Chapter 196 - Important Matters

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"Why are asking about her?... Is there something more going on?" Lei Xing asked with a raised eyebrow. She had watched a range of emotions fleet across the Emperor's face and now he was smiling, but it looked sinister. And Lei Xing felt that there was definitely more to his questioning.

Chun Hua was obviously involved in the incidents by association. But it was suspicious that the Emperor seemed more interested in her than in Chen You, the obvious mastermind.

Lei Xing had briefly considered the idea, but now with the Emperor's line of questioning, she was there was more to this event.  

She had originally thought that Chen You must have wanted to enjoy watching her being humiliated first, but now with the Emperor's focus on Chun Hua. She was starting to rethink the whole situation and the degree of Chen You's role in it. Although this did not make her feelings towards Chen You warmer, after all, she still used her own hands to push her into a deadly situation.

The Emperor turned to her and his smile brightened, "Perhaps, but that's by the way. I have something for you." He said as he released Lei Xing's hand and picked up a little jeweled box from the desk and put it in her hands. Lei Xing looked at him with a raised eyebrow, he raised his eyes and then said, "Open it."

Lei Xing pursed her lips. It was obvious he was trying to distract her.

{...Fine, keep your secrets...I have mine too...But I shall accept this bribery (￣^￣)...}

Lei Xing opened the little box and then raised her eyebrows in happy surprise as she picked up the item inside. It was the wolf teeth necklace he had promised her. A two teeth wolf necklace to be exact.

The top of the teeth were crowned with intricately designed silver caps, and they hung at the center of the necklace pointing at each other, with two pink pearls separating them, and another set of three more pearls bordering the teeth on either side. All held tightly together by silver studs flanking the sides.

As the Emperor watched Lei Xing blankly staring at the necklace, he thought that perhaps she did not like it. He had noticed she did not like to wear extravagant ornaments when she did not have to. And so he hoped that by making it simple, she would always wear it as she did her ring and bracelet. 

But now that she held it in her hand, it really looked too simple to present to her at such a moment. Lei Xing knit her brows and he worried she thought it to be lacking so he explained, "I considered making it a full pearl necklace but then I thought you might find it bothersome...If you want, we can easily have more pearls added to i-"

"Oh, no! This is perfect..." Lei Xing swiftly responded, she smiled at him and caressed the bracelet with her thumb and softly said, "I really like it...Thank you." 

The Emperor smiled and took the necklace from her hand and leaned in closer to put it around her neck. As he did, he noticed her cheeks starting to redden, she was really too sensitive and he found it adorable. And because he could not help it, as he returned to his position, he gave her kiss on the cheek. Then he sat back and admired the necklace hanging on her neck. 

The Emperor's smile had now turned into a full grin, seeing it on her neck filled him with an immense amount of joy and pride, like nothing he had never felt before., She always seemed to have that effect on him, he held her hand and then said, "I hope you will wear it...always." 

Lei Xing smiled down at the necklace hanging on her neck and nodded, "En." Since she was wearing a closed neck outfit today and the bracelet looked awkward on top of it, she tucked the necklace under her garments. Then she looked back up to see the Emperor staring fixedly at where the necklace just disappeared with a small smirk and a gleam in his eyes that sent a shiver down to her toes. Lei Xing's heartbeat sped up and her blushing intensified.  

{...See, I told you! He's the pervert, not me! (⁄⁄>⁄ω⁄

Lei Xing cleared her throat and then nudged his chest and asked, "S-so what are you going to do with them? You didn't answer the question..."

The Emperor blinked and then looked up at her red face. He lightly chuckled and hugged her to him again, "And I asked you what you would prefer, you still haven't answered that..."

"O-oh, okay..." Lei Xing said as she let out a short nervous laugh.

{...You're really too close! (⁄⁄>⁄ω⁄

Lei Xing thought that, but she made no moves to separate from his embrace. Instead she focused on the important issue at hand. She let out a breath and seriously thought about what she would prefer.

She did not want them dead nor was she nice enough to simply let it go, especially not with Chen You. After a while of thinking, she simply said, "I just want them gone...Away from here, that's enough. For the maids, just sending them out the palace should suffice..."

Lei Xing knit her brows, she still felt a bit bothered so she added, "Perhaps, you can give them some money or if it's not too much...Perhaps assign them somewhere else to serve. This might be their only source of livelihood so it somewhat feels unfair for them to have to suffer for Chen You's stupidity. Regardless of my suspicions, Chun Hua did try to help, so if you can at least do that for her...As for Chen You, I don't care where she goes...Regardless, it's still up to you. Do as you see fit." 

The Emperor nodded, "Now that's concluded..." He lightly cleared his throat, "We can move on to important matters."

Lei Xing warily raised an eyebrow at him, "Important matters?" 

{...What's this im-important - I have issues, stop thinking crap! >_

"Yes, important matters..." The Emperor said as he picked up the rolled-up golden, embroidered scroll from the desk and handed it to her. Lei Xing looked at it skeptically as she took it and then she looked at him questioningly, and the Emperor explained, "The conditioned promise I made to you last night is in there." Lei Xing's eyes went wide and her hands tightened around the scroll as she blinked at him.

{...You...you're really too efficient, aren't you? Even giving it in writing...That's insanely sweet actually...}

"It is a royal edict, a sealed promise. With that, you can always leave in the event that your unfounded fears eventuate. Even though that will never be, I thought this will make you feel more secure to have royal edict in your hands..." The Emperor said with a warm smile.

{...Too considerate...}

Lei Xing blinked at him in disbelief, a wry smile spread on her face as she looked at him. He had done everything she wanted, even without her asking. He was really making such an effort and she could express what she was feeling at this moment as she looked at him. Tears welled up in her eyes, she lowered her head and brought up a hand and dabbed at her closed her eyes and then chuckled, "I don't know why I -" She paused and sighed as she felt the Emperor pat and stroke her head. 

She raised up her head and saw him looking at her with knit brows and a bit of a complicated expression on his face. Lei Xing smiled at him, gave him a kiss and said, "Thank you...I really appreciate this."

The Emperor gave a half-smile and then looked down at the edict in her hands, then he looked up at her earnest smiling expression, he gave her another half-smile and then said, "Open it."

Lei Xing still smiling, nodded and then removed the tie on the scroll and opened it and her smile immediately deflated. She blinked several times and then knit her brows, then she pursed her lips. She blinked up at the Emperor who was staring at her fixedly with slightly knit brows, she opened her mouth and then closed it, opened again and then closed it.

She looked back down at the scroll with narrowed her eyes and intense focus as if trying to dissect its contents. 

After a long while, Lei Xing looked up at the Emperor. With her mind still in a chaotic scramble, all she could muster up was, "I-incorrect."

{...*Ohhhh hehehe~...}

Lei Xing froze and then frowned as she heard the bracelet, right at this moment too. It was very disconcerting and served only to increase her frantic state and her mind just blanked.

{...*Ahem!...}

{...}

{...*AHH-HH-EM! AHE-...}

{...You- You just SHUT UP! >_