The Emperor's thoughts were interrupted when he felt something was odd with Lei Xing. Now that he was fully awake, he realized that Lei Xing's face was looking pale and burning hot. He felt on other parts of her body and found it to be burning hot as well. There was also the weird fact that she was not sweating at all despite being so hot.

The Emperor tried calling to her and shaking her awake but she was completely unresponsive. No reaction at all, not even the usual frown that came with any slight disturbance of her sleep. He became worried and so immediately got up and swiftly put on his outer robe and went to rush out to get help. But then he stopped short of the doors and turned back to the bed and properly covered her body.

He went out to the courtyard and the two men guarding the area quickly came up to him. He instructed them to get Doctor Lou and then went back to the room to wait, while worriedly looking at the unresponsive Lei Xing on the bed.

Doctor Lou quickly arrived after being almost thrown off of his chair by the two men. He begrudgingly walked in while staring daggers at the Emperor.

He was not pleased.

First, Commander An left behind half of the men and ordered them to guard the parameter to ensure the Emperor's safety. Most of them stayed outside, but these two and a few others bullied their way into his little courtyard. To make it worse, they made him run all over the place trying to prevent them from ruining his precious herbs with their stomping feet.

He had already informed the Emperor that he did not like people in his space, but it seemed nobody cared for his opinion. He could not stand the sight of his poor courtyard, so he returned to the pharmacy to sleep and now those two came to disturb him again.

He was really not pleased.

"First, you disrupt my precious little courtyard...and now you can't even let me sleep in peace..." He grumbled as he walked in, but the Emperor was not perturbed by his bad mood and immediately informed, "There's something wrong with her."

Doctor Lou glared at him and then walked to the bed and looked at Lei Xing's face. Then he reached a hand down towards her, but the Emperor immediately grabbed his hand and asked with a frown, "What are you doing?" Lei Xing was still n.a.k.e.d under the blanket and even though Doctor Lou was an old man and a doctor, he was still not entitled to see that.

Doctor Lou squinted at him and explained, "I need to check her pulse...just her hand." The Emperor blinked and then went, "Oh." He released Doctor Lou's hand, then he brought out Lei Xing's arm from the blanket himself, making sure to properly tuck in the blanket to cover her appropriately and then he held out her wrist to Doctor Lou.

Doctor Lou blankly stared at him for a bit and then he pursed his lips and went about checking her pulse while mumbling under his breath, "Do you think everyone is like you? I have superb taste and so...a brooder is not my style at all."

When the Emperor frowned at him, he returned his gaze with raised an eyebrow as if challenging him, then he said, "It seems you didn't do your job properly...You look so strong..." Then he mumbled under his breath again, "Turns out all those muscles and reputation was all for show, youngsters these days are so disappointing. Making an old man like me do all the work..."

The Emperor's frown deepened. He did not know what to say in response to that. It was not that he was lacking energy nor was it that he did not want to continue, but Lei Xing was tired. Also, how was he supposed to know that it was not enough when she herself said it was? He looked down at the unconscious Lei Xing. The thought of making love to her unresponsive form was not appealing at all, so he turned back to Doctor Lou to find him looking about the room with a frown.

The Emperor glanced at the clothes strewn about and quickly said, "I will send people to clean the room for you in the morning."

Doctor Lou turned back to him and waved a hand, "No need. They'll just disturb my sleep."

The Emperor ignored his words and went back to the issue at hand, "So what do we do now?"

Doctor Lou raised his eyebrows, "We? You're the one who failed here..."

The Emperor frowned in irritation, "It's in your bes-"

Doctor Lou rolled his eyes and cut him off, "Yes, yes I understand...Stay here!" Doctor Lou he barked with a pout and walked towards the doors while mumbling, "Lack of respect little brat, don't you know it's in your best interest not to get on this old one's bad side? Hmph!"

The Emperor heard his quiet ramblings but was not bothered by it. Despite the old man's oddities and disrespectful behavior, the Emperor did not have any ill feelings towards Doctor Lou, nor did he feel particularly wary of him.

Thinking back it now, he also believed him about the seyu poison a bit too easily. And he realized now that he may have been a bit muddled headed.

{...It must be because he saved Xing er'...Also, what could he gain by lying?...Unless he wanted to divert attention from the original assailant but then why save her and directly alert me, risking capture?...}

He obviously did not believe Doctor Lou's story of being unaware of the search for him. His disappearance was too much of a coincidence. There was also the issue with the Voice vehemently speaking up for him. The Voice had already cleared him of his mother's ailment, but the old man was quite an intriguing person on his own. At that time, he had insisted on searching for Doctor Lou out of annoyance and a bit of curiosity, the Voice did seem quite agitated at his mention.

It all made him very curious, but now that he had him here, he did not know what he wanted from the old man.

The door suddenly opened and Doctor Lou peeked his head in and instructed, "Follow me." The Emperor immediately stood up and walked up to him, but Doctor Lou did not move. The Emperor frowned down at him, slightly irritated and Doctor Lou squinted at back at him and did not say anything.

After a short while of nothing, the Emperor finally asked, "What is it?"

Doctor Lou snickered in victory, "You're much more fun..." Then he cleared his throat and seriously said, "What am I supposed to do with you?" When the Emperor raised an eyebrow, Doctor Lou quickly added, "Bring the patient..."

The Emperor blinked and then frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed as he swiftly turned back to the bed. He wrapped Lei Xing snuggly in the blanket then scooped her up and turned to see Doctor Lou smiling at him. It was a knowing smile that seemed to have many meanings that unnerved him. The Emperor's frown deepened and he ordered, "Move."

Doctor Lou snorted and then turned and led the way.

He led them towards the back of the house and then through a door that opened up to a little rocky hot springs. The top was covered by a wooden rack roof that allowed the moonlight to sift in, providing natural light in addition to the candles lit on the table on the side. The sides were also enclosed with wooden walls on each side to create a private bathing area.

"Throw her in." Doctor Lou instructed, when he saw the Emperor knit his brows, he went on to explain, "You see...Since she has excess heat in her, we raise the temperature around her and likethis, the heat should-...I mean will be forced out along with the toxins. Thirty minutes or so should be enough. A simple and brilliant plan, right?" He finished with a smug smile wiggling his eyebrows at the Emperor.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth but before he could speak, Doctor Lou pouted and went, "I normally don't let anyone use my hot springs. But I was going to make an exception for you two since you came to visit...Well, since you don't like it, we can always cook her in a pot until she's cooked enough. That might work s-..."

"This is fine." The Emperor swiftly cut him off and Doctor Lou instantly smiled, "See, I knew I liked you from day one. You are very reasonable." The Emperor did not respond and simply waited for him to leave.

The oblivious Doctor Lou stood there waiting eagerly waiting for the dunking show. When nothing happened, he raised his eyebrows and went, "Go on, throw her in. Don't worry about her injuries, the water is great for healing...Perfect, actually. She'll be even better."

"Leave." The Emperor flatly responded. He did not expect to have to point this out to a fully grown a.d.u.l.t. But looking at Doctor Lou's face, he could see that he was truly clueless.

Doctor Lou blinked at him a few times, seemingly confused, "But I als-" He then closed his mouth and pouted then turned to leave. Then he stopped and he turned back and squinted at the Emperor, "Frolicking in my hot springs is forbidden. I mean it, not allowed! Don't do it...I'll know." He sinisterly finished and then disappeared out the door, leaving them alone.

The Emperor sighed and went to put Lei Xing down on the chair. He looked at the hotsprings and decided it was safer and better if he went in as well and held her since she was unconscious. It was only for thirty minutes, so it would not be too hard a task.

He took off his clothes and then unwrapped her from the blanket and was about to lift her when he saw the bracelet and ring on her hand. He paused and knit his brows, debating whether to remove them or not.

In the end, he decided it was better to avoid the possibility of damage or worse them getting lost since she liked them so much. And so, he simply slipped them off and made a mental note to put them back on once they were done.?With that done, he carried her into the hot springs and held her close while meditating to distract himself.

Lei Xing, of course, was oblivious to his struggle...and?more importantly to the fact that she was now freed of her resident terrorist.