Chapter 41 Yi Jiazi, The Green Tea Bitch (1/2)

Tang Xia nodded. But she did not sleep well.

When Tang Xia woke up the next morning, Anran held a basin of clear water for Tang Xia to refresh herself.

It was Lyuyou who usually did this, so Tang Xia was still not accustomed to being served by another maiden.

”After I refresh myself, go with me to check on the imperial guard.” Tang Xia said in a cold voice.

Anran froze for a moment, then continued her actions, ”Why do you want to check on the imperial guard, Your Grace?”

Being afraid that Tang Xia would blame her for meddling too much, Anran added, ”The imperial guard barracks is an important place, with many guards in the imperial harem, so it may be difficult to get in without an appropriate reason.”

Tang Xia glanced at the floor then froze her eyes.

”Right. I could get into the military camps because of the decree of Helian Jue. How could I look for Chu Tiankuo again after Helian Jue handled the matter properly for me?”

”Is waiting for Chu Tiankuo to appear my only choice?”

Tang Xia wore a trace of disappointment in her eyes, making Anran feel sorry for her, ”It is said that several men from the imperial troops would attend the banquet this evening. I'll cover for you. But I'm not sure if the man you're looking for would attend the banquet.”

Anran's words brought back the glow from Tang Xia's disappointed eyes.

Tang Xia was a hundred percent sure that Chu Tiankuo would come.

Tang Xia went around to the side of her jewelry box, then put the note given by Chu Tiankuo into her sleeves with her slender fingers twining the large cuff when Anran wasn't looking.

”Please pick the dress you will wear for the banquet, Your Grace.”

Tang Xia chose a beautiful vermilion long-sleeved dress with drapes around its waist extending downward.

After doing a little make-up, Tang Xia's delicate face became more coquettish in a moment.

As Xiao Xiazi waited outside for a long time, Tang Xia needed to rendezvous with Yi Jiazi first, according to what had been said last night.

As Yi Jiazi waited outside the hall for a long time, she forced a smile to her mouth at the sight of Tang Xia walking towards her elegantly.

”I, Jiazi, pay my respects to you, sister.” Yi Jiazi bowed to Tang Xia respectfully with her purple tippet moving along with her actions.

As a breeze swept by, warmth turned into coldness when it touched Tang Xia's face.

”Let's go.” Tang Xia raised her chin haughtily and said to Xiao Xiazi.

”Wait.” Behind her, Yi Jiazi said in a gentle voice which showed neither happiness nor anger, ”I have bowed to you, why not bow back to me, sister?”

Tang Xia knew that Yi Jiazi was stirring trouble. As her ignoring Yi Jiazi was already putting on airs, she could not do that again in front of so many people after Yi Jiazi questioned her shamelessly, in fear of being called out.

”Why should I bow back to you?”

As Tang Xia turned around, she said in an extremely cold voice with no smile on her mouth.

Yi Jiazi smiled gracefully, ”It is the rule in the imperial harem. Although your status is higher than mine, you should bow back to me after I bow to you.”

Yi Jiazi added as if she was not satisfied, ”Are you so happy to attend the banquet with the emperor that you forgot the rules?”

Such words would let the slaves accuse Tang Xia of being unruly.

Tang Xia forced a smile, choking back her nausea, then walked towards Yi Jiazi and said elegantly, ”I guess it is you who is too happy. If I didn't hear it wrong, what you said was 'I pay my respects to you'. Since you were showing respect, why should I bow back to you?”

Yi Jiazi altered her expression, wanting to fight back, but was stopped by Tang Xia.

”Or do you want to deny what you said, and it was me who heard it wrong? Are you forcing me to bow to you?”

Yi Jiazi's face darkened, with a trace of maliciousness flickering in her peach blossom eyes, ”Of course not. Both of us are imperial concubines chosen by the emperor, so we should help each other. Why ruin the friendship between us just for the etiquette?”

Tang Xia looked away wearing a smile with mockery.

”It is so disgusting of her to turn her coat at this time, saying that we should not ruin the friendship between us.”

”What do you mean by saying so? I heard from the emperor that the kings from different countries are gathering in the banquet. What you said cannot be heard by the envoys from other countries, otherwise they would regard us as ignorant of etiquette.”

Yi Jiazi froze for a moment, forced a smile, then looked at Tang Xia with some resentment.

”It is not what I mean. I hope you can give me justice, sister.”

Yi Jiazi said in a weak voice, showing a look like Tang Xia was doing evil.

”What a green tea bitch.”

Tang Xia wore a bigger smile with a glow flickering in her peach blossom eyes in the sunlight. As a breeze swept by, her hair was blown into the air then hung behind her shoulder, attracting others' attention continuously.

”Justice? That is quite simple. It seemed like a breeze swept by when you bowed to me so that I did not see it clearly. If you bow to me again, I will forget that you do not understand etiquette. What do you think?”

As Tang Xia squinted her eyes, her cunning smile in her eyes was like the shiniest star in the sky, which was caught by Yi Jiazi.

”If you do not want to bow to me, that is okay. I don't like forcing others to do what they are unwilling to do. But,” Tang Xia added, ”I'm not sure what the emperor would think of you if he knows what happened.”