Hidden genius: Black belly snake

Empress Freya absent-mindedly plopped a fruit into her mouth and watched the snake girl walk towards her.

For some reason, Tang Yue seemed a little different this time around. 

There was something about her that was unyielding. She was not nervous or anxious like before.

"Greetings, your majesty." Tang Yue bowed. "I…" She started to explain, but the Empress quickly cut her short.

"Yes. I heard. You are no longer facing those charges." Freya muttered, her icy cold eyes gazing at Tang Yue with an unveiled disregard.

She couldn't understand why her son could possibly be interested in someone like this.

"You can leave now." Freya muttered, unwilling to see this irritating person any longer.

She can seduce her son all she wants, but she better not dream about being the Empress! Hmph!

Tang Yue bowed in respect but did not leave the spot like she was ordered to.

"Forgive me, your highness. I have something to say."

"A random pup was poisoned in a tea ceremony, for which I received the invitation just the previous day."

"I didn't even have any idea that my sister Isabella was planning to gift this pup."

"And just because the venom was similar to the serpentine clan's innate venom, the blame has been unjustly placed on me."

"How is this fair, your highness?"

"I might be a lower being, but I am not a conniving manipulative bitch."

"Princess Tang." Freya's voice thundered. 

"Watch how you speak to me, else you will not have your head the next time."

Two of the guards standing next to her as well had already stepped forward with their swords drawn.

However, Tang Yue did not seem to show any signs of fear. 

She courageously continued, sneering inwardly. "Pardon my language, your highness." 

"I beseech you to obtain justice for me in this matter."

"I was sentenced to imprisonment without even the slightest shred of evidence."

"If it was not for his highness, I would have been mercilessly maimed by now."

"Someone needs to pay for this mistake." 

"Or is this how things are handled in the great Eldorian Empire?"

Freya's eyebrows raised ever so slightly. 

The maids and the palace aides in the chamber shuddered in fear.

This princess is dumb? Why the hell would she come and bark at the Empress like this?

Are we going to witness a live execution?

Everyone silently lit a candle for Tang Yue and glued their eyes on the Empress to see her reaction.

Freya should have been boiling in anger by now, but it seemed as if she was calmer than usual.

"It was I who passed that judgment. Then, princess Tang, tell me now, what should I do?"

"Should I punish myself for being hasty?" Freya slowly uttered. 

There was subtle mirth in her voice. It was almost as if she was amused, which was the extreme opposite of what everyone was expecting.

Tang Yue did not say anything more. So far, everything was well within her calculations.

"Maybe I should punish myself with the 1000 lashes?" Freya chuckled, her statement arousing a wave of laughter in the chamber.

"Yes, your highness. That sounds fair." Tang Yue shamelessly muttered in response, shutting up everyone's jovial chatter.

Did she just say that? Everyone including the Empress gasped in shock and their eyes flew wide.

This was not courageous anymore. This was just stupidity, pure stupidity. 

This Princess was all beauty and no brains! 

"Princess Tang, it looks like an evening in the prison has given you a shade of insubordination. Hmm?"

The Empress kept giving her windows for redemption but it looked like Tang Yue was hell-bent on going crazy.

She met Freya's gaze and indignantly muttered. 

"I am sorry, your highness. But I am unwilling to let this go."

"I was imprisoned just because I was a beast, without even a shred of evidence." 

"I demand compensation for this injustice."

"And if this is how elven royal family treats the members of other races, I would rather be exiled from this great Empire." 

Tang Yue knelt down, bowed deeply, placing her head on the floor and mumbled.

Come on. Come on. Tell me that I am exiled. Tang Yue prayed in her heart.

An awkward silence enveloped the royal chamber, as the Empress gazed at the daring snake standing in front of her, mouthing off as she pleased.

Everyone was sure that Tang Yue was totally done for this time around.

She had been very disrespectful and talked about things that shouldn't be spoken out loud.

She was definitely going to be exiled, if not executed!

Indeed, there was a small possibility that she might be directly executed for this behaviour of hers.

This is the one thing which Tang Yue as well was a bit unsure of.

She knew she was playing with fire, but she decided to take the leap anyways.

Considering that the Empress was known for her benevolence and gentle nature, she doubted that the woman would hand out executions for such frivolous reasons.

In fact, she was not all that bad. Lotte had sung high praises about the Empress, all through their walk to the garden courtyard.

It was just that the Empress had a blind spot when it came to the lower races. It could even be said that it was her single weak point.

It was something that was ingrained in their blood for centuries. The distinction between nobility and commoners was a part of their culture. 

Though things have been different lately, a superiority complex like that can't be uprooted entirely.

Finally, after a few suffocating minutes, Freya opened her mouth again to speak. 

"Get up." She slowly said.

"Though I dislike ignorant impudence, I am quite fond of feisty young woman like you." 

"You are in great luck today. I am amused so I will pardon your behaviour." 

"But don't ever repeat this again. Then I won't bother with something as trivial as an exile, it will be a direct execution."

Tang Yue stood up and nodded at her words. She kept her attitude mellow this time around, not daring to mouth off any longer.

It was paramount to not bite off more than one can chew. She knew that she had failed. 

She had tried her best and it looked like her plan had not worked at all. But at least, she tried. 

Tang Yue sighed and prepared to excuse herself.

She had already wasted enough time today and didn't plan on dawdling here any longer.

"Thanks for showing me kindness, your majesty. May I please be excused now?" She bowed again and respectfully said.

"Mmhmm. You are now free to leave." Freya waved her hand, but suddenly stopped. "Wait. Take this and leave."