Chapter 40 Waiting For Her Release (2/2)
Anran closed her thin lips slightly. It could be seen clearly from the fear on her face that Anran was quite terrified of Tang Xia.
”Please listen to me, Your Grace. There must be something behind Lyuyou.” Anran said, then kowtowed so hard that Tang Xia could feel the slight tremor from the walnut floor.
Anran looked at Tang Xia with light flickering in her eyes and curled up her slender fingers in her hand. Then Tang Xia frowned her eyebrows.
”If I don't believe what you said, what would you do?”
In front of her, Anran kneeled with her trembling body, her teeth biting her lower lip tightly, ”If you don't believe me, I can do nothing but to kneel permanently in order to make up for my guilt of not helping Lyuyou who is trapped in the woodshed.”
Anran said with determination, her plain white face raised obstinately.
Tang Xia looked her face up and down as the cool breeze swept by through the window, such that the candlelight on the wooden table shimmered, making several slight noises.
”When did I become so determined?”
Tang Xia inhaled slowly then leaned on the wooden chair, ”You are getting bolder.”
Noticing that Tang Xia did not plan to punish her, Anran was relieved and kowtowed hard to Tang Xia again, then looked directly at Tang Xia in spite of her reddish forehead.
”Your Grace, Lyuyou never betrayed you, please believe me,” Anran said softly in her gentle voice.
Tang Xia stroked her hair between her eyebrows trying to be indifferent, ”You said that she never betrayed me, where is your proof?”
Anran froze her body for a moment.
”It was you who said that you saw her go out with a letter. Besides, I did give her a chance.” Tang Xia opened her cherry lips slightly and hid half her face in the dark, not showing happiness nor anger.
”She told me that she went to pick flowers for a new spice for aromatherapy. So why did she go out with a letter? You defend her and she herself told me that she had never betrayed me.”
”If she is truly as loyal as you have described, why couldn't she eat that Magnolia denudata cake?”
Tang Xia wore coldness in her eyes as every single word from her red lips hit Anran's heart.
”What is loyalty? How can she regard herself as loyal to me if she has no courage to risk her life for me in the imperial harem? Does she want to wait until I am sold by others then say that she is loyal to me?”
Having said this, Tang Xia lost interest, leaving tiredness in her eyes.
”Just leave. I'm going to bed.”
Anran remained silent, then opened her pale lips, saying nothing at last.
After a long time.
”I'm leaving now, Your Grace.” Anran kowtowed to Tang Xia pressing her forehead slightly against the floor.
Tang Xia walked to the window on the other side, feeling warm and soft as a cool breeze swept by.
It was getting dark. Although the air was clearer than the haze of the modern world, Tang Xia felt choked in her heart, not knowing what kind of mood she owned.
”Why am I feeling so bad although I am the one who was betrayed?”
As tears flickered in her beautiful peach blossom eyes, Tang Xia did not how she felt, as the breeze swept by with some slight dust.
Messages overlaid each other continuously on the bullet screen.
[Fans] Scorching Summer: I... I thought the anchor was acting too radically. But what the anchor said enlightens me that no one can ask for understanding if one cannot have the courage to risk his own life...
[Fans] I Love Watermelon: Wow, the anchor is leveling up, well done! You are the best! We will be your fans forever.
[Visitor] Alice: What a tragic novel.
Tang Xia could not even force a smile after several attempts. As the shiny moon hung in the sky, the stars around it appeared clearer.
Tang Xia kept on looking for hints in her mind, suspecting there might be small mistakes in this matter.
In the jewel case hid the note Chu Tiankuo left for her.
Tang Xia took it gently from the case and saw the vigorous and forceful calligraphy on the paper without dog-ears.
Tang Xia then was lost in thought.
”There may be dirty tricks involved in this matter according to the reactions of Anran and Lyuyou.”
”Chu Tiankuo will never lie to me and this note is given by him to me.”
”So what is this all about...” Tang Xia could not help speaking out what she thought. As her beautiful eyes were like clear blooming water louts hanging on her cheek, the pink from her cheek and cherry from her red lips highlighted the charm of her fair and delicate face.
”It seems I'm going to have to ask Chu Tiankuo about it.” Tang Xia tapped her slender fingers on the table rhythmically with her eyes half-closed.
Before she went to bed, Tang Xia heard slight knocking. Then Tang Xia walked to the door and pulled up the wooden knocker gently.
A plain and neat face appeared, ”I'm the slave girl, Xiao Xiazi from Jiaofang hall. I'm instructed by the emperor to remind you, Your Grace, to go to bed early. Although the banquet is set at evening, you will be busy in the daytime.”
Tang Xia held her chin high, then raised her thin eyebrows, ”Am I going alone tomorrow?”
Xiao Xiazi wore a bigger smile, ”No, Your Grace. I will guide you there. Imperial concubines should attend the banquet alone according to the tradition. However, His Majesty has two concubines going this time. So you need to go to Yi Jiazi's hall first to rendezvous with her.”