A boring tale 30 - Princess Yu's gathering (2)

"Ling Xuan is still young and dumb, I do not understand how have I offended Lady Qiu for you to be this mean towards this humble girl at our first meeting." Ling Xuan raised her sleeves to her face and wiped the tears that were gathering at the edges of her eyes, making it as if she was hurt by Lady Qiu's malicious words.

"What-?" Lady Qiu widened her eyes at the sudden display of a frail beauty in tears, too flustered to even continue with the plan.

"Since Lady Qiu was unaware of the rules, I only recited the rules that were in place ever since this kingdom was founded. Those rules can be found printed on official records and sometimes carved onto the walls of the Imperial Harem Palaces. I did not make them out from thin air nor did I had the intention to humiliate any of the ladies here. Why must Lady Qiu twist my words?"

Seeing the Goddess of the kingdom sniff as she tried to explain herself, the ladies present felt their hearts soften. This can be considered Lady Ling Xuan's first social event and yet, Lady Qiu has made her shed tears. If the Emperor was the find out about this matter, how will Lady Qiu answer? How will her family answer to the Emperor? Whispers floated around the ladies section of the banquet and everyone was standing on Ling Xuan's side. Even those of Imperial Consort Su's fraction felt difficult to step up for Lady Qiu and kept their mouth shuts as they sip their tea.

Lady Qiu gripped her sleeves under the table and bit her lips, irked at how the ladies are so easily influenced by a few drips of tears before smiling awkwardly at her.

"Lady Ling Xuan, it seems like it was this Lady who has misunderstood your words. However, Lady Ling Xuan should have known about those nasty rumors of the past. This Lady has always been sensitive in regards to those matters and Lady Ling's words have brought up some dreadful memories. If Lady Ling is willing to apologize, then this Lady will forget about this. How about it?"

Lady Qiu's words shocked the entire section of ladies. She has already made her cry and now she wants Lady Ling to apologize to her? Isn't that akin to slapping one's face and asking the victim to say sorry for standing in the way of her hand?

Ling Xuan furrowed her brows as she processed those words. Cocking her head to the side with an innocent look on her face, she asked Lady Qiu.

"Rumors? I have not stepped out of the Ling household ever since I was born so I have never heard of any rumors, even more so of those that concern Lady Qiu. Could someone please enlighten Ling Xuan, what are the rumors were circulating regarding Lady Qiu?"

Hearing her response, the ladies could not help but chuckle behind their large sleeves.

Even Princess Yu, who was maintaining a neutral expression cracked a smile at how Ling Xuan played with Lady Qiu.

Princess Yu, who was sitting near Lady Ling, leaned in and whispered into her ears, giving her a short summary about what happened before leaning back and held the teacup in her hands, playing with the edge of the cup with a smile as though nothing happened.

Ling Xuan snickered internally at Princess Yu's nonchalance before putting a pitiful look on her face as she apologized to Lady Qiu.

"Ling Xuan did not know such a rumor circulated. It must have been because it was extinguished too quickly before it reached the Ling household, it was Ling Xuan who has misspoke. Ling Xuan apologizes."

Lady Qiu was seething with anger at the blatant act of both the Princess and Ling Xuan, her hands clenched into tight fists under her large floral sleeves, drawing blood from her palms. But she cannot push this argument any further since Ling Xuan has already apologized. She could only swallow this mouthful of anger and accept Ling Xuan's apology.

Which she did quickly before saying her legs are numb and she wanted to take a walk left the dining area for ladies. Immediately after she left, Princess Yu let out a soft chuckle and gave Ling Xuan a look of approval.

Ling Xuan returned her smile with a hint of helplessness. Lady Qiu messed with the wrong person. Ling Xuan is no snow lotus and she doesn't intend to be one. Her principles are still the same as before when she was Imperial Consort Lan. Treat me well and I will repay you with kindness. Mistreat me and I will come after you with vengeance. The only change was most probably that her methods of vengeance are no longer merciful.

The evening was still young and although Ling Xuan wished for a peaceful one, she knew that while Imperial Consort Su is still alive, there is no such thing as peace for her. As she expected, the real show has just lifted its curtains.

Ling Xuan had left the crowd to relieve herself when she encountered a male servant on her way to the guest toilets. The male servant was behaving weirdly, his breath uneven and his eyes kept shifting. Ling Xuan glanced at him and knew that something was up but when the male servant approached her and splashed dirty water on her skirt, she played along and yelped in shock. The servant kneeled down and apologized furiously before leading her to an empty room to change into another set of clothes, saying that Princess Yu has prepared a few sets of clothing for the ladies just in case incidents like these happen.

Hearing his words, it was as if Princess Yu was being thoughtful towards the guests and had catered for unforeseen circumstances. Ling Xuan nodded along with the male servant's words and played along, allowing him to lead her into a quarter that is obviously a servant's quarter. If one were to think about it logically, why would Princess Yu store clothes for guests in the servant's quarters?

Do they think Ling Xuan is stupid?

When the male servant and Ling Xuan are alone in the room, the male servant handed her a set of noble lady's clothes and told her to change behind the screen before going over to shut the doors, locking both the male servant and Ling Xuan inside the room.

Such a low trick. Ling Xuan wanted to sigh at their level of creativity. Before the male servant can come back from locking the doors, she bought out the talisman from her sleeve and tore it. That talisman was a summoning spell, allowing the caster to summon a person they have met before to their location. Ling Xuan knew who was behind this boring scheme and a chuckle bubbled from her dainty lips, anticipating the look on her face when she opens those doors behind Ling Xuan.

The person that Ling Xuan summoned appeared before her instantly, in a daze.

Smirking, Ling Xuan quickly cast a spell on people that are in the room. A strong aphrodisiac spell, one that would make one loses all his senses and want to bed whoever that was within reach, even if the only living thing near him is a pig.

Ling Xuan was obviously not affected by the spell since she was the caster. She decided to add a little bit of spice and tapped on the person she summoned, changing his clothes before snapping her fingers. The figure of Ling Xuan melted with the shadows hid from the humans, waiting for the show to start.

It did not take long for Lady Qiu to suddenly ran back, sweating profusely as though she has seen something horrible.

"Princess, Your Highness!" Lady Qiu collapsed beside Princess Yu, gasping for breath as she wheezed out her words.

"Please come to the back garden, something has happened."

Princess Yu raised her eyebrows and her confused look immediately turned into a frown.

"What is this, Lady Qiu?"

"Once Princess saw what happened in the back garden, Princess will naturally understand." Lady Qiu was relentless and Princess Yu could only sigh and entertain her, following her lead along with all the ladies who were curious about what Lady Qiu have seen.

Seeing the ladies leaving in groups, the men that were in another section was curious about what happened and went over to ask their wives. Hearing that there was drama, the men also went along with their wives to see what happened.

Seeing the people leaving in large groups, Duke Fei noticed Ling Xuan was not within the ladies and hung back a little before leaving with the men. Just as he stood up from his seat, Ling Xuan emerged from the shadows and joined him.

"Did something happen?" Duke Fei asked her as they made their way to the back garden.

"Oh yes, something scandalous must have happened for Lady Qiu to be so agitated." Ling Xuan replied with a knowing smile.

Duke Fei laughed at Ling Xuan before shaking his head, knowing that someone has met an ugly end this time around.

Ignorant of this conversation, Lady Qiu was hastily dragging Princess Yu towards the back garden. She was scared that if they were a step late, they would miss out on the scene that Lady Qiu has seen before running back to the ladies. However, when they arrived in the back gardens, they saw nothing.

Princess Yu glared at Lady Qiu, waiting for an explanation. She did not have to wait long before lewd sounds could be heard from the servant quarters near the back garden. Lady Qiu quickly marched towards the servant quarters and pointed at it.

"They must be inside! I was stretching my legs in the back gardens when I saw Lady Ling meet up with a man and was being intimate with him. I was so shocked that I ran back to report to Princess Yu," Lady Qiu banged on the door but it did not budge. It must have been locked from the inside.

Lewd moans and shifting of fabric could be heard from outside and the ladies all blush at the obscene sounds coming from the people inside.

"How dare they do this in this Princess's mansion? Servants, open this door immediately." Princess Yu's face was extremely dark as she ordered.

The servants heeded their mistress's orders and kicked down the door. Servants of the Princess Mansion are all trained in martial arts, kicking down a door was nothing. After the door was kicked down, the people outside strained their eyes to see which male servant was so bold as to commit such an act under the nose of the Princess.

They saw a naked man humping his hips without restraint, with such fervor as if he was possessed against a lady whose clothes were in disarray. The lady was moaning so loudly as if she was scared that the people cannot hear her as she clung onto the man who was pounding her heavily, with a force that is capable of breaking a lady's hips.

"Disgusting! Tear them apart for this Princess," Princess Yu snarled.

The servants obeyed and went in, grabbed the two people, and separated them. The moment the servants touched them, it was as if the haze in their eyes broke and they could finally see clearly.

"How dare Lady Ling commit such adultery before her wedding? In the house of the Emperor's sister to boot, have you got no shame?" Lady Qiu shouted, pointing her fingers at the dazed lady with glee.

You dare to humiliate me, how do you like this right now?

With her chastity gone, she can no longer enter the Imperial Harem. She would have to marry this man, her bright future would be ruined.

"No wonder Lady Ling likes to do charity and help the common people, it was because her lover is a servant, one of the common folk. She is just doing it so that she can meet with her lover, how scandalous!" Lady Qiu continued to rant and even went into the servant's quarter to grab the lady by her hair and lift her face up for everything to see how disgraceful the Goddess of the kingdom is.

However, everyone gasped in shock at the face of the lady who was supposed to be Lady Ling.

Even Lady Qiu screamed in terror, dropping onto the cold floor in shock.

"How can this be?" Lady Qiu muttered incoherently as she backed away from the lady.

The lady sitting on the floor winced in pain as she lifted her head after having her hair pulled. The lady had a lean and sharp jawline, too sharp for a lady. Her shoulders that were exposed by the rough handling of the male servant that was doing her were too broad for a lady. Her chest was flat, her strong muscles flexed as she held her head in her hand painfully. And...and...

The ladies standing outside the servant's quarters avert their eyes from the exposed lower part of the lady, their face blushing red.

Lady Qiu was so excited from accusing the lady that she did not notice that the lady she kept referring to was not a lady but a male who was wearing a lady's dress. The exposed male organ stood in full view for everyone to see but its owner was still in a daze as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep. His messy long hair draped on his shoulders after having done such a rough activity and being pulled by Lady Qiu, it was tangled and he was in pain. Lady Qiu's grip was not light.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, the man looked up at the nearest person and muttered in a confused tone.

"Why did you pull my hair, my wife?"