Chapter 292 - Lobbying Antics (1/2)

Ah Jin arrived at Tung Mei's relative's manor and was promptly led to their main hall to await the mistress of the household. Tung Mei's aunt quickly rushed in a short while later and bowed, ”I apologize for keeping you waiting...”

”It's alright...” Ah Jin responded, respectfully bowing back.

”How may we be of service to the Empress?” The aunt asked, bowing with a smile.

”Ah, I am actually here on an errand to Miss Tung...” Ah Jin informed.

”I see...” The aunt said, knitting her brows, she hesitated a bit before informing, ”Unfortunately, my niece is very sick at the moment... But I can take the message on her behalf and ensure she receives it once she recovers...”

Ah Jin smiled, ”I am sorry that is not possible, the Empress gave very specific instructions. I have to directly speak with Miss Tung...I am fine with going to her so if you would just lead the way...”

The aunt bowed and again and said, ”It's not that I don't want to...but it's just that Mei er' has had a relapse of old illness we thought was gone. She is currently unconscious and receiving treatment so it's a bit difficult...”

Ah Jin let out a breath and narrowed her eyes at the woman and the woman froze and stared at Ah jin wide-eyed as if under a spell.

{...Take me to Tung Mei...}

”Of course, come with me...” The aunt promptly responded with a bow, still wide-eyed. She then promptly turned and led the way to Tung Mei's room in a daze. Ah Jin sighed and immediately followed behind her.

They arrived at Tung Mei's room to find a doctor adding herbs to a large smoke pot in the middle of the room with a maid assisting him while another was cooling Tung Mei's face with a cloth. As soon as they entered the room, Ah jin glanced at the aunt and ordered, ”Clear the room...”

The aunt bowed and then turned to the doctor and the maids and ordered, ”You all leave...”

The maids promptly stopped and went to leave but the doctor knit his brows and protested, ”Madam, I am not yet done with the -”

”I said leave, now.” The aunt swiftly cut him off with a frown.

”Wait outside...It won't take long.” Ah Jin added and the aunt nodded and repeated, ”Wait outside...”

The doctor frowned but got up and left the room with the maids, closing the doors behind them. Ah Jin then glanced at the aunt and the aunt went to bow again and then froze in place.

Ah Jin sighed, ”What are you still doing here?” She asked as she went over to the bed and sat down next to the ”unconscious” Tung Mei.

After a while of silence, Tung Mei finally responded, ”Thinking...meditating...” without opening her eyes.

”Wouldn't it be easier to recover your powers back home?” Ah Jin asked.

”...I need to heal this girl. If I leave, she'll die...Why are you here?” Tung Mei asked opening her eyes with a pout, glaring at Ah Jin as she sat up.

Ah Jin narrowed her eyes at Tung Mei, ”Don't look at me like that, I didn't tell on you...Even your father had no clue that would happen yesterday and the last thing he would have wanted was for your aunt poking her nose in what he's doing here... I'm actually quite surprised she let it go that easily.” She finished knitting her brows in thought.

”I doubt she did...He's probably getting a long scolding session about this. Deserves it!” Tung Mei said with a frown, ”He made me do all that work, seventeen long years here and I could barely even wake up without being scolded by you and him.” She said with an intensifying glare at Ah Jin.

”I did everything he wanted and then he refused to help me. He not only tricked me but then he actually pretended not to know what was going on in front of auntie!... I was on my own and he came to bug me with his stupid deal! I'm not going to forgive him this time! Not!” Tung Mei finished folding her arms in anger.

Ah Jin awkwardly sat there and then went, ”Ahh...Well, I'm sure your father had his own plan for you...and you never know he could still help you-”

”How?” Tung Mei asked with a frown, but before Ah Jin could respond, she went, ”Nevermind, don't want it anymore...” She said facing off to the side.

Ah Jin's eyes awkwardly shifted, she was not sure how to deal with an angry Tung Mei. She was usually very playful and rarely serious, like her father. It was awkward.

”...I went to see Yong ge yesterday...” Tung Mei quietly said and then sighed, ”...I had thought if I had become someone else Yong ge will finally realize that he likes me...but still rejected me. I know it was stupid. I don't even know what I was thinking... He still rejected me... It seems it is really impossible...It seems he can truly only ever see me as a ”little sister”...”