Chapter 43 - Reunion (1/2)
Lei Xing returned to the reception hall, where the other Imperial wives were already seated and waiting for the empress dowager to arrive. Lei Xing went straight to her seat and sat down, still preoccupied with pondering over her awkward meeting with her predator.
...So was that good or bad?... Well, at least she didn't try to force-feed me poison, that's a positive, I guess...also she didn't seem angry either...so that's good...probably?...
After a while, an announcement came from outside that the emperor had arrived. Lei Xing inwardly sighed and stood up along with the others and bowed in greeting as he walked in. As he walked in, he suddenly stopped and then turned towards Lei Xing, who frowned in response, lowered her head, facing away.
...Go away!... Shoo, shoo, I really don't need this annoyance on top of everything right now T_T)...
Unfortunately, the emperor could not hear her inner pleas and ended up stopping in front of her. After a while of silence, Lei Xing felt even more awkward in this situation and felt the urge to glance up.
...Why is he not saying anything?... Can you and your crazy mother just go jump into a volcano or something? -_-)'...Seriously, I would really appreciate it...
Eventually, Lei Xing couldn't continue with this awkward stand-offish scenario with everyone standing there watching, so she looked up to see the emperor's smiling face, and her eyes reflexively glanced off to the side.
...Ah, this is even weirder...stupid paintings...his face looks like a stupid painting!...
”Are you feeling better?” The emperor asked still with that smile that made Lei Xing's skin crawl.
Lei Xing gave a half-smile, ”I'm fine, thank your majesty for your concern.” She said with her eyes still looking off to the side.
...Go away! Leave me alone!...
The emperor looked at her with raised a raised eyebrow, and then moved his head a bit into her line of sight and her pupils immediately shifted to the opposite direction. Lei Xing groaned on the inside.
...What is this a***ole doing now? Go away T_T)'...
The emperor frowned.
...Is she avoiding me?... Why?... Here I thought we'd come to an understanding...how strange...she's strange...
Before the emperor could delve into uncovering the obscurities of Lei Xing's current behavior, the empress dowager entered the hall. They all bowed to her in greeting, she walked up to the emperor and then glanced at Lei Xing, who seeing her looking her way bowed towards her again, it seemed she was now trying to put in some effort into currying favor with the empress dowager.
...Gotta build this friendship...It's so sad what I have come to, sucking up to people was never my strong suit, it really wasn't even a suit at all T_T)...
The empress dowager looked at her for a bit and then trailed her eyes from Lei Xing to the emperor. She then smiled at the emperor, ”We should be on our way.” and so they all made their way to the main hall, were the festive mood was already in swing.
The festivities in the main hall had already begun and ministers and their families had already arrived and were engaging in merry discussions, toasts and enjoying the music. When the arrival of the emperor and the empress dowager was announced, they all stopped, got up and bowed as the royal entourage walked in. After they all took their seats. The emperor then said some celebratory words and then the festivities resumed, with performers filing into the center to perform. The food was served and the ministers would occasionally raise toasts to the emperor, in which case, everyone had to drink.
The atmosphere was jovial and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, save for a couple of people who didn't seem to be in a celebratory mood. The first of them was Lei Xing, who for the most part had on a blank expression, and was picking at her food, occasionally glancing up at the emperor and the empress dowager.
...We should be okay now, right?...I mean, there's no way to know that, it's not like I can go ask her, ”Hey, no more poisoning right? Bygones are gone, right?”...Of course, I can't ask that -_-)'...there's also that a***ole, okay to be fair, the paintings aren't his fault...forget about the bloody PAINTINGS! >_<)'...
Lei Xing glanced up again and met the emperor's eyes, slightly flinched and immediately looked down. The emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at her lowered head with a smirk.
...It seems she's really avoiding me...or could she be...shy?...No, doesn't look like it...She's behaving like someone who has committed some crime and is scared of being found out...
On the side, the empress dowager observed this exchange, and was also looking at Lei Xing with a blank expression.
...It seems he really likes her...I guess she may have her use, for now...
The other person who seemed to be in a disgruntled mood was Prince Yi, who like Lei Xing was also casting glances to the top platform while drinking, particularly focusing on the emperor. Therefore he also caught on to this little exchange, which further declined his mood.
....Well aren't you in a celebratory mood...you must have a lot celebrate, must be nice -_-)...
Prince Yi sighed in annoyance and took another sip of the wine, looking off towards the exit wanting this to be over so he could leave. After a while more of festivities, the banquet aspect of the celebration was over and it was time for them to go out for the highlight of the evening. The empress dowager announced that she is old and tired and so will not be participating. It was obvious this was just an excuse as there were many ministers who were older than her. As she left, they got up and bowed. After her exit, they all also proceeded to move the celebration outside.