196: Appreciation Therapy

Appreciation Therapy

Lei Xing made a beeline for her palace. She stormed into her room and glanced around and her fixed on the Emperor's heavy inkstone. She immediately went to grab it and then set her wrist with the bracelet on a table, still fuming.

{...Get off me this instant...}

{...*Hehe~ You're quite adorable when rattled, It's a natural thing so there's no need to be shy hehe~...}

Lei Xing's face twitched and she became even more infuriated that it was finding joy in her torment.

{...I DON'T CARE! GET OFF ME!...}

{...*Hmm...Okay! If you go accept the proposal I might reconsid-...}

{...NO! I told you I don't negotiate with terrorists! Also, it is none of your Freaking your business what I do with him or MY life! So GET LOST or I'll smash you to bits!...}

{...*snort* You wouldn't dare, you hand's right there...}

Lei Xing laughed in dry humor, her eyebrows twitched and she glared back down at the bracelet. Her grip tightened on the inkstone and then she slammed it down next to the bracelet.

{...You have no idea, get off me! -_-)...}

{...*Calm down! Do you know how precious these gems are?!...}

{...Three seconds...1 -

{...*You wouldn't dare!...}

{...2...}

{...*I wouldn't do that if-...}

{...SHUT THE HELL UP AND GET OFF ME!...}

Lei Xing raised the inkstone and brought it crashing down towards the bracelet, when Ah Jin, who unknowingly to Lei Xing was still lingering around in the room, jumped forward and grabbed Lei Xing's arm mid-smash and with an agitated gaze Ah Jin, "Your highness, don't d-"

"Let go." Lei Xing ordered turning her glare on her, Ah Jin's gaze faltered and Lei Xing was even more incensed by the interruption and she flung her off and brought the inkstone down even harder. It connected and Lei Xing went wide-eyed and her mouth hung open in shock, too stunned to even scream as the pain reverberated through her arm.

{...What the hell? OoO')...}

{...*I warned you~ ^_^)...}

She expected some pain and was ready for it, but what she did not expect was that she would to be the only one to suffer damage...but that was the unbelievable reality before her.

She did not miss it. She was right on the mark but...the inkstone went right through the bracelet and the full impact landed fully on her wrist.

Lei Xing stared at the inkstone that apparently went through the bracelet to land on her wrist. The pain was there but it was pushed to the back of her mind by the unbelievable scene before her eyes. 

She released the inkstone and it dropped to the table. Then she shakily reached out to touch the bracelet but her fingers went through it as well. Lei Xing stood there, mouth open as she continued to attempt to grasp the bracelet. Lei Xing knit her brows in confusion and disbelief but yet she trusted her eyes.

{...How the hell -? What am I saying? It's a flipping talking bracelet...And since I don't believe I'm crazy, this is...plausible now, apparently...F**k! Now I have a freaking INVISIBLE BRACELET! It's not invisible, it's - What the HELL is this?!...Arrrgg-...}

"Your highness." Ah Jin called from behind her and Lei Xing immediately froze and covered the bracelet with her hand. She could not feel the bracelet and it just felt like she was grabbing onto her aching wrist instead. But her pain was still not concerning her at the moment. Lei Xing gulped and turned to Ah Jin with as much composure as she could muster up.

"Your wrist, I'l-" Ah Jin started looking at the wrist Lei Xing was covering, but Lei Xing cut her off and calmly said, "Get out." 

"Bu-"

"Get out." Lei Xing repeated squeezing her eyes shut, irritation clear in her voice. Ah Jin knit her brows but she curtly complied.

After the doors were closed Lei Xing sank to the stool at her side. She could still not feel the bracelet underneath her palm covering it, all her palm could feel was her swelling and aching wrist.

Lei Xing let out a breath and then quietly asked, "Why are you doing this to me?"

She sat there in silence for a long while, her anger was now gone leaving her feeling drained and defeated. Finally, she heard a long, almost weary sounding sigh in response.

{...*Sometimes I myself am not sure...if this is the right way...I have lived a solitary life and do not need reminders of a life I've long forgotten so you need not worry. Moreover, I do not need to listen to your private moments to know your true thoughts...In the end, even if everything else fa- *sigh* Perhaps I'm being too selfish...But I do hope that you both will find happiness in all this...no matter what results...}

Lei Xing's eyes glanced at the edict on the table, she stared at it for a while and then asked out loud again, "Why do you care?"

The bracelet lightly chuckled but she did not feel the chuckle contained any of its usual humor...or perhaps it was her mood that was too poor to perceive any. She was feeling completely trapped at the moment, along with an almost overwhelming sense of suffocation.

{...*You can just consider me a hopeless romantic who is invested in seeing YOUR happily ever after...He's a great man who loves you more than you could possibly know...Perhaps even more than he knows...Be wise and appreciate him, lest you come to regret it when it's too late...}

And with those wise words, the bracelet left Lei Xing alone with a throbbing wrist and her own quiet thoughts for company.

***

After coming to terms with Lei Xing's hasty exit, the Emperor sent a summons for Prince Yi and resumed his work in an improved mood. Her reaction was not what he hoped for, but it was understandable and the prospects looked good, so he was satisfied for the moment.  

A few hours passed but there was still no sign of Prince Yi. Finally, Eunuch Li entered the royal study with a frown and informed, "Prince Yi said he is ill and is worried about endangering your health and so he cannot come."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and then lightly chuckled. Eunuch Li frowned at him, "Your majesty, this is clearly an insult. He made the Eunuch wait for almost two hours just to say he was ill. You need t-"

"Send an Imperial doctor." The Emperor calmly interjected, returning his focus to his writing, "You go as well to ensure he gets the best treatment and make the inquiry...I do not want to see him either."

Eunuch Li was not happy with Prince Yi's behavior nor the Emperor's indulgence of it. But he begrudgingly went to see to the task.

When Eunuch Li and the group arrived at Prince Yi's manor, Eunuch Li immediately demanded to be led to Prince Yi stating that the Emperor instructed that his "care" must not be delayed for even a second. Eunuch Li bullied his way to Prince Yi's bedroom where he found him sitting down drinking wine, looking rumpled but quite healthy.

Prince Yi narrowed his eyes at Eunuch Li as if trying to discern who he was and then he simply ignored him and poured a cup of wine and continued drinking. 

Eunuch Li frowned in annoyance but bowed and said, "The Emperor was very concerned for your health and sent us to access your condition."

Prince Yi snorted, "Unfortunately, I am still alive." 

Eunuch Li ignored his statement and motioned for the Imperial doctor to go check on him. The Imperial doctor moved towards Prince Yi but he glared at him and the Imperial doctor froze and turned to Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li curtly informed, "Your highness, since the Emperor personally sent us here. If we were to leave without verifying your illness, it would mean you not only lied to the Emperor, but that you also ignored his summons...Both are capital offenses." And then he flatly added, "It is in your best interests to cooperate." He then glared at the Imperial doctor and the man immediately went over to Prince Yi. Prince Yi sat still with a frown on his face, but he let the Imperial doctor check his pulse. 

When the Imperial doctor released his hand, Prince Yi glared at the man and coldly went, "So?"

The Imperial doctor gulped, bowed and informed, "Your heartbeat is quite irregular and your energy is weak. It is due to immense fatigue from a lack of sleep. I suggest..." He broke off, gulped again and proceeded, "Less alcohol and more rest. I will send medication to aid your peaceful slumber." 

Prince Yi then turned his glare to Eunuch Li and sneered, "Fortunately, it is not as serious as I thought. My mistake." Then he picked up the jug and then took a few gulps, irritated that the Emperor thought to bully him with an Eunuch. When he finally dropped the jug, he saw that the room was now empty save for Eunuch Li.

Prince Yi raised an eyebrow and mockingly said, "Are you here to kill me? This is rather disappointing..." 

Eunuch Li dismissed his comment and simply asked, "Did you notice anything about anyone who got close to you two that night?"

Prince Yi immediately frowned.

{...That again...}

Prince Yi let out a breath and poured a cup of wine, then he picked up the cup and stared fixedly at it as he swirled the contents, "Who knows...It was dark and very crowded..."

"There was a man who bumped into Noble consort Lei." Eunuch Li supplied.

"Was there?" Prince Yi asked with a raised eyebrow, "Ohh, there might have been..." Then he sighed, "But as you heard, I'm terribly fatigued so my memory might be fleeting at the moment. I need to rest..." Prince Yi dismissively said but when Eunuch Li did not move, Prince Yi simply ignored him, staggered to his feet and went to lay down on his bed. 

Eunuch Li glared at the figure on the bed and turned to leave, it was obvious Prince Yi did not plan on being helpful, at least not in the state he was in. But then he stopped, "Be aware that you are simply living on his sympathy, sympathy which you have shown you lack. Be grateful for it and tread with care. You are in no way untouchable." And with that, he turned and left.

Prince Yi heard and understood the warning aimed at him, but he was too drunk and irritated to care. He rolled over and settled in to sleep.2

{...Sympathy?...Who needs his sympathy?...}

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