Chapter 349 - DownCast (1/2)

Eunuch Li seemed to panic a bit when his request was met with silence and so he added, ”I know that is not a good time for me to leave, with everything happening... But I worry that she might have another outburst while away. Song mama cannot handle her on her own and the other servants all naturally fear her, they will be of no help, and that monk...” Eunuch Li knit his brows and let out a breath, ”Your mother needs me, please grant this request.” He resolutely finished with knit eyebrows and eyes lowered.

Eunuch Li's mind was clearly made up and the Emperor could not refuse him and he truly had no valid reason to. In the Empress dowager's current state, she could not be expected to be in command of any troops. It would be another disaster if she got into one of her murderous rage moods.

So even the Emperor had realized the need for there to be someone there who could effectively counter her and the only person she remotely even listened to now was Eunuch Li. So it made all the sense for him to be the one to go.

Given Eunuch Li's frequent absences recently, he had anticipated this and had even thought to send Eunuch Li. But thinking of sending him and him asking on his own were two different things. It was not that he was jealous of his mother, it was just that Eunuch Li had been at his side for as long as he could remember. Even though the Emperor had always been aware that Eunuch Li stuck to him because of his mother, this man was still the only stable figure in his life. So, he occupied an important space in his life. This absence will be felt.

”How long did the monk say this treatment will take?” The Emperor finally asked.

”He didn't say but it'll be about four to six months... for the entire journey.”

”Three months?” The Emperor exclaimed with knit eyebrows. He had expected that the monk would use his disappearing technique to get them to the TaoHua temple.

Clearly reading the Emperor's mind, Eunuch Li frowned and explained, ”The monk said he cannot use that disappearing technique.” He had also had the same query, not that he was looking forward to experiencing the wonder of it all or anything like that... It would have just been convenient.

”We would have to go by road, which I think is best... This way, we will be able to see what we are heading into and plan ahead... The temple is apparently somewhere deep in Beiyuan province. It is still within our borders so there should not be much to worry about. It's just your mother is...” Eunuch Li furrowed his brow and sighed.

Beiyaun was in the farthest most corner of the empire, so six months made sense. The Emperor was quiet for a bit before finally sighing and asking, ”Will you return?”

The Emperor's plan for the Empress dowager to move herself to the Xia palace was still underway. The repairs to the palace should be completed in the next two months. Therefore, she had no reason to make the full journey back to the capital. The Xia province was a lot closer and the Emperor was not particularly interested in seeing his mother. So naturally, there was no need for her to return here.

Eunuch Li went stiff for a bit and then looked up at the Emperor and said, ”I believe your mother will recover and you two will be able to find peace together...”

The Emperor blankly stared at Eunuch Li for a while before looking back down at his work, resuming his writing as he calmly, ”You may leave...”

Eunuch Li kowtowed to the Emperor again and then got up and quietly left the room. As the doors closed behind him, the Emperor looked up and stared at doors as a frown crossed his face. He eventually put down the brush and massaged his aching head with an irritated sigh, closing his eyes.

After a while of sitting like that, the Emperor got up and made his way out, too irritated to continue ”working”.

***

”Where were you?”

On her arrival, Lei Xing was immediately met with this query from a clearly disgruntled Emperor sitting in the corner. He was tired and annoyed, which was never a good combination. So he came home to Lei Xing to ease his mood. But to his further annoyance, she was not here when he arrived despite it being dark already. The servants at her palace were not sure where she was but offered to go hunt her down, but he declined and simply sat down, waiting while ruminating.

Lei Xing blinked at him with a raised eyebrow, slightly amused with the sudden inquiry as she walked over to him, ”You're early...”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her, ”It's cold out, you shouldn't be roaming at night.”

”I was sufficiently covered.” Lei Xing dismissively said, ”Have you eaten?” She asked as she sat next to him.

”I'm fine. Where were you?” The Emperor asked again, grabbing one of her hands. Lei Xing blinked at him, she had actually not thought he really wanted an answer. She was a bit put off but she sighed and answered, ”Nalan was -”

”Nevermind, I don't want to know.” The Emperor cut her off, frowning down at the hand he was holding.Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click for visiting.