Chapter 69 - Lost Tourist (1/2)
When they arrived at her study, Lei Xing went inside and sat down in front of her desk not bothering with the Emperor, who was lingering at the door to give orders to the servants.
When he was done he strolled in, smiled at Lei Xing and then glanced around the room, taking a leisure stroll like some tourist.
He looked at the qin on the table on the side, then glanced at Lei Xing and snorted. Lei Xing narrowed her eyes at him.
{...Hey, what's funny? -_-)...Also, why are you here? I graciously loaned you my bed and here you are NOT sleeping in it...If you were bored you should have gone for a run around the palace or something instead of coming here to selfishly lock me out my bed!...I'm still a patient, you know -_-)'...}
The Emperor then walked to the other side of the room, interested in seeing her embroidery work but was met with an empty sheet. There was a small basket on the side with some small sheets that were currently in the process of being embroidered in their hoops.
As he randomly flipped through the basket, one of the designs; an uncompleted peony flower, caught his interest.
He picked up the work and scrutinized it for a bit, then he held it up towards Lei Xing, ”Is this yours?”
”No, it's Ah Jin's.” Lei Xing responded.
”Ah Jin? That's your childhood personal maid, isn't it?” The Emperor asked still scrutinizing the sheet.
”Yes, why?” Lei Xing curiously asked knitting her brows.
”The handiwork is quite good.” The Emperor glanced at her with a smirk and then looked back at the sheet in his hand.
Then he removed it from the hoop, folded it and tucked into his robe. Lei Xing watched him do all, completely bewildered.
{...Why does that look so wrong? O_O)...Is it stealing if he does it right in front of me?...}
”Do you have any embroidery pieces here?” The Emperor asked turning to Lei Xing.
”No.” Lei Xing flatly responded. Xiao Ruo and Ah Jin were the ones who did any embroidery that was anywhere here.
Lei Xing usually just sat around drawing random things, reading or doing nothing and occasionally, harming their ears with her qin practice.
The Emperor nodded and then walked to the bookshelf which currently housed only three books; Li Ru's two qin study guides and the ”Virtues of Imperial Women” that had long been collecting dust both on the bookshelf and in Lei Xing's memory.
Lei Xing skeptically watched the Emperor look over the books, picked one up and casually flipped through it.
{...Are you really this bored in your life? Sleep is not at all appealing? In that case, can you go sightseeing somewhere else so that I can reclaim my bed -_-)...}
As the Emperor flipped through the second qin study guide, He knit his brows and asked, ”Did you write this?”
Lei Xing perked up a little and answered, ”Li Ru did.”
”Another one of your maids?” The Emperor asked as he flipped through the book.
Lei Xing frowned and opened her mouth in disbelief and then flatly said, ”She's your consort.”
”Oh.” He responded with disinterest causing Lei Xing to narrow her eyes in annoyance, and she added for reference, ”The one you gifted the painting to during the competition.”
”Ahh, her...You must be quite close.” He offhandedly commented and put the book back on the shelf.
Lei Xing's frown deepened, she was feeling a bit offended by this. She disgruntedly looked down at her book and ignored his presence.
{...How could you not know? She was so excited too... You suck...A lot!... I wonder if he even remembers my name too - Not that I care, I'm just saying ...He doesn't remember them, but they all remember him...*sigh* This is the sad reality of things...}
The Emperor continued his perusal of her collection, unaware of Lei Xing's dissatisfaction with his conduct. He picked up the ”Virtues of Imperial women”, quickly flipped through it and put it back.
He then turned and glanced around the room again as if looking for something else to do. He looked at Lei Xing who was ”focused” on her book for a bit, then glanced at the qin and then back at Lei Xing.
The Emperor then went to sit down in front of the qin and lightly stroked the strings.
He glanced at lei Xing again, who was still ignoring him, then smiled and looked down at the qin for a bit and then began to play and a slow melodious tune that filled the room.
Lei Xing knit her brows and snuck a few glances at the Emperor.
{...What is this supposed to be now, ”The Art of Seduction”? I don't care what you play, it's not going to work. You might as well play a funeral march song instead -_-)...}
Lei Xing glared at the book, trying to ignore him and his music. After a few failed attempts, she succ.u.mbed and let go of her misgivings and just enjoyed the music. She glanced at him and sighed.
{...I guess it could be worse...At least he's not ugly, some would even call him handsome...I wouldn't -_-)...Okay, I admit he might look great, maybe even handsome and talented too...What does that have to do with anything? Nothing I guess - ANYWAY that is not the point here!...
...He could be Adonis himse- - Who the hell is Adonis again? Greek god of beauty maybe? Whatever! The point is I don't care what he looks like! I don't want to be here, ALSO multitude of women! Correction, increasing multitude of women -_-)...