Lei Xing's blasphemous words of elopement sparked the Emperor's brain back to life. He frowned and swiftly strode past the guilt-ridden Lei Yong who was still staring at Tung mei, seemingly still in shock over Lei Xing's thoughtless explanation for Tung Mei's condition.

The Emperor stopped behind the embracing sisters, put his hands on their shoulders, and drew them apart. "I'm busy, go away." Lei Xing dismissively said, reaching for Xiao Ting who was also stretching her arms out to get back to her. The Emperor's frown deepened and he glared at Xiao Ting while pulling them back again.

The two girls turned to him with disgruntled frowns, but then when Xiao Ting met the Emperor's irritated eyes, she promptly faced forward, lowered her head, and began fidgeting with her dress with a pout. Meanwhile, Lei Xing was naturally unfazed and glared at the Emperor and irritatedly asked, "What's your problem?"

The Emperor blinked at her, taken aback, he had not expected to have to explain himself. He swept a glance around the faces in the room and immediately concluded that he could not say out loud that he did not like seeing her clinging to someone else... That would be an incredibly stupid thing to say, not to mention embarrassing.

I mean, it was not like he was jealous. It was...unseemly to have the Empress clinging a person like this, in public. With that thought, the Emperor concluded that it was best to get Lei Xing out of here before she did anything more...troublesome.

The Emperor smiled at Lei Xing and said, "How about I go with you instead? In fact, we can leave right now. Let's g-"

Lei Xing slapped his hands away and shook her head, "No, you can't leave the palace."

The Emperor's smile faltered but he persisted, "Well, you can't leave either unless it's with me so..."

Lei Xing knit her brows and held her chin as she skeptically looked him over as if she were debating the validity of his words. The Emperor sighed and thinking that she was quietly contemplating, he reached towards her again, but she just leaned back. He leaned in closer and she moved back again. The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her, "Xing er', beha-"

"Stop!" Xiao Ting's shout suddenly cut through the room followed by the sound of breaking porcelain, and Lei Yong's following shout of "Xiao Ting!"

In response, Xiao Ting grabbed a plate and raised it up, "Not allowed!" She threateningly said, her glare on Lei Yong intensifying.

Seeing that the Emperor seemed to have Lei Xing under control, Lei Yong had decided to just go grab Xiao Ting. He had only taken two steps when Xiao Ting suddenly took it upon herself to send a jug flying at his head.

Lei Xing looked at Lei Yong who was holding his head, then she laughed and jumped to hug Xiao Ting, "They grow up so fast~"

Xiao Ting happily giggled and threw the plate towards Lei Yong, who jumped back, glaring daggers at his sisters.

"That's enough!" The Emperor said with a frown, separating the two sisters again, "We are leaving right now!" He sternly said as he tried to gather Lei Xing in his arms but then she started punching and kicking, "No! You can't tell me what to do! I'm the Empress!"

"And I'm the Emperor!" The Emperor said, fending off Lei Xing's hands that were attempting to claw out his eyes.

"So? Leave me alone! I did not sign up for you!" Lei Xing struggling even more, "Help! Kidnapping! Ting Ting, Ying Yang, save me!"

Tung Mei promptly turned her head away, pretending not to see but then she locked eyes with Lei Yong, and it felt even weirder. Meanwhile, Xiao Ting the dutiful younger sister grabbed the Emperor's arm, "You are not the Emperor! Unhand Jiejie!"

"Xing er', calm down! Lei Yong! Come contain your younger sister!" The Emperor irritatedly said, trying to lightly shake off Xiao Ting while trying to maintain his around Lei Xing who was wriggling and trying hard to crawl her way towards Tung Mei, who must be deaf because she was too busy studying something in the opposite direction to grab Lei Xing's outstretched hands.

"Oh!" Lei Yong snapped out of it and raced over.

"I said unhand my Jiejie!" Xiao Ting shouted as she latched onto the Emperor's arm and then bit down hard!

"Ah!" The Emperor exclaimed and reflexively flung his arm and Xiao Ting was thrown against the wall behind them and they all froze.

Lei Xing sharply inhaled and covered her mouth, "You killed my Ting Ting!" She shouted as she quickly crawled over to Xiao Ting's "lifeless" body and started slapping her face, "Ting Ting, you in there? Ting Ting!" Lei Yong also raced over and crouched down beside them.

"I- I didn't mean to - she attacked - I - I just - Send for a physician!" The Emperor bumbled through, Xiao Ruo who had been lingering at the doors quickly bopped and raced off to get a physician.

"Mmm, jie~" Xiao Ting suddenly mumbled as she rolled onto her side, cozying up to Lei Xing's legs. It seemed she was just asleep. The inhabitants in the room let out a collective sigh of relief. Lei Xing well back to the floor, suddenly exhausted while the Emperor just massaged his forehead.

Lei Xing had definitely sobered up now. She looked from Xiao Ting who was now happily cuddling her arm to the rest of the room, then she nervously laughed and said, "Um... I think the party's over now..."

The Emperor and Lei Yong narrowed their eyes at her and she added, "...may have gotten a bit, just a bit out of hand. It's the alcohol you know heh - hiccup!" Lei Xing cleared her throat, "It's bad for you~" She added with a smiling nod.

"Um... Can I go home now...please?" Tung Mei awkwardly asked and the three turned to her, "If it's alright with you...Xing jie, Your majesty." She added, bopping her head in the Emperor's direction.

"Of course it is, I will escort you home." Lei Yong quickly responded, jumping to his feet. Tung Mei glanced at him, her face twitched a bit but she weakly smiled and politely said, "Thank you."

Lei Yong cleared his throat and nodded. He then reached down to carry Xiao Ting, but Lei Xing bent over and wrapped her hands around Xiao Ting, "No, I'm keeping her."

Lei Yong sighed, "Xing er', we're all tired. She's already asleep, ju-"

"I said I'm keeping this one, go get your own sister!" She blurted out, glaring up at Lei Yong.

Lei Yong let out another exasperated breath and looked at the Emperor, asking for help. The Emperor sighed but before he could even begin Lei Xing had caught wind of the strategy and narrowed her eyes directly at the Emperor and sternly said, "Kai, we're keeping her." While she nodded her head in Lei Yong's direction and then towards Tung Mei's.

The Emperor came out of his freeze and knit his brows at her in confusion. He was having trouble comprehending right now and it was also now helping that she was blinking at him rapidly. It was really strange to hear her saying his name. He was not quite sure how he felt about her calling him by name. It made him feel - he could not quite place it yet, this was unfamiliar territory that required more thought to identify.

But for now, he was tired and just went along with Lei Xing for his peace of mind. Moreover, he did not think the Defense minister finding out that he had almost "killed" his daughter - her getting drunk in the palace, Lei Xing's fault in this notwithstanding, was also not a good look. So he said, "Yong, I'm sure your parents will be shocked seeing your younger sister like this. I think it's best you leave her with us today. We'll send her back tomorrow."

"When we want." Lei Xing amended and the Emperor smiled at Lei Yong and flatly said, "Tomorrow."

Lei Yong looked down at the sleeping Xiao Ting and then said, "I... I guess that makes sense." It would definitely be awkward to return home with a drunk Xiao Ting. Especially considering they had no idea they were even going to the palace.

Lei Xing glared at the Emperor and the Emperor smiled at her and then stood up. He walked over to Lei Xing and dutifully bent over and picked up the sleeping Xiao Ting, who happily wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbling unintelligible nonsense that ended with, "Jie~"

The Emperor sighed again and looked down at Lei Xing who was still sitting on the floor looking up at him with a blank expression, "Can you walk?" He asked and Lei Xing cluelessly blinked at him and then excitedly nodded. She then grabbed onto one of his legs and literally climbed up to his arm trying to get herself up. This was obviously uncomfortable for the Emperor - for unspoken reasons. So he cleared his throat and started, "Xing er', I'll just come ba-"

"No need, I'm up!" Lei Xing announced, stabilizing on her feet as she clutched his arm for dear life, "Let's walk~" She said, beaming up at him.

The Emperor slightly smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt and then sighed in defeat when Xiao Ting further cozied up to him. This was not at all the sister he wanted in his arms but apparently, even Emperor's can't always win. The royal nodded goodbye to their guests and then awkwardly walked off, stopping occasionally when Lei Xing almost tripped on her own feet and then when she stepped on the Emperor's foot, a few times.

When they got to the doors, Lei Xing suddenly pulled the Emperor to a stop and turned back, and glared at Lei Yong. The Emperor raised an eyebrow at her, "Wh-"

"Shhhh!" Lei Xing said, covering his mouth with her hand. She then pointed two fingers to her eyes and then pointed them at Lei Yong and menacingly said, "I'm watching you."

"Oh..." Lei Yong awkwardly responded. Satisfied, Lei Xing turned back to the Emperor with a smile and pulled him along, and the two stumbled their way into the hallway.

Lei Yong and Tung Mei sighed in unison before catching themselves again, they glanced at each other and then promptly looked away, both frowning.

{...Well...this is going to be awkward...}