Chapter 233 - Lost Causes (1/2)

The Empress dowager frowned as she saw the Emperor come in with Lei Xing.

She had been notified earlier by a small official under the Minister of Rites that Lei Xing would be coming over to receive her blessings. Like Lei Xing, she begrudgingly got ready.

She had thought things over and she had been too direct with the Emperor, she should have expressed her discontent with a cool head, hidden her displeasure and then settled things quietly. If she was nice and accepting, she would naturally have easier access to the ”problem”.

Therefore, to keep up proper appearances, she was going to ”happily” receive Lei Xing and then privately deliver her blessings later. But then the Emperor's sudden appearance beside Lei Xing threw her off-balance and she found herself seething with renewed anger as she watched them bow in front of her.

The Empress dowager fixed her glare on the Emperor. She was still reeling over his disappointing behavior, but here he came parading in front of her with the problem, showing off his error.

After they greeted the Empress dowager, the Minister of Rites informed, ”Your majesty, as per custom, your daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects and seek your guidance and blessings for the future.”

”Is that what this is?” The Empress dowager asked narrowing her eyes at the Emperor, who looked back at her mirroring her expression.

{... Is that supposed to be a warning?... Since he wants it to be this way, then he leaves me no choice...}

It was obvious to the Empress dowager that the Emperor had left out the entourage to further show how irrelevant he viewed her to be. The Empress dowager condescendingly looked at Lei Xing and then got up and walked down as she said, ”Since you have asked for my guidance, then giving it is naturally what I should do.”

The Empress dowager stopped at the bottom of the steps and then looked Lei Xing over and then said, ”So you are the one who wants to be Empress...”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the Empress dowager, who ignored him and kept her eyes focused on Lei Xing. Lei Xing looked at her with apprehension and then gave her a polite smile and respectfully bowed her head.

{...Okay, I sense some, maybe a lot, of sarcasm there but not a bad start...I guess -_-)'...}

”It is good to be young and beautiful...” The Empress dowager commented as she watched Lei Xing straighten up with a strained smile.

That comment was clearly an insult or at least that's what it felt like to Lei Xing, who lowered her eyes to avoid glaring at the Empress dowager.

{...And it would be great if you could be old and tolerable ≖_≖)...You clearly don't need curse words to spew venom. Let's just not pretend to be friends here and just move this along please -_-)...}

The Minister of Rites smiled and nodded, this was going a lot better than he expected, he bowed towards Lei Xing and said, ”Noble consort Lei, you ma-”

”Did I say I was finished?” The Empress dowager menacingly cut in with an irritated frown at the minister. The Minister of Rites immediately bowed his head in apology and went mute.

The Empress dowager then narrowed her eyes at Lei Xing, ”Do you think you are fit to be Empress?”

Lei Xing was taken aback by the question, she was not expecting to have to be interviewed for the role after technically getting the job.

But before she could begin to forge a response, the Emperor cut in and said, ”If I deem her fit, then she is fit. Regardless, that is not what we are here for.” The Emperor swiftly responded narrowing his eyes back at the Empress dowager.

”Nonsense! As your mother and the Empress dowager, I am entitled to the right to advice to the next generation, or would you deny me that right too? You may forsake your duty, but I shall not!” The Empress dowager scolded.

The Emperor frowned and swiftly responded in a cold voice, ”Advice is one thing, undue criticism is another.”

”The Empress is the Mother of the nation, a pillar of the country! If she can't even speak with her own mouth, how is she fitting?!” The Empress dowager angrily responded back, she then switched her attention to the Minister of Rites and calmly went, ”Isn't that right, Minister of Rites? Am I wrong in wanting to guide the next generation?” She innocently asked raising her eyebrows at him.

The Minister of Rites glanced up at her and then bowed his head.  He had thought too soon, this was exactly the kind of situation he was dreading. Beads of cold sweat started forming on his forehead as he sifted through his mind for an appropriate response that would offend neither party here, ”Replying to the Empress dowager, this...ah...this...”

”Hmph!” The Empress dowager irritatedly went as she turned her gaze to Lei Xing and her smiled grew strained, ”What do you think? I remember you had a lot of words to say during the selection. Why aren't you speaking now or has lazing around in the palace for so long made you go mute?”

Lei Xing inwardly rolled her eyes but she bowed her head and politely responded, ”It is naturally the duty of the elders to guide the young...”

”Smart. See, she understands.” The Empress dowager smugly said with a mocking smile at the Emperor, who looked off to the side and let out an irritated breath. He was still very much affected by their earlier encounter and he had no patience for his mother's antics at the moment.

”Since you understand, then answer the question.” The Empress dowager ordered, but then she did not give Lei Xing a chance to respond as she immediately glared at the Emperor and continued on, ”How can she think to be Empress if she is always hiding behind someone else?”

Lei Xing inwardly sighed.