Chapter 54 - Perplexing Encounters (2/2)
The Emperor blinked and frowned in confusion
... Is he being serious? Or is he toying with me? -_-)...
The Emperor then said, ”I am being serious here.”
Doctor Lou paused and then squinted at him and got down from his stool mumbling, ”I am also being serious...” Then he walked outside and kicked away the rocks keeping the doors open and closed the first one, then he looked at the Emperor who was still standing inside watching him with a frown, ”Are you not coming out?”
The Emperor's frown deepened, but he still walked outside to join him, ”So wh-”
”We're friends.” Doctor Lou interjected, then he glanced at the Emperor's skeptical expression and frowned, ”What, you don't believe me? Do I look like someone who can't have friends? Is it because I'm old?” Doctor Lou asked with indignation.
The Emperor's lips twitched, ”No, that's no-”
”Or are you jealous?” Doctor Lou cut him off with a smirk and then wiggling his eyebrows asked, ”Do you want to be my friend too? I can help you, you know.”
The Emperor frowned, ”No, why-”
”Fine then, I don't expect you, ”young ones” to ever want to hang out with old me. Probably think I'm too boring because I'm old. Children these days are so horrible, they think they know everything...Can't tell what is good for them, too disappointing...” He grumbled as he quickly stepped back inside pulling the other door shut and barked from the other side as he bolted the door, ”Anyway, your wife is not here! Goodbye!”
The Emperor stood there frowning at the closed doors in confusion.
Commander An who was watching the exchange from a distance walked up to the Emperor, ”As I mentioned, he is not exactly the cooperative sort, should I break down the door?”
The Emperor turned to him still frowning, ”No, just leave him be.” Then he turned to leave.
...He hasn't done anything wrong yet...I can't go around harassing people for no reason...Plus he seems like the stubborn sort who wouldn't talk even though he was threatened, he's definitely... abnormal...and she's not exactly normal either, so I can see how it possible for them to be friends -_-)'...but friends, really?... It just seems strange...Is there really nothing? She doesn't make sense...and he also doesn't seem to make sense...
The Emperor had come with the intention to get some clue as to what is going on with Lei Xing. Instead of answers, he ended up leaving more confused than he had come. The conversation went nowhere and the only thing he got was that they were ”friends”.
By the time the Emperor returned to the palace it was already dark. He decided to go to Lei Xing's palace with the aim to get some clarity on the nature of this friendship.
...She's definitely easier to handle...
When he arrived, he happened to encounter Ah Jin at the entrance on her way out. Ah Jin bowed in greeting and he simply stood there scrutinizing her for a bit and then asked, ”You're her personal maid, aren't you?”
Ah Jin bowed her head, ”Yes, your majesty.”
”How long have you been serving her?”
”It's been many years now, since she was very young.” Ah Jin responded.
”I see, so you've always been together since then?”
”Yes, your majesty.”
”Then you must be very close?” The Emperor asked narrowing his eyes.
Ah Jin slightly knit her brows and simply nodded.
”Hm, I see...” The Emperor paused observing Ah Jin for a bit and then asked, ”You must have gone out with her today, where did she go?”
”She went to see a doctor.” Ah Jin truthfully responded.
”Why?” The emperor swiftly asked.
Ah Jin's eyebrows twitched and then she said, ”Her highness's health has not been very good lately, and he has been able to help in giving her a remedy for relief...so that is why...”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, ”Remedy for relief? Ah, so that was what you went to procure from that doctor before when she had just entered the palace...”
Ah Jin blinked and then responded, ”Yes, your majesty.”
”I see...” The emperor smirked.
...Remedy for relief, conception medication, friends? Which is it?...
The Emperor was a bit amused by this situation and was eager to get Lei Xing's perspective on it. He was fairly certain the doctor was the one lying, as Ah Jin's story made more sense but he was confused as to why he would go through the trouble of lying.
...Why lie? Did she ask him to? No, that makes no sense...Was he just doing out of boredom?... Or is there really more to it?... Am I thinking too much?... What exactly am I even expecting to find here?....
”What is the Noble consort doing now?” The Emperor asked.
”She is asleep.” Ah Jin responded.
The Emperor knit his brows, then Ah Jin asked, ”Would you like to see her? I'll go wake her.”
”No need.” The Emperor quickly responded and turned to leave, after a few steps he paused for a bit, and then resumed walking.
...It's fine, it can be discussed tomorrow...
Ah Jin watched him walking off with his retinue, then let out a heavy sigh and continued on her way.