Volume 5, Chapter 322 – You Act Too Poorly, Let Me Do It (Part 3)

“Whether I’m in your bed or not doesn’t matter.”

Huang Min tightly gripped Qi Huang’s arm, as if afraid she might escape.

“What? A fragrance? The scent is coming from her?”

Several Consorts hesitated, then crowded closer, wrinkling their noses as they sniffed left and right.

“What are you doing?”

Qi Huang shivered, clutching her blanket tightly.

“Ah! It really is coming from her!”

“Why does it smell so good? It makes me want to take a bite out of her.”

“What kind of powder is this? I’ve never smelled anything like it before.”

The Consorts quickly confirmed it, their eyes gleaming as they stared at Qi Huang.

“What kind of powder or sachet are you using? Tell us, I want to buy some too!”

Fan Ying pressed eagerly.

“Yeah, tell me! Even if you get eliminated, I can guarantee you’ll still get to stay in the palace!”

The plump girl Tang Lu offered her most sincere promise.

“Sorry, I’m not using any powder or sachets. If there’s really a scent, it might just be my natural body fragrance.”

Qi Huang looked at their bright, expectant eyes and replied with “modesty”, unaware that this explanation only made her sound even more arrogant.

“Tch! If you don’t want to share, just say so. How stingy!”

The girls immediately lost interest and backed away.

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“Oh, so now it’s ‘natural body fragrance’? You think slathering on powder or hanging a sachet can fake that?”

Yang Cai sneered.

“Exactly. Girls born with natural fragrance are one in ten thousand, and those with a noticeable scent are even rarer.”

“Body fragrance comes from bloodline, it’s decided at birth. Even among noble princesses, few have such a distinct scent, let alone a commoner like you.”

“I bet she’s just piling on powder, hoping to score higher in the Phoenix Selection Token evaluation on the first day.”

“Will that even work? The Phoenix Selection Token comes from the immortal sects of the Central Continent, it evaluates innate body fragrance. Even if you marinate yourself in powder, it won’t make a difference!”

Her roommates all scoffed. The first screening on the first day of the month was based on the Phoenix Selection Token’s assessment. Anyone scoring below six would be eliminated immediately.

“That’s not necessarily true. Maybe it really does work?”

Qi Huang simply played along, feigning ignorance. After all, even if she told the truth, no one would believe her.

“Just wait until the first day. Under the Phoenix Selection Token, whether you’re a phoenix or a pheasant will be crystal clear.”

Tang Lu scoffed dismissively.

“It’s just some powder. Why so much hostility?”

Qi Huang was speechless. It seemed she still didn’t understand girls very well.

In another room, Ouyang Tong was so hungry her stomach was practically sticking to her back, but she gritted her teeth and endured. Finally, when the night was deep and quiet, she scrambled out of her room in a fluster.

Qi Huang immediately noticed Ouyang Tong’s movements and followed her with her divine sense.

Ouyang Tong left the courtyard and headed straight for the palace kitchen, hoping to find some leftovers. But she was so famished that her legs trembled with every step.

When she finally reached the kitchen, her heart sank, the door was locked.

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Disappointment flashed across Ouyang Tong’s face. She licked her dry lips, then walked to a nearby water vat and gulped down several mouthfuls before reluctantly leaving, glancing back every few steps.

‘Is she hungry? Why didn’t she eat in the afternoon?’

Qi Huang was puzzled at first, but then it hit her—this woman was terrified of being exposed, hence the extreme caution.

‘Is acting really this hard?’

Qi Huang was exasperated. Still, self-awareness was good. As long as Ouyang Tong stayed inside, the risk of exposure would be minimal, assuming she could last these next few days.

‘Looks like I’ll have to help her. Otherwise, she won’t hold out much longer.’

Qi Huang made up her mind, inwardly cursing that old eunuch. ‘You just dump a young girl in here and leave her to fend for herself without even arranging backup? How irresponsible!’

Ouyang Tong, tormented by hunger, tossed and turned until well past midnight before finally biting her finger and falling asleep.

The next morning, Ouyang Tong woke from her dreams, her bladder screaming from all the water she had drunk the night before.

She glanced out the window. The sky was already bright, and the lively chatter of girls drifted in from outside.

Ouyang Tong rolled out of bed, her steps heavy as she moved toward the outhouse. But at the door, she hesitated, anxiety gnawing at her.

“There are so many people outside right now. What if someone recognizes me?”

The thought made her retreat. She paced the room, but women weren’t built to hold it in for long—soon, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Should I just… go in the room?”

Ouyang Tong considered finding a “chamber pot”, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“No. Even if I’m not a real Imperial Consort, a proper girl can’t be this sloppy. What if someone comes in and smells it?”

She muttered to herself. After all, she had no confidence in keeping everyone out of her room.

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“Forget it. Better dead than humiliated.”

Gritting her teeth, Ouyang Tong pushed open the door and stepped outside.

By now, Qi Huang was already up, sweeping the grounds with the other  Consorts and palace maids. Though it was manual labor, blending in among these lively girls was its own kind of enjoyment.

Of course, she was also keeping a close eye on Ouyang Tong’s every move, ready to intervene if needed.

Ouyang Tong, nervous as a mouse, kept her head down and moved quickly, desperate to avoid attention. But it was futile, her arrival the day before had already caused a stir, making her a minor celebrity in the Office of Palace Ceremonies. Soon, eyes turned toward her.

Her heart pounded harder. By the time she reached the outhouse, a cold breeze made her realize her entire body was drenched in sweat, especially between her legs, where it felt uncomfortably damp. She wasn’t sure if it was sweat or something worse.

After shakily relieving herself, Ouyang Tong stood frozen inside, too afraid to come out.

‘She’s way too timid. How is she supposed to act like this?’

Qi Huang sighed inwardly.

Just then, two Consorts entered the outhouse, forcing Ouyang Tong to stumble back out.

Head still bowed, she hurried back, praying no one would notice her. But fate had other plans—halfway there, a figure blocked her path.

Trembling, Ouyang Tong looked up and saw none other than Chief Steward Zhou.

“Imperial Consort Qi, I noticed you didn’t come to the kitchen for dinner last night. Are you feeling unwell?”

Chief Steward Zhou asked with concern.

“N-No…”

Ouyang Tong forced out the words.

“That’s good. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

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Chief Steward Zhou reminded her gently. After all, this was a “personally selected Imperial Consort”. If anything happened to her under her watch, the consequences would be dire.

“Mm.”

Ouyang Tong licked her cracked lips but couldn’t muster the courage to ask for anything. With a vague acknowledgment, she hurried off, her guilty conscience written all over her.

“Why is Imperial Consort Qi acting so strangely?”

Chief Steward Zhou frowned slightly.

Watching this, Qi Huang was so frustrated she nearly exploded. ‘This level of acting is an insult to my profession!’

She seriously considered knocking Ouyang Tong out and taking her place right then and there. But after some deliberation, reason prevailed. ‘I’ll keep observing for now. Since I’m already inside the Office of Palace Ceremonies, even if she gets exposed, I can still step in.’

Soon, it was breakfast time. This time, Qi Huang didn’t skip out. She took a bowl, filled it with food, and left the kitchen, a small privilege afforded to Imperial Consorts.

Carrying the meal, she returned to the courtyard and headed straight for Ouyang Tong’s door.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Tong was pacing like a trapped animal, her hunger making it impossible to sit still. The more she fidgeted, the hungrier she got, a vicious cycle.

“Why am I so unlucky? What did I even do to deserve this?”

The more she thought about it, the more miserable she felt. She slumped over the table, quietly sobbing.

Knock knock…

A knock at the door startled her.

Trembling, she wiped her tears and called out in a shaky voice:

“Who… who is it?”