Blooming Lilies — III

After his aunt calmly accepted the decree, it all was a blur to Li Xinyuan's somewhat surprised and dazed mind; by the time the surgeon returned to his senses, the entourage from the Forbidden City had already left.

Slowly, the surgeon climbed back to his feet, standing up as he squared his shoulders and let out a quiet sigh, feeling entirely unsure of this strange chain of events.

If he were to think according to the main novel rather than the spin-off he had transmigrated into; had the Divine Phoenix Li Jinhua ever been sent to the Southern Frontier?

The answer was a no. The Divine doctor had never been sent to the Southern Frontier, at least not to his knowledge.

So had this change been caused by Li Xinyuan's presence? More so his transmigration?

It wasn't impossible. Of course, butterfly effect could slowly be affecting the entire plot for all he knew. But sending a Divine doctor to the military front, just how bad the situation had to be?

"Uhm, auntie," slowly, the surgeon called out out, deftly following his too-swift-on-her-feet aunt. "Why do you have to go so suddenly…?"

Li Jinhua glanced back at him, her expression unreadable as she continued walking towards her study. "Follow me," said the Divine Phoenix, clutching her sleeves as she did so.

Briefly, Li Xinyuan nodded and followed her, not letting out a peep.

Just as they reached her study, Li Jinhua came to a halt, promoting Li Xinyuan to stop just behind her. In a swift moment, the doctor whirled around, all but startling the surgeon with the sudden action. Not paying him much heed, Li Jinhua glanced behind him.

Her gaze met the half-lidded ones of Hú Lijīng. If Li Xinyuan wasn't so curious yet anxious about the sudden decree, he may have had it in himself to feel offended by her blatant disregard.

He knew the woman meant well… At least most of the time, but damn, it stung.

Her dainty — yet somehow calloused — hands reached out to take a hold of his own as she tugged him towards the study and turned around, throwing out simple orders towards Hú Lijīng.

"Stay outside and keep vigil."

Hú Lijīng, completely unbecoming of a servant, rolled his eyes and nodded. "Of course, Divine Phoenix."

Well, wasn't this weird? Li Xinyuan smiled, he was already used to this sort of behaviour from the strangely named man.

Before he could do or say anything else, the Divine Phoenix dragged him into her study and shut the door close, her face was the very picture of composure.

"Are you still going to keep me in the dark?" Finally, Li Xinyuan took the initiative to speak, crossing his arms on his chest as strode towards her desk and pulled the chair out for himself, plopping on it rather unceremoniously.

"Obviously, I have no intentions of doing so," his aunt answered, rubbing her forehead as she did so. "I too did not expect for such a decree to come from the Emperor himself."

"Auntie, you have to go, there is no question about it." The surgeon answered, while tapping his fingers on the chair frame. "And of course, in your absence it's I who must shoulder the responsibility of the hospital."

Li Jinhua fell silent briefly as she mulled over her words. "But even with me as the healer, if the situation is so dire as to warrant my deployment to the Southern Frontier, I doubt it would change much."

Li Xinyuan spread his hands, speaking nonchalantly. "Yet, we cannot defy the imperial order, auntie. In any case, you should take more doctors with you to do this job. Meanwhile I…"

Li Jinhua squinted at him, suspicion flashed in her eyes as she asked, warily. "What are you planning?"

The surgeon smiled at her, expression thoughtful as he allowed the silence to settle between them. "Planning? What could I be planning, auntie?"

His smile seemed to say: What could I be planning, I'm the very picture of innocence, auntie.

Li Jinhua let out a snort, flicking her sleeve as she flicked a small pebble at him. "The smile on your face is a telltale one, nephew."

Effortlessly, the surgeon dodged her attack and continued. "You got me." His smile deepened regardless.

"Troublemaker." Almost too fondly, the Divine Phoenix shook her head. "You are just like your parents, really."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Li Xinyuan leaned forward, elbows propping on the desk as he tucked his chin on his fist. "So, what was I saying?"

Li Jinhua rolled her eyes, fondness swirling in her beautiful features as she stared at him. "You were planning on doing something while I am gone."

"Ah, yes," Li Xinyuan nodded slowly and gracefully as a smile hooked on his lips once more. "I was planning nothing devious, auntie. You need not worry." He reassured her upon seeing a hint of worry flit through her face. "I just wanted to say that while you are gone to serve at the Southern Frontier, why don't I follow your footsteps and provide my aid in the Northern Frontier in the name of the hospital?"

"..."

"Auntie?"

A thick silence lapsed between them. However, as the moment stretched on, Li Xinyuan began to worry. Fortunately, or well— unfortunately, Li Jinhua's lips pressed into a thin line as she glared at him.

Through gritted teeth, she spoke. "Nephew, do you hear yourself right now?"

Li Xinyuan blinked, straightening his back as he looked at her, immediately he realised her stance on his suggestion. "Auntie—"

"Li Xinyuan," the Divine Phoenix held up her hand towards him to stop him from speaking as she shook her head. "There is a thin line between confidence and over confidence. You, unfortunately, are toeing that fine line."

Li Xinyuan opened and closed his mouth a few times as he formulated his answer and carefully chose his words.

"Auntie, I'm not being over confident. I dared to suggest this only because I believe and I know that I can do this. And because I believe in our hospital's doctors and staff." He bit his lips. "I know that real-life conditions are vastly different from the conditions provided by the hospital. Yes, things might be against me more often than not. But… Master, I am your disciple. If you don't allow me to experience the real world then how will I be able to become a doctor as great as you, Master?"