After a long while of soaking in the hot springs, the Emperor felt Lei Xing move a bit. So he opened his eyes to find her knitting her brows. He touched her face and called to her, "Xing er'?" but she did not respond. Her expression quickly relaxed and it seemed like she had slipped back into a deep sleep.

He could not tell if she was sweating or not, but her temperature seemed to have cooled down and she definitely looked better. Her cheeks were a nice rosy red and her lips were still slightly swollen from their busy activities from earlier. She honestly looked very enticing, not to mention he could clearly see below the water...But before his eyes could wander farther he quickly averted his eyes. He stiffly faced forward, closed his eyes and went back to meditating.

After the thirty minutes was up, he carried her out of the water and put her back in the chair. He got dressed, then proceeded to clean her off and then wrapped her back in the blanket. He was about to carry her when he remembered the bracelet and ring.

He quickly slipped them back on for her and then carried her off. When he rounded the front, he found Doctor Lou sitting in the little pavilion steadily glaring at him as he walked by.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow at him and wondered what the old man's problem was. He remembered Doctor Lou's warning about frolicking in his hot springs. But he did not "frolic", he diligently kept his hands proper during the entire bathing episode. How else was he supposed to keep her upright in the pool? It was for her safety and efficiency's sake.

The Emperor ignored Doctor Lou and took her back to the room. He decided it was time for them to leave and so went about getting her dressed. He finished putting on her inner clothes and was looking around for her dress when a knock came at the door, then the door flew open.

The Emperor frowned as he watched Doctor Lou strutting into the room. He glanced at Lei Xing on the bed and then smiled at the Emperor, "I told you it would work, you should have never doubted me...Are you looking for something?" He asked with a bright smile.

The Emperor knit his brows, confused with the old man's mood swings and flatly responded, "Her clothes. We're leaving." Despite the fact that Lei Xing seemed alright now, he still wanted her to be looked at in the palace. Also, it seemed they had overstayed their welcome.

"Now?" Doctor Lou asked blinking at the Emperor wide-eyed, "You can't leave now! I haven't even talked to Xing Xing yet!" He finished with a pout.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, "Xing Xing?"

"Ah it's my little nickname for her...Ah, this never occurred to me before, I can call you Kai Kai if you want." Doctor Lou suggested, bright-eyed and excitedly smiling at the Emperor.

"No." The Emperor flatly responded with a frown.

Doctor Lou was unperturbed, he shrugged and then said, "Well, I still like Xiao Kai better. Anyway, you can't take her now. She can't handle a ride all the way to the palace, even a carriage is not allowed....Unless you plan on carrying her in your arms and walking the whole way...in the middle of the night, not advisable...It will be really pointless and tiring..." Doctor Lou finished stroking his beard.

The Emperor narrowing his eyes at him and Doctor Lou immediately went, "What? You don't believe me? Well, you can go ahead and try...But don't blame me when she never wakes up again...ever again." Doctor Lou stressed as he looked up, admiring the ceiling.

The Emperor was quiet for a bit and then suddenly said, "Your blatant disregard for me reminds me of someone..."

Doctor Lou turned to him and blinked, then he frowned, "Blatant disregard? Have you met my sister? Ah! We're nothing alike, nothing alike at all...She is the most annoying person in the world! Also very disrespectful! I'm older, okay maybe not. We can't really tell being twins and all, but I have more white hair so I am older!... Always making things complicated and I have to meander my way around with everything because she keeps getting in the way." Doctor Lou rambled on, then he sighed, "It is very tiring, you know?... But I'm sure you can understand..." Doctor Lou finished with a pout.

The Emperor tightly knit his brows, he was feeling very confused with this character. Doctor Lou knew who he was, yet he not only used his name but even turned into a plaything. He had even held a sword to his neck and yet he still treated him so nonchalantly, like he was...no threat at all.? Like he was nothing but an inconsequential child.?Even his own mother had to give him due respect in the end.

What's more, was that the Emperor was actually not feeling any anger despite the level of disrespect. He felt irritated with the winding way he spoke but was not particularly disturbed. The only one who really treated him like this...was the Voice. There was also the last sentence about meandering for his sibling, only the voice truly knew about his efforts on that front. He never shared his motivations for that with Eunuch Li, although he may have been able to guess them regardless.

{...But then how did he know? How could he know? Was it just a guess? Or nothing...Or... Could he really somehow be related to that Voice? Is that why it didn't want me to look for him? Perhaps it was scared I would find it?... I was naturally once interested in locating it, but if it said it did not want to be found...I could respect that...But this doctor...}

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at Doctor Lou and was debating on whether to ask or not, when Doctor Lou suddenly shook his head, "Let's forget those annoying people...Ah! We need to commemorate today!" Doctor Lou finished with a grin as he scurried out the door.

The Emperor watched him leave and then sighed. He walked to the bed and properly laid Lei Xing down to sleep and tucked her in. Then he went out to find Doctor Lou sitting in the pavilion eagerly waiting for him with a smile and three jars of wine on the table.

Doctor Lou quickly waved him over then he filled two cups. As the Emperor sat down, he pushed one to his front with a smile, "We've never had the chance to do this before...It would be great if Xing Xing could join us, but just us is not bad either. A toast to...Hmm, friendship? Or for today should it be love? Progress? Ah, let's do a new world and life hehehehe..." He chuckled as he raised his cup.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and raised his cup as well with a perplexed little smile. He took a sip while Doctor Lou downed his and then eagerly went to pour another, "It's great, isn't it? Let me tell you this is a secret recipe, I can share it with you if you want hehe~..."? He said as he downed his second cup and went to pour another.

"I heard you have powers..." The Emperor offhandedly mentioned as he sipped the wine.

"I never said that!" Doctor Lou exclaimed, then he blinked, "Ah, I've heard that before hehe...he...Medicinal powers maybe. Hehe~ they say have the golden touch, w.o.m.b's touch also. Ah, it looks like you need some help there. I have som-" He stopped talking when he saw the Emperor's deepening frown in his direction, he then cleared his throat and continued, "...I guess it's fine since you're both still very young...Hm, I'm great with poison too, how about it? Want to poison someone? I could help...depending on the day...and time...it depends." He said as he refilled his cup.

"So you have powers in medicine?" The Emperor asked steering back to the topic, he already realized Doctor Lou had a habit of getting sidetracked. Although he was not sure whether it was being done unconsciously, or whether it was his conscious effort to avoid topics.

"It might seem so...but all I am is a very knowledgeable brilliant old soul." Doctor Lou calmly responded, looking at the Emperor with another knowing smile that made him avert his eyes again with a frown.

Doctor Lou sighed and downed his cup and then cheerily said, "Drink, drink, today is a great day, isn't it?... One for celebration! You look annoying when you frown, so smile!" Doctor Lou ordered as he topped up the Emperor's cup and then refilled his.

The Emperor looked up and watched Doctor Lou gulped down his wine, as unknown thoughts swirled in his head.

{...A knowledgable old soul...}

He had questions but it seemed he could not bring himself to ask and he was not sure why. Perhaps he feared what changes knowing the answers might bring.

And so, the two sat there whiling away the night. One quietly taking sips while the other boisterously drank as he rambled on about this and that.