Chapter 129 - Moody (1/2)

Lei glanced at the Emperor and then lightly sighed. They were both sitting at the far ends of the carriage, with a huge space between them.

Lei Xing glanced at him again and then looked down. He was behaving weird and it was making her feel very uncomfortable. The Emperor was sitting in his corner with his eyes closed and arms folded, keeping his hands to himself. Not that she wanted him to touch her or anything, but normally he tried to at least hold her hand at every opportunity.

He helped her get on the carriage and then hastily dropped her hand like it was burning him or something. Lei Xing blinked at him, but he just looked away like there was nothing was abnormal. He got in after her and then immediately assumed this sleeping Buddha pose, ignoring her again.

Lei Xing pouted in his direction, then sighed and looked out the window instead.

{...If he doesn't even want to look at me, what exactly is he coming along for?... I get he's upset but...I would rather he just got angry than to pull this passive-aggressive stunt...Is this even passive-aggressive? He's not being mean or anything...but him being so passive is so...so...upsetting...It's honestly upsetting...}

She really did not like this.

The carriage ride felt like it took forever to Lei Xing. When it finally stopped, the Emperor opened his eyes and went down, then he helped her down and immediately dropped her hand as soon her foot touched the ground. Lei Xing knit her brows at him, but he was looking away again. She looked down, feeling disgruntled and like that, the moody pair made their way to the awaiting royal guests inside.

Princess Nalan smiled and waved when she saw Lei Xing come round the corner, only for the Emperor to surface a second later and she froze along with the others around the table in the garden.

Prince Yi's expression changed from one of expectancy to a frown. He had specifically come here today because he heard Lei Xing was coming. He had been informed that she was the one who came up with the medicinal bath which saved him and had been thinking of her every time he got in the bath for the past few weeks. He thought it must be because he wanted to thank her but then thought perhaps not. Regardless of the reason, he wanted to see her.

He looked forward to this meeting...and now HE tagged along to ruin everything.

The group got up and bowed towards the Emperor, he lightly glanced at them and did not speak. Prince Rui then took it upon himself to play the gracious host, although begrudgingly so, he put on a smile and said, ”Your majesty, we were not informed of you coming here today. If there is anything you could have just sent for me.”

”I'm not here for you.” The Emperor calmly informed. They all blinked and their eyes floated to Princess Nalan, who knit her brows. Even Lei Xing looked at her too.

{...So he came here to see her? That's -...That's good, he should have just told me to stay home then, I am not keen on playing the third wheel -_-)...}

The Emperor followed their eyes, then he frowned then added, ”Xing er' has not been feeling well recently and has just recovered.”

After he said that, there was a silence and they all glanced towards Lei Xing, who was looking down at the ground with a frown. While the Emperor was looking at them, slightly irritated with all their staring.

They could all tell that their relationship was weird. The Emperor said he came here to look after her, yet he said it flatly with no emotion, even his expression was blank. Then there was Lei Xing who arrived with a frown and has maintained it the whole time.

They both seemed upset.

Prince Rui quickly offered them a sit and they all sat down quietly, with Molin leaning on a pillar on the side. The atmosphere was tense and no one was saying anything. After a while, Molin looked at Princess Nalan and signaled for her to say something and she signaled back that he should say something himself. He looked at Prince Rui, who glanced at him and swiftly looked away, uninterested.

Lei Xing was sitting down, looking down at her hand holding her cup of tea. The Emperor caught Prince Yi glancing at Lei Xing and narrowed his eyes and then said, ”Brother, it is good to see you looking well again. Ah, I have not yet thanked you for looking after my wife in my stead. If there is anything you need, do name it.”

Lei Xing knit her brows.

{...Looking after? What looking after? Terrorizing me was what he was doing. I think he should be punished, you should have asked my opinion first -_-)...}