Chapter 315 - Outsider Influence (2/2)

”What else?” The Emperor asked with a raised eyebrow.

”You're not surprised? He lied to you...to us, to your face.” She curiously said.

”Hmmm...” The Emperor knit his brows in thought, ”Well, I already figured. Although it did not occur at the time given everything that was going on, but on later thought, I did think it was suspicious but since he clearly did not want to be probed, I let it be -”

”What are you talking about?” Lei Xing asked with a frown, the Emperor seemed to be running off on a tangent on his own and she was just here trying to figure how he ”figured” it out.

”Xing Xing, you said no one else calls you that...correct?” He asked and Lei Xing nodded to confirm.

”En, that's what I thought. On the day of our wedding ceremony, my voice told me to go find you during the chaos of the ceremony, it - Well, he, called you Xing Xing. I did find it peculiar but then again perhaps the old man could have told it to call you that...but I did think it unlikely so I had my suspicions. This was more just confirmation.” The Emperor explained.

”Oh.” Lei Xing went, blinking at him in surprise, ”Why didn't you tell me then?” She asked knitting her brows, feeling a bit foolish and a bit annoyed with him for keeping it from her - even though she was doing the same thing. The big difference was that she did not think he would have told her at all if she had not mentioned it first.

”Well, it's not important so there was no reason to bother you with you...” The Emperor said with a smile but when Lei Xing's unamused expression remained, he sighed and said, ”...I was worried he would do something to you. He was not exactly discreet about his threat. Since he'd rather I remain ignorant, I indulged him. After all, with an unpredictable and powerful ally, one should tread carefully lest we make them enemies.”

Lei Xing nodded in understanding but then she had to say, ”Well, I don't think he's malicious. After all, he did - kind of, I think, I still don't get how it works but he seems to be the one who brought me here. He did give me a second chance to live a happy life so he's not an enemy...But he is a liar and a joker, and was probably just messing with you regarding the threat so you really shouldn't take him too seriously...”

”...Moreover, if he cared about you not knowing, he would not have told me...or he would have tried to buy my silence. As usual, he was just messing with you because he can...” She finished with a pout, remembering that Doctor Lou had turned down her offer of silence. She could not even believe she had tried to get him to stay with that.

Of course, she would not tell the Emperor that little tidbit of unimportant information.

The Emperor snorted, ”Seems you get along with him quite well...” He had only ever heard her say bad things about the old man and his bracelet.

Lei Xing shrugged, ”... Well enough. Peace of mind is much better though. At least I don't have to worry about him popping into my mind uninvited...Too bad for you~” She said, patting the Emperor's arm with an ”understanding” smile.

”You get used to it... After all, it's not like I am being held hostage~” The Emperor clapped back with an even more understanding smile. Lei Xing narrowed her eyes at him and he narrowed his eyes back and eventually, they both just burst out in playful laughter.

As unbelievable as it all still seemed, they like all others who know him, just learned to live with Doctor Lou's presence hovering over their lives.

****

Lei Xing spent the rest of her day leisurely with the Emperor, reviewing edicts while he worked on his plans. It was still paperwork, the company made all the difference as they discussed here and there. They had dinner and when it was dark, they finally got up to return to their palace to rest.

But just as they turned the corner to the walkway leading to the Empress's palace, they came across Li Ru, who did a little jump in surprise when she saw them. But she quickly recovered and scurried over and bowed to the Emperor, ”Y-your majesty...” She shakily said glancing at the Emperor, before her eyes quickly darted over to Lei Xing with an almost pitiful expression.

Lei Xing lightly snorted when she met her eyes and cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing. One would expect that Li Ru would have adjusted to the Emperor being around after being here for so long.

But then again, it was understandable considering she almost never interacted with him on a personal level and seemingly had no interest in any such interactions. She even went out of her way to avoid any such personal encounters, only coming over to see Lei Xing when she knew the Emperor was definitely away.

Lei Xing had discovered that her initial impression of Li Ru's character was wrong. She was not the Emperor's fangirl, but rather she was simply a fan of the arts in general, much like how Lei Xing was a fan of profitable material. She had simply mentioned the Emperor's artwork because it was an appropriate thing to say for the occasion but she was truly happy and honored to have received such an invaluable piece.

”Were you looking for me?” Lei Xing asked. Only the Emperor and the Empress's palaces were in this area of the inner palace and it was unlikely that Li Ru had come over here to see the Emperor.

Li Ru nodded, casting a quick questioning glance at the Emperor asking for permission, before quickly lowering her eyes.

Lei Xing glanced at the Emperor but he beat her to it and simply said, 'Don't stay out too long...” Lightly touching her arm to give her reassuring warmth before he walking off, with Li Ru quickly bowing again and moving over the side as if there was not an entire walkway for him to go through.

”Let's go, I'll walk you back...” Lei Xing said with a warm smile. She truly was not upset with Li Ru for wanting to return home. She was just a bit blindsided by it, especially when the news was coming from Zhao Lan. She just, maybe, expected that Li Ru would have talked to her before anyone else.

After all, Lei Xing had always joked about what they would do if they left the palace...a pipe dream she had often included Li Ru in. But now, the dream could be reality for one of them. Li Ru was going to live their pipe dream... And hearing her plans from someone else just made her feel a bit displaced, like an outsider invading their space.