Chapter 55 - Invitation (1/2)

Around noon the next day, Lei Xing was currently sitting in the Empress dowager's reception hall. She had been here for almost twenty minutes. The Empress dowager had just been sitting there in her main seat occasionally talking to Song mama, who was beside her and sipping tea.

Lei Xing glanced up at the Empress dowager, who was now leaning on her armrest, with her head resting on a hand, eyes closed. Lei Xing cautiously picked up her cup and took a sip.

...What is this about now? Am I invisible or something?... Since I came here she hasn't even said one word to me, did she not call me here or are we waiting for something? What the hell is this? If you have nothing to say, you might as well tell me -_-)...

”Gently! You are not allowed to manhandle me!” A voice floated in from outside. Lei Xing immediately frowned on hearing the familiar voice and glanced towards the doors.

...That's what we're waiting for? Shoot! You sure work fast, I haven't even mentally prepared yet T_T)'...

Two guards with deep frowns on their faces came in carrying Doctor Lou up by his arms, with his legs kicking the air, ”Hey, I'm talking to you! If you injure me, do you think I will let you go? I will kick you in your dreams! Trample you! How disrespectful!...” Doctor Lou complained as he was brought into the hall.

The guards lightly dropped him on the floor, but because of the way he was flailing his legs, he ended up on his butt, ”Hey! Are you trying to break my bones?!” The guards frowning expressions deepened, they bowed to the Empress dowager and Lei Xing in greeting and one of them spoke up, ”Your majesty, we apologize but he stubbornly refused to come with us so we had no choice...” He explained glaring down at Doctor Lou, who was now sitting on the ground cross-legged with his arms folded, glaring up at the guards as well.

The guards were greatly annoyed by Doctor Lou during this trip. They had gone to go find him to bring him to the palace as was directed by the Empress dowager. When they arrived at his shop they found him sleeping. They tried to wake him up and he told them that the shop was closed. They then explained that he had the honor of being invited to the palace by the Empress dowager. His response to that was that he was not interested, then he ignored them and went back to sleep. They tried persuading him but he still ignored them.

Eventually, they got fed up and hurled him into the carriage despite his protests. When they arrived at the palace, they found him sleeping again in the carriage, and this time he refused to wake up no matter how they shook him. Therefore, they just carried him again to bring him to the Empress dowager. At one point, he woke up and started protesting so they went to drop him so he could walk on his own, but he kept flailing his legs and wouldn't stand straight. After a few tries, they concluded on just carrying him and endured his scolding the entire way here.

”That is fine, you can go out.” Song mama said to the guards.

”Yes, leave before I teach you a lesson!” Doctor Lou said waving a hand dismissively to the guards. The guards bowed and then left the room, exchanging glares with Doctor Lou as they did.

Lei Xing watched the scene unfold wide-eyed. Doctor Lou turned to her and squinted, in response she immediately lowered her head, looking the other way.

...I'm sorry!!! T_T)...

Doctor Lou then glanced up at the Empress dowager and Song mama, and then glanced off to the side and said, ”So, why am I here?”

Song mama frowned, ”How dare y-”

”Your reputation precedes you, I have heard that you are quite skilled.” The Empress dowager calmly interrupted.

”Yes, yes. I am very skilled.” Doctor Lou said smiling and nodding repeatedly agreement.

Lei Xing glanced at his smiling face.

...Well, you're easy to please -_-)'...

The Empress dowager then reached for her cup and Song mama quickly refilled it, she took a sip and let out a breath. Then she began slowly twirling the teacup while fixing her eyes on its content and offhandedly said, ”Xing er', told me that you have been successful in treating her, she even out of the palace just to seek your services. She has spoken very highly of you...”

Lei Xing glanced up at the Empress dowager who was still fixed on her teacup.

...Hey, don't exaggerate it, I didn't say that much...Please don't drag me into this...Why am I even here? T_T)...

Lei Xing then hesitantly glanced at Doctor Lou, to her surprise she found him smiling and nodding in her direction. Lei Xing blinked and returned a half-smile.

...Okay, let's say I did say much... This old man is really too simple though...Should I be worried?... Actually, please don't become friends, I don't think it will work out well for me T_T)...

”From today, you will be an Imperial doctor in the palace. The servants will guide you to Imperial pharmacy. Once you have proven your skills here, you will be promoted acco-”

”Ahh, no, no, no that won't work for me.” Doctor Lou said shaking his head with a frown. Lei Xing went wide-eyed at the old man's dismissive behavior.

...Hey, don't talk like that!! This woman is crazy, don't you want your head?!...

Lei Xing then glanced up at the Empress dowager, who seemed to have frozen in place. Lei Xing inwardly sighed, she could feel the atmosphere in the room change, trouble was looming.

...Why am I here again?! T_T)...

The Empress dowager slowly dropped her teacup on the table, ”So you're declining the position? In that case -” She said turning to him and then her words abruptly stopped.

Doctor Lou smiled, ”I am but a simple nomad and cannot live being tied to a place, so I definitely cannot work in the palace. It's too much work.” Then he got up off the floor with some difficulty and then stretched out his back, ”That being said, I will be leaving now.”

Song mama frowned, ”How dare you? Do you think you are in place to reject such grace? Guards!” The two guards who brought him trotted in, ”Take him to a cell, maybe after a day or two he will regain his senses.”

The two guards nodded and grabbed Doctor Lou's arms again and lifted him up causing him to glare at them while struggling, ”Stop touching me like that! If you break my bones, I wi-”

”STOP!!” The Empress Dowager suddenly shouted and everyone froze and turned to her. She seemed to be taking shallow breaths and was staring wide-eyed at the guards and Doctor Lou, ”Let him go!” The guards quickly complied and put him down and stepped back. Doctor Lou looked up at the Empress dowager curiously with a raised eyebrow.

Lei Xing also turned to look at the Empress dowager, who was looking as if she had just seen a ghost. Her complexion looked pale and it looked like there were beads of sweat on her forehead.