Chapter 233 - Lost Causes

The Empress dowager frowned as she saw the Emperor come in with Lei Xing.

She had been notified earlier by a small official under the Minister of Rites that Lei Xing would be coming over to receive her blessings. Like Lei Xing, she begrudgingly got ready. 

She had thought things over and she had been too direct with the Emperor, she should have expressed her discontent with a cool head, hidden her displeasure and then settled things quietly. If she was nice and accepting, she would naturally have easier access to the "problem".

Therefore, to keep up proper appearances, she was going to "happily" receive Lei Xing and then privately deliver her blessings later. But then the Emperor's sudden appearance beside Lei Xing threw her off-balance and she found herself seething with renewed anger as she watched them bow in front of her.

The Empress dowager fixed her glare on the Emperor. She was still reeling over his disappointing behavior, but here he came parading in front of her with the problem, showing off his error. 

After they greeted the Empress dowager, the Minister of Rites informed, "Your majesty, as per custom, your daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects and seek your guidance and blessings for the future."

"Is that what this is?" The Empress dowager asked narrowing her eyes at the Emperor, who looked back at her mirroring her expression.

{... Is that supposed to be a warning?... Since he wants it to be this way, then he leaves me no choice...}

It was obvious to the Empress dowager that the Emperor had left out the entourage to further show how irrelevant he viewed her to be. The Empress dowager condescendingly looked at Lei Xing and then got up and walked down as she said, "Since you have asked for my guidance, then giving it is naturally what I should do." 

The Empress dowager stopped at the bottom of the steps and then looked Lei Xing over and then said, "So you are the one who wants to be Empress..."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the Empress dowager, who ignored him and kept her eyes focused on Lei Xing. Lei Xing looked at her with apprehension and then gave her a polite smile and respectfully bowed her head. 

{...Okay, I sense some, maybe a lot, of sarcasm there but not a bad start...I guess -_-)'...}

"It is good to be young and beautiful..." The Empress dowager commented as she watched Lei Xing straighten up with a strained smile.

That comment was clearly an insult or at least that's what it felt like to Lei Xing, who lowered her eyes to avoid glaring at the Empress dowager.

{...And it would be great if you could be old and tolerable ≖_≖)...You clearly don't need curse words to spew venom. Let's just not pretend to be friends here and just move this along please -_-)...}

The Minister of Rites smiled and nodded, this was going a lot better than he expected, he bowed towards Lei Xing and said, "Noble consort Lei, you ma-"

"Did I say I was finished?" The Empress dowager menacingly cut in with an irritated frown at the minister. The Minister of Rites immediately bowed his head in apology and went mute.

The Empress dowager then narrowed her eyes at Lei Xing, "Do you think you are fit to be Empress?" 

Lei Xing was taken aback by the question, she was not expecting to have to be interviewed for the role after technically getting the job.

But before she could begin to forge a response, the Emperor cut in and said, "If I deem her fit, then she is fit. Regardless, that is not what we are here for." The Emperor swiftly responded narrowing his eyes back at the Empress dowager.

"Nonsense! As your mother and the Empress dowager, I am entitled to the right to advice to the next generation, or would you deny me that right too? You may forsake your duty, but I shall not!" The Empress dowager scolded.

The Emperor frowned and swiftly responded in a cold voice, "Advice is one thing, undue criticism is another."

"The Empress is the Mother of the nation, a pillar of the country! If she can't even speak with her own mouth, how is she fitting?!" The Empress dowager angrily responded back, she then switched her attention to the Minister of Rites and calmly went, "Isn't that right, Minister of Rites? Am I wrong in wanting to guide the next generation?" She innocently asked raising her eyebrows at him.

The Minister of Rites glanced up at her and then bowed his head.  He had thought too soon, this was exactly the kind of situation he was dreading. Beads of cold sweat started forming on his forehead as he sifted through his mind for an appropriate response that would offend neither party here, "Replying to the Empress dowager, this...ah...this..."

"Hmph!" The Empress dowager irritatedly went as she turned her gaze to Lei Xing and her smiled grew strained, "What do you think? I remember you had a lot of words to say during the selection. Why aren't you speaking now or has lazing around in the palace for so long made you go mute?"

Lei Xing inwardly rolled her eyes but she bowed her head and politely responded, "It is naturally the duty of the elders to guide the young..."

"Smart. See, she understands." The Empress dowager smugly said with a mocking smile at the Emperor, who looked off to the side and let out an irritated breath. He was still very much affected by their earlier encounter and he had no patience for his mother's antics at the moment.

"Since you understand, then answer the question." The Empress dowager ordered, but then she did not give Lei Xing a chance to respond as she immediately glared at the Emperor and continued on, "How can she think to be Empress if she is always hiding behind someone else?" 

Lei Xing inwardly sighed.

{...This woman -_-)'...So much for getting along...}

"I am perfectly capable of speaking for myself." Lei Xing cooly said with her head held high, commanding the Empress dowager's attention, she returned her glare back to Lei Xing with narrowed eyes.

Lei Xing was unfazed by her death stare and looked at her squarely and continued, "...And I believe I am fit to be Empress. I accede that the position of Empress is a grand and important position that cannot be taken up lightly. But rather than someone who is a blind rush with actions and words, a person with level-headed calmness is much more suited to hold such an important position, after all, the stability of a nation is at stake. A person with a volatile nature can easily bring down a nation. Calmer minds prevail an -"

"Volatile - Are you speaking of me?!" The Empress dowager interjected in utter disbelief as she glared at Lei Xing.  

{...Well, if the shoe fits...Glad you're still sane enough to have a guilty conscience -_-)...}

Lei Xing quickly bowed her head and said, "Of course not, Your majesty. I was referring to the position of Empress. You are the Empress dowager...So naturally different rules will apply..." Lei Xing finished with a polite smile.

{...Yeah, and by different rules, I mean no rules at all, because apparently you people can be insane...I don't know if it's the stress of being in the palace or what it is, but the majority of you just seem to be insane or borderline!...}

The Empress dowager blinked at Lei Xing and then started to take deep breaths to control her emotions. She clearly heard the mocking tone in Lei Xing's voice.

{...Different rules?...}

The Empress dowager knit her brows still trying to decipher Lei Xing's words. No matter how she thought about it, it was clearly an insult. But before she could speak up again, the Emperor calmly ordered, "Xing er' make your bow." With a satisfied smile on his face. He was greatly pleased with Lei Xing's response.

Lei Xing nodded towards him but before she could begin, the Empress dowager barked, "No! I am NOT finished! How is she fit to be Empress?! She has even been taking birth control all this time! That is clearly a disservice to the throne that needs to be punis-"

"I ordered it." The Emperor promptly explained away with a frown. He had instructed for that to be kept silent but obviously someone did not care much for their lives anymore.

"How can you be this foolish?! She can't bear your child but she can be your Empress? How can you justify that?!" The Empress dowager angrily barked as she glared at Lei Xing. If looks could kill, hers was definitely ripping Lei Xing to shreds.

"Xing er', make your bow." The Emperor repeated again, more sternly. He was done arguing with the Empress dowager.

Lei Xing who had been frozen by the Empress dowager's mention of the contraception, regained her senses when the Emperor called her name. She did not at all expect the contraception issue to be brought up in this discussion. She very well could not expect the Empress dowager to patiently hear out her reasoning and then nod her head in understanding. 

{...Definitely impossible. She's already ready to kill me for it...}

Lei Xing glanced at the Emperor and he motioned to the ground and she proceeded to comply. But again, before she could even begin, the Empress dowager barked, "I will not accept this bow! NEVER!"

"Xing er', bow." The Emperor ordered again and he stared the Empress dowager down. Lei Xing awkwardly complied and kowtowed to the ground as the Empress dowager glared daggers at the Emperor. 

"Useless!" The Empress dowager bit out and then stormed off. Song mama who had been quietly standing by the Empress dowager's main seat the entire time immediately ran after her.

Lei Xing sat back on her knees and let out a silent sigh. 

{...How did this woman even find out about it?... Well, I guess it wasn't exactly a secret but...will this really cause trouble?...}

"Xing er'." The Emperor called and Lei Xing snapped out of it to see his outstretched hand in front of her. Lei Xing let out another silent sigh as she took his hand and stood up. 

The Emperor gently stroked her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, Lei Xing returned a half-smile and then looked away, bothered.

The Emperor then turned to the Minister of Rites, who had been trying to make his presence as small as possible the whole time. "You have your bow. As for the unimportant details..." The Emperor left the words hanging...

And the Minister of Rites promptly finished them, "Naturally unimportant details remain unimportant, not worth mentioning." He said with a nervous smile and bow.

The Emperor nodded and then said, "I believe there will be no problems with the rest of the arrangements..."

"Of course all will go well. Your majesty is the son of heaven. Your wedding is of utmost importance. Naturally, all will proceed smoothly..." The Minsiter of Rites finished with a deep bow.

"Then I leave it all in your capable hands..." The Emperor said and then walked off taking Lei Xing with him. As soon as they left the room, the Minister of Rites let out a deep sigh, this encounter was tiring for the aging man. He wiped his sweat from his brow and then slowly made his way out. 

{...I pray this wedding proceeds smoothly...For the sake of my own health...}