The Empress dowager frowned as she saw the Emperor come in with Lei Xing.
She had been notified earlier by a small official under the Minister of Rites that Lei Xing would be coming over to receive her blessings. Like Lei Xing, she begrudgingly got ready.
She had thought things over and she had been too direct with the Emperor, she should have expressed her discontent with a cool head, hidden her displeasure and then settled things quietly. If she was nice and accepting, she would naturally have easier access to the "problem".
Therefore, to keep up proper appearances, she was going to "happily" receive Lei Xing and then privately deliver her blessings later. But then the Emperor's sudden appearance beside Lei Xing threw her off-balance and she found herself seething with renewed anger as she watched them bow in front of her.
