Chapter 268 - Royal Jitters

Lei Xing stood in the pavilion in the back garden of her new home, staring at the reflection of the moon on the surface of the pond, alone.

The ascension ceremony was tomorrow and so she had moved into the Empress's palace today. The place was just as huge as the Emperor's, it even had its own pond with some beautiful decorative fish swimming in it. 

It was all very grand and imposing.

Xiao Ruo handled the move while Lei Xing only came over in the evening after having dinner with the Emperor in his study. As per custom, they were not to sleep together tonight and so Lei Xing spent quite a bit of time with him in his study before leaving him. The next time they would meet would be when she climbed up to him as his Empress the next day.

Lei Xing was having trouble sleeping that night. It was as if the gravity of all this had finally come crashing down as she laid on her new bed alone. Thinking about it, it was actually very daunting and she was suddenly feeling overwhelmed and so ended up coming out here to clear her mind and get some fresh air. 

As she stared at the quiet pond, Lei Xing wished she had some stones to toss in to make the scenery more interesting and maybe wake up the fish.

She could probably go find some but she knew that even though she sent the servants away, they were still lurking about watching her. Picking stones was definitely not "Empress-like" nor was playing bouncing stones to disturb the fish.

Lei Xing sighed again but then jumped when she felt arms wrap around her from behind.

"I thought you would be asleep..." The Emperor said with a smile as he nuzzled her neck.

Lei Xing instantly relaxed, held back her smile, and then went for a jab, "If you thought I was asleep then what are you doing here?"

The Emperor let out a happy sigh and said, "I couldn't sleep..." He had not actually tried to sleep yet. He had not even gone to his palace at all. He had been in the royal study working on this and that to pass time until Eunuch Li reminded him that he needed to rest for his big day tomorrow. 

It was only then that the Emperor realized how late it had gotten.

It was just that since he was not going to bed to be with his Lei Xing, he felt no interest or urge to go to bed in his cold palace, where he knew nightmares awaited him. Regardless, he had to get some rest so he left.

But on his way to his palace, knowing that the Empress's palace was just a stone throw's from his, he stopped by to see her sleeping face to make himself feel better. But then he arrived to find her awake as well. It made him quite happy to see that she was also having trouble sleeping in his absence.

"I missed you..." The Emperor added as he turned her around to look at her face.

Lei Xing snorted and went, "Missed? It's just one night..." The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her and Lei Xing swiftly added, "I missed you too~" to humor him.

The Emperor smiled, "Let's go inside~ I don't want you catching a cold..." But as he was about to move, Lei Xing pulled him back.

"You're not supposed to be here..." Lei Xing reminded.

The Emperor slightly knit his brows and went, "It doesn't matter -"

"It matters to me. I don't want anyone criticizing you for something so simple." Lei Xing swiftly interjected with a frown, then she let out a breath and softened her tone, "Return to your palace and I'll see you tomorrow~ " She finished with a smile.

The Emperor stared at her for a bit and then smirked a little and brought a hand up and caressed her face, "...Sleep becomes very unappealing when it's not next to you..."

Lei Xing managed to stop herself from rolling her eyes as she snorted. This guy had become such a pro with these flirty lines. But she would not be moved tonight, she simply pat his cheek and went, "Goodnight."

"I mean it." The Emperor said, grabbing her patting hand, "Before I met you, I had always had restless sleep ever since I was little. Even if I was not haunted by ghosts from my past, my sleep was always restless and uncomfortable....until you, until you came to my side. My peace of mind relies on you, so when compared to you nothing else matters..."

Lei Xing blinked at him and then awkwardly went, "You're my number one too these days - I mean, you're precious to me too." Lei Xing quickly finished, covering up her little folly with a wide smile, reassuringly squeezing his hand.

The Emperor chuckled and then went, "So let's go in -"

"Still a no.." Lei Xing stopped him again and seriously explained, "As I said, you're precious to me too and so I won't have you - have US facing any avoidable problems...Regardless of the inconveniences, it's just one restless night, we can do it." 

{...You've lived through it before, stop acting like a spoilt baby! ( ￣^￣ )...}

As much as she liked the Emperor, sometimes he behaved like a spoiled child. The Emperor sighed and then went, "Fine, I'll leave..."

"Great! I'll walk you out~" Lei Xing promptly said as she linked her arm through his and pulled him along with her, leading him to the exit.

The Emperor chuckled and lightly shook his head. When it came to their relationship, her level-headedness was sometimes a bit upsetting. But her thoughts of wanting to protect him were very heartwarming so he was pacified.

Lei Xing would have never expected this kind of lovers' stupidity from herself, but here she was doing it. She not only walked the Emperor to the exit, but she also walked him all the way to the doors of his own palace...and then he walked her back because the servants were apparently not enough to ensure her "safe" return. 

When they arrived at the entrance to her palace, Lei Xing promptly bid him goodnight before they ended up looking even more ridiculous to the servants who already seemed to be having a hard time containing their smiles. 

The Emperor smiled and hugged her before she could scurry off. After a long warm hug, he released her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead with a quiet, "See you tomorrow..."

Lei Xing's heart jumped at the word of tomorrow but she nodded, smiled and went, "Goodnight..."

"Don't stay outside anymore..." The Emperor cautioned and Lei Xing nodded, "I won't..." 

And with that, they left each other to deal with their own anxieties.

But those few moments together comforted their hearts and made them feel better for the night apart and the sunrise to come. 

The Emperor and Lei Xing tossed about for a long time, but the two eventually fell asleep and the long-awaited morning eventually came. 

***

Lei Xing was woken up early to begin her preparations for the event. She really could not even stomach the thought of food and so she skipped breakfast.

Although the process was long and bothersome, Lei Xing quietly and cooly went through it all. While on the inside she was feeling increasingly anxious and fidgety.

Once the preparations were done and she looked at herself in the mirror dressed from head to toe as an Empress. Lei Xing blanked for a moment and just stared at her beautiful regal reflection in awe. But the only thought in her head was about how the headdress was heavy.

{...Too heavy...}

While Xiao Ruo and the other maids who had been serving Lei Xing all this time were grinning ear to ear, except Ah Jin who simply had a cool, rare smile. They were all very proud and happy for their mistress. 

After a while of Lei Xing not moving or saying anything, Xiao Ruo went, "Your majesty, w-"

"You all wait outside." Lei Xing swiftly ordered. 

"But the auspici -" 

"I just need a moment." Lei Xing said with a shaky breath. 

Ah Jin swiftly looked at the other maids and motioned for them to exit, while she grabbed Xiao Ruo and went out. Once the doors were closed, Lei Xing let out a deep breath and then started pacing. 

{...Is this what they call cold feet? No, no, I don't have cold feet. I'm not a person who gets cold feet - Then what the hell is this?!... Cold feet...}

{...*It's too late to change your mind~ ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing stopped, knit her brows, and then resumed pacing with a sigh.

{...You're back...}

{...*After all my hard work, how could I miss this monumental day? We had a deal remember Hehehe~...}

Lei Xing let out a little nervous laugh.

{...Well, I'm glad you're having fun -_-)'...}

{...*Hehe, you should be having fun too~ Reeelax, there's no room for second thoughts at the moment...no reason to panic either ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing stopped pacing again and took a deep breath. There was obviously no reason to panic and she knew this. She had already been acting as Empress so nothing much would change. 

Well, nothing except her title, she also got a new house. There was also the fact that she would now have to interact with the concubines and other wives. They had been coming around this month but Lei Xing was barely ever home during the day to receive them...She was truthfully busy, but she may or may not have been avoiding them, unintentionally. 

"Your majesty..." Xiao Ruo called again from outside, they were on a tight schedule and there was still so much to do on the way. 

{...* Come now, let us leave, we shouldn't keep our Xiao Kai waiting. In place of your absentee parents, this old father will accompany you~(─‿‿─)..}

Lei Xing snorted and rolled her eyes. She was honestly feeling a bit better with Doctor Lou's company. She took another deep breath and then went out to face her new fate. 

As the Empress's royal procession slowly made their way to the main hall. Lei Xing relaxed in her spacious phoenix palanquin, she was supposed to be regally sitting upright but this was going too slowly and she could be bothered. Doctor Lou was also being a great source of distraction for her nervousness and was helping her better relax.

{...So what exactly have you been doing all this time? You haven't been responding and you haven't in your pharmacy either...I checked...}

{...*Hehe~ I see you missed me hehehe~...}

Lei Xing rolled her eyes but did not want to upset her distraction and truthfully, she did miss him a tiny bit.

{...Sureee....} 

{...*I knew it! Hehehe~...Well, I went to visit my sister...again. She's been annoyingly making wait an eternity because she's "busy". I'm very busy too, but I'm not making her wait (≖ ‸ ≖)...}

Lei Xing raised her eyebrows in surprise.

{...You have a sister? O_O)...}

{...*Agreed! She is very annoying ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing snorted and rolled her eyes. That's not what she said but she was not going to argue with him today.

{...So are you the younger sibling?... You seem like a younger sibling...}

{...*Hey! What do you mean by that? (≖_≖ )...}

{...Oh, nothing...I just mean...that you seem so...vibrant - yes, vibrant and energetic like a younger sibling hehe...he ⚆ _ ⚆)...}

{...*Hehehehehehe~ Well I am truly the vibrant one, she's very dull and boring, definitely no fun!... So? Are you now reconsidering calling me Shifu? There's still a possibility I will accept you~(￣～￣)~...}

{...Still not interested~*snort*...}

{...*Hmph! All these brats never know what's good for them! (￣ヘ￣)...}

Lei Xing quietly laughed. 

{...*Well, just so you know I am older - Well, probably -maybe, we're twins. Our father never pointed it out, I honestly don't think he knew BUT I have more white hair! Therefore my vibrant and energetic self is naturally the elder one! I never get the respect I deserve! ( ￣^￣ )...}

{...Young people sometimes have white hair - so it's not an accura -...}

Lei Xing's mind froze as her procession stopped in front of the main doors leading into the main hall. All her nervousness instantly returned as she realized they were here. She took a shaky deep breath and sat up as the announcement of her arrival was made and the procession went forward. 

There were rows of palace servants, Imperial guards, and some others crowded on both sides of the long red carpet spilling down from the top of the steps where she could see the vague silhouette of the Emperor waiting for her. Her eyes fixed on the Emperor's form which eventually disappeared as her procession got closer to the steps. 

Lei Xing took another shaky deep breath and looked down to see her hands shaking, she clenched her fists and willed the shaking to stop. She honestly could not understand why she was so nervous, but her heart was pounding loudly in her ears, her face was heated and she could feel her palms were sweaty. 

Lei Xing frowned in irritation, she had never been this nervous in her whole life and it was honestly very annoying.

{...*Smile~...You're going to become Empress NOT a prisoner going up to the Executioner's platform ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing's face twitched at Doctor Lou's words. But as the palanquin was put down and a hand was presented to help her out. Lei Xing took a deep breath and exhaled, willed her nerves down, and stepped out with a cool and calm demeanor as always. 

She glanced up at her Emperor waiting at the top of the stairs and a small smile bloomed on her face and she began the journey that was the climb up to him.