Volume 5, Chapter 334 – Tell Me, Am I Cheng Hongling’s Doppelgänger?

Before the words had even fully faded, Qi Huang had already appeared beside Ouyang Tong. The fragrance of the Golden Fate Blossoms she carried was so potent that even those standing several zhang away could catch its scent.

To be honest, Qi Huang hadn’t intended to make such a grand entrance. Her original plan had been to use Ouyang Tong’s elimination as a chance for a clean escape, allowing her to return openly to the Honghua Sect. With her True Qi restored, that damned emperor would have no reason, moral or otherwise, to come after her again. But who could’ve predicted that plans never survive first contact with reality?

Qi Huang’s sudden appearance was like a boulder crashing into still waters, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The entire imperial garden erupted into chaos. No one had expected someone to dare pull such a brazen stunt right under the Son of Heaven’s nose!

“Audacious!”

The guards present were all elite imperial soldiers, trained to react instantly. They immediately swarmed forward, weapons at the ready.

The stewards from the Office of Palace Ceremonies nearly fainted on the spot, their vision darkening from sheer terror. They remembered this “Chen Yuzhu” all too well, she had been a sickly, consumptive figure from the moment she entered the palace, constantly causing trouble. But never in their wildest nightmares had they imagined that this insignificant Consort had been faking her illness all along, and now, before the emperor himself, she had performed a shocking transformation. Was this not the equivalent of holding a lantern in a latrine, begging for death?

“Th-that’s Chen Yuzhu? Has she lost her mind?!”

Qi Huang’s former roommates gaped at her in stunned disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost. They simply couldn’t comprehend why a lowly Consort candidate would dare commit such an insane act.

But the one most affected by this sudden turn of events was Chief Steward Zhong. Qi Huang’s reappearance was more shocking to him than if his own parents had risen from the dead. After all, his parents couldn’t save him, but Qi Huang could.

Inside the pavilion, the imperial consorts and concubines all rose to their feet, their faces a mix of shock and confusion. For women accustomed to the rigid tranquility of palace life, this spectacle was nothing short of earth-shattering.

Among the crowd, only Elder Zuo remained as composed as ever. After all, none of this concerned him.

“Who are you? How dare you act with such insolence!”

Lin Tu’s furious roar echoed across the garden.

Qi Huang, however, did not answer. Instead, she calmly met the emperor’s gaze with her clear, piercing eyes—one black, one white. Ever since her fear had been assimilated by Cheng Ling, even the most overwhelming killing intent no longer fazed her. Why would she cower before the mere aura of a tyrant?

“Ch-Chen Yuzhu… wh-what are you… doing?!”

Steward Zhou stammered, her words barely coherent. When Qi Huang ignored her completely, she scrambled forward and threw herself at Lin Tu’s feet, kowtowing frantically.

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“Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me! T-This is the sickly Chen Yuzhu that I mentioned before! I never imagined she was faking her illness, nor that she would dare act so… so disrespectfully!”

“You are Chen Yuzhu? You must understand the consequences of mocking and provoking the ruler of a nation!”

Lin Tu, already seething with pent-up fury, now had the perfect outlet for his rage. He turned to the imperial guards and barked, “Take her to the Ministry of Justice and await punishment!”

“Yes!”

The guards surged forward, spears at the ready.

“Such impressive imperial majesty!”

Qi Huang’s tone was laced with sarcasm. Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Chief Steward Zhong.

“Steward Zhong, it’s been a month. Surely you haven’t forgotten who I am? Tell your emperor exactly who stands before him.”

After a brief hesitation, Steward Zhong stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty… this is Qi Huang.”

“Wh-what?!”

Lin Tu froze. He had always prided himself on his meticulous planning—yet now, he had been blindsided by this unforeseen “surprise”.

Even Elder Zuo, who had been observing from the sidelines, slowly rose from his seat. Now he finally understood why Cheng Hongling had sent him that cryptic message.

If Qi Huang is still alive… does that mean she truly has regained her True Qi?

His expression darkened as the implications sank in. The odds were slim, but with one precedent already set, he couldn’t afford to take any chances.

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“She’s Qi Huang? How can she be Qi Huang? A woman with no presence at all, how could she be the Imperial Consort?!”

“If she really is Qi Huang, then our disrespect toward her means we’re doomed!”

“Why? Why was I so blind?! It’s over now!”

Horror and regret twisted the faces of Qi Huang’s former roommates.

Even Ouyang Tong stood dumbfounded, her fear momentarily forgotten. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the woman she had painstakingly impersonated was the same “maid” who had brought her meals for days.

Inside the pavilion, the empress and consorts paled. They had spent the entire time gloating over the wrong person.

“Impossible! How could she still be alive?!”

Empress Zheng muttered under her breath, her face a mask of terror and disbelief. How could anyone survive the Heavenly Tribulation?

“No! She can’t be Qi Huang!”

Prince Kang was the first to recover, his denial bordering on hysteria.

“Your Highness, on what grounds do you claim I’m not Qi Huang?”

Qi Huang arched an eyebrow, her tone almost amused.

“If you really are Qi Huang, then why all the secrecy? Why have someone impersonate you?”

Prince Kang’s voice was sharp with accusation. The surrounding crowd nodded unconsciously, swayed by his logic.

“The reason is simple. Ever since I left the Honghua Sect, I’ve been harassed at every turn. For my own safety, I had Steward Zhong request the emperor’s permission to use a decoy until the danger passed.”

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Qi Huang’s reply was smooth, her explanation flawless. Not only did it justify her actions, but it also gave the emperor a convenient way to save face.

“Ah, of course!”

The crowd murmured in understanding. The perils of the imperial harem were common knowledge. As the chosen Imperial Consort, Qi Huang was a prime target, it was only natural she would take such precautions.

Lin Tu’s initial surprise gave way to intrigue as he watched Qi Huang’s performance.

“That still doesn’t explain why His Majesty seemed completely unaware!”

Prince Kang refused to back down.

“Unaware? Did he tell you that himself? How dare you presume to know the emperor’s mind?”

Qi Huang’s cold laughter cut through the air like a blade.

“N-no! That’s not what I—”

Prince Kang stuttered, at a loss for words.

Lin Tu’s smile deepened. He hadn’t expected this Imperial Consort to surprise him so thoroughly, not just with her dramatic entrance, but with her sharp wit and political acumen. For their first meeting, she was already proving to be a delightful enigma.

‘It seems she’s had a change of heart, she truly wishes to marry me!’

Lin Tu preened inwardly, oblivious to the fact that Qi Huang’s apparent deference was merely the prelude to a far more devastating strike.

Meanwhile, the women in the pavilion looked as if they were attending their own funerals. The better Qi Huang performed, the greater the threat she posed to them.

“Then what? The first selection has only just begun. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for His Majesty to feign ignorance to ensure my safety?”

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Qi Huang’s counter left Prince Kang floundering.

“Th-this…”

He was utterly unprepared, his arguments crumbling before her logic.

“Little brother, do you have any further objections? For the sake of family harmony, I’ll overlook your baseless accusations. Now step aside.”

Lin Tu’s mocking tone was unmistakable.

“No! I still refuse to believe she’s the real one!”

Prince Kang’s eyes gleamed with stubborn defiance. “Remove your veil. This Ah San has seen your true form, he’ll know if you’re genuine.”

“Very well. As you wish.”

With a graceful motion, Qi Huang removed her veil and the jeweled forehead ornament.

The face revealed was even more breathtaking than Ouyang Tong’s, several tiers above in beauty. The Doppelgänger Mark between her brows only accentuated her ethereal allure.

“Hiss—!”

Someone actually gasped aloud.

“Ah San, since you’ve seen Cheng Hongling, tell everyone now, am I her Doppelgänger?”

Qi Huang’s sharp gaze locked onto Ah San, her crimson lips curving into a confident smile. The radiance of her beauty was almost blinding.