Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Lodging a Complaint

Lu Xia was already home when Smelian returned. She smiled when she saw him and asked, "Smelian, were you busy today?"

Smelian nodded. "It was a bit busy. And you?"

"I was fine. My research is actually going quite smoothly. Go get changed. Dinner will be ready soon."

"Okay, give me a moment."

After Smelian left, Cecil watched his retreating back, a strange glint in his eyes.

Lu Xia turned back just in time to see it and asked suspiciously, "What’s wrong?"

Cecil smiled. "It’s nothing."

During the meal, Lu Xia’s terminal vibrated. It was an attendant of Her Majesty Queen, informing Lu Xia to go to the Imperial Palace the next day for an audience with Her Majesty Queen. Her request had been approved.

After ending the call, Lu Xia instructed the butler to prepare a suitable outfit for her.

After dinner, Lu Xia said goodnight to them and went straight back to her room.

After Lu Xia left, Cecil put down his utensils and looked at Smelian. "You went to Nanxi today?"

Smelian looked at him. "Are you following me?"

Cecil chuckled. "I wouldn’t call it following. I just happened to have business over there myself and saw you. So, since you weren’t working late at the hospital, what were you doing there?"

"It’s best you don’t get involved in this."

"Is the Duke not allowed to know either?"

Smelian knew full well that Cecil’s words were a threat. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "Do whatever you want."

This nonchalant attitude, however, made Cecil uncertain whether Smelian truly didn’t care if he revealed the secret to Lu Xia.

Smelian didn’t want to waste any more words on him. He stood up and said, "I’m heading back to my room. Take your time."

Cecil watched Smelian leave, pressing his lips together, clearly a little unhappy.

The old butler nearby took in the scene, glancing at Cecil with a touch of exasperation. He thought Cecil was the type who loved to stir up trouble despite being terrible at it. ’Why provoke Smelian for no reason?’ he thought. ’The man doesn’t even take him seriously. It’s so childish.’

Cecil sensed the old butler’s gaze and instinctively looked over, only to find the butler had already turned and quietly walked away.

Early the next morning, Lu Xia left the Duke Mansion and headed to the Imperial Palace for her audience with Her Majesty Queen.

The attendant saw her approach and greeted her with a smile. "Duke, this way, please. Her Majesty Queen is already waiting for you."

Lu Xia nodded at him. "Sorry to trouble you."

The attendant replied, "Not at all."

Following the attendant, Lu Xia came before Her Majesty Queen. Today, the Queen was once again dressed in a simple gown, her long hair flowing freely. Though she was seated on the throne, her appearance was anything but plain.

Upon seeing Lu Xia, Her Majesty Queen wore the same kind and loving smile. "Duke Lu Xia, you’ve arrived. Please, sit."

After Lu Xia sat down, Her Majesty Queen said with a smile, "There have been many matters to attend to recently, which is why your request for an audience was delayed. I hope the Duke doesn’t mind."

"How could I? Her Majesty Queen is busy with important affairs. It is no trouble at all for me to wait."

"So, what was the reason for the Duke’s request for an audience?"

Seeing that Her Majesty Queen seemed to be unaware of the situation, a troubled expression flashed across Lu Xia’s face.

Seeing her expression, Her Majesty Queen asked in surprise, "Is there something troubling you that is difficult to speak of, Duke Lu Xia?"

Lu Xia lowered her head and hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Her Majesty Queen, I have come to file a complaint."

Her words made Her Majesty Queen look surprised. "What in the world has happened? Duke Lu Xia, please speak freely."

"Her Majesty Queen, then I will speak plainly. At the recent banquet Victoria hosted to present her main husband, I am not sure if Lady Dain and Victoria are still dissatisfied with me in some way, but they had a servant use Lady Daina’s name to lure me to a lounge. Inside the room, they had already lit the Imperial Secret Medicine, intending for me to become intimate with Victoria’s main husband. Fortunately, I sensed something was wrong and did not stay long. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. I originally did not want to trouble Her Majesty Queen, but I do not know how to resolve this matter. So I could only come speak with Her Majesty Queen about it, to see if it might be possible to resolve the conflict between myself, Lady Dain, and Lady Victoria."

As she spoke, Lu Xia’s eyes reddened, and she looked helpless and anxious, as if the matter was causing her great distress.

Her Majesty Queen was utterly shocked. "How could this happen? Have they gone mad? Duke Lu Xia, do you have any proof?"

Lu Xia nodded gently. "Thanks to Lady Daina, the servant who approached me in her name has been found. He can testify. I also heard that after I left, I wasn’t the only one who inhaled the Imperial Secret Medicine; many other guests did as well. Rumor has it that something awful nearly occurred at Victoria’s main husband banquet."

As she spoke the last sentence, Lu Xia even made an expression as if the words were too shameful to utter.

As the Queen, how could she not know the purpose of the Imperial Secret Medicine? Hearing this, she naturally understood what Lu Xia found too shameful to say.

Her hands on the armrests of the throne were now clenched into fists. Her Majesty Queen had never imagined that those two fools, Lady Dain and Victoria, could be capable of such a thing.

’Even if they can’t stand Duke Lu Xia, couldn’t they think of a proper way to get revenge? To use a method like this... it’s just utterly idiotic.’

Her Majesty Queen flared with anger. "Bring the servant here! Summon Victoria and Lady Dain! And Lady Daina, too."

She turned and gave this order to her attendant, her tone severe and urgent.

The attendant bowed in acknowledgment and, as he left, stole a quick glance at Duke Lu Xia.

After the attendant left, Her Majesty Queen looked at Duke Lu Xia, who was secretly wiping away her tears, and said comfortingly, "Rest assured. Now that I know about this, I will see that justice is done for you. I will absolutely not allow Lady Dain and Victoria to bully you again. How audacious of them, to do something so utterly disgraceful."

"Her Majesty Queen, please calm yourself. I didn’t tell you about this with the intention of making trouble; I just didn’t want the rift between myself, Lady Dain, and Lady Victoria to widen."

"I know you are a good person, but the same cannot be said for them. Rest assured, an incident like this will never happen again."

Lu Xia put on a relieved expression, as if she placed her complete trust in Her Majesty Queen.

Not long after, Lady Daina was the first to arrive. When she saw Lu Xia, she immediately knew what this was about and sighed softly. "Her Majesty Queen, you must see that justice is done for Duke Lu Xia this time."

"They aren’t here yet. You tell me first, what exactly happened?"

Lady Daina didn’t hide anything, telling the Queen everything she knew, though she omitted any mention of the Daferno family.

Her Majesty Queen pressed a hand to her forehead, looking pained. "You and Lady Dain are sisters," she lamented. "How is it she doesn’t possess a single shred of your tolerance and grace? She’s utterly foolish."

Lu Xia pretended not to hear Her Majesty Queen’s complaint, sitting quietly to one side and minimizing her presence.

Soon, Lady Dain and Victoria rushed in, both looking flustered. They had clearly figured out the reason for Her Majesty Queen’s summons, and seeing Lu Xia and Lady Daina sitting there only confirmed their suspicions.

So, the moment they entered, Lady Dain and Victoria fell to their knees, crying, "Her Majesty Queen, we know we were wrong!"