The Empress dowager seemed to have gone into another strange sleeping spell. She had still not woken up since passing out the day before and like last time, the Imperial physicians could not find any explanation for her strange condition.

As a good son, the Emperor remembered his mother's odd condition and decided to have the odd but knowledgable Doctor Lou check on her. And so after leaving the Chen manor, he made his way to Doctor Lou's pharmacy to bring him along to the palace.

But the Emperor arrived to find Doctor Lou's pharmacy closed. Instead of leaving someone behind to wait for the doctor, the Emperor returned to the palace where he could conveniently enlist the Doctor's services through Lei Xing's bracelet.

But when he arrived at Lei Xing's palace, he found her to be absent as well. He was informed that after she had a long meeting with Ming Shu, they had apparently left to go tour the palace departments.

The Emperor knit his brows in surprise when he heard this. Lei Xing was quite a lazy person who lounged around for the most of the day, so touring the palace was really not something he could see her doing. He had specifically told her not to push herself.

What's more, he had actually cautioned Ming Shu and told her not to bother Lei Xing with any unnecessary affairs. But then she actually went to drag Lei Xing around the palace?

The Emperor let out a sigh and backtracked. Lei Xing was definitely not a person who could be dragged into doing something she did not want to do. She had quite a stubborn personality. Even he, the Emperor had a hard time making her bend to his will, much less a servant.

If anyone was doing the dragging, then it was Lei Xing.

But it still surprised him that she was actually interested in such a bothersome activity. All she really needed to do with this management business was to hand down orders and Ming Shu could handle the rest.

There was really no need for Lei Xing to strain herself.

"Your majesty, should we send for Her highness?" One of the eunuchs asked.

The Emperor sighed and said, "No, leave her be..." He did not want to interrupt Lei Xing's activity session. Moreover, he was not in a hurry at all.

With his mother asleep, the palace was quiet and he liked it that way. Therefore, the Empress dowager could do with a little more sleep.

****

On the other side of things, Lei Xing was having a delightful day out.

After talking extensively with Ming Shu about the palace affairs, Lei Xing discovered there was a lot more going on in the palace than she initially assumed.

Then again, she never bothered to involve herself in the happenings in the palace. After all, that used to be the terrifying Empress dowager's job and Lei Xing never wanted to accidentally overstep any boundaries.

Ming Shu was very knowledgeable and patient in her explanations and responses. So Lei Xing warmed up to the woman quite quickly.

And seeing that Lei Xing was quite curious about a lot of things, Ming Shu suggested visiting the departments so that Lei Xing could get a better grasp on things. Lei Xing immediately agreed and off they went.

Now when Ming Shu suggested a tour, she truly only meant cursory glances. But Lei Xing turned this to a full-blown field trip to each department, talking extensively with the department heads about the details of how things worked and other such things that were truly irrelevant to someone of her station. It was not like she was going to be working in the departments themselves.

This confused Ming Shu, the Emperor had instructed her not to bother Lei Xing with unnecessary affairs. But then Lei Xing herself seemed to be very, very interested in unnecessary affairs.

At the moment, Lei Xing was talking to the head of the silk farmers about how silk is made. How could that possibly be relevant to her rule? Ming Shu was completely baffled but she had no choice but to go along with her new mistress.

"Very delicate..." Lei Xing said as she lightly touched the hanging colored silk threads. After a few more exchanges here, Lei Xing and her entourage went over to the tailoring department.

Lei Xing had actually met the head seamstress a few days ago when they came over to take her measurements and discuss her preferences for her coronation outfit. The woman was very happy to receive Lei Xing and happily took her around the department, specifically taking her to see the major work in progress that was her and the Emperor's outfits for the wedding.

All the while reassuring Lei Xing that they were working overtime to ensure that the outfits will be ready in the next two weeks. This way they would have a few days to make any alterations or changes to suit Lei Xing's needs.

Lei Xing did not spend long here so as not to interfere with their work and perhaps, she was not that interested in the embroidery process. She politely thanked them for their hard work and left for the treasures department.

Lei Xing was particularly excited about this one.

The place was huge with many rooms, each room holding a particular category of treasures. One held rare and beautiful vases, another for statues, another for jewels and gemstones, another for ancient weapons. There was even a large room dedicated to the royal headdresses and other such wonderful items of value.

Lei Xing spent a long time here taking her time quietly and regally scrutinizing the different treasures. All the while internally gushing over them as her mind was busily deciphering the worth of everything here.

{...A fortune, a true fortune! I'm RICH! - Well, he's rich - Whatever, we're RICH!ヽ(???)ノ...}

The head of the treasures department was another knowledgable elder who knew his treasures.?And despite Lei Xing's restrained demeanor, the old man could tell when Lei Xing was particularly interested in certain pieces.

He would then happily tell her about the background of those pieces which caught her eye. Lei Xing would ask questions and he would happily respond. It did not take long at all for the two to begin engaging in fan discussions, comparing pieces, and discussing their worth. While Ming Shu was in the background with the others watching them and scratching her head.

Suffice to say, Lei Xing quickly became fast friends with the old man. He was both knowledgable and entertaining.

"I agree that the jade piece is finer...but this one has this ruggedness to it that just -...appeals to the soul. It has so much character." Lei Xing commented comparing a marble lion statute to a jade one.

The old man nodded and then responded, "That is true, Your highness...But in terms of value, this jade one is a lot more valuable. There was this on-"

"Your highness -" Ming Shu called, cutting off the old man, Lei Xing turned to her and Ming Shu bowed her head and said, "We are short on time..."She politely reminded since it did not seem like Lei Xing planned on leaving anytime soon. They had already been here for almost two hours.

Lei Xing blinked remembering that she was here on "official" business and was not on a treasure survey.

"Ah, yes..." Lei Xing said and then she turned back to the old man with a smile, "We'll continue the tour some other time then..."

"Of course, Your highness...This old man will always be at your service " The head of the department bowed with a smile.

Lei Xing inwardly sighed as she sent a sweeping glance at the beautiful statues on the shelves and then she left. When she got outside, she was shocked to see that the sun was already setting.

{...Hehe~ It seems I really might have spent too much time here (??? )...}

Lei Xing stopped and took a deep breath with a happy smile. It had been so long since she felt this good.

She wondered if the Emperor was back yet and honestly it had already been quite a day. It was time to go home, so she turned to Ming Shu and said, "This is enough for today..."

Lei Xing saw a flash of relief go across Ming Shu's face as she gave a curt bow. Although the elder woman did not complain at all, it must have been tasking for her to go about with Lei Xing like this for so long. Especially considering Lei Xing had been taking her own sweet time about everything.

Lei Xing felt bad for being so inconsiderate and so she said, "You should return to rest...and let's skip tomorrow."

Ming Shu bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Lei Xing nodded and then walked off with her entourage.

As soon as Lei Xing arrived at her palace, she immediately plopped down on a comfy chair and stretched out and grumbled, "Food..."

Xiao Ruo smiled at Lei Xing and then immediately left to see about Lei Xing's dinner. Lei Xing had truly worked hard today.

They were all quite shocked that the Lei Xing who lounged around all day long, the one who disliked even getting dressed properly actually spent all that time jumping from one department to another. She had a surprising amount of energy none of them had never seen in her before. She truly seemed like a different person today.

For once, Lei Xing actually earned her lounging around time after so many meetings, they were as exciting as they were draining.

So after stretching out for a bit, Lei Xing got up to undress. As a maid combed out her hair, she asked after the Emperor and was informed that he had returned and had come to see her earlier. And that he was currently in the royal study.

Lei Xing nodded and then got up with a yawn, "Wake me up when dinner's here." She said and then plopped on the bed.

Lei Xing happily rolled herself up in the blanket as the maids left the room to allow her sleep in peace. Lei Xing stared up at the canopy of the bed and then let out a happy sigh.

{....Ah, what a long day...It's been such a long time since I've been so - busy? tired? I don't know hehe~...So many treasures, hehehe~... What great fun~ (─??─)...}