Chapter 299 - Precedent (1/2)

Lei Xing was honestly not even sure why she came here.

When she left the Emperor, she had actually planned to go see Li Ru but then as she went along she suddenly realized that she did not want to be there when the Minister of Rites arrived with his announcement...It would be awkward.

Moreover, Li Ru was not someone who would understand her current reservations on this matter. As as far Li Ru was concerned, Lei Xing should be happy that the Emperor is so in love with her that he has chosen to exclude all others.

And Lei Xing was happy, so happy she wanted to take the leap and give him the child he wanted. But there was still the politics of the matter in play and the Emperor seemed to be dismissing it all a bit too easily...Could it truly that simple? Was she simply thinking too much, being too cynical about it all?

Lei Xing had also noticed that when it came to things involving him, the Emperor never really told her the full nature of his troubles. He let her read edicts but she was pretty certain that he already knew exactly what was in them before he offered them to her. So she knew he would never tell her about the true nature of his troubles as he always seems to be unnecessarily worried about her worrying.

It was sweet but Lei Xing found it even more worrisome because it meant she could not trust him when he said everything was alright. Case and point, yesterday's incident when the world was literally rolling over right before her eyes he was going, 'everything will be fine...no problem at all'.

It was for her sake, she understood that. Another example of this was is how he handled the birth control situation, according to him the main reason he was upset was simply because she wanted to take the contraception behind his back and not because of her not wanting children. He pretty much ignored the fact that it was NOT fine for especially someone in his position not to have an heir.

And now he did this with the harem, yes he had told her before about not being interested in the existence of the harem. But despite his disinterest, he had taken the women in so as not to cause friction between him and the ministers, so he could get more important things much done much easier. But now he was setting the important matters aside in a bid to make her happy...It was heartwarming, but she was honestly finding it all stressful and worrying.

It was starting to seem as if when she was involved, he did not really think things through as he normally would.

Since his reassurances were not as reassuring as they should be, she wanted to get a neutral opinion to see if she was really thinking too much of all this. Perhaps, he had really done enough to pacify the ministers.

She wanted to get a neutral opinion, but her people options were very limited and it was not really dawning on her how limited they were. She actually started to miss Doctor Lou and his bracelet, but then again, much like the Emperor, Doctor Lou only tells her what he thinks she has the ”capacity” to handle.

It was annoying.

As she changed directions to return to her palace to stew on her own, Ming Shu came to mind and it was like a light bulb went on in her head. Ming Shu had lived in the palace all these years, lived and served three Emperors and their harems. She definitely understood how things worked here and well, Lei Xing had come to understand the old woman a bit over the last month or so. They could be said to have developed a relationship of sorts and so here Lei Xing was talking to her ”personal assistant”.

Lei Xing lightly sighed and then said, ”I want to know - No, I would like an honest discussion with you. You have been in the palace longer than anyone else has. You have also held this position for decades as well and that takes an understanding and a breadth of mind that does not come easy. I'm curious about how such an understanding and seasoned mind sees this development... Rest assured, nothing you say will be held against you so your honesty is required.” Lei Xing added the disclaimer to make the old woman more comfortable.

Ming Shu slightly knit her brows and scrutinized Lei Xing for a bit before asking in a confused tone, ”You are worried...?”

Lei Xing blinked and then lightly sighed, ”...I would just like a different perspective on the situation to further my own understanding hence my asking you...” She calmly with a small smile. She did not need to share her mood of the day with outsiders.

Ming Shu was quiet for a while and then she said, ”Most women would simply be happy...”

Lei Xing slightly knit her brows, a bit annoyed but she smiled and said, ”I am happy and as I said, I am simply trying to further my understanding so do share your insight.”

{...Why are people assuming that me asking questions means I'm unhappy? -_-)'...Can't someone still think things through without causing unnecessary speculation! >_

Ming Shu still scrutinized Lei Xing then she sighed and said, ”Well...It's not the first time an Emperor has dismissed the idea of a harem...”

”It's not?” Lei Xing asked in surprise, knitting her brows. The ministers definitely did not behave like it wasn't.

Ming Shu nodded, ”Although the situation is a bit different...The Emperor's grandfather only had his Crown princess when he ascended the throne and his harem stayed empty even after he became Emperor...”

Lei Xing listened with her rapt attention, this was a pleasant surprise. Ming Shu showed a slight smile as she continued, ”...back then when the ministers had tried to insist that the Emperor should accept concubines, he simply told them that the palace already had way too many maids than he knew what to do with so he could not accept more at thattime...” Ming Shu snorted as she recalled the outrage it had caused at the time. Then she froze and stared at Lei Xing wide-eyed before quickly lowering her head as her face reddened.

Lei Xing also lightly snorted and almost burst out laughing as she watched Ming Shu's reaction. But she had always been respectful to elders so she just lightly cleared her throat and stamped down her laughter.

{...Maids? I like this grandpa hahaha...guess he takes after his grandpa. Oh my goodness, imagine if he had gone and compared the girls to maids in front of the ministers, I would probably have died from a heart attack right there O_O)...Princesses are definitely awesome, great choice...Amazing!...}

”It is unfortunate that his Empress died young during her second pregnancy due to unexpected complications with her health...” Ming Shu said with a depressed sigh, having recovered from her earlier embarrassment.