Chapter 163 - Envious inclination (1/2)

While the Emperor did not care about Chen You and her cohorts, there was the matter of the drug that needed to be investigated. And so far Chen You stood in the middle of it, it was clear she wanted to use this as a ploy to get rid of Lei Xing. But the main question was whether Chen You had any ties to the Dong royal family? As far as he knew, neither her nor her family had any.

Although the Emperor did not know much about Chen You herself, he knew of her background as he did of all the families of note in his country. And as far as he knew, neither her nor her family had anything that would suggest any such connections to fallen Dong country. If Chen You was the mastermind, then how could she have gotten her hands on the seyu drug?

{...Or was she just taking advantage of the scenario? Perhaps she was used?... In that case, the maids are more suspicious. It is too much of a coincidence that they just happened to arrive right on time to witness that scene... So is it one or all of them working together? There's likely more of them?....}

At the moment, other than Chen You getting rid of Lei Xing, the Emperor could not see any other aim this scheme would achieve. But he was sure there was definitely more to it.

{...It could very not be seyu and that Doctor Lou could have been mistaken or confused or jesting...But it's better to make sure...}

Regardless of whatever reservations he had about Doctor Lou, Chen You and those maids must be thoroughly interrogated and investigated.

Of course, there was also Prince Yi to consider in all this but then how could they have predicted that Lei Xing would have ended up in his arms? She very could have just grabbed a random stranger instead...And with that infuriating thought, the Emperor tightened his hold on Lei Xing's hand.

But Lei Xing herself was absorbed in her own thoughts and was oblivious to the added pressure on her hand. The screams of the girls pierced the air as they exited the Empress dowager's palace gates and it seemed the beatings had started. Lei Xing could not help but shudder a little as shriek after shriek rang behind them.

{...This woman was prepared...Probably for me...Or does she just store torture tools ready for use in her palace?... That's probably it, she's crazy -_-)...That Chen You does deserve to have sense beating into her... but why did he suddenly become lenient? Not that I particularly want her to be beaten to death...but I wouldn't mind it much. It's just curious....}

Lei Xing cast a quick glance at the Emperor and then looked off to the side.

{...He didn't seem to care while he was advocating punishment...her begging worked? I didn't think he had a soft spot f- Nevermind, thirty is still a lot and prison too. Haven't seen the place, but I'm a 100% sure it's awful, especially for a pampered ”lady”, I doubt her troubles are actually over...Death is often swifter and probably much easier to endure than prison here...But still, it would depend on the leng-}

The Emperor suddenly stopped and Lei Xing was pulled to a halt. And she immediately went rigid and stared wide-eyed at Prince Yi, who seemed to be intently staring back at her...Or perhaps it was the Emperor he was staring at.