Chapter 161 - Flailing Aspirations (1/2)
Song mama quickly returned after sending out the orders and then they all waited in eerie silence, each with their own thoughts. After about an hour or so passed, Ling mama scurried in and glanced at the Empress dowager's unhappy expression and then scurried off to the side and signaled for Song mama.
Song mama furrowed her brows as she went down to talk to her. They spoke for a while in hushed tones before Song mama returned to the Empress dowager with a frown. She leaned down next to the irritated Empress dowager's ear and informed, ”Your majesty, Monk Du has run off...”
”Monk Du left?” The Empress dowager exclaimed, breaking the eerie silence and drawing all the attention of the other occupants to herself. She frowned and Song mama, ”Didn't they inform him I ordered him to wait?!” The Empress dowager had sent some men ahead to go wait with Monk Du while she settled Lei Xing's issue.
Song mama bowed and explained, ”They did and he waited for a bit but then suddenly decided on leaving...the men tried to stop him and gave chase but...they lost him...”
”Lost him? How could they have?!” The Empress dowager barked, ”Useless!”
Song mama tried to calm her down, ”They are still searching for him, they will definitely find him. He can't escape for long...He...He left a message for you.” Song mama hesitantly said as she handed the Empress dowager a small rolled piece of paper. The Empress dowager took the paper and opened it to find the words,
'... It seems this journey was not meant to be. A word of advice, be sure to control your senses. Evil cannot inhabit one who is at peace.
If fate wills it, we shall meet again.
...'
The Empress dowager's frown deepened as she crumpled the note and threw it to the ground as she barked, ”Find him!” Song mama bowed and quickly ran off to pass on the orders while the Empress dowager sat there fuming.
{...He was the one who invited me to his temple and now he dared to run off because of a small delay?... These bastards are turning me into a joke!... I will find him and kill him and then find that temple and burn it to the ground!...}
The Emperor cast the Empress dowager side glance and then looked away. He was neither bothered nor interested in the Empress dowager's issue. He honestly did not care and he had his own problems to think about at the moment. So, he ignored her plight and left her alone to stew in her anger while he tried to control his as he fixed his gaze back on the doors, waiting for his brother to arrive. He was very curious about the kind of explanation his brother would give to excuse his actions.
The Empress dowager fixed her gaze on the two girls sitting below. And Lei Xing and Chen You immediately lowered their heads when they noticed the Empress dowager's gaze fix on them. The Empress dowager was already angry at Lei Xing so that was no surprise, but now she was also angry at Chen You, even more than she was with Lei Xing.
Not only was Chen You the one who introduced Monk Du, but she was also the one who halted her journey with her stupid report that promised a huge payout...And now even that payout was looking to be nothing more than a waste of time and an endeavor to make her look like a fool.
Chen You lowered her head even further, feeling a sense of fear wash over her. She could sense the Empress dowager's eyes tearing holes in her. She wanted to bash her head into the wall for this mess. But mostly, she wanted to bash Monk Du's head for making things more complicated.
{... What's his problem? What's a few hours delay to be able to be of service to the Empress dowager, not to mention she was actually going out of her way to the temple to visit him...How disrespectful! And now he's dragging me down with him! How distasteful!...}
The Empress dowager fisted her hands and suddenly got up, seemingly at the end of her leash. Ready to storm out to go seek out Monk Du herself. Her movement was halted when a guard came in and informed of Prince Rui, Princess Nalan and Prince Yi's arrival. She stopped and then sat back down as she narrowed her eyes at Lei Xing, who had gone rigid at the mention of Prince Yi. Then she turned her gaze to Chen You who was looking towards the Emperor with a bit of excitement in her eyes, excitement that dampened as she caught the Empress dowager's angry gaze.
{...If this fails, I will have your head instead...}