Chapter 297 - Lofty Packaging (2/2)
He did not even recognize Zhao Lan until she introduced herself on the final day of the selection, and even then he still did not bother to pay attention to her. She was of absolutely no interest to him, much less a ”sweetheart” and the fact that Lei Xing mentioned that actually annoyed him.
”Ah, I see...” Lei Xing went with a little smile, letting out a little sigh of relief.
The Emperor blinked and then slightly knit his brows and a smirk crept up his lips, ”Are you, by any chance...jealous?”
Lei Xing immediately leaned back and looked at him with an incredulous expression, ”Jealous?” She laughed, ”Why would I be jealous? You're about to send her packing...there is clearly nothing for me to be jealous about here. I was just mourning the loss of a promising ship is all.”
”Ship?” The Emperor asked knitting his brows in confusion.
Lei Xing's face twitched, ”Forget that part, the point is...I am not jealous. As for the names, I know their names, I'll - wait...you wouldn't... by any chance, need their first names, would you?” Lei Xing tentatively asked. Her own set just included only their titles and last names.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her with a smug expression and Lei Xing narrowed her eyes back at him and said, ”I was going to learn their full names eventually... Well, I'm not the one who married them so I don't have to know their names...” Lei Xing added with a pout when the Emperor looked at her with a disbelieving expression.
The only reason she even knew their last names was because of the account books she had been managing the last few weeks, but those only had their titles with their last names.
The Emperor laughed and then pat her head as he called out for a servant to come in and then ordered for them to go retrieve the most recent Imperial records book.
Lei Xing continued to write her own set of edicts, still pouting. The Emperor tried to offer to help her, but she brushed him off and told him to focus on his own work.
{...Always laughing...hopefully you don't die of laughter one day (≖_≖ )...}
The Emperor laughed and then hugged her causing her to smudge the paper, Lei Xing opened her mouth but before she could complain the Emperor said, ”I'll write that one~...Let's take a break.” He finished as he pulled her down to rest their backs on the chair. Then he rested his cheek on top of her head, closed his eyes, and let out a happy sigh.
Lei Xing snorted, they had barely worked and now they were taking a break. After a while of quietly relaxing with him, Lei Xing sighed and said, ”I was thinking... Shouldn't we hold a farewell banquet or something for them? It feels odd for them to just leave quietly. I mean, they are not criminals and according to you, they are getting ”promoted”... I feel some fanfare should be in order... What do you think?”
”... En, a banquet the night before they exit the palace then...” The Emperor simply responded without even opening his eyes, fully enjoying his relaxation time with her.
Lei Xing knit her brows, it still did not feel enough. It still felt off to her, her outlook on this issue was nowhere near as positive as the Emperor's and perhaps she was trying to overcompensate because she then said, ”How about making it a city-wide celebration the day they leave...Um, much like how a wedding procession would go - No, no, that's stupid -” Lei Xing frowned, ”...and highly insensitive too.” She mumbled.
The Emperor sighed and brought a hand up and pat her cheek, ”You are thinking too much again...”
”...And you apparently aren't thinking enough.” Lei Xing clapped back without thinking. Rather be offended by her remark, the Emperor just chuckled in amus.e.m.e.nt, ”Then I say you should learn a thing or two from me~” He finished, kissing her cheek.
Lei Xing frowned, not amused and brought up a hand to push his face away but the Emperor just caught her hand and kissed her palm. Lei Xing pulled her hand free and wiggled out of his hold, ”Stop playing, I'm being serious.” She said as she sat up.
The Emperor looked at her worried expression and then sat up with a sigh, ”Xing er'...those who will seek to harm you because of this, would have harmed you regardless of this...”
Lei Xing blinked and then knit her brows, ”I guess...” His words made sense given the circ.u.mstances.
Even if she shared the Emperor with others, there would still be jealousy and trouble coming her way. Not to mention once children were thrown into the mix, it would become a whole new battle arena for not just the Emperor's affection but for the throne itself.
The best way to avoid harem drama struggles was to obviously NOT have a harem just as he has done. But there was still a big BUT and Lei Xing could not help voicing it out, ”...but those same people would not have had enmity towards you regardless of this...” She seriously said.
She was happy that he thought to do this but she was honestly still not comfortable with this move. She had been trying to set aside her worries and just be happy but she was finding it quite difficult to ignore them. She could not help feeling that he rushed into this and that he - well, they might come to regret it in the future.