She hadn't even ran two steps yet before she was caught by the collar. Xia Yuqing pumped her short little legs futilely, before reluctantly turning to meet that sinisterly smiling devil. She forced a laugh…
"Tell me, my dear, what is it that you need to do and let me help you." Feng Tingye eyed her with deceptive mildness.
And to think he'd been concerned about her scare in the Palace of Compa.s.sion and Tranquility. Who knew he'd find his significant other so soon in the Imperial Gardens, enticing his subjects!
Xia Yuqing retracted her neck into her sh.e.l.l as the ire ablaze in Feng Tingye's eyes grew. She felt greatly wronged. Sob
Yan Ran whistled recklessly at Feng Tingye's rare loss of control. "Your Majesty, seems like your lady's frustrated. It's all very well for us to know about these indecent invitations, but if those old mules catch wind of this, you'll be in for quite a lecture."
Xia Yuqing began to understand as Feng Tingye's smile turned even more menacing. The Inner Palace was their romping grounds, their breeding den of vice. This was also why none but the emperor and the eunuchs could enter.
And she, the only concubine in the harem, had carelessly invited external officials to her palace. That did seem like…poaching!
Xia Yuqing's suddenly perked up. She knew she'd die unjustly if she didn't say something now. "Your Majesty, I didn't have any intentions. I only wanted to help the Chief Strategist and the beauti—no, the Grand Tutor. They seemed lost, so I was just going to invite them to my palace to stay for a while until they could meet Your Majesty. That's really all."
"Lost? I know the Imperial Gardens like the back of my hand." Yan Ran smiled innocuously. "Milady says that you had no intentions towards me, but did you not just call me beautiful? Or have my ears failed me with my old age?"
Xia Yuqing was gobsmacked by their twists of the knife and distortions of the truth. She felt aggrieved.
"This year will be an unlucky one, be wary of judases,"
Yan Ran broke out in gooseb.u.mps at Xia Yuqing's gratuitously grief-stricken gaze. He coughed lightly and looked away in silence. He didn't see anything. He didn't see the kitten's provocative gaze, didn't see the smiling snake pondering away next to him, and definitely didn't see the emperor's inky-black expression. Uh oh, I think I've played with the fire too much!
"Enough. You two leave first, we'll discuss this tomorrow. As for you…" Feng Tingye slitted his eyes at Xia Yuqing, "We'll work this out at home."
He dumped the duo and strode off with Xia Yuqing, frightening a bevy of maids and eunuchs in his way.
Shao Zitang was the first to recover. "He left just like that? How could Tingye put hoes before bros when we haven't seen each other in months?" His mouth twisted as he said to their backs. His eyes shone coldly.
" Looks like we're going to be stood up more in the future."
"Standing me up on my first day back, how can I not return the favor?" Shao Zitang narrowed his eyes and snorting coldly, turned and left.
He didn't get far before he heard mocking laughter. "Little Tangtang, that way's the Cold Palace. You're supposed to go this way if you want to leave."
Shao Zitang froze. He whipped around and glared at Yan Ran. "Of course I know which way's out. I was just testing if you knew. Hmph."
He didn't wait for a reply and rushed past Yan Ran towards the exit. No matter how you looked at it, that was fleeing the scene.
Yan Ran watched Shao Zitang's hurriedly retreating back and shook his head helplessly, "This guy…"
On the other hand, Xia Yuqing was being carried like a chick back to the Hall of Capturing Fragrance. She geared up for the fight.