The Emperor returned to the room, sat on the bed and watched Lei Xing. Of course, the Emperor did not believe the rumors. First of all, he had already investigated Lei Xing's past. Second, he always had people watching his brothers. Therefore, he would know about said secret affair.

But the rumors still greatly annoyed him. She is to be his Empress so it would not be good to let this sort of false rumor damage her reputation. It was clear that she was the target of the rumors, which meant someone was purposely trying to ruin her.

The Emperor initially suspected his mother but this was not how she handled things. If it were her, she would have waited until a later time and simply dealt Lei Xing directly, she did not need to spread a rumor to get it done. So he turned his suspicion to the other Imperial wives, but it was not like he could torture all of them to get answers, this would just exacerbate the situation.

After a while, Eunuch Li came into the room and informed, "Your majesty, everything is ready."

The Emperor then got up and left to make his way to Prince Yi's manor. The best way to handle a rumor was to create an even better story and the easiest method was to create a spectacle out of the event.

So he concluded on paying his brother an official visit to thank him for his efforts, while moving in his full capacity as an Emperor, making a big show that will easily become the talk of the city. The guards had to be deployed in advance to clear the streets and create a human barricade, while the people were to bow as he passed.?This sort of movement was a hassle, it was slow and attention-grabbing. Therefore, it?was only reserved for official events.

Therefore it was the perfect spectacle.

It was announced that Prince Yi had risked injury to save the Emperor's precious Noble consort from a fall, preventing her from sustaining any serious injuries. The Emperor was greatly relieved and grateful to his brother for protecting her and so decided to pay his brother a visit to express his gratitude, bringing along many gifts.

Prince Yi was also unconscious so the Emperor put on the grateful act for his residents. He quickly went through the motions, wanting to return to the palace, as seeing Prince Yi's unconscious form made him worry about Lei Xing. He happened to arrive when the head physician was there and used the opportunity to stress that he was still waiting for results.

After that, he returned to the palace having accomplished his goal. The rumor was corrected with the truth, although a romanticized version of it. There was also the added bonus that the new topic that completely buried the rumor was about how much the Emperor treasured Noble consort Lei, which uplifted the Emperor's mood as he heard people whispering about it as he left.

He truly did seem to have grown very attached to her. It astonished him how quickly it happened. Thinking back on it, perhaps he may have already liked her from much earlier on. At the very least, he thought her to be amusing even during the competition. But his suspicions and caution must have kept his feelings at bay.

He thought of her a lot and had spent quite a lot of time thinking about how to approach her so they could properly form a relationship. It took him quite a while before his successful tutoring schemes made her comfortable with his presence. She really was not easy to approach, she always seemed to be quietly dismissing him even when she seemed pleased. For example, with the pass and the gold. She accepted them and then closed herself off behind a wall.

She did the same thing last night too. She hugged him and then pushed him away. The Emperor sighed.

{...She's really difficult to understand...}

***

{...*I'm in a bad mood...}

Lei Xing slightly opened her eyes and then closed them back, feeling so weak, she couldn't feel her limbs.

{...And I'm dying -_-)...}

{...*Let me ask you something, do you believe in fate?...}

{...-_-)...I said I'm dying!...}

{...*And I said I'm in a bad mood! Hmph! Can't you just be good and help me feel better?!...}

{...-_-)'...}

Lei Xing was feeling too tired to even think and ignored it, slipping back into sleep.

{...*Don't worry this won't kill you...}

{...}

{...*It usually goes away on its own after a week or two...}

Lei Xing opened her eyes, feeling a sense of renewed hope.

{...Really? Are you sure? O_O)...}

{...*Usually...Hehe~ Well, they probably shouldn't have fed you that brew though...While they have the right idea, that was not the way to use it...It's an easy mistake though...}

{...Then do you know the cure? Tell me!... Please, this is not fun at all...}

{...*Sure!... But let's talk first, I'm in a bad mood...}

{...-_-)'...Can we talk later? I really feel like I'm dying...Cure first...please...}

{...*...}

{...Hey, are you there?... Don't be like this, I'm too tired to argue right now...}

{...*Let's make a deal!...}

{...-_-)'...No...}

{...*What? You don't want the cure?!...}

{...I'll wait it out...}

{...*Hehe~ You'll die though...}

{...You just sa-...}

{...*I said USUALLY that is the case...Your case is now a bit special...Let me clarify, you are only awake right now because I wanted to talk to you...See, aren't I great? ^_^)...}

{...I'm not going to vie for the position of Empress -_-)...}

{...*Don't worry, you don't have to!...I've figured out your problem...You don't trust people, your mind is set to the default "Abandon"...which means you place little importance on people so as not to get hurt when they leave you...}

{...Okay, you have a psych degree. Good for you -_-)...}

{...*sigh* I'm not sure how you ended up like this. Hmm...Actually thinking about it, I can see how, it must be be-...}

{...Can we please get back to the cure? I'm dying -_-)...}

{...*Oh, sorry hehe~...Where was I? Hm, a deal...Don't worry it's an easy one, all you have to do is agree. That's it! Simple enough! Even you shouldn't have a problem with it, you're going to die now anyway so it shou-...}

Lei Xing was becoming exasperated with its ramblings. She was tired and achy and was really not in the mood to play this chase game.

{...Agree to what?! Get to the point!...}

{...*That's it! Just agree!...}

{...I don't make deals with anyone without knowing the contract terms, and frankly, I avoid shady ones like you? -_-)...}

{...*Then I guess you want to die. Hmph!...}

Lei Xing weakly sighed.

{...Okay, what do you want? I'll consider it...}

{...*It's simple, just agree when he asks you to be his Empress. You don't have to vie for it or ask for it. Just agree when it comes up! ^_^)...}

{...You mean if it comes up -_-)...}

{...*Irrelevant! So do you agree to agree? It'd be a waste to die here...in pain...miserable...pain...it'll get worse...pain...}

{...-_-)...}

{...*Your insides will feel like they're being crushed...intolerable pain...misery...immeasurable pain...}

Lei Xing went quiet as the bracelet kept on reiterating the pain point in her mind. There was really no point in being stubborn here if she was going to die.

{...Fine, I will consider it -_-)...}

{...*Haha~ I won't fall for that!...}

{...I'm meeting you halfway here...I will consider it...Either way, you need me for the ceremony so you won't let me die anyway so stop this crap...}

{...*Who said that?!... I don't need you!...}

{...-_-)'...Then I guess you can just go find some other person to propel to Empress to get your ceremony. There are plenty willing, so why keep bugging me? -_-)...}

{...*...It's because -...Don't laugh! Better not laugh!...It's because I'm a romantic! >?

{...O_O)...Well, then you boarded the wrong boat -_-)...}

{...*Hehe~ You know nothing, people like you are the most fun! I enjoy watching love bud and grow! It's very fun! ^_^)...}

{...Again, you got the wrong person -_-)...}

{...*You shouldn't skew your own reality. You're smarter than that...}

Lei Xing heard the door open and slightly opened her eyes, the Emperor came into view and then his face lit up in a smile when he saw her eyes open and he quickened his steps and sat on the bed, "You're awake."

He lightly touched her face and softly asked, "How are you feeling?"

Lei Xing did not respond and just absentmindedly looked at him.

{...*Fine. I'll accept consideration! But you have to seriously consider it. You shouldn't cheat me...If you do, you'll be in trouble. I mean it!...}

{...-_-)...}

When Lei Xing did not respond, the Emperor frowned and turned to Ah Jin who had quietly been standing on the side and asked, "How long has she?been awake? Have they checked on her?" Before Ah Jin could respond, he ordered, "Send for the head physician."

Ah Jin quickly left, the Emperor then turned back to Lei Xing, who was still blankly staring at him. He thought that it seemed like she had just woken up,? he smiled and asked, "Do you want some water?"

"En." She quietly responded and the Emperor quickly left and returned and held her up leaning on him. After feeding her the water, he kept holding her, closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

The Emperor stroked her head and quietly said,?"I'm sorry."

Lei Xing knit her brows, feeling a bit unnerved.

{...*Some things can't be ignored forever...}