Chapter 243 - One Way (2/2)

”Leave.” The Emperor calmly ordered and the two girls promptly left the room, making sure to close the doors behind them.

Lei Xing immediately sighed and said, ”I heard we're incompatible...”

The Emperor knit his brows and quietly walked over to her, sat next to her, took her hand with a smile, ”I've taken care of it...You don't need to worry.”

Lei Xing returned a very weak smile, looked at him for a bit, and then sighed and squeezed his hand, ”You know...I don't have to be Empress. I really don't care about the position...”

The Emperor's smile deflated and then he patiently explained, ”Xing er', even if I do not choose an Empress today, I will have to someday. While I may have no obligations to concubines and even consorts. I will have an obligation towards my Empress. Be honest, would you be okay staying at my side if that person is not you?” He asked narrowing his eyes at Lei Xing.

Lei Xing frowned and looked down at his hand holding hers and then mumbled, ”No.”

{...I will definitely hate my life because then I will have another dowager on my hands who I need to bow to, who will also hate me and want me dead. No thank you! -_-)'...}

Lei Xing also remembered reading in that stupid virtuous palace women's book that the Emperor and Empress were required to spend the night together on a few special occasions, such as new year's eve. There was something about it being necessary for the benefit of the nation. So at least a few nights each year, she would have to condone the Emperor sleeping with another woman because custom demanded it.

Even if he makes a promise to never touch the woman. Lei Xing knew that she would not be able to trust those words. She would naturally wonder and think about him being in another woman's bed, and what could be taking place, the possibilities...She could not live like that, it would drive her crazy.

Men have fallen with much less temptation and opportunity before them. What's more, she will undoubtedly feel like a mistress taking away someone else's husband and she would rather die than be that.

Not to mention, the hate the Empress would have for Lei Xing. It was a situation that would breed a perfect storm to sweep her away. Lei Xing knew that she would truly come to hate her life then.

The Emperor looked at Lei Xing's unhappy expression and then sighed, ”I also do not plan to let you go over this. With both of us like this, this is the only choice.”

Lei Xing pursed her lips and went, ”As problematic as it is?” She was not an idiot, this meant her becoming an easy target for any and everything that goes wrong.

”Regardless of the problems, this is the right choice.” The Emperor responded, he then brought a hand up to her face and raised it up so she looked at him. ”Do you believe we are incompatible? If you truly do, then I will consider changing my mind...You would have to convince me though.” The Emperor added the last line narrowing his eyes at her menacingly.

Lei Xing snorted and could not help letting out a little laugh. The Emperor smiled and then said, ”I still want an answer though.” He had done that to cheer her up, but he truly wanted to know her thoughts on the issue.

”Obviously not.” Lei Xing responded, ”Compatibility is determined by the people themselves and not by the stars aligning in the sky.”

”Very smart.” The Emperor complimented, tapping on her nose with a happy smile. He had been worried that Lei Xing would withdraw from him because of this, so he was greatly relieved to hear those words.

Lei Xing knit her brows and swatted at his hand and then seriously said, ”It's great that we both have this understanding BUT the rest of the world will not see it this way. Not to mention their people who will be out for me...and you.”

”Then I guess we just have to make them understand.” The Emperor calmly said.

Lei Xing scoffed, ”You make it sound so easy.”

”It's not. It will take time, effort, and skill...But I believe we're both up to the task.” The Emperor said with a reassuring smile.

Lei Xing sent back a nervous smile, ”I guess we'll have to be...” She was never a believer in ”love conquers all”. So in all honesty, if the situation had been different, she would have rather just left him. It sounds horrible, but it was who she was, she would forget him and move on. And even if she did not, she will still be able to live it.

But in this case, going forward was the only choice that made sense and so she could only go forward.

The Emperor was relieved that this was settled between them. He had thought a lot about what her father had said. If he had come here to find a naive scared or even crying Lei Xing, he truly might have just let her go and would have done his utmost to be content with the belief that she was happier elsewhere.

But as he hoped, Lei Xing thought it through and then took it in stride, with a little persuasion, naturally. This was the Lei Xing he loved and he was all the more glad for her.

”Ah, Xing er', this might be a little inconvenient but until the coronation is over and people move on from this, can you not leave the palace, please? I worry that some with foolish notions may act foolishly...” The Emperor finished with a frowned.

He did not want to believe that anyone would truly be that stupid but he could not deny that some people do not care for their lives. Although he could send her an army to accompany her, she would find it too c.u.mbersome. Not to mention, it would just make her a walking target board. What's more, mistakes could still always happen. It was safer for her to just stay put during this period.

”Ahhh, people may try to get rid of me to prevent the calamity from taking place. I can understand that.” Lei Xing offhandedly said with a sigh.

”It is not a calamity.” The Emperor immediately corrected with a frown.

”I know, I just meant in the foolish people's minds, it is.” Lei Xing clarified, humoring him, and then she sighed, ”Um, it's fine actually...I don't have anywhere I really need to go...” She was honestly a homebody, so staying put was not a problem. She hardly went out and she really did not have anything to do outside the palace anyway.

The Emperor's frown deepened, ”If you want to see anyone, you can simply summon them to the palace...and if you want anything at all just ask for it. You can tell me directly and I will ensure -..”

”I know. It's fine...really.” Lei Xing said squeezing his hand. He was obviously trying to overcompensate at the moment and she did feel bad for him, after all, it was not his fault. But he clearly was behaving as if it were.

{...Would it make a difference if I told him?... I mean it won't fix the problem but -...}

”Ah, I have sent for the Doctor. He should be arriving soon...” The Emperor informed cutting through Lei Xing's thoughts.

Lei Xing raised her eyebrows, blinked a few times, and then went, ”O-okay...”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, ”Is something wrong? I thought you wanted to see him -”

”I do, I do...Nothing's wrong.” Lei Xing said with a little nervous laugh and then she hugged him and buried her head in his chest. The Emperor knit his brows as he held her. This was what she did whenever she wanted to hide from him. It made him feel a bit apprehensive but then he quickly decided that she must be nervous and smirked and stroked her back.

She did not seem at all nervous this morning when she wanted to go pound on the old man's door early in the morning. But then again, the day had already been quite draining for both of them. So it was understandable for her to have less energy now. He was also quite nervous himself and so he took comfort in comforting her.