Chapter 316 - Pipe Reality

The two friends walked at a leisurely pace, while the servants kept their distance to give them privacy to talk.

"You look better now -" Li Ru said smiling at Lei Xing. 

"Better?" Lei Xing asked with a confused eyebrow.

"You did not seem yourself earlier so I was worried...and tomorrow will be busy so...I was worried." Li Ru haphazardly said, this was actually not her first time coming over here looking for Lei Xing today. She had noticed she did not look alright but understood she would not want to discuss anything with Zhao Lan there. So she had come here looking for Lei Xing shortly after she left but Lei Xing was not in her palace.

She had come by two more times but Lei Xing was still not back and she did not want to bother her so she did not allow the servants to go inform Lei Xing. After all, she might just have been worrying for nothing...and now it seemed to be the case as Lei Xing looked bright and happy as she should be. 

"I was just a bit tired..." Lei Xing quickly explained with a smile, cutting through Li Ru's thoughts. It was absolutely not her intention to make Li Ru worry or feel guilty. Lei Xing herself could not stand being guilt-tripped, even less so her doing that to someone else.

Li Ru nodded and they walked in silence for a while before Li Ru let out a loud breath and said, "I still can't believe all this is happening...I am not even sure how to go about all this, where to begin? What should I do? It's all so odd..." She was honestly still in disbelief that she was not only leaving the palace, but was actually getting to live a life on her own terms with her own house to live peacefully.

It was something she had never really envisioned for herself.

Lei Xing chuckled, "Baby steps, don't worry, you'll get the hang of it....no one's rushing you. You do what you want, when you want. I've got your back, whatever you want - within reason but - just enjoy it..." Lei Xing said with a happy smile, honestly, this was all she wanted, a sincere conversation to send off her one good friend here.

It was just a bit sad though that with the way things were here, it was possible that once Li Ru left the capital, they would never meet again. That was a bit disheartening but such was life, paths cross and separate with no mind for our heart's sorrows but we all live through it.

{...And live well, we shall!...}

Li Ru looked at Lei Xing with a somewhat saddened smile, "Are you truly alright with all this? You often talked about leaving the palace to live your own life and now it seems I have that chance to... while you remain here. Doesn't it feel unfair?"

Lei Xing blinked at her, taken aback by the question, and honestly she had not thought about it that way. But then again, who would actually look at the current situation and call it unfair for her? 

But obviously someone who knew her could see it that way. Lei Xing looked up at the night sky and let out a wistful sigh. 

{...Well...considering the trade off is a life of comfortable riches with a handsome man who adores me and would pretty much do anything I ask of him, within reason of course...So, I really can't complain (っ•ω•⊂ )...}

"Well, there is that saying that when man proposes and heaven disposes... It seems Heaven has made a habit of disposing my plans." Lei Xing said with a little laugh and Li Ru chuckled along with her, obviously not having any idea as to the true gravity of Lei Xing's meaning. 

But them laughing together was good enough for Lei Xing, she would miss this and she could not help making one final pipe offer, "By the way, if you still need an agent for your very talented self, I am always available. I've got a lot of free time here so I've got you~" 

The two laughed and joked around a while longer, before Lei Xing finally asked the question that was hanging at the back of her mind, "I would have thought home would be the last place you'd want to return to...so why go back?"

Li Ru's expression fell and she sighed, "I don't want to return to there but -... While I may not have a lot of good memories there, there were some good people, servants really, who treated me kindly and helped make my days easier. Now that I do have some means, I should not forget them. Xiao Su's mother is back there too..." Xiao Su was Li Ru's personal maid who had followed her to the capital.

"I see...That is good of you. One should always repay kindness." Lei Xing understandingly said. No matter how Lei Xing had thought about it, Li Ru did not seem like the vengeful sort to care for the satisfaction of watching her father bow. It all made perfect sense now and Lei Xing truly understood as she would have done the same if the roles were reversed.

Li Ru smiled and nodded, happy for Lei Xing's support, "Although I've not decided on a date yet, but hopefully within the next month if it's not too much to ask. I was not sure how to tell the Emperor so -..."

"Don't worry, I will talk to him for you." Lei Xing helpfully chimed in, "We can have your travel arrnaged for as early as next week if you want." 

Li Ru let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you. I won't waste time there, just a day or two and we can head back -"

"You're bringing back here?" Lei Xing asked with knit eyebrows in surprise.

Li Ru blinked at her in confusion, "En, I want to move them into my residence so they can live a more relaxed life -"

"Here?...in the capital?" Lei Xing asked, still somewhat lost and Li Ru nodded and it dawned on Lei Xing. She stopped in her tracks and put up a hand to cover her face as embarrassment washed over her.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Li Ru asked with concern.

Lei Xing raised up a hand and went, "Let me get this straight, so you plan on going home just to get the servants you want so they could then journey back to the capital with you so they could live here with you, in the capital..." Lei Xing wearily said, feeling stupid!

"En, exactly that." Li Ru said, blinking at her in confusion.

Lei Xing inwardly groaned, feeling very stupid. She could guess that the reason Li Ru did not mention this plan of hers to the Emperor was because she looked at it as he only gave them three options; live in the residence in the capital, go home or go somewhere else. So the poor girl did not dare to ask to visit home, worried she would not get the residence in the capital. 

"Can't I do that?" Li Ru nervously asked, worried seeing Lei Xing's expression.

"No, no, it's perfect. Of course you can." Lei Xing quickly said, "Wait, actually...you do know you can just order your father to send the servants here to you, right?"

Li Ru blankly stared at Lei Xing, obviously that had not occurred to her. She then frowned and shook her head, "Th-that won't work..."

Lei Xing raised an eyebrow, but let it be. After all, she understood that being put down all your life by the word of a certain individual does not just disappear over night, especially not when you have such a timid personality like Li Ru's.

But then her going home was even more worrying now because of this behavior. The last thing the poor girl needed right now was someone trying to force or coerce her into anything. And given how she ended up in the palace in the first place, Lei Xing could tell that her father and the others in her family would be eager to use her however they can and with her personality, they would never worry she would actually report anything.

So Lei Xing offered another option, "How about this? You stay here and I can write an edict for you ordering their release. You can even send Xiao Su back to deliver it, of course with guards for the protection on the way. And they will safely brought back to you, hassle-free..."

"Is that okay?" Li Ru hesitantly asked. Even when told something was alright, she still felt the need to confirm again and again. Lei Xing honestly felt even more strongly now that it was best for her not to face her family if she would be timid over everything.

"Of course it is." Lei Xing said with a reassuring smile, "It's fine if you still want to go, but this is an option that is available for you. So you think it over and let me know what you decide..." Lei Xing said warmly patting Li Ru's arm as they arrived at the entrance to her palace.

Li Ru nodded, seemingly on the verge of tears. She sniffed and then hugged Lei Xing, "Thank you...for everything."

Lei Xing lightly cleared her throat and awkwardly pat on her back, "It's nothing...You're welcome." She awkwardly said. 

Li Ru cried for a bit before releasing her, dabbing at her eyes, "You should hurry back before the Emperor decides to come to fetch you..." She said and the two shared a laugh before finally parting ways. Li Ru returning to finalize her packing and Lei Xing returning to her Empero