Following the Emperor's orders, Ling mama had been taken to Ming Shu who reassigned her to one department or the other. Lei Xing had no idea which one nor did she really care, she did her part in ensuring the woman was out of the Empress dowager's reach.

The Emperor and Monk Du "concluded" that their departure could survive another delay of an extra day or two. This way they could ensure that Eunuch Li's injuries could heal a bit more to avoid any complications. As for the Empress dowager, she had mostly been asleep and when she was awake, she spoke to no one. It seems she was now in some sort of pout mode.

Unfortunately for her, pout mode only worked when the people around the pouter actually cared about the said pouter being upset.

When the day came for the Empress dowager's departure, Lei Xing and the Emperor, like the dutiful children they were, stood waiting at the palace gates to bid her farewell.

The Empress dowager's palanquin arrived and the woman stepped out and then froze when she saw Lei Xing and the Emperor. She blankly stared at them for a moment before she haughtily raised her head and walked forward, towards her waiting carriage without sparing them another glance.

They thought she would pass without acknowledging them, but then she surprisingly stopped in front of them and slanted the Emperor a condescending glare, "I won't forget this... I never forget." She menacingly bit out, turning her glare to Lei Xing before storming off to her carriage.

Lei Xing and the Emperor watched her walk off and then glanced at each other and both let out a breath. Eunuch Li then came up to them, bowed, and awkwardly said, "The Empress dowager is glad you were both able to come see her off. These last few days have been especially taxing on her."

The Emperor slightly nodded, while Lei Xing flashed a weak smile with a slight nod as well. Even though neither of them believed his words, they ignored it for the sake of Eunuch Li's bandaged up face. His loyalty was admirable but sorely misplaced in the hands of an unappreciative master. Lei Xing was almost certain that the Empress dowager had not even bothered to apologize for this assault.

{... You poor man, loyalty is good and all but if you keep excusing crazy, it really might just kill you one day.. You're not wrong though, I could feel all that menacing glee down to my soul (?_?)...}

"I will do my utmost to protect your mother and ensure her return to health!" Eunuch Li loudly pledged, going down on one knee. The rest of the men in the escort immediately followed suit, echoing the pledge.

The Emperor looked down at Eunuch Li and knit his brows as his eyes warmed, "You have my trust. Go well." He calmly said.

Eunuch Li looked up at the Emperor and their gazes held for a moment. Eunuch Li's eyes swirled with tears, then he took a deep breath and rose to his feet, gave the Emperor a brilliant smile, and turned away to mount his horse. He gave the Emperor one last long look, then a strong nod, then he turned his horse and began the journey through the palace gates.

The Emperor's gaze remained locked on Eunuch Li's departing back, never losing its mark, not even as other hors.e.m.e.n filed out behind him. Lei Xing could see the loss hidden behind the Emperor's eyes. She moved closer to him and took his hand, gently squeezing it. The Emperor took the comfort she offered and tightly held on to her hand, but his gaze never strayed.

"I will be sure to send him back to you." Monk Du's voice interrupted their somber moment, finally drawing the Emperor's attention from his departing guardian.

The Emperor and Lei Xing silently looked at Monk Du, both seemingly at a loss for words. The Emperor turned back to the departing group, but he could no longer single out Eunuch Li in the sea of horse riders surrounding the Empress dowager's carriage. The Emperor's eyes lingered on the carriage for a moment and in a surprising moment of obscurity, he asked, "...And my mother?" The Emperor scoffed at the word, he could not remember the last time he referred to her as "mother".

Monk Du blinked a few times and lowered his head. He hesitated a moment before vaguely said, "...I will do my utmost."

The Emperor quizzically turned to Monk Du, eyes slightly narrowing as his eyes bore into Monk Du's. Monk Du went rigid but held the Emperor's gaze, more like, he could not move his gaze even if he wanted to.

"Do that then." The Emperor finally said, then abruptly turned and walked away with Lei Xing firmly in his grip.

***

Lei Xing let out a deep sigh and closed the account book in front of her. She could not concentrate on anything at all today. She had not expected to be affected by the Empress dowager's departure like this. Frankly, she had thought that she and the Emperor - well, at least she would be celebrating.

Well, apparently that was not the case because here she was moping and obviously not throwing a party. And this was all because of the Emperor. Obviously, Lei Xing had underestimated the Emperor's attachment to Eunuch Li and well, she had also underestimated or perhaps, forgotten her attachment to the Emperor. How could she possibly be in the mood to celebrate even breathing when he's moping?!

After the send-off, they had walked back in silence still holding hands. Unexpectedly, the Emperor stopped at their palace entrance and turned to Lei Xing, intently staring at her face. It looked as if he were expecting her to say something but...for some unforeseen reason, Lei Xing's brain short-circuited and just stood there, staring back at him like an idiot.

In the end, it seems she hesitated for too long because before she could reorganize her brain cells, the Emperor smiled at her and told her to go in to "rest" - he kept telling her to do that and it was honestly starting to get annoying. Anyway, he turned and left before she could say anything more, not that she had anything to say anyway.

To be honest, she never did well with emotional issues and family issues were particularly touchy for her. She avoided them and well, avoided people with them. It stressed her out, obviously.

But, it was quite impossible to avoid the man you sleep with, who happened to be quite the sentimental creature. His shoulders back then were as straight and high as ever, but to Lei Xing, they looked to be weighed down with the weight of the world.

But what was she supposed to say to him? She had held his hand to comfort him and he was apparently not in the mood to come inside for more comfort. What else could she have done? This was obviously not a pain that she could solve.

{...I'm sorry for your loss doesn't exactly cut it here -_-)'...}

"Arrrgh, I suck.." Lei Xing wearily said with a groan, flopping down on the table with her arms outstretched. At times like this, it was best to leave people alone to sort out their thoughts, or so Lei Xing told herself. When he was ready to see her, he would come back to her.

{...Space.. Space is the answer..}

All that was great and good but then, waiting was not exactly her strong suit. It made her feel agitated and well, irritable.

Xiao Ruo, who had been embroidering on the side glanced up from her work and almost pricked herself when she found Lei Xing staring at her with a disgruntled pout, "Your majesty... is something wrong?" Xiao Ruo carefully asked after composing herself.

Lei Xing blinked, pursed her lips, and shook her head and wrapped her arms around her head.

Xiao Ruo looked at her for a bit, feeling at a loss for what to do. Lei Xing had been a bit down since Ah Jin left and now with the Empress dowager's departure today, she seemed particularly down.

Xiao Ruo sighed, thinking of Ah Jin made her feel upset too. They had been together for quite a while now but, it was good she found her family and she hoped she was happy with them. With that thought, Xiao Ruo perked up and went about dealing with her pouting mistress, "Your majesty... are you hungry?"

Lei Xing simply g.r.o.a.n.e.d in response, not even bothering to raise her head.

"How about something sweet?" Xiao Ruo tried again and received another groan in response.

Xiao Ruo then thought for a bit and suggested, "The head of the treasury department sent news that he got some new valuables, do you want to go see?"

There was a slight pause and it seemed like Lei Xing was contemplating the idea. But then she just raised a hand and dismissively waved, signifying "later". Xiao Ruo knit her brows, food did not work and neither did treasure. Considering Lei Xing was in her study, she did not want to sleep either and work was obviously not working either.

It then clicked in Xiao Ruo's head, then she smiled and tentatively asked, "Your majesty, do you want me to send someone to check on the Emperor? I'm sure he has not had lunch either..." Xiao Ruo added, intentionally dragging out her words.

At first, Lei Xing did not respond, and then she slightly raised her head, contemplating eyes poking over her arms, "Hmmm...do you th-"

"Your majesty?" A maid called from outside, interrupting Lei Xing, who let out an irritated breath, rolled her eyes, and plopped her head back down.

Xiao Ruo sighed and then walked over to the door to talk to the maid. Then she excitedly returned with a smile. There was finally something to cheer Lei Xing up, "Your majesty, your sister is here an-"

"Xiao Ting? For what?" Lei Xing exclaimed, sitting up in surprise.

"I'm not sure.. Should we send her away?" Xiao Ruo tentatively asked.

Lei Xing knit her brows in thought for a bit, she was really not in the mood for people. But then again, Xiao Ting was a breath of fresh air, a bubbly ray of sunshine, it was exactly what she needed right now, "Send her in, send her in~" Lei Xing excitedly said, suddenly perking up.

Xiao Ruo beamed and turned, but then Lei Xing added, "And snacks! she likes those."

"Of course." Xiao Ruo said, bowing her head with a smile, and then she bounced out to carry out the orders.

She needed fresh air, fresh little babies with uncomplicated problems.

When the doors opened, Lei Xing walked forward with a smile to greet her ray of sunshine, only to stop short in surprise when she saw Tung Mei enter with Xiao Ting. She was a bit surprised but she smiled and went ahead. Tung Mei was an even more fun person to be around, they could get drinks and diss Doctor Lou together. This was even more perfect!

But... as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours.

And so, Lei Xing's ray of sunshine came as a moody, leaky cloud, who promptly clung to her arm with a pout and a whimpering, "Jiejie.."

Before Lei Xing could react to this pouting puppy she did not invite, Tung Mei awkwardly went, "Hello - I mean, um, it is good to meet you... Your majesty." She finished with an awkward curtsy, looking up at Lei Xing with wary eyes.

"Your majesty?" Lei Xing went with raised eyebrows, taken aback and confused with this odd greeting. Tung Mei has never once addressed her as "Your majesty", much less curtsied.

"Ah? Di-did I do something wrong?" Tung Mei said, sounding in a bit of a panic, 'I-I-I was told, my aunt, she - I'm so sorry!" She rambled, promptly dropping to her knees and kowtowing.

Lei Xing stared at Tung Mei, frozen. Then Xiao Ting whimpered and then burst into tears, "Jieee, Ying Jie, she, shev- This is all Yong ge's fault!" She said, wailing even more.

Xiao Ruo happened to come back in at that moment and froze at the door, looking at the three in the middle of the room. This was most definitely not an uplifting scene she had envisioned.

{...What the hell is wrong with everyone? Drama and more drama... Why the hell is it so hard to get a ray of sunshine?! Is the sun on strike?! (╬?∩?)...}