Chapter 214 - Lovely Returns

Lei Xing nodded and then asked, "But...If it wasn't on Chen You's order, then why would the maid drug me?"

The Emperor knit his brows in thought for a bit, glanced at her and responded, "I assume it was a rather convoluted plot. If my feelings for you waned, then they - well, she would have had better access to me to carry out her plans...It seems she was rather dissatisfied with Chen You and your suspicious nature made you a difficult candidate to be used as a pawn."

"Suspicious nature? I don't have a suspicious nature..." Lei Xing mumbled with a frown.

"You doubt people quite a bit...perhaps you even doubt your own self as well." The Emperor insightfully responded and then he raised a hand to her cheek and added, "It's not a bad thing...I'm like that too, most of the time." He said as he brought her face closer to kiss her lips, Lei Xing held his arm, stopping him in his tracks and asked, "But then why not just kill me?" 

The Emperor pursed his lips, he did not like the interruption but he answered her question, "Your death would have warranted an investigation, which would have made it more difficult for them to hide. You becoming a disgrace was a much safer option, only you would have contested your innocence and no one would have believed you..."

"...It would have simply appeared as if you were drunk and went mad. But they did not count on that Doctor friend of yours being there for you when I was not..." He said with a frown and then sighed, "Or on him being able to discern the drug...Or on me believing in your virtue." The Emperor said with a gentle smile as he stroked her face.

Lei Xing knit her brows as her mind wandered off to thoughts of Doctor Lou, she really needed to go talk to that old man, then she remembered something else and went, "My sister's coming of age ceremony is tomorrow...Can I still go?"

"Oh, that..." The Emperor knit his brows in thought and then he let out a breath, "It appears that they are just a small group on a covert operation. So you can go with adequate protection..." The Emperor then frowned at her, "No more walking around the city unguarded, you should not have been doing that in the first place." He reprimanded and Lei Xing pouted and mumbled, "Well, you never complained..."

"Well, I'm complaining now." The Emperor responded narrowing his eyes at her. Lei Xing smiled and nodded, "Noted." 

{...Good, I'll just pop in and see that quack doc on the way...He has a lot of explaining to do -_-)...}

"I'll come along tomorrow..." The Emperor said and Lei Xing's mind was abruptly brought back to him and she immediately went, "What? Why?"

The Emperor raised an eyebrow at her, "Is there a reason I can't go?"

Lei Xing blinked, "Well, no. It's just...Well, it's Xiao Ting's day but if you're there, it'll take away from her attention..." She said with a smile. 

{...If he came with me, that crazy Doctor might not want to talk...And it's not like I can just go"Hey, wait outside, it's personal business"...Even if he agrees, he'll probably sulk about it. It might be upsetting for him, no it would be -_-)...}

The Emperor knit his brows, he was not comfortable with letting her leave. She was safest at his side, where he could see and take care of her. His thoughts were interrupted by Lei Xing wrapping her arms around his neck, "I'll take as many guards as you want~ And I'll be back in a few short hours, long before sunset. I promise~" Lei Xing sweetly said with a reassuring smile. 

The Emperor looked at her for a bit, searching her eyes and then sighed, "Alright then...I will personally choose the guards..."

Lei Xing's smile brightened, she gave him a quick kiss and said, "Thank you~" Then she got up to leave but then he promptly grabbed her hand and blinked at her, "Where are you going?"

"To visit Li Ru. It's quite early, don't you still have work to do?" Lei Xing innocently asked with raised eyebrows.

The Emperor frowned, of course, he still had work to do, he always had work to do but...he was hoping to spend some time with her and he was honestly a bit annoyed that she did not seem to be as interested in being together as he was. 

{...She always seems so ready and eager to leave...Is it really that easy for her? -_-)...}

Lei Xing looked at the Emperor's pouting expression and then sighed, "I guess Li Ru can wait a while longer...lunch?" The Emperor smiled and nodded. Lei Xing snorted and lightly shook her head and then called for the servants and asked that they arrange their lunch and send a message to Li Ru that she would go over to see her later.

The Emperor had apparently come with his memorials in tow and had the servants bring them over from her study. Li Ru had left some snacks for her and so Lei Xing had that brought over and made the Emperor try some. She happily smiled when he complimented Li Ru's skills but then he went, "Her skills are almost as good as An Hao's." And Lei Xing immediately frowned at him.

{...Almost? -_-)'...}

"What is it?" The Emperor obliviously asked.

"Nothing, I'm glad you like them. Eat more." Lei Xing said and looked back down at the memorial in her hand with a pout. 

{...An Hao? Is he a general or a personal chef? And his weren't that good, Li Ru's are much better, definitely ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing comforted herself with the thought that the Emperor's taste buds must have dulled over the years. The two went back to focusing on their own reading while drinking tea and nibbling on the snacks.

After a while, she covertly glanced at the Emperor and couldn't help smiling to herself. This reminded her of the time when she was ill, other than going to court, the Emperor had spent all of his time here with her. She would wake up and he would be there cooly reading a memorial or writing something, just like he was at the moment. 

It was very heartwarming, seeing him there keeping her company. The Emperor suddenly looked up and caught her looking at him and Lei Xing immediately lowered her head as her ears went red. The Emperor lightly chuckled and Lei Xing embarrassingly knit her brows and brought a hand up to shield her face from view as she buried her head in the memorial.

The Emperor stared at Lei Xing's crimson ears and then his eyes darted to the bed and some more engaging ways for them to spend their time popped in his head. He smirked and started to inch closer to her but before he could get halfway there, the doors opened and he immediately straightened back up and frowned down at the memorial in his hand. 

Ah Jin came in and walked up to Lei Xing, knelt beside her and then held her palm out to her and quietly informed, "I found this in your study..."

Lei Xing blinked down at the bracelet and then guiltily let out a short nervous laugh as she took it from Ah Jin's hand and mumbled, "Thank you." Ah Jin nodded and then left.

The Emperor glanced at Lei Xing and watched as she slipped on the bracelet and pat it. He found her relationship with this bracelet most perplexing.

{...Haha, hello...How are you? (^ω^;)...}

{...*Hmph!...}

{...Come on, don't be angry. I didn't forget you, how could I ever? I...I was just being considerate. I was going to come back for you...eventually haha...ha...}

{...*Really? (≖_≖ )...}

{...Of course...Of course, I was. After all, we're great friends...right? ^_^)...}

{...*Oh? You've finally been enlightened? Took you long enough -_-)...}

Lei Xing's face twitched and she hit the bracelet against the edge of the table.

{...*Hey! Be careful! >_

{...Hehe, sorry...slip of the hand~ (◔з◔)...}

"You seem very attached to that bracelet...and the ring. Are they gifts from someone...close?" The Emperor asked with raised eyebrows.

Lei Xing blinked at him and then looked down at the bracelet and ring, she did not expect that question. 

"Xing er'?" The Emperor called when she did not respond and she looked up at him with a smile, "Well...the bracelet is Tung Mei's, she left it in my care and so keep it close for her...And I honestly have grown fond of it, it is quite lovely..."

{...*Hehehe~ I definitely am...very lovely~ (o˘◡˘o)...}

Lei Xing amusedly rolled her eyes and chuckled and continued, "As for the ring, it's just something I picked up in the market..." Lei Xing looked down at the ring, raised the hand and stroked the ring with a smile as she said, "It was actually the last thing I bought before entering the palace, it brought me some...solace during the competition and since then, so it is a bit special to me..." She said smiling to the Emperor, she spoke the truth so she was completely confident and her expression earnest.

The Emperor nodded in understanding, "I see..." Then he looked back down at his memorial and Lei Xing did the same. He cast her a side glance and then knit her brows. She seemed earnest in her explanation and looked sincere, almost wistful.

He believed her words but he could not shake the feeling that she was still holding something back...It was a bit disheartening for him.

{...Perhaps I'm just overthinking things...*sigh* Understanding takes time...}