Chapter 103 - ...On A Mission (1/2)
That evening, Lei Xing returned to the palace with her bouquet flowers in hand in a pretty good mood. The Princess was not what she expected at all, and the group did not turn out to be the awkward tense lot their initial gathering presented. Although the dissolution of the tense atmosphere came by way of her embarrassment, she decided to overlook that fact and summed it up to be quite a good day.
She was still feeling a bit queasy, which baffled her as she usually had thicker nerves than this. Regardless of how much Princess Nalan's detailed cuisine session bothered her, she should have gotten well over it by now. Lei Xing sighed and concluded that this body was really too weak and pampered. She ate some berries to help alleviate the feeling of nausea and then went for a warm bath, relaxing and lingered in the bath until she started dozing off.
Then she happily made her way back to her room, yawning and longing for her bed. She stopped in her tracks when she rounded the corner and saw more servants than usual around, then she glanced around and then frowned at her bedroom doors.
Seeing her just standing there, an Eunuch took the initiative and walked up to her and smiled, ”Your highness, the Emperor did not want to rush you and so has been waiting inside for you, for quite a while now. You should hurry in.”
Lei Xing cast him a side glare, irritated with his smile. He quickly bowed and retreated when he saw her expression. Lei Xing then took a deep breath and went inside. She bowed in greeting to the Emperor who was sitting down on the side looking at her.
The Emperor looked her over and then asked, ”How was your day?”
Lei Xing observed his expression and thought he looked normal and so went to sit down as she responded, ”It was great.”
”Great?” The Emperor asked with a raised eyebrow.
”Good.” Lei Xing corrected as she scratched her hand. Then she went to pour herself a cup of tea, she saw the Emperor still looking at her with a raised eyebrow and then gave a half-smile and poured a cup for him as well as she said, ”The Princess is a lively and fun person to be around.”
”Sounds like you get along well.” The Emperor commented as he picked up his cup, took a sip and then asked, ”What about Prince Rui?”
Lei Xing blinked and swiftly responded, ”He seems okay too. I didn't really interact with him.” She finished and drank her tea.
”Is that the bracelet?” The Emperor asked frowning at the bracelet on her wrist that was exposed as she had her hand up holding the cup.
Lei Xing knit her brows, looked at the bracelet then at him and was confused, ”What bracelet?”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her, ”The one you received today.”
Lei Xing frowned.
{...Bracelet? What the hell is this guy tal-...Ohhh! See, good thing I didn't take it -_-)...}
Lei Xing relaxed her expression and lightly sighed, ”So that's what was in the box.” Then she saw the Emperor's disbelieving frown and quickly explained, ”I had it gifted to my sister.”
”You didn't open it?”
Lei Xing shook her head and the Emperor smiled in approval, seemingly pleased with her choice. Lei Xing who observed him suddenly switching moods, thought it was funny but held herself back from laughing. The Emperor then frowned again and looked at her, Lei Xing flinched a bit and cautiously looked back at him.
{...What? What now? ⚆ _ ⚆) ...}
”Why would a foreign prince be giving you a gift?” He asked with his eyebrows raised.
Lei Xing froze for a bit and blinked.
{...Is it okay to tell him? Could it cause trouble? Ahh, I'm not sure...I could say it was a courtesy gift...Yeah, but then his sister should have been the one giving the gift not him...Also, this guy is sneaky as hell, what if he's trying to trap me somehow?...But now why would he do that? -_-)...}
{...*Because he's petty -_-)...}
{...Is he though? I don't really get that vibe...Ah yes, there was that book thing though...maybe?...}
{...*Let me tell you, he's a - His kind is very petty! Petty Brat!...}
”You don't know?” The Emperor asked narrowing his eyes at her when Lei Xing did not respond.