her advantage was her pretty face, but her figure lacked curves.

The most voluptuous was Yu Jie, her advantage was her body, but she wasn’t particularly sharp-witted.

The shortest was Yang Cai, her advantage was her silver tongue, but her looks were rather plain.

The two later arrivals were:

Tang Lu—if Yang Cai was relatively plain, Tang Lu was outright ugly. Short, plump, and standing out like a sore thumb among the Consorts. However, her high-handed demeanor suggested a powerful background, otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it into the palace.

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Huang Min, the last girl, was the opposite. Though pretty, she was introverted, and her rough skin and simple jewelry hinted at a humble upbringing.

“Aren’t you planning to do anything? The first round of eliminations starts next month, aren’t you afraid of being cut?” Fan Ying, the prettiest of them, frowned in concern. Though her words could be blunt, her intentions were genuine.

“Becoming a concubine doesn’t matter to me.” Qi Huang replied dismissively. Though they’d only been together for half a shichen ³ an hour , she’d already gleaned enough from their conversations.

“Why? Even if women have higher status these days, even if you’re attractive, marrying an ordinary man is nothing compared to marrying the Emperor. If nothing else, the palace’s safety alone is unmatched outside. If you don’t cherish this opportunity, don’t cry about it later.” Fan Ying shook her head helplessly.

“What’s it to you whether she becomes a concubine or not? Mind your own business.” Yang Cai, the short one, snapped before turning to Qi Huang. “Right?”

Qi Huang smiled noncommittally. As the saying went, “Good medicine tastes bitter but cures the illness; honest advice is hard to hear but guides conduct.” She wasn’t a fool, she knew perfectly well who meant well.

“Elder Sisters… I heard that after several rounds of eliminations, only one in ten Consorts makes it into the harem. Is that true?” Huang Min asked timidly.

“Of course. If everyone could enter, the harem would’ve been overcrowded long ago.” Fan Ying answered.

“Ah?! So out of three hundred Consorts, only twenty or thirty stay? That’s too strict!” Huang Min slumped in dismay.

“Obviously. If it weren’t strict, why call it a selection?” Fan Ying rolled her eyes.

“Hey, don’t call me ‘Elder Sister’. Who’s older isn’t even settled yet.” Yang Cai nitpicked.

“Actually, don’t be too pessimistic. While each selection does have three hundred spots, usually only about two hundred make it safely to the palace.” Yu Jie comforted them.

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“Even with two hundred, the competition is brutal.” Huang Min sighed.

“By the way, among our competitors is a specially appointed Imperial Consort, the doppelgänger of that ‘Fairy Hongling’ from the Honghua Sect. Has anyone heard if she’s arrived yet?” Yang Cai suddenly changed the subject.

“No idea.” The girls shook their heads.

“Could she have died on the way?” Yang Cai’s face lit up with excitement. One less rival meant better odds.

Qi Huang shot her a sidelong glance. What did I ever do to you?

“Impossible. She’s a cultivator’s doppelgänger, she has protection. She’ll make it to the palace sooner or later.” Fan Ying reasoned.

“Not necessarily. Though she’s a cultivator’s doppelgänger, those who want her dead are no ordinary foes. Don’t you know? Since His Majesty ascended, he’s appointed four Imperial Consorts by decree, not a single one made it to the palace alive.” Yang Cai argued.

“True. Her very presence threatens many people’s interests.” Tang Lu, the plump and ugly one, agreed.

“If you’re so sure she’s doomed, why even bother asking?” Fan Ying rolled her eyes again.

“None of your damn business.” Yang Cai retorted angrily.

“Hey… do you smell that? There’s a really nice fragrance in the room.” Huang Min suddenly spoke up. Having rarely used cosmetics, she was especially sensitive to scents.

“Now that you mention it… rich but not cloying, refreshing like roses, must be some kind of floral scent.” Fan Ying sniffed.

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“Impossible. Since childhood, men have gifted me no fewer than a thousand kinds of flowers, but I’ve never smelled this before.” Tang Lu declared with inexplicable confidence.

The girls exchanged doubtful glances.

Qi Huang knew it was the scent of Golden Fate Blossoms emanating from her, but she preferred to keep a low profile and didn’t explain.

As Qi Huang rested with her eyes closed and her roommates studied diligently, dinner time arrived.

The others rushed out eagerly, but Qi Huang, being a cultivator, could endure hunger longer. Besides, removing her veil was inconvenient, so she decided to skip the meal.

Ouyang Tong was in a similar predicament, though she lacked Qi Huang’s resilience. Restless, she agonized over whether to leave or stay.

After much deliberation, Ouyang Tong decided caution was best—she’d endure as long as possible.

Night fell quickly. Qi Huang lay down early, still fully dressed. Sharing a room with young girls made her too self-conscious to undress.

The others, however, were far bolder. They shed their outer garments, revealing colorful dudou ⁴ a traditional Chinese article of clothing that covers the front of the torso . Arms and legs were everywhere, making Qi Huang’s face flush, though the ugly ones were an exception.

Huang Min, who slept beside Qi Huang, initially kept her distance out of modesty. But for some reason, an intoxicating fragrance kept drifting into her nose, compelling her to unconsciously inch closer like a puppy following a scent.

“The fragrance… it’s coming from her!” Huang Min suddenly exclaimed, pointing at Qi Huang, now right beside her.

“Could you… crawl out of my blankets first before announcing that?” Qi Huang said awkwardly.