Chapter 283 - Prime Utterances (1/2)

Lei Xing did not at all share the Emperor's humor at the moment. She had spent all this time planning this to celebrate his birthday and had happily gotten dressed for him and now he was laughing at her?

Seeing Lei Xing glaring daggers at him, the Emperor promptly reined in his laughter and wrapped an arm around her, ”You look as beautiful as a dream~” He said as he brought up the other to her face as he happily leaned in for a kiss.

{...Really cute~...}

Lei Xing swiftly swat his hand away and narrowed her eyes at him, ”A hilarious dream I suppose -”

”I'm sorry...” The Emperor apologized with a smile, ”It was just the face yo-”

”You have a problem with my face now?” Lei Xing interjected with a glare, ”Great! Then you and your reflection will have a great time tonight...alone.” Lei Xing finished with a disgruntled pout as she tapped on his arms, demanding to be released.

The Emperor obviously did not budge, instead, he hugged her, ”Not possible...last night was already too much...” He said resting his head on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck.

”I had a great night...” Lei Xing said rolling her eyes, although she did not reject his hold.

{...This player, ”sweet” words don't work here...Laugh and kiss, I'll kick you! ≖_≖ )...}

The Emperor lightly chuckled, he knew she did not mean that. After all, she was the same person he had found here blankly staring into space in the middle of the night the day before. He really liked this outfit but as he held her like this and the coldness of her shoulder, he could not help asking, ”Aren't you cold?”

”Tch, like you care...” Lei Xing mumbled in response and he could hear the pout in her voice.

The Emperor snorted, her making snide comments like this meant that she was really not angry. The Emperor straightened up, looked down at her with a smile, and sweetly said, ”I obviously care about you the most~...”

Lei Xing scoffed and rolled her eyes, still pouting off to the side, not looking at him.

The Emperor sighed and pulled at her cheek, ”Xing er'...don't be angry. I was just happy...It was a laughter of joy and happiness. No one has ever gone through such an effort for my birthday before...I myself usually forgot the day, it was nothing to celebrate...”

Lei Xing sent him a skeptical glance and he smiled at her.

{...Tch, guilt trip but...It's okay~...}

She had asked Ming Shu about it and been told that his birthday had never been celebrated in the palace before, apparently the late Emperor did not ”pamper” his children. This was one of the main reasons she was so excited about it.

But she could not make it too easy for him, how dare he laugh at her? So she cleared her throat, ”Laugh of joy?”

The Emperor swiftly nodded, ”Immense joy...”

Lei Xing skeptically looked him over, ”And what was that about the face?”

”Most beautiful as always...” He sweetly responded, caressing her cheek.

Lei Xing cleared her throat again and tried to stamp down her smile, ”Fine...I'll let myself be deceived...this once~”

The Emperor smiled and then asked again, ”Aren't you cold?” As he ran his arms up and down hers to warm them.

”I'm fine...It's warm enough.” Lei Xing said stopping his arms with a smile, ”Anyway~ back to the schedule, come with me...” She said as she linked her arm through his and walked him over to the pavilion, which like the rest of the garden was decorated with blue flower lanterns and blue silk hangings.

Lei Xing walked the Emperor over to a table filled snacks, fruits, and three jars of wine. She sat him down on one of the soft plush cushions and sat next to him, and then went to fill two cups of wine. She then handed one over to the Emperor and then raised the other with a smile to him and said, ”Congratulations on your happy 21st...correct?”

The Emperor nodded and she continued, ”I wish you a long, fruitful, brilliant, fulfilled rule and life~” She finished and then linked their cups.

”With you...” The Emperor added with a smile. Lei Xing paused and blinked at him, then she said, ”Together~”

The Emperor's smile brightened and he drained his cup along with her. He looked at his necklace on her neck and her ”together” reverberated in his head. She might know it, but she had just given him a lifetime promise and he will do his utmost to ensure that it is kept.

After they gulped down the wine, the Emperor promptly enveloped Lei Xing's in his arms and got the kiss he had been longing for all day.

After a deep, long happy kiss, they parted lips. The Emperor caressed her cheek and looked down at her blushing face with a doting smile. She truly seemed very nervous tonight, it was very adorable, ”I love you...” The Emperor softly said, feeling immense joy for having this precious moment with her.

At one point today, he had feared he would never spend another night with her yet here they were celebrating his birthday together. He was truly grateful to have this moment.

Lei Xing blinked at him and then shyly glanced to the side and quietly said, ”Me too...”

”You too what?” The Emperor asked with a raised eyebrow as he gently turned her face back to him.

Lei Xing slightly knit her brows and kept her eyes fixed on his chest and awkwardly went, ”W-well... you know.”

The Emperor looked at her blushing face and smiled. He definitely knew what she meant or at least he thought he did...After all, even if she rarely expressed her feelings in words, her actions always spoke on her behalf.

But other than on two questionable occasions, she had never mentioned ”loving” him. The first he now knew was thanks to her explanation about the bracelet was simply fueled by urgent excitement at being freed from an ”oppressor”.