Chapter 203 - Hindsight (1/2)
After they finished dinner, Lei Xing sent the servants away once the dinner table was cleared. Since Lei Xing was tired of sitting on the stool, they moved to the seats on the side, where she could lean back and relax.
The Emperor sat there sipping tea and waiting for Lei Xing to begin their talk, but she just sat there taking care of cooling her wrist and sipping her own tea. The more time passed, the more nervous and uncomfortable the Emperor became.
He glanced at her and noticed that her hand was shaking as she was soaking the cloth in the water one hand. So he immediately took over the task from her and Lei Xing immediately relinquished the task and smiled at him. He wringing the cloth and handed it to her, she took it with another smile and put it on her wrist.
Lei Xing was happy for his help and smiled at him.
{...There's really nothing to complain about, at all...He's really too good as a person. No, correction, he's great as a partner...Sketchy. Stop that -_-)...Just joking, it's a nice feeling being pampered...*sigh* He's definitely a giver...and I'm not? I mean, I am considering the pros and cons of this venture...Is that bad? Sounds awful ⚆ _ ⚆)...I'm not being horrible, I'm being reasonable. Perfectly reasonable ( ￣^￣ )...}
Lei Xing took a deep breath and finally began their talk, ”I understand that we are, for all intents and purposes, already married...And I do believe you have genuine feelings for me, and I believe that you will keep your word...And I also understand that the Empress's position is simply a step up-”
”It's more than a step up...” The Emperor calmly interjected. He did not like the way she framed it, it made it sound like it was an insignificant choice on his part, which it was not.
Lei Xing latched on to that point and responded, ”Precisely, it is not so simple...You can't just make someone Empress today and then unmake them tomorrow.”
”I never said I planned on dethroning you.” The Emperor said knitting his brows.
Lei Xing raised an eyebrow, ”So you mean to let me go but still have me retain the Empress's position, for what?” She was seriously perplexed by that reasoning.
The Emperor cast her a quick glance and then faced forward again. He did not expect to be met with such questions. He let out a calming breath and said, ”It could keep you safe...No one would dare to treat you badly for fear of offending you.”
”Okay...But at the same time, that would make me a perfect target for someone who has a problem with you...Or for blackmail, kidnapping - It would be a lot better and safer for me to be a deposed Empress, no one would care then...It's not like I'll be leaving with an entire army for protection.” Lei Xing said with a light chuckle at the idea, her mood was really too good right now and she could not help the jab.
”If that is what is needed to keep you safe, then an army you will take.” The Emperor responded, completely serious to Lei Xing's surprise.
Lei Xing blinked at him and then burst into a short laugh, thinking it was making a joke. But clearly he was not, because the Emperor glared at her. Lei Xing quickly cleared her throat several times to suppress the laughter.
{...Oh, he's been serious...haha Interesting...and sweet...}
The Emperor faced forward again, it did not seem like she was taking this seriously and it was somewhat irritating to him. He had never actually thought about her using this edict, but here she was focusing on the process of using it. It was somewhat offputting and annoying...The Emperor suddenly blinked as a thought occurred to him.
{...If she's thinking of using then...she's thinking of accepting it?...}
”Now that you mention, it did say I could take whatever I willed. That's a very risky term, what if I had the army clean out the treasury?... According to the terms of the contract, I can do that.” Lei Xing said half-serious.