Chapter 100

As Tang Xia’s plot had been discovered, she wore an embarrassed smile and touched her nose subconsciously. Then she looked at Chu Tiankuo coyly and prepared to leave.

Looking at Tang Xia’s blushing face, Chu Tiankuo laughed to himself. But he wore a poker face, pretending to be quite calm. As he choked back his laugh, Chu Tiankuo glanced at Tang Xia and said slowly,

“Am I wrong?”

As Tang Xia looked at Chu Tiankuo, she became more embarrassed and scratched her head. Then she said blushingly, “No.”

“Hm? Is it?”

Tang Xia’s behavior was so becoming that Chu Tiankuo wanted to tease her more, so he said, “It seems that you are unwilling to admit your mistake.”

“I…I…” Tang Xia lowered her head, raised her eyes to take a look at Chu Tiankuo secretly and stamped her foot in shyness. When Lyuyou saw Tang Xia’s behavior, she exclaimed, “Is this Tang Xia, the woman I know?”

As Lyuyou finished her sentence, she saw Tang Xia running away with a crafty look. “This is the woman I know.” Then she touched her chin while hiding in the shadows and observed Tang Xia and Chu Tiankuo.

“Ah…”

While Lyuyou was deep in thought, she heard Tang Xia’s shout. Then Lyuyou rubbed her ears and peeped out from the darkness.

“Oh my god!”

As Lyuyou popped her head out, what she saw was so shocking that her shout was a little loud. So Lyuyou covered her mouth with her hands immediately and gaped at Tang Xia and Chu Tiankuo from that short distance.

“Are you trying to run away?” As Chu Tiankuo looked at Tang Xia who was ready to leave, he stretched out his arm and pulled her back. Then he held Tang Xia by the waist and lowered his head slowly.

“What…what are you doing?”

Tang Xia was pulled into Chu Tiankuo’s arms so suddenly that she could not react for a moment and spluttered.

“What did you think I was going to do?” Chu Tiankuo whispered in Tang Xia’s ears.

“Are you in love with me?”

When Tang Xia noticed Chu Tiankuo’s behavior, she poked him in the back with one finger and asked him this question slowly.

“What do you think?” As Chu Tiankuo wanted to tease her, he looked into Tang Xia’s eyes and asked her in return.

“It can’t be true.” Looking at Chu Tiankuo, Tang Xia said this tentatively as she did not believe that he could fall in love with her, let alone Chu Tiankuo himself.

“He-he.”

After hearing Tang Xia’s words, Chu Tiankuo let go of Tang Xia and pushed her away. Then he tidied himself up and said to Tang Xia before he left.

“Have you become a hypochondriac?” Then Chu Tiankuo held back his laughter and left quickly.

After Lyuyou followed Chu Tiankuo with her eyes, she came out slowly and stood beside Tang Xia, “Ah, King Chu deserves to be King Chu. He is so different from others. Other kings will definitely kill you if you dare say such a thing to him.”

Tang Xia stood there and smiled, looking into the direction where Chu Tiankuo had gone.

“It never occurred to me that you will be like this.”

As Tang Xia thought of this, she did not stay in the garden anymore and left for her palace.

When Tang Xia was still sleeping the next morning, she heard some noises outside her room. Then she rubbed her sleepy eyes and called gently,

“Lyuyou.”

“I’m here, Your Grace.”

The moment Lyuyou heard Tang Xia’s calling, she ran to Tang Xia and stood beside her. “What can I do for you, Your Grace?”

“Check out why it is so noisy outside.” Tang Xia opened her eyes to take a look at Lyuyou and said slowly.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After hearing what Tang Xia had said, Lyuyou ran to the door with baby steps and opened the door. Then she asked the maid,”What’s going on? Why was it so noisy just now?”

“Sister Lyuyou,” The maid who cleaned the corridor bowed to Lyuyou and said, “Lengmei and the other imperial concubines came here suddenly and asked Her Grace to admire the beauty of the flowers in the backyard garden this afternoon.”

“Why didn’t you invite them inside?”

Although Lyuyou knew what was happening after hearing the maid’s words, she stayed calm and collected her thoughts.

“Sister Lyuyou, they said that Her Grace must be sleeping so they did not want to disturb her.”

That maid peeked at Lyuyou timidly.

“Alright, I see. Go on with what you are doing.”

As Lyuyou had obtained the information she wanted, she waved her hand, indicating that the maid could leave. Then Lyuyou turned around and walked towards Tang Xia’s bedroom.

“What happened?”

Tang Xia was in the bedroom, being helped by several palace maids to get dressed, heard the sound of the door and raised her eyes to take a look at Lyuyou. Then she asked slowly,

“Your Grace, the maid at the door said Lengmei and the other imperial concubines will be admiring the beauty of flowers in the backyard garden this afternoon and they are inviting you to join them.” Lyuyou stood beside the screen and looked at Tang Xia.

“OK, I see.” After hearing Lyuyou’s words, Tang Xia wore an unexplainable smile and gestured at the palace maids to get them to leave.

After the palace maids left, Tang Xia looked at Lyuyou and said in a gentle voice, “What do you think about it?”

“As far as I’m concerned, they don’t have any good intentions. No good thing will happen as they came here on purpose and did not come in.”

“I agree with you.” As Tang Xia sat by the window, she drew her eyebrows and said carelessly.

“So shall we go, Your Grace?”

Lyuyou looked at Tang Xia and asked gently.

“Of course. Why not?”

Tang Xia sneered, “No good thing will happen from their invitation this time, but I won’t be bullied easily.”

“I see.” Lyuyou nodded her head and stepped forward. Then she put a hairpin into Tang Xia’s hair for her.

In the blink of an eye, the appointed time came. Tang Xia walked slowly towards the backyard garden, accompanied by Lyuyou.

“Yo, here comes Sister Tang Xia.” As Tang Xia was walking along the street, a woman whose face was heavily powdered, walked slowly towards Tang Xia, with her bucket waist.

The moment Tang Xia saw this woman, she held back the urge to throw up and bowed to the woman, “Greetings, Sister.”

“Why stand on ceremony, my younger sister?” The woman took Tang Xia by the hand and went on slowly, “Were you not invited to admire the beauty of flowers?”

“Exactly.” Tang Xia drew her hand from the woman’s arm in a casual way and politely replied her question with a smile.

“Ah, your hairpin is so beautiful.” That woman drew back some distance from Tang Xia and said in a surprised tone, her fingers pointing at Tang Xia’s hairpin.

“Is it?” Tang Xia touched her hairpin and wore a faint smile, “I think it is not bad. I can present it to you if you like.” As Tang Xia said this, it seemed like she was going to pluck the hairpin off.

“It is so kind of you.”

The moment the woman heard Tang Xia’s words, she smiled.

“Thanks for your kindness.” “But it is hard to understand what His Majesty is thinking about. I guess you know that being in the king’s company is tantamount to living with a tiger, my younger sister.”

The woman covered her mouth with a circular fan and smiled discreetly. Then she held Tang Xia’s hand and said earnestly.

“Now your status is not the same as before, you cannot do what you used to do.”

“Sister, when did you start being so concerned about me?” The more Tang Xia listened to the woman’s words, the more uncomfortable she felt. So she stopped the woman with her words.

That woman was a little embarrassed by Tang Xia’s words but was interrupted before she could say something.

“You are here, Sister Tang Xia. Please have a seat.”

Tang Xia took a glance at the woman who talked to her—Lengmei and said, “Thanks.”

“Yo, do you still regard yourself as the beloved imperial concubine? What a terrible attitude you have!”

“Right, my younger sister. You should watch your mouth.” All the people started to talk to her earnestly.

As Tang Xia looked at these people, she asked, with furrowed eyebrows, “Where did you get this news?”

“That’s enough, my sisters. We are here to admire the beauty of flowers rather than waste our breath.” As Lengmei noticed that Tang Xia did not respond, she thought it was boring to make fun of her and stopped the imperial concubines.

“Right.” Everyone in the imperial harem was likely to change their views according to circumstances, so they all agreed with Lengmei and dispersed immediately.

“Sister, if you have nothing else, I’ll leave now as I don’t feel good today.” Tang Xia looked at the imperial concubines coldly.

“You are indeed in poor health, how could I forget that? After all, your hypochondriasis is quite serious now. Go back to your palace if you are tired. But do not forget to attend the banquet tonight.”

“Thanks for reminding me.” Tang Xia nodded her head slightly and walked away.

“Your Grace, are you going to attend the banquet tonight?” Lyuyou standing at the side, looked worriedly at Tang Xia and asked her gingerly.

“Of course. Why not?” Tang Xia wore a smile, “How could they mock me like that? I must figure out what is going on tonight.”

“OK.” Lyuyou nodded her head and guided Tang Xia to the place for the banquet.

“Your Grace.” As Tang Xia walked by, the soldiers by the door merely greeted Tang Xia without bowing to her. Tang Xia smiled when she saw this situation and walked in.

“Concubine Tang Xia.” The moment Tang Xia walked in the door, she was stopped by a chill female voice. After taking a look at Chu Tiankuo who was sitting on the platform, Tang Xia turned around slowly.

“I heard that you are not feeling good these days. Do you need me to foretell for you?” Zui Linglong stood there and looked at Tang Xia with an ambiguous smile.

“No.” Tang Xia said and was ready to leave.

“I heard your hypochondriasis is quite serious. Are you sure you don’t need my fortunetelling?” Zui Linglong asked aggressively.

Lyuyou noticed that Tang Xia wanted to retaliate, so she stopped her by saying in a voice that could only be heard by several people, “Your Grace, do not bother to argue with them.”