code: def read_string(self, key, embedded=True):
          
          data = None
          if key is not None:
              key_type = self.variable_type(key)
              data = self.db.read(key.strip())
              if data is not None:
                  # handle improperly saved string
                  try:
                      data = json.loads(data)
                      if embedded:
                          data = self.read_embedded(data, key_type)
                      if data is not None:
                          # reverted the previous change where data was encoded due to issues where
                          # it broke the operator method in py3 (e.g. b'1' ne '1').
                          # data = str(data)
                          data = u'{}'.format(data)
                  except ValueError as e:
                      err = u'Failed loading JSON data ({}). Error: ({})'.format(data, e)
                      self.tcex.log.error(err)
          else:
              self.tcex.log.warning(u'The key field was None.')
          return data
docs: Read method of CRUD operation for string data.
  
          Args:
              key (string): The variable to read from the DB.
              embedded (boolean): Resolve embedded variables.
  
          Returns:
              (string): Results retrieved from DB.