The tea tastes like dirt.

Lang Yuan wanted to spit the liquid out from his system. But it would be rude to concubine number three, named Sun Shuang, who served the tea to the Empress Dowager and to the Empress Candidate. The Empress Dowager accepted the tea and drank it gracefully. Lang Yuan wanted to puke his lunch out more. How can the Lady drink such a drink?

Even without poison, anyone would drop dead after drinking that murky tea.

So to avoid any unnecessary complains, Lang Yuan pretended to be drinking. He saw the Empress dowager lowering her cup so he followed. The Lady carefully placed the glass cup to the tea plate before looking up to Lang Yuan. Lang Yuan unintentionally locked eyes with the lady and awkwardly smile.

Lang Yuan: Ahahaha, somebody pull me out of here please.

"How is the tea?" The lady asked. "It's the best tea made in the court."

Wtf? That is the best tea made in the court? Sugar in water still tasted better than that! But Lang Yuan did nothing but to nod. Kang QuiYue noticed the hidden frown of the youth. Sun Shuang returned to give another refill to the cups, giving Lang Yuan wild glances. It is as if she's showing a talent that should be praised by a thousand of gods.

"Would the Empress Candidate want to eat some confectionaries?" Sun Shuang asked.

"Ah, don't bothe-"

"This is freshly made by yours truly," Sun Shuang chuckled lightly. "Lady Kang, have a piece."

Kang QuiYue accepted the offer of the concubine. Sun Shuang sliced a piece from the chocolate covered cake and placed it in a small plate. She served the plate to the Empress Dowager before the Empress Candidate. Sun Shuang waited for Kang QuiYue to start eating the first bite.

"Impressive," the Empress Dowager said. "Ah-Shuang, what a sweet child. Your food making is still the best."

"This humble concubine is thanking the Lady for the praise," Sun Shuang bowed.

What? So this is also good? Lang Yuan thought. So after the dowager ate her piece, Lang Yuan followed. It's just that the moment the supposed to be chocolate cake touch his tongue, the taste almost massacred his taste buds that he can almost feel himself numb.

Lang Yuan chocked on the food. He did not do it on purpose; it is just that he can no longer take the taste. The Empress Dowager quickly helped Lang Yuan giving him the closest drink that she can find. She handed the tea Lang Yuan despises the most, earning another fit of coughing from the youth.

"Wa... water please..." Lang Yuan asked.

Kang QuiYue ordered the nearest maid to bring her water ASAP. She kept on massaging the back of Lang Yuan to ease the coughing. She wondered, the tea and the cake they ate came from the same plate. Even the utensils used are brought out from his cupboard. There should be no poison knowing how sharp a dragon sense can be. Maybe Lang Yuan can't take the food of the higher realm?

Lang Yuan almost gobbled up the water drinking five large glasses in total. He wanted to clean his tongue, sterilized it from the taste of the bomb cake and dirt tea. Kang QuiYue wiped off the beads of sweat coming from his head.

"Are you feeling alright? Was it hard to breathe?" The Empress Dowager asked.

"This servant is all right, your highness," Lang Yuan said.

"Just call me Lady Kang. You are now part of the family. Treat me as your mother and your sisters gently."

"Y-yes, your hi-... Yes, Lady Kang."

Kang QuiYue nodded. "What's the matter? Did you not like the food Sung Shuang served us? Do humans have particular taste than us?"

He indeed disliked the food. Not even his bullies in High School fed him with dirt. Lang Yuan only shifted on his position to not make his legs sleep.

He answered, "There's none, Lady Kang. I think we all both shared the same variety of food."

"Empress Candidate Lang, is my tea and cake not into your liking?" Sun Shuang looked at him with contempt. Her eyes are red, filled with crocodile tears to the brim.

"Ah... Older Sister Sun, it's actually all right. It's all right," Lang Yuan quickly responded.

This green tea bitch is acting too much. Just for a piece of tea and cake she's crying? Is she aware that her cooking skills is so bad even the emperor could handle cooking a sunny side up without burning the kitchen? Lang Yuan did not dare on touching anything Sun Shuang served but instead made himself comfortable by sipping water.

"Sun Shuang, dear, please excuse us," the empress dowager said. Sun Shuang bowed and left the two figures alone.

Silence surrounded them. Suddenly, the empress dowager motioned to his side and bowed down. Lang Yuan was surprised that he quickly made the old lady stop.

"La-lady K-kang, what are you doing? P-please, d-don't bow like that," He said, hands fumbling.

"It is my duty to give an heir to the previous emperor. That is why I am in this position," Lady Kang said. "And now, you have done the duty as well. We are almost equals... No, probably, you will shine more like a sun now that the heir has been born."

"Please Lady Kang," Lang Yuan helped her to sit back on her previous position. "This servant is not worthy of your praise. Lady Kang is my senior. My worth can never compare."

"What a humble child. Did I not say to treat me as your mother now?" The empress dowager chuckled.

"Y-yes," Lang Yuan replied with guilt.

After all, JiDan is just an accident. And his presence is not due to his love of the emperor but for the sake of comfort and security. To see this Lady with motherly eyes due to the happiness of his son...

"I also wanted to apologize," Lady Kang interrupted his thoughts. "I heard that you are planning to get married within this week yet I... I am really sorry."

"There's nothing to worry about that, Lady Kang. It is inappropriate to marry without meeting the parents of either sides. I should be the one to apologize. My parents are no longer in this world and cannot formally meet you," Lang Yuan said.

"I know," she said sadly. "Such a beautiful son yet you are left in this pitiful world alone. I hope you will feel happiness inside the palace."

"Thank you, Lady Kang..." If only there are no hidden schemes between ministers and officials then the life inside the palace could be called peaceful. If only that is possible...

The Empress Dowager and the Empress Candidate continued chatting. On the other hand, Sun Shuang clenched her fist as she started yelling to the maids and eunuchs inside her room. The poor servants accepted a couple of beatings just because the mistress they are serving is in bad mood. Concubine number two and number five is also inside the room sipping tea while watching their sister go wild.

"Sister Shuang, take it easy. You should not show your temper," Concubine number two, Ding Liling, said.

"I agree. Even though I do not know what happened, you should control your anger," the rather fat-skinned concubine number five, Dai Xia, agreed.

"How can I not get angry, sisters? He mocked me. That man said in front of Lady Kang that my food tastes bad. He insulted me in front of the lady!" Sun Shuang twisted the story a bit.

"Horrible," Ding Liling nodded in surprised. "How could he do that? Your tea and cakes are the best food in court. How could he insult you?"

"He's so mean," Sun Shuang pinched herself to make her eyes water. "I can't believe it. He harassed me."

Ding Liling and Dai Xia helped their sister and comforted her. Sun Shuang started crying ruining her thick make up. Some of the passing concubines heard the cry and went to look. They saw Sun Shuang with a ruined face. Concubine number one, Lou MuLan, went to ask them what happened.

"The Empress Candidate, he harassed me. How could he?" Sun Shuang exaggerated. "He looks at me stickily and told me my food is bad. Older Sister MuLan, he insulted me in front of Lady Kang hu hu hu."

"Is that true? But when we saw him earlier..." Lou MuLan shook her head. She remembered seeing a gentle and soft boy. To have such an opposite attitude... "How pretentious!"

"Older Sister MuLan, we can't let a man like him marry the emperor. If he will become the empress, then what will happen to us?"

The ladies inside the court knows about the competition of earning the Empress Title. None of them are friends. Occasional chitchat is just for show. They are only trying to earn connections to whomever will get the title. So scenes like this is normal. After all, they are on a delicate position. An unknown character just arrived to get the place that they wanted.

Even though some of them know that Sun Shuang is just only acting out, they can't just let anyone win without a fight. Some of the concubines voiced their opinion and told the highest ranked concubine to file a complaint to the emperor. Lou MuLan could have been the Empress if only the Emperor took time to look for them.

"I agree, let's meet the Empress Dowager, and make her listen to our request."

At the same time, Lang Yuan is still talking with Lady Kang. He opened the topic about tea making and pastries. As a naturally skilled person, Lang Yuan can make a good tea and coffee. Making pastries is no difference.

"Lady Kang, will you let me serve you some tea? It won't take a while. Just try it," he said.

So Lady Kang allowed him. She watched Lang Yuan as the youth boiled the leaves, added something to the drink, and is now pouring out a nice scented tea to a cup. The Empress Dowager was surprised as she savored the new delicacy.

"Lady Kang, please try it," Lang Yuan handed her the cup.

"My pleasure..." Lady Kang tasted the tea.

Boom! Suddenly, the room filled only with boiling noises is now filled with hurried steps. Lang Yuan watched a group of ladies with angry faces coming towards his direction. A certain woman wearing red robes instantly appeared in front of him, draws a sword, and pointed it into his neck. Lang Yuan could only do nothing but to stop trembling or else he will cut his neck.

Lang Yuan : ???

"Lady Kang, I would like to challenge the Empress Candidate into a match!"

Lang Yuan: What? What did I do wrong this time?

______________________________________
Yay! An update!

I posted earlier than the usual time because I will be visiting graves today and tomorrow 😂😂😂

Have a nice day!
Happy Halloween 😂😂😂