Volume 5, Chapter 325 – You Act Too Poorly, Let Me Do It (Part 6)

Though Qi Huang now knew who had targeted her, she still couldn’t fathom how they had orchestrated such a grand spectacle. However, the two women soon gave her the answer.

“The power of a Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert is truly terrifying. Just a single strand of hair can kill a cultivator’s doppelgänger without a sound, without a trace. That Qi Huang probably still has no idea what happened, does she?”

Empress Zheng’s face revealed a look of satisfaction.

“Indeed! She probably thinks she committed some heinous sin and was struck down by divine retribution!”

Xiao Huan sneered in agreement.

“This time, I owe it all to my younger sister. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to eliminate that little vixen. If she had entered the palace, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Empress Zheng spoke with lingering fear.

“Your Majesty, with this method, anyone who threatens your position in the future can be dealt with the same way. Just place a strand of a Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert’s hair on them, no one can survive that.”

Xiao Huan proposed a brilliant scheme.

“You think too simply. A Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert’s hair is easy to find, but the Heaven-Deceiving Water used to mask its aura is incredibly rare. My sister went through great lengths to obtain even that small amount. So, I can only pray that no more Imperial Consorts are personally selected in the future.”

Empress Zheng’s tone was grave.

“I doubt there will be. With five consecutively appointed Imperial Consorts dead, His Majesty must have completely given up by now.”

The elderly palace maid beside her spoke with certainty.

“Let’s hope so.”

A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Empress Zheng’s eyes.

‘So that’s how it was! How insidious!’

After hearing this conversation, Qi Huang finally understood. The inexplicable lightning strike had been caused by someone secretly placing a Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert’s hair on her, summoning divine retribution.

Recalling the scene, Qi Huang couldn’t help but shudder. If not for her coincidental use of the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell technique ¹ it’s akin to finding a body double to impersonate you while you roam freely , she would likely be imprisoned in her main body’s Sea of Consciousness by now.

‘But how did she place that strand of hair on me?’

Qi Huang fell into deep thought again. She clearly remembered that no outsider had made physical contact with her during her journey.

‘Could it be…?’

A sudden realization struck her, the Feathered Dress she had worn. It was the only item bestowed by the imperial family that she had used. If a strand of hair had been hidden within it and concealed with Heaven-Deceiving Water, even someone at the Divine Realm, let alone the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, would struggle to detect it.

“Your Majesty, what should we do about that fake Imperial Consort?”

Xiao Huan spoke up again.

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“Dispose of her? Why bother? Since she’s a fake, she poses no threat to me.”

Empress Zheng countered.

“Even so, others don’t know that. Allowing her to continue stirring up trouble will damage your reputation. Impersonating an Imperial Consort is already a grave crime, eliminating her would be effortless.”

Xiao Huan suggested.

Hearing this, Empress Zheng fell into contemplation before turning to the elderly palace maid. “Aunt Zou, what do you think? Should we deal with this fake Imperial Consort?”

“Your Majesty, let me ask you this, where do you think this impostor came from?”

The elderly maid, Aunt Zou, asked calmly.

“She must have been planted by the Inner Court. Only they have the capability. After Chief Steward Zhong failed to protect the Imperial Consort, replacing Qi Huang with a fake to avoid the Emperor’s wrath would be the logical move.”

Empress Zheng pondered briefly before answering.

“Impossible. Qi Huang was a personally appointed Imperial Consort. The moment she entered the palace, she could have been summoned by His Majesty. Even if that old eunuch had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare do such a thing.”

Aunt Zou shook her head.

“Then what do you mean?”

Empress Zheng hesitated before asking.

“I believe this was the Emperor’s doing.”

Aunt Zou stated with absolute certainty.

“The Emperor’s doing? Not only did he not rage after the death of a personally appointed Imperial Consort, but he even had the Inner Court find a woman to impersonate her? Why?”

Empress Zheng was utterly baffled.

“To save face, of course.”

Aunt Zou then explained the hidden intricacies, almost perfectly deducing Lin Tu’s plan. Finally, she added, “That’s why we absolutely must not expose this impostor. Doing so would undermine the Emperor’s authority and humiliate him.”

‘What a formidable old palace maid.’

Qi Huang was astonished, thinking to herself that the palace truly was a den of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

“Hah! So that’s how it is! I understand now!”

Empress Zheng suddenly laughed.

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“Why does Your Majesty laugh?”

Aunt Zou asked respectfully.

“Aunt Zou, very few in the palace have seen Cheng Hongling or Qi Huang. Right now, only we know that the Imperial Consort is a fake. The other concubines remain unaware, they’re likely scheming ways to target her. Once they force the impostor to reveal herself, it will inevitably anger His Majesty. We’ll have quite the spectacle to enjoy.”

Empress Zheng’s face revealed a look of schadenfreude.

“Your Majesty is absolutely right.”

For the first time, the elderly palace maid allowed herself a faint smile.

‘Laugh all you want. The more joy you feel now, the more bitter your tears will be later—I’ll make sure of that.’

Qi Huang scoffed before withdrawing her divine sense.

The next morning, Qi Huang rose from bed. Knowing that the Empress’ spies had left, she no longer needed to feign illness, especially since the unfortunate Ouyang Tong was still starving.

Qi Huang fetched food from the communal kitchen and delivered it to Ouyang Tong.

Having gone another full day without eating, Ouyang Tong nearly burst into tears upon hearing Qi Huang’s voice.

“I’m sorry, I was sick yesterday.”

Qi Huang offered an apologetic explanation.

“It’s alright. The fact that you brought me food at all makes me so happy.”

Ouyang Tong replied with a choked voice.

As a man at heart, Qi Huang couldn’t bear to see a girl cry. For a moment, she nearly rushed in to reveal the truth outright. But in the end, reason prevailed—the first day of the month was only two days away. A moment of impatience could ruin the grand plan.

At noon, the scenario Empress Zheng had described finally unfolded. A woman referred to as “Consort Hui” arrived at the Office of Palace Ceremonies with a few attendants, wandering around briefly before leaving.

‘Did I overthink things?’

Just as Qi Huang was about to let her guard down, Consort Hui returned—this time with several dozen palace maids and eunuchs in tow.

Consort Hui ordered her subordinates to conduct a perfunctory search of the Office of Palace Ceremonies before informing Steward Zhou that she had lost an important item and demanded all Consorts and maids be summoned for questioning.

Chaos erupted. Naturally, Qi Huang was also called into the courtyard.

“This consort has misplaced a jade pendant. Has anyone seen it?”

Consort Hui demanded.

The assembled Imperial Consorts and maids exchanged bewildered glances, all appearing utterly clueless.

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‘Typical concubine behavior, making the entire Office of Palace Ceremonies jump over a single jade pendant. Couldn’t she just look for it herself?’

Qi Huang inwardly mocked.

But at that moment, Consort Hui abruptly changed the subject without warning:

“Since no one knows, forget it. This consort has heard that the personally appointed Imperial Consort has arrived at the Office of Palace Ceremonies. Which one is she? Step forward and let me see if she truly lives up to the rumors.”

‘So the real goal wasn’t the jade pendant after all. But at least put on a better act! After causing such a commotion, you just drop it like that?’

Qi Huang was speechless.

Once again, the Consorts and maids exchanged glances, none daring to speak.

“What? Have you all gone mute? Should this consort have your tongues cut out so you can stay silent forever?”

Consort Hui’s voice turned sharp with anger.

“Your Highness, the personally appointed Imperial Consort is not present.”

Steward Zhou hurriedly reported.

“Didn’t I order all Consorts to assemble? Does she dare defy me?”

Consort Hui’s face darkened.

“Your Highness, Chief Steward Zhong instructed us not to disturb her unless necessary.”

Steward Zhou stammered.

“Who holds more authority, Chief Steward Zhong or this consort? Go and summon her at once!”

Consort Hui roared.

“B-but—”

Steward Zhou was caught in an impossible dilemma—offending either the current consort or a potential future empress would be disastrous.

“But what? A newly arrived Imperial Consort who hasn’t even passed the selection process dares to put on such airs? Are you also defying this consort’s orders?”

Consort Hui’s expression grew increasingly menacing.

“Y-yes! This lowly official will fetch her at once!”

Terrified, Steward Zhou scrambled away.

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‘Ah, poor Ouyang Tong. It seems she’s about to suffer again. I wonder if she can keep up the act this time.’

Qi Huang sighed inwardly, already preparing to step in and take over the performance if needed. Though she didn’t want to personally intervene, she couldn’t let the grand play collapse either.

Before long, Ouyang Tong arrived, trembling and meek under Steward Zhou’s guidance.

“You are the personally appointed Imperial Consort, Qi Huang?”

Consort Hui’s sharp gaze bore into her.

“Y-yes… it’s me…”

Ouyang Tong’s voice quivered.

“How audacious! To appear before this consort still veiled, do you not know this is a grave insult?”

Consort Hui suddenly bellowed, delivering a direct intimidation.

Already nervous, Ouyang Tong’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

“This is the so-called personally appointed Imperial Consort? A cultivator, yet so cowardly!”

Consort Hui smirked triumphantly.

“Get up at once and remove your veil.”

Steward Zhou hurriedly helped Ouyang Tong to her feet.

With great difficulty, Ouyang Tong stood and shakily reached up to remove her veil, revealing her beautiful face. Though Chief Steward Zhong had advised against unveiling, she had no choice now.

“So this is the mark of a cultivator’s doppelgänger? But her looks are merely average, hardly the peerless beauty the rumors made her out to be.”

Consort Hui curled her lip in disdain.

Whispers broke out among the assembled women. Many Imperial Consorts visibly relaxed, this so-called personally appointed Imperial Consort was indeed pretty, but not to the extent that they stood no chance. It seemed the rumors had been exaggerated.

Humiliated, Ouyang Tong lowered her head. She had always taken pride in her appearance, yet she still fell short of everyone’s expectations for the Imperial Consort. Overwhelmed by shame, large teardrops rolled down her cheeks.

“And they claimed Cheng Hongling was one of the Twin Moons of the Western Radiance Dynasty in the cultivation world. More like paid flatterers inflating her reputation!”

Consort Hui seized the chance to kick her while she was down.

“Shut your mouth!”

At that moment, Qi Huang’s voice rang out.