Chapter 1029: As If They Were Looking At Dirt

Long Yangs reprimand not only intimidated Li Wei, but also reduced the other court officials to silence.

Those who had placed their bets on Li Tonger broke out in a cold sweat to see Li Wei being punished so miserably.

He had thought that Li Tonger could catch the Emperors eye.

Now, however, it seemed that he had been utterly wrong.

Meanwhile, on that same day, Li Tonger attended yet another banquet with Madam Li as usual, completely unaware of what was happening in the imperial court.

The banquet of the day was hosted by Madam Gao and took place at the Gao Familys villa in the capital suburbs.

Madam Gaos villa housed a wide variety of precious and rare flowers. It was said that she had spent a lot of money and effort to get her hands on them, and she had hired gardeners to tend to them every day.

In the past few days, the weather had grown warmer, and the flowers were blooming, hence she hosted this flower admiring banquet and invited all the n.o.blewomen to marvel at her flowers.

Li Tonger, who had been enjoying the limelight for the past few days, was getting used to having people cl.u.s.ter around her everywhere she went, and she did not see why today would be any different.

She had prepared herself to be surrounded by the n.o.blewomen the moment she showed up at the Gao Familys villa.

However, when she stepped through the gates today, all she received were strange looks from the crowdit was as if they were looking at dirtand they made her extremely uncomfortable.

How dare she still show her face?

Exactly. Isnt she afraid of spreading her disease to others?

If Id known shed be here, I wouldnt have come.

For heavens sake, why did Madam Gao even invite her? Shes bad luck!

The crowd did not care to lower their voices, which enabled Madam Li and Li Tonger to hear every single word they said.

When they came to realize the underlying meaning of their words, both their faces turned pale with anger.

Li Tonger gripped the handkerchief in her hands, looking even more fragile and pitiful than she already did.

Madam Li, blinded with rage, was close to charging up to the women and ripping their mouths apart, but Li Tonger was still rational enough to grab her arm. Mother, calm down. Were in Madam Gaos territory. She wont be pleased if we start a fight here.

Madam Gaos husband was a military commander who held some level of influence in the court. Therefore, when Li Tonger received Madam Gaos invitation, she had been excited to confirm her attendance.

Madam Li knew that she was right, but how could she sit by and let those cows spew their nonsense?

Ugh, how frustrating!

Li Tonger patted her on the arm comfortingly and raised her voice. Truth will speak for itself! Dont worry, Mother, for a clean hand wants no was.h.i.+ng.

She had spoken rather loudly for them to hear.

A hush fell over the gossiping women for a second, but it did not take long for them to start whispering again.

In fact, their voices only grew louder, and they hardly bothered to conceal the contempt and disgust in their tone.

I cant stand it anymore; being around a person like her makes me lose my appet.i.te. Im leaving.

Ill go with you.

Hurry. If I spend another minute here, Ill get sick from all that discomfort.

Soon, all the young women, who had huddled together to admire the flowers a while ago, were gone.

Only a few older high-society wives were left in the s.p.a.cious courtyard.

They had only remained because they did not want to embarra.s.s their distinguished host, but they did not hide the disdain in their eyes either as they looked at Madam Li and Li Tonger.

When Madam Gao hurried out after hearing the news, almost all her guests had taken off.

Never in the world had she expected her flower admiring banquet to end in such a deserted state.

Whats going on? Why has everyone left? Livid, Madam Gao snapped, Ill never invite that bunch of ill-mannered swine again.

One of the remaining women in the courtyard approached her and murmured something in her ear.

Li Tonger saw Madam Gaos expression changeshe seemed even more shocked than when she learned that her guests had left.

Li Tonger furrowed her brow.

Sure enough, Madam Gao immediately turned her scrutinizing gaze on her.

Unable to stay quiet anymore, Li Tonger took a few steps forward and opened her mouth to explain, but to her dismay, Madam Gao stumbled away from her as if she was some kind of ferocious beast.

Dont come near me. Madam Gaos voice dropped to a shaky whisper.