Chapter 268 - Royal Jitters (2/2)

After a while of Lei Xing not moving or saying anything, Xiao Ruo went, ”Your majesty, w-”

”You all wait outside.” Lei Xing swiftly ordered.

”But the auspici -”

”I just need a moment.” Lei Xing said with a shaky breath.

Ah Jin swiftly looked at the other maids and motioned for them to exit, while she grabbed Xiao Ruo and went out. Once the doors were closed, Lei Xing let out a deep breath and then started pacing.

{...Is this what they call cold feet? No, no, I don't have cold feet. I'm not a person who gets cold feet - Then what the hell is this?!... Cold feet...}

{...*It's too late to change your mind~ ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing stopped, knit her brows, and then resumed pacing with a sigh.

{...You're back...}

{...*After all my hard work, how could I miss this monumental day? We had a deal remember Hehehe~...}

Lei Xing let out a little nervous laugh.

{...Well, I'm glad you're having fun -_-)'...}

{...*Hehe, you should be having fun too~ Reeelax, there's no room for second thoughts at the moment...no reason to panic either ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing stopped pacing again and took a deep breath. There was obviously no reason to panic and she knew this. She had already been acting as Empress so nothing much would change.

Well, nothing except her title, she also got a new house. There was also the fact that she would now have to interact with the concubines and other wives. They had been coming around this month but Lei Xing was barely ever home during the day to receive them...She was truthfully busy, but she may or may not have been avoiding them, unintentionally.

”Your majesty...” Xiao Ruo called again from outside, they were on a tight schedule and there was still so much to do on the way.

{...* Come now, let us leave, we shouldn't keep our Xiao Kai waiting. In place of your absentee parents, this old father will accompany you~(─‿‿─)..}

Lei Xing snorted and rolled her eyes. She was honestly feeling a bit better with Doctor Lou's company. She took another deep breath and then went out to face her new fate.

As the Empress's royal procession slowly made their way to the main hall. Lei Xing relaxed in her spacious phoenix palanquin, she was supposed to be regally sitting upright but this was going too slowly and she could be bothered. Doctor Lou was also being a great source of distraction for her nervousness and was helping her better relax.

{...So what exactly have you been doing all this time? You haven't been responding and you haven't in your pharmacy either...I checked...}

{...*Hehe~ I see you missed me hehehe~...}

Lei Xing rolled her eyes but did not want to upset her distraction and truthfully, she did miss him a tiny bit.

{...Sureee....}

{...*I knew it! Hehehe~...Well, I went to visit my sister...again. She's been annoyingly making wait an eternity because she's ”busy”. I'm very busy too, but I'm not making her wait (≖ ‸ ≖)...}

Lei Xing raised her eyebrows in surprise.

{...You have a sister? O_O)...}

{...*Agreed! She is very annoying ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing snorted and rolled her eyes. That's not what she said but she was not going to argue with him today.

{...So are you the younger sibling?... You seem like a younger sibling...}

{...*Hey! What do you mean by that? (≖_≖ )...}

{...Oh, nothing...I just mean...that you seem so...vibrant - yes, vibrant and energetic like a younger sibling hehe...he ⚆ _ ⚆)...}

{...*Hehehehehehe~ Well I am truly the vibrant one, she's very dull and boring, definitely no fun!... So? Are you now reconsidering calling me Shifu? There's still a possibility I will accept you~(￣～￣)~...}

{...Still not interested~*snort*...}

{...*Hmph! All these brats never know what's good for them! (￣ヘ￣)...}

Lei Xing quietly laughed.

{...*Well, just so you know I am older - Well, probably -maybe, we're twins. Our father never pointed it out, I honestly don't think he knew BUT I have more white hair! Therefore my vibrant and energetic self is naturally the elder one! I never get the respect I deserve! ( ￣^￣ )...}

{...Young people sometimes have white hair - so it's not an accura -...}

Lei Xing's mind froze as her procession stopped in front of the main doors leading into the main hall. All her nervousness instantly returned as she realized they were here. She took a shaky deep breath and sat up as the announcement of her arrival was made and the procession went forward.

There were rows of palace servants, Imperial guards, and some others crowded on both sides of the long red carpet spilling down from the top of the steps where she could see the vague silhouette of the Emperor waiting for her. Her eyes fixed on the Emperor's form which eventually disappeared as her procession got closer to the steps.

Lei Xing took another shaky deep breath and looked down to see her hands shaking, she clenched her fists and willed the shaking to stop. She honestly could not understand why she was so nervous, but her heart was pounding loudly in her ears, her face was heated and she could feel her palms were sweaty.

Lei Xing frowned in irritation, she had never been this nervous in her whole life and it was honestly very annoying.

{...*Smile~...You're going to become Empress NOT a prisoner going up to the Executioner's platform ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing's face twitched at Doctor Lou's words. But as the palanquin was put down and a hand was presented to help her out. Lei Xing took a deep breath and exhaled, willed her nerves down, and stepped out with a cool and calm demeanor as always.

She glanced up at her Emperor waiting at the top of the stairs and a small smile bloomed on her face and she began the journey that was the climb up to him.