Chapter 73 Gossip Again (2/2)

Just as Lengmei continued to think about it, a gleam flashed through her eyes. She signaled her personal maid to her side and whispered a few words at her ear. The maid nodded and then left the chamber.

”Tang Xia, you have some notoriety now, and I'm going to make it greater. No need to thank me!”

Tang Xia arrived at her own chamber, and she didn't know that Lengmei was plotting against her again. She felt lonely and bitter deep in her heart. The harem was full of schemes and treacheries. What a cruel world it was!

Realizing that she was being sentimental, Tang Xia shook her head and cleared her mind, forcing herself not to think about anything else. She sighed as she felt a chill in the air and said,

”Autumn is coming, right?”

”Your Grace, you are careless about your health again,” Lyuyou said worriedly, and then draped a cloak on Tang Xia. Tang Xia felt a sense of unknown warmth and a mild smile crept up on her face.

Her charming eyes gleamed with glowing radiance, but deep inside her eyes was hidden some light sadness. She raised her slim hand and caught a maple leaf of enjoyable setting sun color falling onto her palm.

”The maple leaves fall really early this year, Lyuyou,” Tang Xia said with a vague smile. She spread her palm, and the beautiful maple leaf was gone with the wind.

Lyuyou stood quietly beside Tang Xia, worrying about her yet unable to talk about it for fear of upsetting her.

Not long afterwards, the gossip of the quarrel between Tang Xia and Lengmei spread like wildfire. When Lyuyou heard the other maids gossiping about it, she asked them to keep quiet lest Tang Xia might hear it.

However, as the old saying goes, truth will out. The next morning, Tang Xia got up early, and she looked rather pale. She asked Lyuyou to do her a light make-up, and she decided to go for a walk outdoors. Lyuyou didn't want her to go outside, but she hesitated over how to dissuade her.

She was afraid that Tang Xia might have suspicions. Tang Xia had no idea of Lyuyou's concern, but she sensed the uneasiness on her face. She asked considerately, ”Lyuyou, what's the matter with you? You look anxious. Is anything wrong?”

”No, Your Grace, everything is fine. You're thinking too much,” Lyuyou replied. Tang Xia didn't ask more questions, thinking Lyuyou might feel not well that day.

She looked out of the window and saw the royal garden was blooming with autumn flowers. She said, ”Lyuyou, let's go to see the flowers in the royal garden later. We could also pluck some petals for making pastry.”

”Your Grace, you fell into the pond not long ago, and your body hasn't fully recovered. It's not good for you to go outside!” Lyuyou said hurriedly, intending to stop Tang Xia from going outside.

Tang Xia suspiciously looked at Lyuyou, who had always been a girl of few words, and thought she was worried about her. She gave her a warm smile and said, ”I'm feeling much better now. My body will rust if I can't get some sunshine!”

Seeing that Tang Xia was determined to go, Lyuyou had no choice but to follow her to the royal garden. When they arrived, they found two maids gossiping. One of the maids said, ”Did you hear about it? The Queen went to visit Concubine Leng the other day.”

”What? They have always been at odds, aren't they? How come?”

”Shhh, I heard the Queen accused Concubine Leng of plotting her fall into the pond, and she went to question her that day!”

”Everyone in the harem knows about it now. The Queen is really rude and petulant, isn't she? She fell into the pond carelessly, yet she blamed Concubine Leng, and Concubine Leng was punished by His Majesty and confined to her chamber. What a pity!”

Hardly had the two maids finished speaking did they catch sight of Tang Xia, and their faces turned deadly pale immediately. Tang Xia looked at them coldly and asked, ”Where did you hear those words?”

”Your Grace, it was Concubine Leng's personal maid...” One of the maids replied in desperate panic, kneeling on both knees and lowering her head, and the other maid was shivering uncontrollably from fear.

”Go. I let you go this time, but remember, if I hear you gossiping about it again, I will punish you severely. Understand?” Tang Xia's overwhelming aura made the two maids almost unable to breathe. They nodded quickly and left.

Seeing that Lyuyou was not surprised, Tang Xia knew she must have heard about it before. Lyuyou looked at Tang Xia worriedly, and said hesitantly, ”Your Grace, I heard about it not long ago, but I didn't want to bother you with the gossip.”

Tang Xia was really infuriated this time. She recalled the repeated compromises she made, but instead of achieving peace, she was framed by others time and again.

But she didn't blame Lyuyou at all. That girl was only hiding it for Tang Xia's sake. It was Lengmei who antagonized and framed her one time after another, and now she went on to call her a bully. Tang Xia was unable to bear it any more.

”Lyuyou, let's go! I will find Lengmei and teach her a lesson!” Tang Xia snapped furiously and strode towards Lengmei's chamber with Lyuyou following behind.

Meanwhile, Lengmei was doing make-up in front of the mirror. She pictured Tang Xia's angry face after finding out she was framed, and Lengmei couldn't help feeling complacent.

As soon as Tang Xia saw Lengmei, she scowled at her, went over quickly without saying a word, and then slapped Lengmei hard on the face. Lengmei was totally dumbfounded.