"So...You want to chase after her?" The Emperor tentatively asked, looking down at Lei Yong with a piercing gaze that made him uncomfortable. He had been busy at work in his study when Lei Yong rushed in with a bizarre request.

Lei Yong inwardly sighed, he knew this conversation would be awkward and he would rather not have it. But as a general and an official in the Emperor's court - friend or not, he could not be absent from the capital for an extended period of time without the Emperor's permission.

It had been a few days since Tung Mei left the capital - without a word to Lei Yong's annoyance. He was only made aware of her departure after dropping by at her aunt's manor to check on her. At first, he was taken aback as he thought they were becoming friends again despite her memory loss. The fact that she did not even deem at least a goodbye necessary was disappointing. He had resolved to forget about her and live his life as well, but after a few days of worry-fueled restlessness, he found himself here asking for permission to go after her so he can regain his peace of mind.

"Don't phrase it like that. You're making it sound strange. I am just concerned about her safety." Lei Yong defended.

"Safety? The roads from here to Xia province are probably one of the safest in the country with various checkpoints. I am also certain that the young miss is accompanied by a sufficient number of armed escorts. Some may consider your presence will be redundant." The Emperor happily reassured with a slight smirk, clearly enjoying this situation.

Lei Yong knit his brows, "It is not about that. Her father entrusted her to my care, so naturally, it is my duty to ensure her safe return. I know it's a busy time right now with Prince Yi and the Zou situation but..." He paused in hesitation before he cupped his hands and bowed his head, "I need to do this."

The Emperor was quiet for a long while. Lei Yong was uncomfortable with the silence, he knew that it meant that the Emperor was contemplating something and that it was best to be silent. Lei Yong did not actually think the Emperor would have an issue with him leaving, but now with this prolonged silence, Lei Yong was thinking that perhaps the Emperor has plans for him to do something and his absence would complicate the Emperor's plans?

Lei Yong's resolve began to waver and he was starting to lean toward telling the Emperor to forget it when the Emperor finally spoke, "Well... My brother's situation is under my control, as for the Zou situation, their prime minister won't be arriving for a while and even then, there isn't really anything I need you to do with that. As for other matters, they can be assigned to others but... just to clarify, you've finally decided to marry her, correct?"

"What? No!" Lei Yong denied as he whipped his head, giving the Emperor a look of horror. The Emperor raised a curious eyebrow up at this reaction, he really was not the nosy type but this matter surprisingly peeked his nosiness, "Then why are you chasing after he-"

"I told you I'm not chasing after her!" Lei Yong fiercely denied again.

"Yong, I've known you a long time and I've never seen you so bothered about anything before this girl. You have feelings for this girl and yet you deny it. Why?" The Emperor asked with a frown.

Lei Yong frowned and lowered his head, "I've told you, it's not like that..."

{...Why does everyone keep assuming?!...}

"Then why do you follow her about?" The Emperor asked, "And do not mention her father again." With that excuse scrapped, Lei Yong closed his mouth with a frown. Seeing he had no response, the Emperor continued, "If you cannot give me a valid reason then you may not go."

Lei Yong looked up at the Emperor with a wounded child's expression but the Emperor did not care and unfeelingly said, "Let the girl move on." and resumed what he was doing, ignoring Lei Yong, who he assumed was in silent protest as he refused to leave.

After a long while of silence, Lei Yong hesitantly spoke, "I... I don't know." He finished with a heavy sigh.

"Don't know what?" The Emperor asked, giving him attention again.

"I... I like her but... It's just that whenever I am confronted with us being, you know, together, I just -... I don't know, it's just... I'm not entirely convinced." Lei Yong haphazardly explained.

"Convinced about?"

"Well..." Lei Yong paused, trying to find the words, "I don't know... It's just...a feeling? A thought maybe?... I don't know." He confusedly said. To be honest, even he did not know what his problem was.

The Emperor snorted and lightly chuckled, "You Lei siblings are definitely something else..."

"What?" Lei Yong asked with a frown.

"Nothing." The Emperor said, shaking his head in amus.e.m.e.nt and disbelief. Even though his Lei Xing had explained to him that she was not at all related to this Lei family, the Emperor could not help drawing similarities between Lei Yong and Lei Xing in this very moment. They both are clearly very confused and irritating individuals when it comes to matters of the heart. While he could never have beat sense into Lei Xing, he could definitely do that for Lei Yong but he would try for a more civilized route.

"So it's the decision to marry her that is your problem." The Emperor helpfully surmised.

Lei Yong uncomfortably shifted on his feet, it was too awkward having this conversation, "I guess so..." He awkwardly said, this conversation was too awkward. It felt as if he were on trial in the nude.

The Emperor fell silent again, this time Lei Yong was too on edge to wait so he went, "Since I have answered...can I leave then?" He asked, after all this was the whole point of him sharing his innermost thoughts. Once he found Tung Mei, he would give her a stern lecture.

How could she leave without a word, putting him in such an awkward position to "chase", Memory loss or not, did their friendship really mean so little? If not to him, then what about Xiao Ting? Or their parents? They were quite close, she should have at least informed them as elders - this way, someone would have informed him and he could have planned more appropriately.

The Emperor sighed and then said, "You know... Xing er' wanted nothing to do with me at the start. Contrary to what you might believe, she did not want to marry me." The Emperor stated before Lei Yong could contradict his words with talk of the past, "I won't get into her reasons for insisting on joining the selection back then as those are private matters between she and I." The Emperor smartly covered for her character inconsistencies.

"She would stealthily send me away whenever I came close to her, she even tried to negotiate and barter her freedom with me." The Emperor said with a light chuckle, remembering the puzzle that Lei Xing was to him at the beginning of their relationship, "Even when she came to have feelings for me, she still pushed me away because like you, she was not certain that she could trust in durability our relationship, which was fair given the circ.u.mstances."

Lei Yong frowned, he was surprised that Lei Xing would treat such a good-natured husband like the Emperor like that. The Emperor was obviously not a frivolous man, he had no idea that? Lei Yong cupped his hands and bowed, "My sister was shortsighted. I apologize for any distress she? -"

"It's all fond memories now." The Emperor said with a dismissive wave, "The point is there are no certainties in life, all decisions we make are simply based on a gamble on possibilities. Do not hinder your own happiness because of trivialities... Do you understand?"

Lei Yong was silent. He understood but...

The Emperor sighed, "How about this? Since declaring your future intentions is the root of your problem, how about I decree your marriage?"

Lei Yong's eyes went wide and he looked as if he were frozen in shock.

"No?" The Emperor asked, "She comes from an appropriate background and your family seems quite fond of her. You also apparently cannot rest peacefully in her absence, the natural next step is marriage. This ambiguous stage cannot play out forever. Even the most patient person will eventually wear out one day. You realize that if not you, the lady in question will eventually marry someone else. "

Lei Yong knit his brows but still remained silent, obviously still not "convinced".

The Emperor sighed, "I will make it simpler for you. If you chase after her, then I will take it that you have decided to marry her and issue a decree. If you can live with her as your wife, then you may chase after her. If you cannot, then I expect your presence in court. That is my decision. The choice is now yours, that's all. You may leave." The Emperor finished and went back to work. While he can tolerate playing this cat and mouse game with Lei Xing, he was not going to get into that with Lei Yong.

The Emperor finally understood why he was feeling especially nosy on an issue that had nothing to do with him. He was feeling sorry for Tung Mei as a comrade, having prior experience of dealing with the invincible walls these Lei siblings have constructed in their heads. He was starting to think it was a genetic issue and he was suddenly curious about how Defense minister Lei and his wife got together. Regardless, it was unfair for Lei Yong to play with the young woman's feelings like this. Why latch onto someone when you don't want them?

Lei Yong stared at the Emperor, at a loss for words. He could tell from the Emperor's demeanor that this was not a joke. If he left now, he would really be forced into marrying her... but was forced really the word? Maybe not, but still, this did not seem fair and he wanted to argue as much, but for some reason, his words failed him. In the end, he turned and stalked out with a frown, most likely returning to his brooding spot or perhaps setting out to chase the horizon.