A boring tale part 1

Xuan Yi was lounging on her favorite couch as she slowly ate the fruits from the sliver platter before her. She was relaxing from what she deemed as working too much and she is enjoying her short vacation very much. Although it cannot really be called a vacation since she is still in the Demon Palace but she could not bother with the details.

"This is the way of life," Xuan Yi muttered with a smile as she continued savoring her strawberries. The servants around her were smiling as well because when their master is in a good mood, her temper would be normal as well. It was hard for the maids when Lady Xuan Yi is working. One slightest mistake would guarantee punishment so everyone was on the edge for the past few years.

"Indeed, my Lady." A maid gracefully poured a freshly brewed jasmine wine into a dainty white cup and placed it before her mistress. The maid is in charge of all the alcohol in the demon palace and she brews the best wine in the world. Not even those immortals from the heavenly realm could best her in her skill which is why the demon palace sometimes would send exotic wine as gifts for the Imperial Family during banquets or special occasions.

Letting the cup sit for a while, she rested her chin on her hand and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet smell of jasmine waft around her. She has been busy with the requests and finally managed to convince people that she needs a break from going into the human world. The head maid had nodded her head at her request for a short break without much convincing. She had always pampered her whenever she could because she was the person who took care of her from the moment she entered or rather, dragged into the demon palace by her master.

Thinking about that incident made her furrow her brows in annoyance. Yes, she does respect her master but at that time, she felt that he was being extremely annoying and dominating. Xuan Yi sighed as she thought of her master and bought the cup to her lips. This is the fifth cup of the fifteen wine jug and she was feeling a little tipsy but not drunk.

"Aren't you tired? Come here and sit, have a drink with me." Xuan Yi gestured towards the maidservant and she compiled. It is not the first time that the Lady had asked her to be her drinking companion. Truthfully, she enjoyed her Lady's company but today, the Lady seemed to be drinking too much. As if she was drinking her sorrows away rather than drinking for enjoyment.

"My Lady, are you feeling alright?" The maidservant, Qiu Xue, asked.

"Why do you ask?" Xuan Yi grabbed the jug and poured herself another cup.

"Intuition, my Lady." Qiu Xue answered hesitantly before she sips her own wine.

"How observant. For answering correctly, this Lady here shall tell you a boring story." Xuan Yi grinned at Qiu Xue as if she was speaking to a child.

"A boring story, my Lady?" Qiu Xue raised her eyebrows at her Lady's words.

"Yes, an extremely boring story. If you feel like it's too boring, you absolutely cannot fall asleep or stop me. You have to listen to the end because it's your reward." Xuan Yi wagged her finger at her in mock warning.

Qiu Xue smiled at her Lady's antics before she nodded.

"Alright, this Lady shall start from the beginning." Xuan Yi leaned back comfortably before she started her boring story.

There was once a kingdom in the north that was surrounded by enemies. The previous Emperor was weak and indulged himself in lust and wine. His harem was flooded with women and some of them are even underaged. It was an extremely trying time for the people as the Emperor was not a good one. One day, one of his sons, the third prince born from the Empress marched into the palace and assassinated the Emperor.

Normally this would cause quite an outrage, both from the Imperial family and the common people. But this was the useless Emperor that threatened to kill off their entire clan in order to get their mothers, their wives, their daughters. Nobody was unhappy about the death of the useless Emperor.

The Imperial Family was even more so willing to let the third prince ascend the throne but this is because they saw how ruthless he was when he marched into his Imperial Father's private garden with a sharp glint in his eyes and slaughtered every single person in it. There were obscene activities happening at that time but the third prince did not even bat an eyelash before cutting down everyone. His Imperial Father, his half brothers who were tempted by lust, the concubines that were shameless and the servants who helped, supported and aided the Emperor's disgusting desires. Should any remaining Imperial relatives oppose the third prince, who knows when the third prince would cut them down too?

So the third prince ascended without much trouble and the kingdom was put into order. The common people were happy as their women were not randomly taken away by an old leecher and the nobles were happy as the kingdom's financial situation stabled. It was when everything became peaceful that the question of the Imperial heir was brought up one day during the morning court.

The Emperor had not taken in any woman before his ascension and as he was busy settling the mess his father left behind, he had no time for it. And so, it began. Every noble household started to groom their daughters and bring them to the palace banquets. There were not much pure young misses left due to the previous Emperor but there were still some. The left prime minister had a young daughter that he hid from the eyes of the public. She was a beauty from a young age and the previous Emperor would never let her go if he saw her or even heard of her.

The little girl grew up a proper lady and was extremely well-protected from the outside world. Her world consists of her parents and her brother and maybe her books as well. She was extremely well-behaved and docile, the apple of her parents' eye. Her brother pampered her with gifts and obliged with her every request. Her days were wonderful and she wished she never had to leave her home. However, the day came when she grew from a little girl to a lady and became of marriageable age.

Her father has good relations with the Emperor and felt that the Emperor's character is good. Letting his precious daughter marry him should be a good way to protect her. Hence, he submitted his daughter's name for the selection.

Without fail, the lady was chosen as one of the ladies to enter the harem and a title was given. It was not too high or too low, the lady became known as Noble Lady Lan. Noble Lady Lan was the ideal of a lady. Elegant and graceful, mindful of the rules, master of the arts and ethics and most importantly, the beauty that rivals an immortal's. However, she did not get the Emperor's attention.

The Emperor saw her once and although was enchanted by her beauty, felt that she was too much of a doll. There is no joy in having a conversation with her and everything felt bland when being with her. Although the Emperor did promise her father to take care of his precious daughter, that does not mean he has to make her his Empress. Living in the Imperial Harem with a high enough title should guarantee a good life for her and hence, the Emperor discarded her.

Noble Lady Lan is well aware of her circumstances and did not wish to change it. From young, she has been caged in her home and now she is caged within the Imperial Palace. At least when she was at home, she had her mother and her brother. But now, she feels extremely lonely within the walls of her Spring Palace. She sees no hope and just wanted to live her life out peacefully but the others residing in the harem thought otherwise.

It is said that if you are favored, much hatred will be directed at you. If you are not favored, then it is not hatred but scorn. Noble Lady Lan was frequently bullied and used by the other women in the harem. Even the servants serving her in her courtyard hold no respect towards her. She brushed all of these off, thinking that if she endures, then maybe one day, everything might just come to pass.

However, everything changed one day. Guards storm into her Spring Palace and forcefully escorted her to the Empress's chambers. This is the first time she had saw the Emperor after that day as she does not even attend official events. She kneeled and paid her respects, noting the cold look on the Emperor's face and the teary-eyed Empress sitting by his side, clinging onto his arm, looking pale.

"This lowly concubine greets the Emperor, greets the Empress."

The Emperor snorted in contempt as an acknowledgment while the Empress trembled slightly at the sight of her. Leaning into the Emperor's embrace, she cried bitterly at Noble Lady Lan.

"Younger sister, why did you do it?" The Empress cried out at her as she cowered into the Emperor's chest as if she was afraid of Noble Lady Lan.

"Your Highness the Empress, this lowly concubine does not understand." Noble Lady Lan did not have a single change of expression as she replied to the Empress.

"Do not understand? Are you mocking me?" The Emperor thundered, his glare seems to be able to pierce through Noble Lady Lan but she did not flinch as she met his eyes.

"This lowly concubine really does not understand. This lowly concubine begs the Emperor to enlighten her," Noble Lady Lan kowtow deeply until her head touches the floor. Seeing her calm expression, the Empress bit her lips anxiously and looked at the Emperor.

"There is no need for the Emperor to say anything to you. This Empress shall say it," the Empress took a deep breath and steadied herself before she started speaking.

"The Emperor had planned to visit my Pearl Palace and I was extremely excited so I had my maidservants prepare for his arrival. Who knows that when the Emperor arrived, he threw the cup that I was going to drink from. The Emperor said that there is poison in the cup and asked for the Imperial Doctors to investigate and they have found poison in the tea leaves. After investigation, I found out that these tea leaves are gifted to me by Imperial Consort Rui." The Empress waved towards the heavy curtains that adorned the chamber and Imperial Consort Rui came forward. She kneeled down and paid her respects to the Emperor and Empress before she glanced at Noble Lady Lan.

Noble Lady Lan mentally sighed in relief at the arrival of Imperial Consort Rui. Although she is of higher rank and is favored by the Emperor, she is humble and friendly. Noble Lady Lan does not have many friends and Imperial Consort Rui is her closest friend in the Imperial Harem. With her here, this entire drama can end.

"Imperial Consort Rui, repeat the words you said to me to Noble Lady Lan." The Empress commanded and Imperial Consort Rui nodded.

"This Imperial Consort has been called to the Empress chambers and accused of poisoning the Empress. Her Highness said that it was the tea leaves that this Imperial Consort gifted her during one of the gatherings and wanted an explanation from this Consort. This Consort thought hard and remembered that the tea leaves are recommended to me by Noble Lady Lan. It is known to all that Noble Lady Lan's family loves their tea and they have fields to harvest the best tea leaves to sale and for their own drinking."

"This Consort was visiting Noble Lady Lan one day and had the chance to drink one of the most delicious tea I have ever tasted in my life. This Consort asked for the tea's origin and Noble Lady Lan gifted some of them to me. She said that it was given to her by her family and since I liked it, she will give me some. This Consort thought that Noble Lady Lan is gracious and generous and this Consort was grateful. Furthermore, Noble Lady Lan did give enough for this Consort to share with my sisters and naturally, this Consort shared some with the Empress. Who would have expected that the tea leaves contain poison that would cause miscarriage? This Consort did not know that they were poisoned and gifted them to the Empress out of goodwill. This Consort begs the Emperor and the Empress to investigate." Imperial Consort Rui bowed so low that her head touched the cold tile and did not get up.

Noble Lady Lan is someone who does not show her expressions freely but for the first time, the Emperor saw shock and confusion flitted across her face. The Emperor narrowed his eyes at that and took it as Noble Lady Lan was panicking because her scheme was exposed.

He grabbed a teacup near him and smashed it towards Noble Lady Lan, hitting her right cheek which bruised at the impact. Pointing his fingers at her, he shouted.

"You have such big guts, Noble Lady Lan! How dare you cause the miscarriage of an Imperial child! This is a huge crime that demands the execution of your entire nine clans. If you cannot give me a satisfactory explanation, this Emperor shall order for the execution to commence." The Empress hide a small smirk at the declaration and eyed the kneeling lady with viciousness.

Noble Lady Lan felt her world go dark at the mention of execution of her family members. Her dear father who tried his best to protect her and helped this man ascend the throne, her dear mother who is the biggest worrywart she knew and her brother who always pampered her. Clenching her fists tightly, she quickly began to think.

Because if she cannot think of a way out, she will die and her family members would be implicated just because of women's jealously in the Imperial Harem. She would not allow that.