Before long, Helen stormed back into Serenity Pce, her temper ring.


    Ignoring Keith''s presence, she angrily eximed, "It''s as if those living in the pce have no world beyond their own little corner! Narrow-minded, petty, with hearts as small as the tip of a needle! They can''t stand to see anyone else seed.


    "Carissa has earned His Majesty''s favor and is always by his side during discussions. But what do those people say? They talk about the so-called ''propriety between men and women'' and even suggest it''s improper for her to be alone with him in the royal study.


    "How ridiculous! Have they forgotten that Carissa is a court official? Where else is she supposed to be if not in the royal study? In the harem,peting for His Majesty''s favor?"


    Victoria slowly sipped her coffee. "Is that what they''re saying?"


    Helen''s eyes practically bulged with fury. "At first, I didn''t know. They praised Carissa endlessly, saying she had changed and was always apanying the king in the royal study. I was proud for a while. "But the more I heard, the more off it seemed. They said they hoped no unpleasant rumors woulde up, and even hinted that Carissa might be trying to climb the ranks... Oh, it makes me furious! And they covered their mouths andughed like gossiping vige women!"


    Keith handed Helen a cup of coffee and offered somefort, "Don''t let it trouble you too much, Your Grace. They''re just jealous. They envy you for having such an aplished daughter-inw. That''s why they speak so recklessly."


    "I know," Helen replied, her anger still simmering. "I gave them a piece of my mind, though. After I scolded them, they said I should go back and think things over. They even suggested that poor Rafael had been made a fool of behind his back and doesn''t even know it."


    Victoria smiled, but her eyes were cold. "Who said that?"


    "Lady Josephine," Helen reported loudly.


    Victoria gave a brief hum of acknowledgment. After finishing her coffee, she turned to Keith. "It seems the ones talking to Helen today have too much time on their hands. Pass on my royal edict-have them copy The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures ten times before the New Year."


    Helen''s mood lightened instantly. "The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures? That will wear their hands out!"


    The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures had over five thousand words, and they were to copy it ten times. Victoria knew the punishment would leave them little time for gossip.


    She nced at Helen with cool indifference before continuing, "Since they''re copying scriptures, they should clear their minds. No distractions. I''ll have their allowances withheld, and they are to be forbidden from wearing gold or silver jewelry or any fine silks."


    Helen gasped. For her, both punishments were unbearable. Copying scriptures was hard enough, but being forbidden to wear jewelry or fine clothes meant she couldn''t adorn herself. It was a severe punishment, indeed.


    She silently reaffirmed that her sister was not to be trifled with.


    After Helen left the pce with Ryan, the royal edict had already reached the other concubines. The entire harem fell into a sudden, ufortable silence. No one dared to utter a word.


    Victoria had long known that the people in the pce gossiped incessantly. No matter how strict the rules,


    they couldn''t stop the rumors. Only severe punishment could serve as a deterrent.


    That was why she had summoned Helen, knowing that every time her sister came to the pce, she would end up chatting with someone. Those people, thinking Helen simple-minded, freely spoke of all sorts of things in her presence, including gossip.


    It was the perfect opportunity to strike back and make an example of them.


    If even noble concubines were punished, would Victoria show mercy to the others? In other words, the people in the pce were free to continue their gossip if they didn''t mind the consequences.


    This measure would likely quell the rumors for now.


    However, still concerned, Keith said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty hasn''t been going to the harem. That can''t go on forever."


    "Some things can''t be forced. If he doesn''t want to go, should I send someone to drag him there?" Victoria replied.


    She waved her hand dismissively.


    "Don''t worry about it. I don''t want to bother with it either. It''s just that he''s being foolish and doesn''t realize it or he knows but is deceiving himself. He''s damaging Cariss reputation and the reputation of the female officials in court.


    "I only acted to suppress these rumors because of that. I let my guard down, thinking he always saw Carissa as a subject. Who knew he had changed his mind? I didn''t catch it in time, and now rumors are running wild."


    "Even so, it shouldn''t be possible for


    such ugly rumors to spread in such a short time, Keith said in confusion. "After all, Lady Carissa is themander of the Mystic Army, and Prince Rafael is fighting at the Southern Frontier. Even if she enters and exits the royal study, outsiders shouldn''t be spreading rumors. At least, they shouldn''t spread so quickly."


    "Someone spread the rumors deliberately," Victoria said softly.


    The queen dowager knew the dirty tricks that could be used in the harem. But this situation was


    judgment. His long absence from the harem, along with the constantpany of his sister-inw, only gave people more to talk about.


    caused by Salvador''s ownck of et


    How could that not raise suspicions?