Chapter 232 - Cloudy with a chance of Regret

Prince Yi left the Lei manor completely irritated. He had been in a very bad mood since the day before because like always, the Emperor got in his way.

There was also the fact that Haiyan had stood him up.

Prince Yi had expected Haiyan's backstabbing, which was why he had intended to be in a position to capture the maid Haiyan wanted to give himself leverage in their negotiations.

He had inquired about the imprisoned maids and one stood out. The other two maids had already been in the palace for a few years, Chun Hua had only entered the palace in the last few months. Naturally, Chun Hua with her questionable background appeared to be the one.

But then the Emperor had released the two maids but not Chun Hua and that gave Prince Yi pause. He knew the Emperor would have been investigating Lei Xing's drugging and naturally investigating the maids was the first step. 

And if he could deduce that Chun Hua was suspicious in such a short time, then the Emperor was definitely aware. 

Prince Yi chose to tread more carefully and watch the situation before acting. He sent a few men to secretly follow Chen You's carriage headed to Fen Li temple and to watch for any suspicious movements there. While he was sure that Chun Hua was the one, he wanted to cover all his bases. 

But then all his plans were brought to a halt when the Emperor released Chun Hua. He had men watching the palace gates for her and they watched her come out, but then watched a few tails follow behind her. 

He definitely could not try to capture Chun Hua now as it would be too troublesome. So he planned to offer up information to Haiyan. Moreover, provided they could successfully escape the capital and make it to a rendevous point along the way, Prince Yi was ready to offer some of his men to help protect them until they safely reach Zou kingdom. 

He was willing to offer this help to properly forge this alliance, and depending on the situation his men could capture Chun Hua and keep her hostage. And then he could be sure of Haiyan's cooperation.

But then Haiyan never came. And it was clear to Prince Yi that he had been discarded and it infuriated him. 

The last few months since the Emperor arrived have been hair-splitting for him. Time and time again, the Emperor kept getting in his way, destroyed his plans, turned his people against him and then gloated his victories before him to make everything worse.

In the end, Prince Yi's irritation and a nagging feeling of helplessness kept him up all night. 

Prince Yi found himself feeling listless and aimless again. Then the thought of Lei Xing somehow broke through his cloudy mind like a little ray of sunshine. But that light quickly snuffed out itself when he remembered that she had agreed to be his brother's Empress.

As impossible as it was, his mood worsened and he tried to push thoughts of her out of his mind. 

But the Emperor's question during their brawl kept replaying in his mind and he wondered if he truly did have feelings for Lei Xing. He thought that she was beautiful, her personality was not exactly aligned with his tastes as he found it irritating whenever his concubines mouthed off even a little bit. He did not at all care for their opinions. 

But then it was odd, he liked the stubborn personality in Lei Xing, but if she were his he would have preferred she toned it down. But all in all, it was not offensive to be able to talk to a wife like a friend, he quite liked it. 

Then he remembered her running from a little snake and her adorably pouting and glaring at him and he found himself chuckling. He immediately caught himself and frowned. Then he let out an irritated breath then got up and went to bed, trying to put all the irritating thoughts out of his mind.

But instead of sleeping, he found himself wondering if the Emperor would have truly given her to him if he had answered yes to the question. And then he laid there with an increasingly powerful twinge of regret. 

If the Emperor had not stopped her then during the selection...She would have been his. He would have made sure of it. But it was too late now, he repeatedly told himself as he tried to put thoughts of her out of his mind.

In the end, he still got up and made his way to the Lei manor...Just so he could see her.

Prince Yi had the same thoughts now as his carriage rolled on. But this time, he could not help laughing in anger as he thought of the Emperor's hypocritical behavior. 

{...He didn't want her at first but then changed his mind after rejecting her...He wanted to give her to me one day, but then the next day he makes her his Empress. What a joke!...}

Now that Prince Yi thought about it the Emperor must have decided to keep Lei Xing just so he could not have her. 

He regretted talking to her during the selection, he should have kept silent and ignored her like he did the others. If he had not shown interest in her, then the Emperor would have had no reason to suddenly want her.

Prince Yi scowled as he remembered how Lei Xing pushed him away that night and how she slapped his hand off today when he had barely even touched her. But yet, she did nothing when the Emperor touched her as he liked just so he could put on a show him before him.

Nothing had changed, the Emperor got everything he wanted, while he was left wanting. Prince Yi fisted his hands in anger at the Emperor...at life, at everything.

{...What was I expecting in wanting to see her?...}

He had come there for her, but she had clearly not come for him and it was infuriating.

****

The Emperor escorted Lei Xing to her palace and then told her to get ready to go greet the Empress dowager. Naturally, Lei Xing was reluctant but the Emperor quickly reassured her that she had nothing to worry about, gave her a quick kiss and promptly left her.

Xiao Ruo then came over to inform Lei Xing that her bath was waiting. It was now obvious to Lei Xing that the Emperor had specifically come to get her so she could get over with this annoyance. 

Lei Xing sighed and begrudgingly dragged her feet. 

{... I'm going to have to see her sooner or later, might as well get it over with...Also, won't be alone either, there'll be an entire entourage, plenty of human shields available hahaha...ha -_-)'...}

Lei Xing absentmindedly went through the motions, she really was not keen on this visit but she had no choice. Honestly, if bowing today could make it so she and the Empress dowager could peacefully co-exist then she would happily bow. 

Although she doubted a bow would be enough to make the Empress dowager happy, the woman just tried to kill her again a few days ago. And she looked so excited about it too.

Lei Xing sighed as she was getting her hair done. She could not understand how out of everyone, she seemed to have offended this woman so much. Lei Xing sighed again as she thought of the Emperor.

{...I guess they come as a package deal, heaven and hell...How wonderful -_-)'...}

Just as she was finishing up her makeup, a maid came to inform her that the Emperor was waiting for her in her reception hall. Lei Xing wondered why he did not just come to her room but as soon as she arrived there she understood.

The Minister of Rites was waiting with the Emperor, just two of them and with none of the other officials from the day before.

The Emperor smiled at Lei Xing as she walked over to him and then he turned to the Minister of Rites and curtly said, "We're all set, let's proceed." He said taking Lei Xing's hand and leading the way to the Empress dowager's palace, with the Minister of Rites following behind them. 

The Emperor had suddenly sent for the Minister of Rites and then ordered that he wanted to conduct a most basic bowing ceremony involving the Empress dowager and that the Minister alone was sufficient witness. 

This was not the usual practice so the Minister did try to advise the Emperor but the Emperor told him he had decided it. And so here he was alone, he did not need to be told that the Empress dowager was not pleased with the Emperor's choice. There was no other reason for the Emperor to behave this way.

The Minister of Rites let out a lamenting sigh, this wedding was definitely not going to be easy. 

Lei Xing, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. The Emperor's presence should be able to keep the Empress dowager under control as she could not order the Emperor about as she liked so it was impossible for her to get Lei Xing alone again. Not that Lei Xing would ever allow herself to be alone with the crazy woman. But the Emperor's presence just made it so there will be less chance for conflict.

It was best for the Emperor to handle his own mother. At the very least, she wouldn't try to kill her own son, right? After all, he was also her only lifeline at the moment.

Therefore, the Emperor was the best human shield available against Empress dowager. Still, Lei Xing inwardly sighed.

{...Why can't we all just get along? T_T)...}