Chapter 65 - Good Talk (2/2)

{...Hey, I understand you feel bad about what happened but...You can't expect anyone to want to stay in this very awkward, tense atmosphere...much less me, it's not fun at all...}

The Emperor did not say anything, so the Imperial doctor quickly left to follow Lei Xing's directives.

Lei Xing glanced at the Emperor who seemed to be deep in thought still with a deep frown on his face.

{...It seems he really feels bad about it...But, this is not how you make it up to someone, you'll just end up stressing them out instead...Now if you really wanted to make i- Oh actually...No, he wouldn't...but he could...but isn't this like blackmail? No, it's not. There's no threat...but it could backfire...but he's in a sorry state of mind...So at worst I push some buttons but he's not going to punish the victim, right? ...So? Worth a try...}

Lei Xing glanced at the Emperor, and then turned to Ah Jin and Xiao Ruo, ”You both wait outside.”

The Emperor blinked and looked to her with raised eyebrows. Lei Xing smiled at him and once the doors closed behind Ah Jin and Xiao Ruo, she started, ”Um, I was wondering...I just have an inquiry...” Then she gave a nervous laugh and hesitated a bit.

The Emperor was a bit amused and smiled, ”Go ahead.”

Lei Xing scratched her head a bit and then went ahead, ”Remember when you said that you would consider my request to lea-”

”No.” The Emperor flatly said, cutting her off and his smile was replaced with a scowl. Lei Xing pursed her lips and looked off to the side.

{...Well, that was straightforward, didn't even let me finish...}

”Why do you want to leave the palace?” The Emperor asked a bit annoyed. At first, he had thought she had some ulterior motives that he had to keep in check, but that theory has been discredited and he is just left with her as an individual wanting to leave.

{...Why do you want to leave so badly?...}

”As I said, I am not a good fi-” Lei Xing glanced at the Emperor's disbelieving expression and felt at her wit's end and just honestly blurted out, ”I don't like it here.”

{...There! That's the truth! I don't like it here...don't like being in a harem, don't like being confined to this place, don't like dealing with your mother...Don't like it! There's no profound deep - Whatever behind it, just don't like it!...}

The Emperor was a bit taken aback by that answer and took a while to respond and when he did, all he managed was, ”Why?”

Lei Xing blinked and was not sure how to respond to that question.

{...Why? There's a whole host of reasons why and I don't think I can say any of them so...}

Before she could answer, the Emperor realized he could sort of understand the reason why and asked a follow-up question, ”What would you even do if you leave the palace?”

”Live well.” Lei Xing swiftly responded without thinking.

”And you can't do that here?” The Emperor also swiftly responded without thinking.

{...Is that a rhetorical question? It has to be...Because we both know that I almost died yesterday and my attacker is still walking around free so -_-)'...}

Lei Xing looked at him with knit eyebrows and subconsciously touched her bandaged neck.

The Emperor also seemed to realize after asking that given the current situation that was a stupid question and his frown deepened when he saw her touch her neck.

He stared at her neck for a bit, then faced forward and said, ”Return to your palace.”

{...Fine then...}

Lei Xing pursed her lips, got up, bowed and left. The Emperor watched her as she left and then sighed heavily.

{...This did not go as planned...}