The Emperor expression remained the same and he responded in the same flat tone, "As I said... Irrational."

Lei Xing raised a questioning eyebrow at him and when he did not say any more. She took a deep breath and went, "...Well then, I'll leave you alone to your irrational thoughts." She flatly said and turned to leave, irritated. But the Emperor quickly closed the gap between them and stopped in front of her, grabbing on to her arms and started, "Xing er'-"

"What?" Lei Xing coldly asked with a frown.

The Emperor blinked at her, a bit taken aback by her harsh tone. He knit his brows in annoyance, he was not trying to upset her or start an argument. It was just that he was not happy with everything going on and seeing Prince Yi holding and ogling her did nothing for his mood. What made it even worse was that she just stood there...so yes, he was a bit annoyed with her - Well, not her exactly, it was at her lack of reaction.

But again, he did not want to start the argument that was already brewing and so he simply said, "I don't like him touching you. Stay away from him...please?" He added to make it seem like a "request", not an order, which it was.

Lei Xing scoffed, "Well, you didn't see me smiling in his arms, now did you? And it's not like I ever looking for him..." Lei Xing irritatedly said with a frown.

"Yet it happens..." The Emperor swiftly commented, without thinking. he quickly realized his error, but before he could rescind the statement, Lei Xing went, "I guess you would have preferred that I fell on my face...Sorry to have disappointed you." She sarcastically finished with a smile.

Despite her smiling face, the Emperor knew that she was getting upset. Obviously, it was not that he wanted her to have fallen to the ground. But between that and being in his brother's arms, he could not honestly say that he would not have preferred the ground. But he obviously could not say that so he raised his eyebrows and said, "I would have caught you..."

"Yet you didn't..." Lei Xing said mimicking his tone, still smiling, she asked, "Can I go now?" Glancing down at one of his hands gripping her arms.

"No." The Emperor said with a frown, "Let's resolve this now..." He could not let her leave if she was upset. He did not enjoy receiving a cold shoulder any more than she did and if she left here like this, who knows how closed off she would be when next they meet.

"Resolve what?" Lei Xing asked, knitting her brows, "Look, I can't defend irrational. It was an accident or do you think that I intentionally chose to fall into his arms?" The Emperor's frown deepened with that question but before he could respond again, Lei Xing continued, "I am not going to apologize for an accident and I am also not going to stand here so you can accuse me of having an affair with your broth-"

"I'm not accusing of any such thing." The Emperor swiftly denied.

"Your eyes certainly are..." Lei Xing quietly said, lowering her head with a disgruntled frown. She did not appreciate him even thinking about the possibility that there was something between her and anyone else, much less his own brother. Apart from the fact that she had more tact than that, she personally could not stand the idea of cheating, it was honestly a really a sore spot for her. So even the fact that it had crossed his mind infuriated her so much so that her eyes were heating up, she felt the beginning of tears building up and it further infuriated her.

{...If you cry, I'll kill you!...}

"I didn't mean it that way..." The Emperor gently said, bringing up a hand to her cheek wanting to raise her head up so she could see that was not his intention. But Lei Xing moved her face out of his reach with a deepening frown, "... Then why are we having this conversation?"

The Emperor sighed and hugged her, "I'm sorry, my darling. I really didn't mean it that way...It's just...Seeing you like that with him was..." The Emperor paused again with a frown.

"Upsetting?" Lei Xing supplied, still disgruntled.

"En... I admit, I was - am angry but not at you. At the situation, at my brother, at Princess Nalan even but not at you." He said, patting her back reassuringly. There was no point in stressing himself over this, she was already his, and upsetting her over the petty jealousy of someone - no matter what they feel for her, simply holding her for a few seconds was not the way to keep her.

Lei Xing was quiet for a bit and although she was still disgruntled, she later sighed and wrapped her arms around him as she said, "I can understand you being jealous and it's good to an extent that you are...jealous, but you can't take out your anger on me...I don't like it." She said frowning, again.

"I'm sorry..." The Emperor apologized again, hugging her closer.

They quietly hugged for a while, each calming their own emotions. After calming down enough, the Emperor released her and then held her hands as he smiled at her. Lei Xing looked at him with what looked to be a disgruntled pout. It seemed she was still upset so the Emperor tried to cajole her, "Xing er', I'm sorry...I really didn't mean it that way. I know you would never... Don't be upset, please?" He urged, swaying her hands back and forth with a sheepish expression he knew she always found amusing.

Lei Xing looked at him and almost laughed but she quickly masked it by clearing her throat, she turned her to the side, feigning annoyance and said, "... We'll see how you do."

The Emperor lightly chuckled, but immediately stopped when she narrowed her eyes at him, he then went, "Won't happen again."

Lei Xing smiled and nodded, but her smile quickly left as she let out a breath and said, "I'm sorry about this mess too. If I knew he was the reason she wanted to stay, I would have never urged you into it...I'm sorry."

"It's alright..." The Emperor said, patting her head with a smile. Then he led her up the steps and sat down with her on the throne chair. Although he said that, Lei Xing was not entirely convinced that it was alright. After all, this was not a simple situation.

"So...what are we going to do?" She asked with a frown, getting to the meat of the matter.

The Emperor knit his brows and went, "Well, considering that he prevented you from possibly getting hurt, I can't exactly punish him for that so...we'll have to let it go."

Lei Xing blinked at him and then snorted, "I'm not asking about that, I'm asking about their request to marry."

"Oh." The Emperor went blinking at her, he then cleared his throat and said, "Well... There is nothing else to do but for them to get married."

"Seriously? Just that?" Lei Xing asked in surprise. She did not expect the answer to be that simple. After all, this was not a simple issue of a boy and a girl getting married, this was a political situation. More importantly, a political scandal!

And most importantly, Princess Nalan was a political pawn that came with some advantages, that she did not think was exactly alright for Prince Yi to have access to, given his disposition.

The Emperor could almost see the wheels turning in Lei Xing's head so he went, "I want to ask you something, I need an answer honest answer..."

"Okay..." Lei Xing swiftly responded.

"Do you think my brother is sincere about Princess Nalan?"

Lei Xing hesitated for a moment and then honestly and bluntly admitted, "No."

The Emperor raised a curious eyebrow and then went,"...Because you know he has feelings for you -"

"No." Lei Xing swiftly denied with a frown.

{...Is he going to keep mentioning this? -_-)...}

The Emperor let out a breath and said "Xing er', it's okay. I said to be honest..."

"I am being honest, it's not that... My answer would have been the same even without that point..." She indignantly responded.

"Alright, I'm listening..." The Emperor calmly said, urging her to continue.

"Well, it's because Princess Nalan is a powerhouse, one connected to an entire nation. Even if you don't particularly perceive them as much of threat, it doesn't change the fact that they are a threat of some measure...." Lei Xing succinctly explained.

She knit her brows in thought for a bit and then continued, "I understand that given the situation and the fact that their affair was made public, the obvious rational response would be to permit and rush their marriage to avoid criticism of the royal family. But even Nalan had not known that he planned to announce it right there. It was clearly a calculated move to force the issue when you understandably had reservations and refused to give immediate approval. I hope that he is sincere but I can't help but worry that is simply a ploy to gain more power to aid his aspirations for the throne. It's problematic to feed ambition with power -"

"How do you know my brother wants my throne?" The Emperor interjected with knit eyebrows, c.o.c.king his head to the side. He had never mentioned it to her.

Lei Xing blinked at him and tentatively went, "You didn't know?" It seems in her analytical state, she had said a bit too much,

"I know...I'm asking how you know. I didn't tell you and I doubt your father or brother did. So, how do you know?... Did he tell you?" The Emperor asked with raised eyebrows, his eyes slightly widening in surprise.

Lei Xing stiffened and immediately wanted to knock her head against the wall. They had just gotten over this jealousy and she just had to go and mention that.

{...Shit! I'm a bloody idiot－??)... Should I just lie? He'll never know, right? I mean, it's not like he'll go ask him or anything...And even if he did, the dude's not that stupid to admit to having such intentions... right? ? _ ?)...}