Chapter 51 - Brewing Storm (1/2)

Back at the Imperial Palace.

A while after Lei Xing had left, Chen You made her way to her palace, and of course, with Chun Hua following along. Chen You had thought about it and concluded that perhaps Lei Xing did not accept Chun Hua because she thought Chen You would be upset. Therefore, she made her way to her palace to reassure Lei Xing that she was fully in support and to not be concerned about her. She had thought out her course of action, if that didn't work then she would use her family being indebted to Lei Xing's and that a servant was a nothing and another small way to repay this generational gratitude, as a means of persuasion and would not leave until she gets her to agree. Chen You was primed and ready to fawn and arrived at Lei Xing's palace, all for Xiao Ruo to inform her that Lei Xing was not seeing anyone at the moment.

”Go and inform her that Chen You is here, she will see me.” Chen You insisted.

Xiao Ruo said bowing again, ”I'm sorry your highness, but she is not in at the moment.”

Chen You frowned, ”Where is she?”

Xiao Ruo knit her brows, ”I'm sorry your highness, I don't know.”

Chen You let out a breath and then walked to the side and sat down, ”Then I'll wait for her.”

Xiao Ruo looked at her and advised, ”Your highness, I am not sure when she will be back. How about I send someone to inform you once she returns?”

Chen You cast Xiao Ruo a side glance and then looked away in a condescending manner.

Xiao Ruo inwardly sighed and was about to advise again, when Ling mama arrived in the reception hall and informed, ”The empress dowager has sent for Noble consort Lei.”

Xiao Ruo smiled and bowed her head, ”Alright, I will inform her highness and she will make her way there as soon as possible.”

”The empress dowager would like to see her now. I was sent here to escort her.”

Xiao Ruo froze, Lei Xing had told her not to broadcast her outing, and if anyone asked to just say that she is not in her palace. Honestly, neither of them anticipated getting a visit from anyone today, and especially not a request from the empress dowager. Xiao Ruo was a bit confused about to what to do now, she couldn't address the empress dowager as simply as she did Chen You, in order to avoid Lei Xing getting in trouble for it later.

While Xiao Ruo was thinking, Ling mama got impatient, ”What are you doing? Go and inform her, the empress dowager should not be kept waiting.”

Xiao Ruo grit her teeth, ”I'm sorry but her highness isn't here at the moment.”

Ling mama furrowed her brows, ”Where is she then?”

”I am not sure.” Xiao Ruo repeated the same excuse.

...It's really not a lie...I really don't know where she is...

”In that case, send people to go look for her then.” Ling mama advised.

Xiao Ruo knit her brows and didn't say anything. Ling mama scoffed at her incompetence and called out to the maids on the side to go search for Lei Xing.

Xiao Ruo realizing that this search will probably cause more problems, braced herself and admitted, ”Her highness is not in the palace.”

...Why did it have to be today of all days?!!... Normally, no one comes to visit except Noble consort Li...

Ling mama's eyes went wide, while Chen You who was listening to this exchange on the side with a frown, instantly brightened.

...Very good hahahaha...Who knew she would dig her grave herself? hahaha...Heaven has eyes!!...

”She snuck out of the palace?” Ling Mama asked with a deep frown.

Xiao Ruo looked at Ling mama's expression and quickly corrected her, ”That's not it, the emperor gave her permission to leave yesterday...”

Chen You's face immediately fell and she immediately got up shouting, ”What?!”

Xiao Ruo jumped and turned to Chen You and bowed her head apologetically, ”Yes, that is why I mentioned I was not sure when she will be back and for you to return first...”

”Then why didn't say so?!” Chen You barked out and then stormed out.

Ling mama who was still standing there blinked and then said, ”Alright, I will inform the empress dowager.”