Chapter 282 - Stage Presence (2/2)

{...She really needs a lot of care...}

”What does this all really mean?” The Emperor said with a sigh as he put the book down, speaking both on the odd forms in Lei Xing's collection and the oddities that had taken place today.

While he told Lei Xing to forget the unanswerable, he was truly curious as well. But rather than waste his energy on questioning the state of things, he would rather use the energy to device how best to use the situation to their advantage.

If he played his hand correctly, he could take complete control of the country's politics simply by monopolizing heaven's will. Heaven's mandate was after all even above the Emperor's. Therefore, if one controlled heaven's will, they controlled the people.

His first move tomorrow would be to make the role of the seers obsolete, their words were given way too much weight now and he did not like it. How dare they tell him who is to marry?

{...Useless...}

The doors finally opened again, pulling the Emperor out of his thoughts. Having learned from last time, he controlled his expression and simply glanced in the door's general direction. Xiao Ruo reappeared again and bowed to the Emperor and happily said, ”Your majesty, the Empress asked me for you to come over...please follow me.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, Lei Xing had said she would come herself but he said nothing and simply rose, ”Lead the way...”

He honestly was not sure to expect but he as he walked along, he began to anticipate seeing her more and more. It was clear she had organized something special for them and that thought alone was enough to make him ecstatic.

They walked through the corridors of the Empress's palace and arrived at the back doors, which were then opened to reveal a beautifully decorated blue scene that was not there the night before.

While the rest of the palace and city was decorated with the red lanterns celebrating the ceremony today, the back of the Empress palace was decorated with blue, seemingly silk flower-patterned lanterns, strung out around and above the garden.

From where he stood, there were several wooden beams put in place, wrapped and connected at the top with blue silk linens. There were then columns of the flower-patterned lanterns hanging from the beams. There were also blue lotus lanterns floating in the pond, further brightening the serene, festive scene.

It was all reminiscent of a brightened ocean.

In the center of this beautiful serene scene, Lei Xing stood there looking at him with a welcoming smile. She was wearing a simple light, almost netty blue silk strapless wrap dress of various layers with a vined silver chest band and on her neck, rested the Emperor's wolf teeth pearl necklace.

Her hair was put up in an elaborate array of braids with several silver circlets and jewelry pieces placed in them with a little crystal resting on the center of her forehead, it all presented like a silver crown.

There were two silver circlets up one on her arms which had long strips of lighter blue silk which billowed in the wind, like open sleeves as she slowly walked over to him. She was glowing radiantly and seemed otherworldly...It all, well, she looked like a dream, a beautiful dream.

A slow smile formed on the Emperor's face as his eyes fixed on her neck, it always brought a smile to his face whenever he saw it on her neck. Staying true his request she always kept it on, like she did the bracelet and ring.

Lei Xing stopped in front of him with a bashful smile, up close he could see her ears were completely crimson. She met his eyes and then quickly averted her gaze, she was suddenly feeling embarrassed now under his scrutiny with her heart doing cartwheels on the inside.

{...You really shouldn't look at someone like that, you're gonna give me a heart attack! (/T/▽/T/)...Okay, buck up! This is MY stage!...}

Lei Xing lightly cleared her throat and then looked - well, more like glared up at him as she announced, ”Happy birthday!” loudly and so rigidly, like a soldier reporting for duty with a ”sweet” smile...which combined with the glare presented as a menacing look that was simply incredible to behold.

{...What the hell did I shout it for? („ಡωಡ„)...}

The Emperor blinked at her and then snorted, and snorted again and just burst out laughing.

Lei Xing's ”smile” immediately fell and she frowned at him.

{...What the hell is funny?! Huh? What?... Tell me, so I can laugh too or kill you, whichever one comes first. ლ(ಠ_ಠ ლ)...}