The Emperor raised his eyebrows in surprise, "The Monk has been found? Why is this the first that I'm hearing about this?" The Emperor asked with a frown.

Eunuch Li looked at the closed doors with knit eyebrows, it seemed that the Emperor intended to have the entire conversation through closed doors. He had obviously been surprised to find all the servants standing outside and he was quickly informed that it was the Emperor's order.

Eunuch Li sighed, he was happy that the Emperor was happy in his relationship with his Empress. But sometimes, especially with recent events, he had been getting worried that perhaps the Emperor might be taking this relationship a bit too seriously and putting himself in a disadvantageous position just to please this wife of his.

For example, the issue of emptying out his harem, there was no political advantage for him doing that. Then there was the meeting during the bizarre event of the Empress's coronation, the Emperor ready to wage war with his ministers to keep her with him. The Emperor had never been one to act out of his emotions, he was practical in his actions, only making moves after careful consideration. But now, he was taking unnecessarily reckless moves because of this relationship.

Eunuch Li had tried to caution the Emperor about controlling his infatuation with this girl, but the Emperor got angry and shut him down before he could even make his point. Criticizing Lei Xing was now a taboo topic. For example, Eunuch Li was no longer comfortable with her going out of the palace after she became the Emperor's favorite and advised the Emperor to retrieve the pass. But the Emperor did not even acknowledge his words and simply remained silent.

Then the issue with the kiss with Prince Yi happened, Eunuch Li then advised the Emperor to retrieve it again. Regardless of the drug incident, as a consort, she should not have been wandering outside alone with Prince Yi in the first place. It could give people the wrong idea, especially since there were already rumors of an odd relationship between the two. Even though she was there on "official business" as a companion for Princess Nalan, she should have naturally been more mindful of her position and the Emperor who doted on her. But the Emperor simply got angry and warned him against mentioning it. Not only did the Emperor not punish Lei Xing, he even sent her gifts.

He had originally thought that the Emperor was distancing himself from her to punish her but then he sent her gifts? was the Emperor punishing her but then he sent gifts? Eunuch Li was very confused as to what good deed she had done to earn those gifts and asked the Emperor as much but was simply met with a silent frown. So faced with a stone wall, he had no choice but to let it go.

And now this, he did not need to be told what the young couple wanted privacy for. It seemed the Empress dowager was not wholly wrong, this girl might really be trouble for him... The Emperor was obviously losing his head for her, so much so that he did not even consider what sort of image this act would create when it got out. A serious matter of international proportions was at hand but rather than addressing it with his ministers and advisers, he was frol.i.c.k.i.n.g with his Empress in the royal study.

But even with the Emperor doing things like this, Eunuch Li could not bring himself to do as the Empress dowager has been requesting, for him to get rid of Lei Xing. Eunuch Li understood her concerns better than anyone else after all he did watch the Emperor and this relationship of his grow into what they are today.

The Emperor occupied a very important position with grand duties and obligations to fulfill. Therefore, he did not have the luxury of slacking off, nor was it something he ever did. At least not up until Lei Xing came into his life. She was clearly becoming too much of a distraction for him. His priorities became jumbled whenever she was involved.

But on the other hand, Eunuch Li could understand that the Emperor's life has been complicated and difficult since he was little, so denying this little reprieve he found for himself seemed too cruel. So Eunuch Li has been speaking up for Lei Xing, trying to change the Empress dowager's mind regarding this daughter-in-law of hers. After all, the girl's mistakes were mostly due to the Emperor's overindulgence of her whims... As for the other things, they were really just the Emperor trying too hard to please a difficult girl.

Eunuch Li honestly believed that this was just a phase for the Emperor - it was natural for a man to get distracted by a beautiful woman, especially one who has gone so long without one. After over-indulging for a little while, the Emperor would quickly realign himself and would be back to his normal self with proper priorities. The harem can be refilled and ministers appeased...It would work out.

Therefore, there was no cause to worry or so Eunuch Li constantly told the Empress dowager every time she brought up the topic of discarding Lei Xing. He also made the good choice not to tell the Emperor about his mother's ideas for his love to avoid widening the gap between the mother and son, they already did not even see or ask after each other these days. It was best not to make it worse.

"Eunuch Li..." The Emperor called out, a bit irritatedly after a long while of no response from the other side.

Lei Xing knit her eyebrows and awkwardly and quietly said, "Maybe he wants a one-on-one with you, I'll jus-"

"No." The Emperor interjected, tightening his hold around her waist. This matter was not exactly confidential in nature, moreover, all the other servants were outside and there were to be no secrets between him and Lei Xing. So nothing was hindering Eunuch Li's report and even if something was, then he could simply say so rather than remaining silent.

Eunuch Li blinked coming out of his thoughts and quickly said, "We didn't find him, he showed up on his own at the palace gates, introduced himself and asked to see you. The commander of the Empress's dowager's unit back then has already confirmed that it is truly him. He is refusing to speak with anyone but you..."

The Emperor knit his brows in thought for a moment and then said, "...Alright then, send him over."

Eunuch Li bowed to the door and turned to leave when the Emperor suddenly changed his mind, "...Have him wait in the main hall."

Eunuch Li turned and bowed again, "I'll take him there myself... Do you require anything else?" He thoughtfully asked since there were no servants around to help them if needed.

The other side was quiet for a while, and Eunuch Li could guess the two of them were talking amongst themselves before the Emperor responded, "Send Xia -" He suddenly paused and Eunuch Li raised an eyebrow as he heard the Emperor quietly going, "No? Nosy?" The Emperor quietly asked and then chuckled after a pause, which Eunuch Li assumed was Lei Xing responding in a truly quiet voice.

The Emperor then went, "Ah Jian then? Ah, Ah Jin..." The Emperor then loudly spoke again, "...Send Ah Jin over..." There was another pause and then he added, "...Have her wait outside the doors."

"As you wish..." Eunuch Li said, bowing and then shaking his head as he left with a sigh.

{...It's good to be young...}

"Why is she waiting?" Lei Xing asked with a raised eyebrow as she stood up and looked around for her clothes which a certain someone had thrown all over the place. Her dress was at the bottom of the steps, her innerwear was at the top of the steps and her u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.ts were - she wasn't sure.

"I can help you get dressed." The Emperor said as he bent down and moved over his innerwear and robes and fished out her u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.ts and then hugged her sideways, kissed her cheek as he showed her his good work, "See...I'm all you need~"

"Tch..." Lei Xing went as she snatched her u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.ts from his hand, "What about my hair?" Thankfully, as soon as he complained that they were "in his way", Lei Xing had promptly warned him not to toss her very delicate hairpieces. So he had lightly tossed them all on the table for her to avoid her ire.

Lei Xing cheekily shook him off, "I can dress myself, hurry up and get dressed and go, isn't this important?" She said as she walked over to pick up her innerwear and started to get dressed. She was well aware of this monk, who had dared to stand the Empress dowager up and the fact that the Emperor had been looking for him and using it as a crutch to get the Empress dowager to behave. So this was very important.

The Emperor followed her instructions and started to get dressed, "...I can guess why he's asking for me..."

"Which is?" Lei Xing asked, turning back to him.

"To bargain..." The Emperor simply said, casting a knowing look towards her.

Lei Xing blinked at him and then realized he was referring to the Chun siblings who were responsible for drugging her. She knit her brows and then faced forward and continued to put on her upper u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.t as she casually said, "You can do as you like..."

"I thought you wanted them dead." The Emperor said as he went over to her, moved her hair to the side, and took over tying the strings of her upper u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.t for her. He then slipped his hands around her waist and said, "You don't have to pretend, we can still -"

"I already told you I didn't mean that. I was just high on emotion then..." Lei Xing said, removing his arms and turning around to look at him, "If you gave me a sword now and asked me to kill them, I couldn't -"

"No need, I can do it for it." The Emperor matter-of-factly stated.

Lei Xing blinked at him and then smiled, "Thank you.... but I'm really fine with them staying alive, so you don't have to go killing anyone on my behalf." She said patting his cheek like she would do to a child, "I actually don't care anymore, truly. So do as you will and make a deal if you need to... With no consideration for me, I have no thoughts on this." She firmly said and then gave him a kiss on the cheek to keep things sweet.

The Emperor stared at her and did not say anything, simply studying her face with an odd expression. Lei Xing then lightly shoved him and urged, "Get dressed... Even though you're the Emperor, you shouldn't keep your guests waiting for too long."

The Emperor did not say anything and simply did as he was bid with slightly knit eyebrows. They both quickly got dressed, helping each other with the troublesome bits of their attire. Lei Xing helped the Emperor with hair and when he tried to help, she quickly ushered him out the door without even giving him a chance to show his skills. She pushed him out, ordered Ah Jin in, and with a sweet but yet dismissive, "Goodbye~" She closed the door in his face.

The Emperor lightly chuckled as he looked at the closed doors and then shook his and went on his way with a smile. Since she was doubting his skills, he made a mental note to show her he was quite capable in all aspects including hair arrangement.

In a much better mood, the Emperor made his way to the main hall to find Monk Du waiting with Eunuch Li. Monk Du politely bowed as soon as he saw the Emperor walk in.

The Emperor lightly scrutinized the bald man as he made his way to the throne, this polite appearance was not what he was expecting of this daring monk that caused such a stir. Once he was seated, the Emperor casually said, "So you're the famed Monk that has been eluding my men for so long..."

"I apologize for my hasty departure last time. The circ.u.mstances were such that I had no choice..." Monk Du quickly said with a bow, hoping to start off on a good note.

"En...Considering you returned on your own, I am sure you have a perfectly reasonable explanation for it..." The Emperor casually said with a polite smile, "I'm listening..."