Hidden genius: Black belly snake

After standing frozen for a long time, Tang Yue slowly walked back to her private chambers absent-mindedly.

Her fully healed body was covered by numerous goosebumps as she still couldn't comprehend the lunatic tyrant's actions.

"What is the meaning of this? Was he being serious?"

"Am I the new damned queen consort?"

"But how could a beast possibly be allowed to step into this high stature? This is simply impossible!"

"Arghhh… Why the hell is he messing with me?" Tang Yue's tired mind was running a mile a minute. She flopped on her familiar bedding, completely exhausted.

But as soon as she closed her eyes an impeccably handsome face with terrifying crimson bloodthirsty eyes flashed before her.

Tang Yue trembled ever so slightly. She still hadn't digested the words of that madman.

Everyone knew that the crown prince was a cold-hearted tyrant but the man apparently also had a sadistic side to him, doing what he wanted whenever he wanted.

Tang Yue grit her teeth. 

If she knew this was going to happen, she would have rather chosen the 100 lashes that the madman had generously rewarded all the other guilty parties with.

She tossed and turned around uncomfortably for quite a while, still feeling the presence of his lingering intrusive gaze.

But she fell asleep soon after that. 

Her body might be healed but her mind and soul were still extensively suffering from the aftermath of the night's events.

Deep snoring sounds echoed in the exquisite ornate chamber as the snake princess slept through the entire night and most of the next day.

She only stirred awake when she felt slight nudging sensations on her shoulder as if someone was poking her and trying to wake her up.

"Huh? Lotte?" Tang Yue rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.

"Sorry, your highness. I regretfully had to disturb your slumber." Lotte bowed his head and mumbled.

"That's fine. Tell what happened?" Tang Yue lazily yawned.

"Umm… Your highness. An imperial decree has been issued today morning."

Tang Yue's sleepy heart immediately jolted awake. Fuck! Did that jerk seriously screw me over?

"Tell me. Quick." Tang Yue snapped at the poor elf in front of her. 

Her both hands were tightly clutching and crumpling the silk sheets waiting for the inevitable thunder to crash on her.

"This… Your highness…"

"As of this morning, all consorts engaged to the crown prince have been ordered to move out of the royal palace." 

Lotte bowed and hesitantly murmured.

While Tang Yue had been nicely sleeping, he had witnessed several other consorts throwing tantrums when this news was broken to them.

They were furious and some even thrashed their palace aides left and right.

After all, they could only show their anger on the messenger of the bad news and not the main source.

So Lotte hesitantly mentioned the imperial decree to Tang Yue and waited for her to unleash hell on him as well.

He waited and then he waited.

But Tang Yue simply stared at him in shock. 

She blinked a few times and a small smile surfaced on her pale blue lips.

This news was not really of any significance to her.

In fact, this was rather good news. She didn't have to live near that devil any longer!

She was scared there for a minute if that villain really made her the queen consort.

Tang Yue shuddered. She couldn't even think of the consequences.

As it is, she was swatting assassination attempts on her life left and right. 

If she actually became the queen consort, she might as well reserve a plot in the royal cemetery.

Tang Yue let out a huge sigh of relief.

"When do we have to leave?" She asked the confused elf with her figure slouching back on the bed.

"Ah, your highness. We have to leave before the nightfall." Lotte quickly replied.

"Hmm…" Tang Yue peered outside the huge window. It was already almost close to nightfall.

"Your highness, the zither palace in the south has been assigned for your convenience."

"And while you were slumbering, I took the liberty to arrange all the necessities in the palace quarters." Lotte quickly filled in on all the details.

Tang Yue was slightly surprised. "You did well." She praised Lotte with a brilliant twinkling smile. 

She liked the little elf quite a bit. 

He was very faithful to her and always tended to his duties very fast and efficiently.

Lotte blushed a little and scratched his head. 

He bowed slightly and prepared to leave to take care of the remaining arrangements.

As he was leaving Tang Yue couldn't help but notice the elf limping on his right side.

She could even see some bruises on his arms, as his robe shifted slightly.

"Lotte, come back here." 

Tang Yue got out of her bed and stood up, carefully examining the thin awkward elf in front of her.

She then casually extended her hand to loosen the young man's robe.

"Your highness?" Lotte was startled but he stood still.

Just as she suspected, the young man seemed to be severely injured, and more suspiciously, all his injuries were hidden well under the robe.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" Tang Yue asked, her emerald eyes were visibly frowning.

"Ah.." Lotte stammered. 

He didn't want to drag the princess into any unnecessary troubles, but at the same time, by the royal decree, he was not allowed to lie to his master.

"That… That is nothing, your highness." Lotte stammered helplessly.

Tang Yue crossed her arms and sternly looked at the elf. It was clear that she was not going to let this issue slip by.

Lotte fidgeted for a few more seconds but eventually ended up telling her about everything.

He was extremely ashamed to admit it, but despite that, he narrated everything. 

Lotte then nervously waited to hear his punishment for the blatant betrayal.

Even though he was forced, it was still not an excuse for what he did. 

He was fully willing to accept any punishment the princess deemed necessary. 

He only hoped that Tang Yue wouldn't pursue this issue any further.