Chapter 358 - Shocking Arrangements (2/2)

The doors finally opened to reveal Ling mama waiting on the inside to escort them, ”This way please...” She said with an outstretched hand pointing towards the flowery path to the side of the building instead of the straight path to the reception hall - which was the expected venue for this ”grand” visit.

Lei Xing and the Emperor glanced at each other. The Emperor deeply exhaled and walked forward, Lei Xing also let out an irritated breath of her own and followed, with Ling mama and their retinue followed after.

The Emperor and Lei Xing slowed to a halt as they came around the building to find the Empress dowager sitting in a pavilion in absolute serenity, brewing tea. While a host of servants stood to the sides; amongst them were musicians and what they assumed were entertainers, who bowed towards the guests of honor, who seemed rooted to their spots.

Seeing the guests had arrived, Eunuch Li bent close to the Empress dowager and whispered, ”The Emperor and Empress are here.” The Empress dowager looked up. She saw the Emperor and smiled at him, then her eyes went to Lei Xing and her smile slightly faltered, but she held it and ”warmly” said, ”You're right on time. Welcome, come forward... Come sit.”

Lei Xing was the first to snap out of the stupor and she quietly murmured to the Emperor, ”Hey, wasn't this just a simple greet and leave?”

The Emperor quickly collected himself and he stepped forward and calmly asked, ”What is going on here?” He casually asked, sending veiled daggers at Eunuch Li rather than the Empress dowager. This was obviously his arrangement, after all, no one could come here without his approval. The emperor was even more confused now as to what these two wanted from him.

Regardless of their intent, the Emperor felt as if he had just walked into a trap.

Eunuch Li smiled and bowed, ”The Empress dowager thought that since it was such a nice day, it would be good to get together outside a-”

”I realize that we haven't had a meal together as a family. I could not bear to leave knowing that, so I thought it apt to arrange one. It should naturally be grand as well, so I asked for some entertainment to go along with it... Or do you find my company so undesirable that you cannot bear a simple meal?” The Empress dowager asked, looking aggrieved as she cast Eunuch Li a quick glance, which he replied with an approving nod.

”Not at all.” The Emperor responded with a slight smile, ”It's just that you did not need to go through the trouble. After all, you are just recovering...” The Emperor said as a dutiful son should.

The Empress dowager's smile faltered, then she narrowed her eyes at Lei Xing and said, ”Your Empress is still young so I am left with no choice but to be the one to take initiative...”Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click for visiting.

{... This woman (≖_≖ )...}

Lei Xing inwardly scoffed and almost rolled her eyes at that masked insult.

The Emperor knit his brows and jumped to defend Lei Xing, ”Xing er' has been unw-.” He stopped when Lei Xing touched his arm and he turned to see her smiling at the Empress dowager.

Obviously, with the crowd around, Lei Xing could not express her true feelings, but she could not give the Empress dowager the satisfaction of her or the Emperor apologizing for her supposed ”failings”. If she allowed the woman an inch, she would ask for a mile.

Moreover, she did not want the Emperor to get angry and prove the rumors right that she was the reason for his poor relationship with his mother. The two of them arguing because of her will do her no good. There were many ways to handle things like this and giving excuses was not quite it.

”It seems I have made mother feel neglected with my care. I may be young, but I was raised uprightly. Therefore, I rightly believe that it is health above all else. How could I have asked mother to indulge my whims when you are unwell?” Lei Xing said, putting on an aggrieved expression.

The Empress dowager blinked and then her eyebrows slowly drew together as the question hung in the air.

{... How dare this useless brat insinuate that I wasn't raised right?! What right does sh-!...}

The Empress dowager's raging thoughts were interrupted when Lei Xing smiled at her and continued, ”Seeing you today feels my heart with so much joy. It is so good to see that my consideration has truly paid off...” Lei Xing ”sincerely” said with a plastered on smile, narrowing her eyes back at the Empress dowager as she lightly bowed her head.

The Empress dowager glared at Lei Xing briefly before she caught herself and remembered the cause of the day.. She took a deep breath and then let out a dry laugh, ”I see... It seems I failed to notice how considerate a child you were~” She replied tersely, clenching her teeth, ”Such a good child, no wonder why my id- NOBLE!” She corrected when Eunuch Li loudly cleared his throat, ”... My very noble son is so taken with you...” She finished, flashing a wide smile at the Emperor, who was looking at Lei Xing with an amused smirk.

Lei Xing smiled and bowed again, rolling her eyes as she faced the ground and coyly said, ”It's what I should do~...”

{... Tsk, tsk, if you keep talking out the side of your mouth like that, it might just rip you a new one... Ahhh, I've become such a hypocrite in this place. I might get a new mouth first Y_Y)... This woman, why can't you just leave well enough alone? We had a good thing going, you and I! T_T)...}