Chapter 359 - Tea Party~ (2/2)

”I cannot return to Xia...” The Empress dowager quietly said and the Emperor and Lei Xing froze, while Eunuch Li frowned at her and started, ”Your m-”

”Enough!” The Empress dowager irritatedly said, raising a hand to silence him and then looking up at the Emperor with a resolute expression. It was not part of their plan but this sort of meandering and catering was too irritating for her. If she wanted something, she would get it.

The Emperor slightly smiled, put down his chopsticks, and faced the Empress dowager, and calmly asked, ”Is that it then?” The mystery has finally been unveiled.

”I cannot return to a place -” She paused, frowning, apparently having difficulty with the words, ”I cannot live in that lost place filled with things that will haunt me. Sending me there is the same as killing me.” She bit out.

The Emperor frowned but before he could say anything, the Empress dowager continued, ”You asked me to forgive and I have done so.” She said, dismissively waving a hand in Lei Xing's direction, ”But you cannot ask me to forget. Just as you cannot forsake those who have made you, I cannot. My family, your family was massacred there! How could I ”happily” live there? Could you?!” She finished, slamming her fist on the table.

He remembered passing through Xia during his war travels with the Emperor, then he had felt melancholic but at the same time, he had felt at peace, at home. It seemed that both he and the Emperor had been narrow-sighted, absorbed in the lore of the homeland. How could they forget that it was the place of a massacre of all she loved?

The Emperor sighed and then said, ”I have been short-sighted... but as I said before, the choice remains yours. There are various palaces across the empire, pick one and it shall be prepared for your arrival. This was a nice lunch, we'll be leaving now...” The Emperor said, starting to rise to his feet, slanting his gaze to Lei Xing, signaling for her to do the same.

Lei Xing did not need to be told to get up, she had been itching to leave since they got here and so she quickly got up. But before they could give their departure bows, the Empress dowager said, ”You would forsake your only family! Why? Is it because of this girl?! I already made peace with you, what else do you want?!” The Empress dowager barked, glaring at Lei Xing.

{...Oy, oy, oy, please leave me out of this! I told him you could stay - didn't mean it, but I told him ⚆ _ ⚆)...}

Lei Xing inwardly g.r.o.a.n.e.d and lowered her head, frowning off to the side, highly irritated and at a loss for words. She could understand that the woman wanted to deflect responsibility for her poor relationship with her son and could understand she was an easy target but...seriously?

{...But do you think I could be the reason?! I had nothing to do with her being at Chen You's house or that monk running away! I also had nothing to do with her mind falling apart - Okay...um, if Doctor Lou was involved...then I might but - I didn't ask her to send for him, I tried my best to dissuade her - In fact, that reminds me, you physically tried to kill me and he did nothing, absolutely NOTHING to you!... Yes, I am still angry about that (≖_≖ )...}

”It has nothing to do with anyone. It is for peace of mind, for you and I.” The Emperor calmly said, staring down the Empress dowager, who obviously was not phased.

”I am the only true family you have...” The Empress dowager bit out, her body shaking with barely contained rage.

”As I am sure you will agree, distance is a necessity for fondness in our family... My mind will not be changed.” The Emperor said, sending Eunuch Li a warning glance before turning and storming off. Lei Xing quickly bowed her head and turned to follow, but then the Empress dowager spoke up, ”Don't think you're safe... He will forsake you too.”

Lei Xing stopped and turned, not quite sure the woman was talking to her. She locked eyes with the Empress dowager and the woman menacingly warned, ”He is a traitor by nature...”

Lei Xing snorted.

{...Since when did you and I become friends to be offering me such ”candid” advice? (≖_≖ )...}

”Rest assured, I'm not the kind of person to betray those I claim to care for and neither is he, so there is no cause for worry -”

The Empress dowager scoffed and scowled, ”Are you trying to say that I betrayed him first?”

”Not trying. I am simply thanking you for your concern...” She said with a bow, flashed a mocking smile, and turned and left.

{...Crazy woman -_-)'...}

The Empress dowager scowled at her back, clenching her fists, and then she suddenly lunged forward, forgetting the table was in front of her, she crashed into it and flopped to the ground with a loud crash.

”Your majesty!” Both Eunuch Li and Song mama exclaimed, rushing to her side. Lei Xing also turned around at the commotion and saw as the Empress dowager shoved Song mama and Eunuch Li aside and raced towards her with rage-filled eyes. Lei Xing was stunned and stumbled back a few steps and in the same second, Bi Lu and Bi Lo both instinctively jumped in front of her having sensed the rage with hands on their swords, confused and hesitating.

But luckily Eunuch Li's senses kicked in and he rushed to grab the Empress dowager just before she could lunge herself off of the pavilion like a mad person, locking his arms around her pulling her back as she flailed wildly, ”GET OFF ME! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME?! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AND WHEN I'M DONE, I'LL KILL HIM! I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU! WHY?! HOW DARE YOU LOOK DOWN ON ME?! WHY IS IT ALWAYS YOU?! YOU RUIN EVERYTHING! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME?! GET OUT! GET OUT! LET ME GO!”

”Your majesty, please stop!” Eunuch Li shouted back and then took an elbow to the face and his grip momentarily loosened. Free, she continued forward but Eunuch Li grabbed her again and this time, she fully turned her assault on him, clawing at his neck and head, trying and failing to twist his neck as he continuously moved his head, trying to free himself.Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click for visiting.

Song mama ran to help him restrain the Empress dowager taking hits in the process, while Ling mama shuddered in the corner of the pavilion, in tears terrified. Everyone outside the pavilion stood transfixed at a loss, until Lei Xing finally gasped for breath, not at all aware that she had been holding her breath.

She looked to the pavilion and her brain finally registered what was happening and she shakily, but quickly said, ”Go, g-go, go help him.” Bi Lo and Bi Lu snapped out of it as well, glanced at Lei Xing before quickly rushing into the pavilion, trying to grab the Empress dowager's flailing arms that were keen on ripping Eunuch Li's head to shreds.

”Just knock her out!” Lei Xing ordered. Bi Lo raised the hilt of his sword again and brought it swinging down but then, the Empress dowager moved her head, and instead, it hit Eunuch Li square in the face. Eunuch Li g.r.o.a.n.e.d and his head flew back and slumped to the ground, giving the Empress dowager her freedom again.

But luckily again, Before she could take a step, Bi Lu locked his arms around her, locking her arms in as well, ”Now!” Bi Lu shouted to his brother as the Empress dowager wildly flailed to get free again, his hold gradually weakening.

Bi Lo raised his sword again, aiming but then a teapot swiftly came crashing down to her head first, and then the Empress dowager went limp.

Ling mama let out a shaky laugh and looked up and froze, immediately going pale as her eyes fixed on something past Lei Xing. She dropped the teapot and instantly fell to her knees, kowtowing to the ground, ”Please don't kill me! T-t-the Empress said to do it!”

Lei Xing knit her brows in confusion and then turned back to see the Emperor standing by the corner of the building, frozen in shock staring at the ”possible” murder scene in the pavilion. Lei Xing blinked at him a few times and then awkwardly said, ”It was self-defense...?”