Chapter 356 - Fervent Farewell

"You want to leave the palace?" Lei Xing asked with raised eyebrows, taken aback. Lei Xing had been unable to sleep and after tossing and turning for a while, she had called someone in to get a book for her. Ah Jin came, gave her book, and then informed that she had a request and here they were.

"Yes... You once told me, you said release me from the palace if I wished it so... I wish it now. Please grant my wish." Ah Jin said with a bow.

Lei Xing took a deep breath and then blurted out, "Why?" Then she quickly added, "I mean, it's not like I don't want to, it's just... curious..."

Ah Jin knit her brows and thought for a bit before awkwardly saying, "I would like to go live with my family."

"Family? I thought you said you had no one? You grew up with my family, did you just locate your family then?" Lei Xing skeptically asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ahhh... yes. We just met." Ah Jin awkwardly responded again.Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click <a href="#%!d(string=13455346806916405)/fervent-farewell_%!d(string=51334838627660248)">#%!d(string=13455346806916405)/fervent-farewell_%!d(string=51334838627660248)</a> for visiting.

Lei Xing quietly scrutinized her for a bit, before raising her eyebrows and declaring, "I want to meet them -"

"Ah?!" Ah Jin exclaimed, "Why?"

"To make sure you're not being swindled." Lei Xing flatly said and then watched on with masked amus.e.m.e.nt as Ah Jin looked down, her eyes started spinning and cold sweat started to form on her forehead.

Ah Jin had really not expected to be questioned like this. Doctor Lou had said that Lei Xing would not care one way or another, all she had to do was ask to leave and Lei Xing would simply dismiss her. Therefore, well, Doctor Lu knew Lei Xing a lot better than she did, so she went along with him and obviously did not prepare any excuse!

Doctor Lou had come last night to see her, to inform her of a few changes to the, um, operations.

Doctor Lou had to leave to see to Xiao Ying's condition. Honestly, Ah Jin had no idea where Xiao Ying got this hare-brained idea of hers. She had thought the girl understood and had gone to go sulk somewhere or perhaps, even moved on from all this. So Ah Jin had been really surprised when Doctor Lou showed up with her like that... Honestly, this father and daughter pair would probably be the death of her.

As for the operational changes, since Doctor Lou had to leave, Ah Jin was now assigned to following the Empress dowager and the monk. As soon as they neared the Taohua temple, she was to alert him immediately and was not to engage. He also warned her to be careful not to alert the monk of her presence.

Ah Jin was honestly glad for the change of pace, being in the palace has been so restricting and honestly, boring. But still, she was curious about why he was suddenly so interested in the Empress dowager and this monk, but as it had been from the beginning of these "covert operation", he did not want to divulge anything and said he was simply "curious" and warned her not to slack off.

This meant that her task of "minding" Lei Xing was officially finally over. Ah Jin had asked what would happen with her current role - he did tend to forget the "minor details" of things while planning. In true Doctor Lou fashion, he waved it off and said to "forget about insignificant matters".

In his own words, the three of them - Lei Xing, Jun Kai, and Jun Shan, could go run themselves headfirst into a volcano, he apparently no longer cared. He was too busy. Although there was one more thing he needed Lei Xing and the Emperor to achieve before their volcano dive.

"You know, you're a really bad liar..." Lei Xing said, bringing Ah Jin out of her panicked stupor and she began fidgeting even more. 

Lei Xing sighed, "Relax, you are no prisoner here. I am simply asking out of concern for you... So tell me, why are you really leaving?" Ah Jin hesitated, her mind reeling searching for a plausible excuse.

"Are you in a relationship?" Lei Xing asked, inquisitively asked and Ah Jin became even more fl.u.s.tered as she shook her head, "No - ah, no, that-"

Lei Xing snorted and then said, "It's alright if you are. I will ensure you marry you off in style -" Lei Xing suddenly paused and frowned, "Wait, don't tell me you're planning to elope? Is the person a noble or something? If that's the case, there is no need to worry. We can simply adopt you into our family. I am sure my parents will have no problem with that and even if they do then, I can have the Emperor elevate your status, no one would dare to look down on y -"

"No, that's really not it!" Ah Jin finally exclaimed at her wit's end, "It's really not it. I - I...I just want a change of pace. The truth is... It's just that when you asked before, you had just entered the palace, your future was uncertain and you had no allies here, I couldn't just leave you like that, alone here. But now..." Ah Jin finally looked up at Lei Xing, finding her confidence in the truth, "You have found your rightful place here and I can leave knowing that you will be alright." She finished with a smile.

Lei Xing was right, she was a terrible liar. Therefore, she spoke the truth. This was the reason Doctor Lou had instructed her to stay even after Xiao Ying left - at least this was the main reason, or well, the only one Ah Jin acknowledged. The other reason was to spy on Lei Xing and the Emperor to ensure things went "smoothly". But of course, Ah Jin had no idea how Doctor Lou had expected her to bring those two together, so she did little to nothing on that front.

Moreover, she did not want to do anything that will bring her trouble later on. It was still alright to be a passive bystander while Doctor Lou played about. They could understand that there was not much she could do to stop her master from doing whatever he wants.

Lei Xing scrutinized Ah Jin for a while and then finally sighed, "Alright, if there is really nothing then you may leave tomorrow if you will. I will arrange some things for you to take and well, if you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask..." She finished with a little pout.

Ah Jin smiled and said, "Thank you for all your care... I hope you will live out the rest of your days here happily." She finished with a light bow.

Lei Xing awkwardly shifted on the beard with knit eyebrows. 

{... Honestly, is there some stupid leaving bug going around or something? -_-)'...}

Le Xing turned back to Ah Jin with a sigh and said, "You should go prepare yourself then... Thank you for all the care as well."

Ah Jin smiled and bowed low and then turned to leave just as the other two reached her. Ah Jin stopped and frowned, "What is that for?"

"The Empress is not feeling too well and asked for pain medication." Xiao Ruo informed.

"And you brought this?" Ah Jin asked with a frown, her tone one of clear dissatisfaction - disgust almost.

The Imperial physician glanced from Ah Jin to Xiao Ruo, and he then looked down at Lei Xing and then tried his best to mask his frustration at the fact that even a maid was now questioning his expertise. It was one thing for the Empress to question his expertise, but a maid was grating. But with no choice, he cordially responded - aiming his response at Lei Xing instead, "Although the smell is strong and displeasing, it is very safe and will aid Your majesty in recovering -"

"You can't drink this, it's too strong." Ah Jin interjected, also addressing Lei Xing.

The Imperial physician's lips twitched and he turned to Ah Jin and reiterated, "As I have said, it is perfectly safe for Her majesty. At most, it would allow Her Majesty to slip into a relaxing sleep that would give her body time to heal itself. She will feel greatly refreshed upon waking. Moreover, the Empress asked for strong medication -"

"Even then, as a doctor, you should know better than to give something so strong to someone in her condition." Ah Jin said with irritation, also now addressing him.

"Are you a doctor?" The Imperial physician asked with glare, his face slightly turning red.

"I -" Ah Jin froze and blinked at him, then lowered her head and mumbled, "...no..."

"Then how can you know which is good or bad medicine? You cannot judge medication based on the look and smell. Good medication is not sweet. This blend of medication is great in resolving body aches and pains. It is exactly what the Empress needs. Even though -"

"Okay, that's enough. You two are aggravating my headache. Bring it." Lei Xing ordered and the Imperial physician, feeling vindicated, slightly smiled as Xiao Ruo picked up the bowl and took it over to Lei Xing, but before Lei Xing could take it, Ah Jin intercepted the bowl, "Your majesty, you really can't drink this. It will be bad for the child -"

"What child?" Lei Xing and Xiao Ruo asked in unison with raised eyebrows. Ah Jin froze and simply blinked back at them with wide eyes, simply at a loss herself.

"Your majesty, are you pregnant?" Xiao Ruo asked, turning to Lei Xing for an answer since Ah Jin had gone mute. Lei Xing blinked back at her, equally taken aback. Lei Xing then turned to the Imperial physician with knit eyebrows, "Am I pregnant?" 

{... It can't be that quick - Well, it can but...no… too soon O_O;)...}

The Imperial physician, who had also been shocked, shook his head before going, "... no, you're - I can check again." He said, quickly walking over to kneel at Lei Xing's side, taking the wrist she offered. Then he let out a sigh and confirmed, "You're not pregnant Your majesty."

Xiao Ruo also sighed in disappointment while Lei Xing sighed in relief, she was honestly not ready for that phase in life just yet. Honestly, sometimes she felt like her life was a speed train, so she was glad the train was not in a rush for this stop just yet.

With that out of the way, the trio looked back to Ah Jin and Lei Xing voiced their thoughts, "What child are you talking about?"

Ah Jin gulped, opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again, "Um... I was talking about... Well, your majesty c-could be with child, yesterday -" When Lei Xing raised a suspicious eyebrow, she quickly added, "...Or the day before, or the day before that, the one after that too or - Point is, he would not be able to tell if you had just recently, very recently became pregnant. Therefore, you should always be treated as a prospectively expectant mother...." Ah Jin awkwardly finished, quite fl.u.s.tered.

The three of them still looked at her oddly, seemingly not quite convinced. Lei Xing's eyes especially made her uncomfortable, causing her cheeks to heat up as the memory of the scene she had been faced with last night in this very room came to mind.

{...No, no, I am NOT a pervert!...O_O)...I'm starting to sound like him T_T)...}