Chapter 265 - Broken Youth (2/2)

”Oh...sit.” Lei Xing awkwardly went as she skeptically scrutinized Chen You.

Chen You immediately shook her head and went, ' I'll stand...”

”Okay...why are you here?” Lei Xing bluntly asked, frail or not, she was honestly not interested in Chen You.

Chen You looked down, knit her brows and then immediately fell to her knees and went, ”C-can you ask the Emperor to send me back to Fen Li temple?”

Lei Xing raised her eyebrows in surprise and went, ”What?” That was not what she was expecting at all.

Chen You glanced up at Lei Xing's face and went, ”Jiejie, I'm very sorry - I didn't mean - Well, maybe I did. It was a mistake but I - I really can't stay here. The Empress dowager is going to kill me, she'll kill me...”

Chen You sniffed and shakily covered her ears as tears rolled down her face, ”I heard her! She came to kill me, she was there with a sword, I saw - I heard. I don't know anymore, she's going to kill me...P-please I really can't stay here, I'll die...” Chen You pleaded.

Chen You had not been at ease since stepping foot in the palace. She had not been able to eat or sleep. Every time she heard any noise she jumped thinking that the Empress dowager had finally sent for her or worse come for her. After just a day here, she felt like she was going mad. She spent all night plagued with waking nightmares and throwing up her empty guts in fear.

Her father's aspirations for her were impossible at this point. Even if the Emperor forgave her, it did not mean she would get his attention. And honestly, she did not think she could stand being around him at this point. He was another scary entity to her right now, she was even too scared to go to talk to him which was why she was here.

Lei Xing was not scary and the Emperor would listen to her. Lei Xing would also help her, after all, they were relatives. Therefore, Lei Xing could not forsake her.

Chen You had honestly been thinking about leaving everything behind the last few days. Even though her mother never blamed her and told her not to blame herself, home without her mother was incredibly depressing.

Everything in the manor reminded her of her mother's death and the scene itself tortured her mind and her nagging father did not help matters at all.

It was actually her father's constant scolding and talks of disappointment and badgering that made her decide to return to the palace. She had thought life in the palace would be better than being at home but this has proven to be even worse, just one night was driving her crazy.

She really could not stand being this close to the Empress dowager. She felt the Empress dowager's presence in everything here, she heard the swing of a sword, she heard the Empress dowager's irate screams...And it was honestly driving her insane.

She could not stand being in the palace but she could not return home either. Her father would not approve and now that she thought about it, the Empress dowager could easily follow her home.

No, she would follow her home.

The only other place that came to her mind was Fen Li temple. It was far from the palace, far from the Chen manor and far from the Empress dowager.

”Do you truly want to go there?” Lei Xing skeptically asked with knit eyebrows, pulling Chen You out of her thoughts.

This was truly unexpected and it both confused and shocked Lei Xing. Even though she and the Emperor had already agreed to send Chen You off, her coming to ask for it herself was bizarre

Chen You glanced up at Lei Xing and fervently nodded, ”Pl-please...”

Lei Xing scrutinized her for a bit and then let out a breath and then said, ”Alright then...I shall let the Emperor know of your request.” Even if it was already decided, Chen You did not need to know that. Since it was like this, it was better for her to think they were doing her a favor rather than punishing her.

Chen You fidgeted, hesitated, and then went, ”...Ah, ca-can I leave today?” Chen You asked as she glanced about the room in fear.

”You want to leave today?” Lei Xing asked blinking down at her, another surprise.

{...What the hell happened to this girl? O_O)...}

Chen You fervently nodded again, ”P-please...the Empress dowager, i-i-if not sh-she w-will kill me...again...” She said as she began shivering. It appeared that she was cowering in fear.

Lei Xing sighed, ”I'll see what I can do...In the meantime, you go back to your residence and wait for news.” Lei Xing tentatively said, this was so odd and awkward.

Chen You nodded, kowtowed, and then she shakily got to her feet. She looked up at Lei Xing and Lei Xing stared back down at her. Finally Chen You lowered her head with a frown and mumbled, ”Thank you...Lei Xing.”

Lei Xing blinked at her but did not respond. Chen You bowed and then turned and swayed out of the hall. Lei Xing stared at Chen You's lonely and frail...broken back as she exited the hall.

Lei Xing was not sure exactly how she felt. Chen You had always been out for head demise and so Lei Xing knew she should be feeling victorious at the moment, but all she felt was an odd sense of emptiness.

Although she did not care for Chen You, she felt saddened by what Chen You had become. The young vibrant girl was now gone leaving behind a damaged and frazzled mess.

It was truly a depressing sight.

Lei Xing sighed and turned to Xiao Ruo, ”Have someone escort her back...and send a physician to see her...” Xiao Ruo nodded and quickly went to pass along the orders.

Lei Xing sighed again and turned back to look at the doors. She was no longer in the mood for breakfast or practicing the qin.

Chen You truly was the embodiment of all Lei Xing hated about the palace and her mood was dampened by this loss of innocence and confidence.

Lei Xing honestly hoped that Chen You would be able to find peace and solace in the temple.