Chapter 27 His Eyes Are Like The Stars (1/2)
As the night breeze swept by gently, the lively atmosphere of the banquet lingered in front of the Hecheng hall. Like ink spilling into the horizon, the dense darkness of the sky spread into the far distance slowly.
Thinking of Chu Tiankuo's eyes, Tang Xia inexplicably felt a trace of sweetness in her heart.
”Is Your Grace Yue Ji bewitched by your humble servant's charm?” Chu Tiankuo asked.
Hearing his words, Tang Xia paused then turned around to see Chu Tiankuo standing in front of her wearing silver armor. With the moon casting light on his shoulder, there was a bleak brilliance around Chu Tiankuo.
Tang Xia wore a smile involuntarily, ”Guard Chu, good evening.”
Chu Tiankuo raised his eyebrow and said, ”Now that Your Grace has the mood to extend greetings, I guess you are satisfied with what has happened today.”
Tang Xia nodded her head contentedly.
”Hmph, if it weren't for me, you would be begging Helian Jue for mercy.”
Chu Tiankuo said the words close to Tang Xia's ear and his warm breath tickled her.
Turning away her head, Tang Xia pretended to bow to Chu Tiankuo seriously, ”I, Yue Ji, thank Guard Chu again. ”
Chu Tiankuo turned his head awkwardly with a hum, his arrogance waning, and then passed by Tang Xia.
Gazing after Chu Tiankuo, Lyuyou said in a soft voice, ”As Guard Chu owns an androgynous face and danced with Your Grace tacitly, I thought he was a gentleman. However, it turns out that he knows nothing of etiquette.”
Hearing her words, Tang Xia wore a trace of a smile in her eyes.
”If Chu Tiankuo knew anything of etiquette, iron trees would blossom.”
Then Lyuyou led the conversation to the topic, ”Your Grace, as you let Lengmei lose face in the banquet, you should be more careful in the future.”
Tang Xia stroked her hair by her ear and said, ”It is not necessary to guard against her. The emperor will support us based on the present situation.”
Having had a deep and dreamless slumber, Tang Xia woke up after breakfast time.
Then Lyuyou pushed the door walking in with a copper pot in her hand.
”I request the kitchenette to reserve some snacks including lotus cakes from the imperial kitchens. Your Grace can eat it.” Lyuyou said.
Tang Xia dipped her fair fingers in clean water.
Tang Xia glanced at the ashes in the corner with slight fragrance lingering and asked, ”Did you do aromatherapy in my room last night?”
”Yes, Your Grace. I noticed that you have been annoyed these days, so I employed lavender as the primer of the aromatherapy which is helpful to soothe the nerves.” Lyuyou replied.
”I appreciate that.” Tang Xia said with a smile, then wet her face with cool water gently.
After cleaning the ashes in the corner off, Lyuyou asked, ”Several imperial concubines have been in a dispute in the Royal Garden for the whole morning. Would you like to check it out later?”
”Let's check it out then.” Tang Xia replied.
There was a sea of flowers in the Royal Garden, and a slight floral fragrance lingered in the air. The floral aroma of different kinds blending with each other made it a comfortable place to relax.
”What do you mean by doing so?”
Before Tang Xia came close, she heard Lengmei's cold voice. And what she saw first from afar was the beauty standing under the scorching sun.
”I did not mean to offend you. What I ask is just an apology from you.” Yi Jiazi said.
Then Tang Xia raised her upper eyelids up.
Owning snow white skin, Yi Jiazi wore a long purple gauzy dress with multiple pleats around her thin waist. And she had part of her hair braided as a hanging circle and the rest hang down loosely on the shoulder. Also, there were two purple pompons hanging under the chignon.
With a vermillion point on her forehead, Yi Jiazi owned a pair of phoenix-like eyes and red lips.
”She is truly a beauty.” Tang Xia thought.
Supporting Tang Xia by her hands carefully, Lyuyou said, ”I heard that Yi Jiazi's slave girl offended Lengmei while she was walking, then Lengmei gave her two slaps. Hearing what had happened, Yi Jiazi rushed into the Royal Garden for an explanation.”
Tang Xia frowned as she asked, ”Who told you that?”
Having heard what Tang Xia said, Lyuyou replied in a lower voice, ”I just heard it when I delivered the laundry to Huanyi Bureau this morning.”
Tang Xia nodded then fixed her eyes on Lengmei and Yi Jiazi.
”Sister Leng, why did you do that to my slave girl? Is it because I am new here? I just want to please the emperor well with other imperial concubines. Why do you bully me like that?”
With a soft voice, Yi Jiazi said with eyes full of injustice.
”I feel sorry for Yijia. People from the Southern Dynasties are all kind and innocent. She was just sent into the palace but was already bullied.” Lyuyou said.
Having turned her head away, Tang Xia heard all the words Lyuyou said.
Frowning from the torturing sun, Tang Xia squinted but coldness remained in the bottom of her eyes.
”It is not Lengmei who bullies Yi Jiazi, but Yi Jiazi who stirred up trouble.” Tang Xia thought.
Standing there arrogantly, Lengmei straightened her body in a blue dress with a red hairpin embellishing her hair perfectly.
”Lengmei is such an aloof woman that she would never lower her own status to embarrass a slave girl.”
”As for Yi Jiazi, although she seems kind and sweet, the maliciousness and shrewdness hidden in her tears cannot be covered up.” Tang Xia thought.
”She must have investigated the people of the imperial harem so that she chose Lengmei as the start of her plan.” Tang Xia whispered.
Leaning forward, Lyuyou asked, ”What does Your Grace mean? I am too stupid to understand.”
Squinting her phoenix eyes, Tang Xia remained totally sober.
”Tell me whom the emperor loves most among the imperial harem?” Tang Xia asked.
Lyuyou replied with no hesitation, ”It is definitely you.”
Tang Xia inclined her at a glance and asked, ”Who is the previous one before me?”
Frightened by her words, Lyuyou opened up her eyes timidly and replied in a softer voice, ”… It is Lengmei…”
”Right.” Tang Xia said with a trace of coldness in her smile, ”As a consecrated woman from other countries, she cannot be bullied by others.”