《Under the Bamboo Parasol》


 -1 Authors note

    Nothing much to say here other than, this may or may not be my story for NANOWRIMO, or National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. It was a family member that encouraged me to join to practice my novel writing skills, and I am technically supposed to finish writing an entire novel in November for this event.


    But that is most likely not going to happen, because November is a busy month for me. If anyone wants to join this national writing month, just search up nanowrimo, though it is a little late to join, there''s always next year.

 1 Arriving at the Imperial Capital

    It was a quiet winter night in Qing Cheng''s imperial capital when a carriage entered the imperial capital. The set curfew had long past, but this carriage was somehow able to make it past the Northern gates of the city. It truly makes one wonder why, on this cold and quiet night, that there were no guards patrolling the Northern gates.


    The carriage seemed to be that of a noble family''s. It was made of excellent material, but of simple design, a peach wood carriage with intricate designs that displayed different flowers. The interior of the carriage was spacious, with thick cotton padding and layers of insulation.


    There was a middle-aged woman reclining on the cotton padding with her eyes closed. The woman, although was about middle-aged, yet she her skin was as exquisite as that of a twenty-year-old. Although she was not the most beautiful woman in the world, she seemed to be extremely elegant. Her hair was held up by six hairpins, with three on each side that secured her hair in place. She was dressed in blue brocade robes, embroidered with lilies. It gave off the feeling of royalty, and anyone who stood nearby could not help but feel respectful towards her.


    The carriage had a light incense smell emitting from it, one that was used to calm one''s mind and body. Something that perhaps a person in meditation would use.


    Outside, driving the carriage, was a young girl, dressed in a blood red dress, her clothes were not adorned with a trace of embroidery that might find on the dress of a bride, it was simply just a red dress. Her face was covered with a light red veil revealing only a pair of deep obsidian eyes. Those eyes did not show any innocence of her age. They were empty as if there was no joy, no happiness. Looking into her eyes made one wonder what experiences the girl had gone through.


    The carriage went at a speed equivalent to that of a person running. As the two pearl white horses, strong and robust, braved the dark night. The girl only simply had her hands upon the reins, it could be seen that she was in no rush as she allowed the mares to go at their own pace.


    The night was cold, and the streets were deserted aside from the night watchmen. The capital that was bustling when daylight broke had very few people on its streets when night fell.


    Even if there was a single soul that noticed the carriage coming through the Northern gates at night, there would not be a single person who would dare report it to the magistrate, lest they bring a calamity upon themselves.


    The carriage continued driving until it stopped before a mansion in the eastern part of the capital. Once the carriage stopped the girl steps down, and says: "Madam, we have arrived."


    Hearing the girl''s voice, the woman in the carriage opens her eyes, there was a slight curve that formed upon her pink lips. She puts on a gauze hat to cover up her face. Then she steps down from the carriage in steps filled with elegance. The girl closes the door to the carriage and follows soundlessly behind the woman.

 2 Nameless Mansion

    They stand before a grand mansion with no sign to indicate the owner. There were two guards on both sides of the ebony door. When they saw the woman walking elegantly up the steps towards the mansion, the guards quickly opened the doors and bowed respectfully. The woman''s speed was unaffected as she walked past them. Once she enters through the doors, there were servants standing on both sides for as far as the eye could see. They all respectfully bowed and kept their heads down. She nodded and walked past them, with the girl in red following behind her.


    The mansion had beautiful scenery with rivers and fake mountains. All of which were maintained carefully, the servants not daring to make a mistake.


    The mansion was surprisingly vacant, considering all those who were present when they greeted the two. It seems the servants of the manor were just as mysterious as the manor itself.


    They entered the courtyard and made their way into a nameless hall. It was the size of a giant study hall, with a giant hand-woven rug that showed the scenery of a fiery red blossoming flower in contrast to its mountainous background.


    If one could describe it, they would say that it is comparable to a drop of blood melting against the untouched snow.


    The room was lit with luminous pearls that made the room seem as if it had been bathed in sunlight, even though it was the dead of night. The room was extremely huge, with the desk at the end of the hall, and chairs that led up to the desk. All the furniture was made of top quality materials, with the chairs and the tables made from exquisite redwood.


    This room was well organized with shelves upon shelves, each one stacked with heavy volumes of binding. It felt as if the shelves would all fall down at a moment''s notice, turning everything into nothing but dust.


    The luminous pearls, which were brighter than candles and did not give off any fumes. It was a luxury that most nobles favored to use when they read at night.


    Once inside, the woman took off the gauze hat and sat down behind a desk that had many reports waiting for her to make a decision.


    She picked up a report and began reading. Her eyes quickly glazed over the entirety of the bamboo scroll, as if she had done it over a thousand times. Her movements were quick, yet forever infused with a graceful elegance to it.


    It didn''t take long before she picked up a brush, and began writing with it. She only recorded the most important information, before it went to the shelves, later to be organized and read thoroughly.


    In no time, an hour had already past and there was a dryness in her throat, even though she had not spoken a word, there was still a bit of a fatigue feeling that came over her body. She looked up to see that the girl was gone.


    [Yun''er knows me so well]


    There was a smile on the woman''s face as if someone had promised to buy her a sweet stick of candied fruit, and she was a little child waiting for it to arrive. Now, She no longer resembled a woman who was in her forties.


    The girl in red had already gone out, and quickly returned with a cup of hot tea on a tray, and placed it on the table before the woman. The woman took off the lid of the teacup and allowed the steam to rise up like a coiling dragon into the air.

 3 Coming Across A Certain Name

    The woman sipped her tea slowly and looked over the reports, which held the information of the profits made from the stores, and the current political situation. She scanned all the reports when she got to the name Ruan Qin Wang, her eyes went cold it was a name she had always tried to forget for the past twenty-three years.


    There were times when one tried their best to forget memories that had fallen for grace, but they just continued to linger around in the realm of thought.


    When that happened, it would be even more impossible to forget.


    She placed the report down and said: "Tell me about Ruan Qin Wang." She said in a voice almost lacking emotion, but when one listened intently, they could find traces of anger, hatred, and sorrow all mixed up in that sentence.


    The girl in red looked up as if she understood the madam.


    "Reporting to madam, Ruan Qin Wang is the imperial uncle of Qing Cheng. He has not involved himself in the court''s matter for twenty-three years. He has just recently returned to the capital after staying in seclusion for twenty years. It seems he has really given up on vying for power. Canglong TianYi is the crown prince of Qing Cheng. He favors the crown prince, as he does not have his own children, a proper consort, or concubines. He is in his late forties this year. His right arm is crippled, but he can use the sword with his left arm." The girl in red said in a calm tone, she was merely summarizing a lengthy report.


    When the madam heard that his right arm was crippled, she an uncomfortable feeling welled up in her heart, she couldn''t help but ask "Do you know what happened to his right arm?"


    "Yun''er is not very sure, it happened twenty-three years ago. There are rumors that say he did it to himself. But madam, maybe he regrets what he did and is paying for his crimes." The girl in red said in an indifferent tone.


    [Maybe he did it to himself? To pay for his crimes? ] This was the biggest joke she heard in her life.


    He had always been filled with arrogance, there was a time when he was as powerful as the emperor. There was no way he would fall in love with a woman. He had always been this way until the emperor had to decree for his marriage.


    The "lucky person" that ended up getting paired with him, was¡­ her.


    That day she had received the imperial decree was still fresh in her mind. It was an event she believed she would never forget in this lifetime.


    She then said in a harsh tone "Feng Yun, what happened between us is irreconcilable. So what if he crippled his own arm. This is a debt that he will never be able to pay."She stared at the report, and at the name Ruan Qin Wang once more, she could smell the freshness of the ink that had been freshly written only but a day before.


    There was something about it that made her wish to tear up all the reports. But she very narrowly contained herself from doing such a thing.


    She then said in a gentle voice "Yun''er send someone to look into him more, and send more reports. You may leave, I want to be alone."


    "Yes, madam." Feng Yun says as she disappears from sight, it was as if the person never existed.

 4 Even if I become a ghost, I will haunt you

    With Feng Yun gone, Madam Lin felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she let out a sigh of relief.


    She had to admit that she could not hide her thoughts and emotions in front of Feng Yun, who was like a worm living in her stomach.


    She placed her hand over her chest, just above where her heart was to silently calm herself down. There was a tinge of pain in her chest as if it had been stabbed by a sword, and driven in so close to where her heart was still beating rapidly.


    There was nothing at this point to calm her down.


    She silently lit a stick of incense and placed it on the table and watched as the embers silently eat away at the stick, as it grew shorter and shorter. There was a slight medicinal scent that filled up the entire room, giving it a more comfortable feeling, befitting that of a prayer room.


    Madam Lin picked up a report once more and turned her focused her attention to wholeheartedly reading it, but soon, there was a heavy feeling that was weighing down in her mind.


    It was a feeling of clouds that had been in the sky for a long time, as more time passed, there would more and more accumulating up to the point when it became a heavy burden in her mind.


    ~


    There was a rocky pathway that led up to a steep cliff, this place had never truly been maintained due to the dangers that stood at there were at the very end of this cliff.


    If one were to fall, then it would be a straight drop to the bottom, it was said that once a person fell through the cliffs, they would never see the light of day again.


    This particular day was full of dark clouds lurking in place of the usually clear skies, threating thunder and heavy downpours, it seemed today was destined to be a sad day.


    "Did you do it?" A man''s voice calmly asked. Although it was not a loud voice, it had a very noble aura to it, making one feel the need to kneel before the man''s domineering presence.


    "So what if I did?" A woman''s voice laughs mockingly. Her face was emotionless, and her eyes, dead.


    The two were standing off at the edge of a cliff, the man was dressed in red festive robes and wielding a long sword, that was giving off an immense murderous aura, the woman was also wearing red, but in a darker shade, but there was nothing festive about them as they just fluttered as the winds blew by.


    One continued pressing on, while the other was unyielding. Both unwilling to back down. Each filled with pride.


    "I will ask again, did you do it?" The man repeated his words once more, though this time, he was not as calm as before. This was a sign that he was beginning to get angry.


    "Yes! I did it, so what!" The woman yelled in his face. She had only said it out of spite and anger. They had been through so much together, yet he did not even place a sliver of his trust in her.


    Getting a definite answer that came from her mouth the man finally lost it, he drew his sword and stabbed her in the chest before quickly pulling it out.


    The woman''s expression froze for a second, then her face showed an expression of shock as if she believed that never in a million years that her life would be ended by her beloved.


    Soon the shocked expression turned into that of a bitter smile, right. It was never hers'' to begin with. From start to end, it had only been her one-sided affection. He never admitted to loving her, so why did she continue loving someone who would never love her back.


    It was she who was so foolish for falling in love with the wrong person.


    She couldn''t help but feel regret as a surge of blood rushed toward her mouth.


    The blood coming from the wound and her mouth leaked onto her dark red dress. For a while, it seemed that there was not a single trace of blood, as the crimson dye had melded together well with the dark red color, but soon, the garment was fully saturated in blood, a few drops trickled onto the sanded dirt, staying in droplet form.


    The droplets were a reminder to never fall in love and end up in such a cursed relationship.


    "Even if I become a ghost, I will haunt you!" Even facing her impending death, the woman still smiled as the blood endlessly poured from her mouth. She turned around, and allowed her body to plummet off the cliff, and into the endless abyss.


    Soon after, the clouds in the sky began to pour, as if they were in mourning.


    The heavy downpours continued consecutively for three days.

 5 Taking a walk in the city

    Who knows how Madam Lin ended up on the bed in her room. But she woke up on one. A few drops of cold sweat dripped down her cheeks. She placed a hand over her forehead and took a deep breath. Her forehead was a little hotter than usual, even though it was the onset of winter, with the first snow pending to fall soon. But she was not ill.


    Feng Yun was standing with a basin of water, ready to help her freshen up. She splashed warm water on her face and felt her body calm down.


    After she washed her face, and patted her face dry with a towel, as Feng Yun was about to dress her with her everyday attire, Madam Lin stopped her and said: "I want something suitable for taking a walk in the city without drawing too much attention."


    Feng Yun immediately understood, and quickly came back with robes that were low key, they were a gray-blue color and were not embroidered. Madam Lin got dressed, and Feng Yun styled her hair into a simple hairstyle with wooden hair pins. When she was done, Madam Lin looked like a housewife of a common household. She then looked at Feng Yun who was dressed in her everyday blood red color, with a veil covering her face, and said: "Yun''er, you should change too." Feng Yun immediately understood and went to change.


    When Feng Yun came back, she was dressed in light green robes, her hair was tied by a ribbon, and her veil was removed, revealing a face with smooth pale skin, and delicate features. She looked very much like an innocent fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, but it was those deep black obsidian eyes that were still as cold as always. "Yun''er, you should take off your veil more often." Madam Lin said as she reached out and pulled Feng Yun with her. They exited through the back door, everyone in the manor was aware of this and went back to their own business ignoring the fact that the master of the house left without saying a single word.


    The streets were extremely busy and crowded in Qing Cheng''s capital. There was a variety of people on the streets, some were well dressed, while others were in rags. They saw different people as they in the town. There were plenty of stores and street vendors selling all types of things. There were exotic animals in the lower city and precious jewels in the higher city.


    "Madam, your daughter is very beautiful, would you like to buy a hairpin for your daughter?" voice from behind asked. Madam Lin and Feng Yun turned around to see an old man in his sixties, with a head of white hair, and a white beard. His clothes were old, but they were well washed, giving a feeling of comfort. Madam Lin and Feng Yun were indeed very similar to a pair of mother and daughter going on a shopping trip together. They both walked to the old vendor''s stall and looked at the merchandise the old man was selling. The old man was selling a lot of jewelry, there were rings, bracelets, necklaces, and hairpins.


    "How much is this?" Feng Yun asked as she picked up a silver hairpin with a jade flower.


    "That is five silver coins young miss, it is very cheap." The old man said, it was as if he was desperate to make this sale, even though the hairpin was worth more than what he had said. Hearing that price, most common families would be scared shocked, five silver coins would be enough for a family of eight to survive for a week.


    Seeing Feng Yun looking at it longer, the old man thought she was scared silly of the price, and began to feel despair, but instead, she said "Please wrap it up for me." as she handed it to him.


    The old man was surprised, [this young lady actually bought this] he thought to himself.


    She took the hairpin and said "Here you go." as she handed him a gold coin. One had to know that a gold coin was worth a hundred silver coins. And could take care of a family for a long time.


    Now it was the old man''s turn to be shocked. He took the coin with trembling hands and said "Young lady, this is too much. The hairpin is not worth so much, this old man can''t accept this." He said as he tried to push the coin back into her hands.


    Feng Yun gave a rare smile and said "Keep it, don''t you need the money to buy medicine?" as she quickly walked away. The old man was taken aback, how did she know? He thought to himself. By the time he came out of his daze, he found the girl and the madam had already disappeared. He did not even have the chance to say thank you, he depressingly went to close up shop, since he had already made enough money to buy the medicine for his wife.

 6 Old Ye Manor

    Far away, at the end of the street madam Lin and Feng Yun were calmly walking away as if they had not appeared here in a flash. No one noticed that two people just appeared out of nowhere. This street was not as busy as the main streets, but they were still filled with quality merchandise.


    Madam Lin chuckled lightly as she watched Feng Yun put the hairpin into her sleeves. "I didn''t know that Yun''er could be giving, you are a little out of character."


    "The old man needed the money, and besides did madam not smell the herbal medicine coming from him. It is quite costly." Feng Yun replied.


    "Then why didn''t you offer to treat his wife?"


    "I didn''t feel like it." Feng Yun said as she gave a shrug.


    "There''s the Yun''er I know." Madam Lin said as she knew the Feng Yun who did not like interfering with worldly affairs was back to normal.


    They continued with their walk of the capital. When they got to a part of the city, where it was no longer as crowded, they continued on. The houses in this part were not as glamorous, the buildings were old, and the people were not dressed in brocade robes. With the way madam Lin and Feng Yun were dressed, they blended in just fine. The people of this part of town did not bother them, as they walked past the few stalls there were.


    The got to a part of the city that was desolated, there was a very old manor, and the dried, withered leaves covering the ground signified that this place was not very well taken care of, even the family plaque had gone missing. The door to the manor was tied with a rusty iron chain, and there were posters on the door indicating that this manor of the Ye family was searched, and seized by the government.


    Madam Lin was not surprised by the fall of the Ye clan, she had long known of this. Since twelve years ago when she got the report that the Ye clan was involved in a treason plot. She knew that some high ranking members of her family were executed, while some were exiled to the frontier. She no longer cared about them, for they did not allow her to live her life peacefully when she lived in the manor. She had been born to a concubine, and her mother had died during childbirth. Such a large clan had never placed much importance on a shu daughter, especially one without beauty. Her father was the prime minister of the empire, a very high position only beneath the emperor but stood above millions. In her years of living in the manor, she had never seen him more than ten times.


    Madam Lin decided to look at the manor once more. She used one foot to lift off and flew into the manor. "Madam!" Feng Yun yelled as she followed behind madam Lin. They both landed soundlessly in the manor, not even disturbing the birds or insects.


    The inside of the manor was not much better than the outside. Its ground was covered in old and withered leave, and dirt that had blown in. The rooms in the manor were covered in thick layers of dust. Anything that could be sold for money had long been taken away, even the tablecloths, and bedding had not been spared.


    It once belonged to one of the most powerful men in the country, a clan that was once unshakable, now reduced to nothing more than a pile of rotting wood waiting to be demolished, and a heap of dust.


    There was a time in its golden age when it had been carefully taken care of, the servants would be scolded for even leaving a speck of dust behind after a cleaning. But now, such notions were unthinkable, maybe even laughable.


    Ah... this place did not bring back many joyful memories. It was now that she knew that this place was a lot larger than she thought it was.


    Feng Yun followed madam Lin into a small courtyard, where she watched as madam Lin sit down on a dusty stone table, and fell into a daze with a blank expression. Feng Yun stood by and waited until madam Lin came out of her daze.


    By the time Madam Lin was back to normal, the sun was already setting.


    "Let''s go home." Madam Lin said dejectedly.


    "Mm."


    They both made their way back to the mansion and through the back door and things went back to the way they were.

 7 An sImportants Matter

    At nightfall Madam Lin went back to reading reports in the study. There were a few reports sent from Xi Zhou and even Bei Li. Most of them were about the political situation of these countries, there were some on the daily lives of the top ranking officials. Although they did not interfere with the outside world, it did not mean they were ignorant of what was going on in the outside world. They had a web of influence that gathered information from every place in the world.


    Madam Lin stopped at a particular report once she had finished reading, she could not help but silently smile, as she read.


    She called for Feng Yun, silently chuckling to herself.


    When Feng Yun entered, he was dressed as she normally would. Completely in blood red. Madam Lin sometimes wondered why the girl liked this color so much, was she a young woman who felt aggrieved and never tot to experience her wedding day like the girls her age, or did she have another story?


    Feng Yun never touched upon the topic, so she had never brought it up.


    "Madam, is there any matters?" Feng Yun asked in her calm voice.


    "Yes, there is a matter, in two days, you will return to the white clouds mountains." Madam Lin said. By now, she had long ceased her chuckles, and regained her serious composure.


    "Un. Should I go right now?" Feng Yun wondered.


    [Why two days?


    This is oddly specific.]


    "No, no, you should not go now." Madam Lin said suddenly, as she pulled Feng Yun''s red sleave.


    Feng Yun: "..."


    [This is getting suspicious.]


    Feng Yun hesitated for a moment, before she asked: "Why? Is anything the matter?"


    "No." Madam Lin shook her head, before she released Feng Yun from her grip. "These two days, I have something for Yun''er to do." She reached into her wide sleaves, and pulled out a piece of folded parchment paper.


    Feng Yun received the parchment paper and looked at it. It was a list of herbs, based on the looks of it, it seemed to have been written some time ago. Obviously, she could have gotten any amount of the common herbs listed if this was given to a servant to prepare.


    At this point, Feng Yun was filled with suspicion of what Madam Lin was preparing, but she chose to ignore it.


    "Yes, Madam." Feng Yun said as she folded the parchment and placed it into her sleeves.


    Once Feng Yun was gone, Madam Lin let out a silent stifle of laughter that she could no longer hold in.


    She returned to her desk, where she looked at the letter again. The letter was folded and stuck in a hidden crevice in the desk, it seemed this letter may come into use later.


    She smiled with a hint of mischief, "He he, Feng Rong, you''re going to owe me for this."


    She couldn''t help think of the little lovebird planning a surprise...

 8 Gathering of herbs

    The next day, Feng Yun went to the medicine shops to gather some ingredients. She went to a medicine shop that was in an isolated part of the city. There were many of these medicine shops, and they were all owned by the clan. This particular shop did not have many customers, it was the best place to go to avoid getting noticed.


    Just as she entered, an old man immediately came to greet her and said: "Miss Yun, what brings you to this small shop?" Although the man looked old, he was not to be trifled with. The man had carefully hidden his aura and only those more experienced than him could faintly sense it.


    "Shopkeeper Tong, I just came for some ingredients. Can I pick them out myself?" Feng Yun asks. Today she was not dressed in blood red nor did she have her veil on. This gave her a slightly less oppressive aura, making people feel more comfortable when speaking to her.


    "Yes, yes. Right, this way miss Yun." Shopkeeper Tong nods and guides Feng Yun to the back of the shop where the smell of medicine gets stronger and stronger. They come to an area where there are drawers of herbs, and in the middle was a large table of unsorted herbs. It was a herb lover''s dream.


    Feng Yun quickly found most of the herbs that she needs and puts it into her bag. There was one missing herb that she could not find.


    She asks: "Shopkeeper Tong, do you have the Python root?"


    "We do not have that. It is extremely poisonous, thus no one would dare to touch it even if they found it." Shopkeeper Tong replies, wondering why elder Yun would want such a thing.


    "Never mind, it''s alright." Feng Yun sighs as she pays the shopkeeper.


    [It looks like I''ll have to find it myself ] she thought as she gave an unenthusiastic sigh.


    When Feng Yun goes back on the bustling streets, it was almost noon. She walks towards the large gates capital, where there are all sorts of people entering and exiting the capital, and walks out through the large gates, making her ways toward the wilderness with a small bamboo basket hanging at her waist.


    She finds herself going up the treacherous terrain of the forest mountains. This place was a place that no commoner would go to. Going deeper, and deeper in would mean more dangers. Feng Yun follows the trail of poisonous insects until she finds the blue scorpion spider, which would always be around whenever the python root was around. There, she sees a large brown root wrapped around a dead thin tree in the forest, the root was just like a python that strangled the small tree to death. The root had bright blue colored small berries growing on it, it was a bright color that was very attractive to the eye, but it was meant to ward off unwanted predators. It was truly strange how humans were naturally attracted to bright and vibrant colors, which made the berries'' point of warding off unwanted pickers quite useless. Either way, those berries were very deadly as they could kill anything it came into contact with.


    Feng Yun reached out, with her bare hands and plucked the bright neon blue berries from the root to put into the basket, she even took a part of the root. As soon as her bare skin made contact with the berries, her skin began to feel pain, like that of a thousand needles piercing the skin at the same time. However, she paid it no attention as she continued to pick those berries until she had a fair amount in her basket. The root of those berries could have killed a person within ten minutes of contact to the skin, in fact, it was a poison that was favorable to use in assassinations, as it left no detectable trace and was quick reacting, but not too quick that a poison taster might die instantly. The only problem was getting the python root, as it was extremely hard to acquire, one careless touch and someone''s life was gone.


    Once her basket had been filled, she made her way back to the city gates. By then, the sun had already begun to set, but the streets were as busy as always. She made her way back to the manor.

 9 A Farewell

    When Feng Yun enters the study, she sees madam Lin sitting behind her desk and reading. This time she wasn''t reading the reports, but a book. When Madam Lin sees Feng Yun, she puts down her book and asks "Yun''er, you''re back. How was the preparation?"


    "Madam, all went well, I left them in madam''s room." Feng Yun replied.


    "Mm." Madam Lin nods gently.


    "In that case, I should be on my way now." Feng Yun turns around, prepared to leave.


    "Mm, this time when you leave, you will be gone for a while, I don''t know how I will pass my days here. Yun''er, why don''t you have a drink with me?" Madam Lin suggested.


    Madam Lin did not allow for Feng Yun to say anything and called in a servant to bring them some drinks and pulled Feng Yun out to the courtyard. Moments later, a tray of wine and tea was placed on the stone table in the courtyard.


    They both sit down and madam Lin poured a cup of wine for Feng Yun, then herself. The wine had an aroma of peaches, it was a milky white color. It smelled like a peach orchard during its time of ripening. The sent it gave off was light, and with a whiff, it could send a person into a daze.


    This wine was one of the best in the world, it was made by the old man who spent his entire life, dedicating himself to the art of winemaking. It was said his life would be meaningless without the sweet aroma of wine, and that he would rather be on the road to the yellow springs if he was made to stay sober.


    Feng Yun took a sip from the white jade cup, as it went down her throat there was a warming sensation that she felt in her body.


    [Indeed a fine wine.]


    Seeing Feng Yun enjoy the wine, madam Lin also takes a sip of the fragrant wine. The two were in the middle of the courtyard, with a beautiful scenery before them, with the crystal clear river reflecting the full moon that was the only source of light. If only they were in the middle of nowhere, with no sound of the capital, then it would truly be one to be remembered for the rest of one''s lifetime.


    Madam Lin looked at Feng Yun with dreamy eyes, as if she was trying to recall the past memories they had shared. There was the faint trace of a smile hanging on her lips, as she gazed at the person sitting across from her.


    "Feng Yun, we have known each other for over twenty years, you still look the same as the day when we first met." She still remembered the day Feng Yun had come to serve her, ever since then Feng Yun had been with her. As time passed, she had realized that Feng Yun did not grow older, remaining a fifteen-year-old girl. She had never asked about it, like many in the clan, they did not question Feng Yun nor her student, she was known as elder Yun. Even Feng Yun''s age was a mystery. Madam Lin treated Feng Yun as a daughter and teased her often because of the permanent stage of her youth.


    "Madam, is there anything you would like to ask?" Feng Yun thought that Madam Lin calling her by her full name was strange.


    "Nothing, Yun''er, I wanted to tell you that I have always treated you as a good friend." Madam Lin says as her tone went back to normal and raised her glass to give a toast to Feng Yun.


    Feng Yun also gave a toast to madam Lin and smiled lightly. She had always tried her hardest not to form bonds with people. It would not end well in the long run.


    There were just some people that she could not bear to push away.


    Just like how the tides would be forever be attracted to the moon.


    Feng Yun looked at Madam Lin who was beginning to feel the rush of wine go to her head. She had truly drunk too much. It seems that the old man should make lighter spirits just so Madam Lin could enjoy them more, after all, it was hard to stop after just having a single cup, for the taste was like listening to music in the heavens, one would never be able to properly return after merely a single sip.


    "I should go now." Feng Yun said as she put her cup down and stood up.


    Madam Lin gave a slight nod as she rubbed her temples.


    Feng Yun disappeared without leaving a trace as if she was never there.


    Leaving Madam Lin staring into the nothingness that was the brightness of the luminous moon that was almost as round and beautiful as a single pearl.


    The only difference being, the moon was rare, there was only one of it, and it belonged to no one. No matter how much power they had.


    In this lifetime, she would never belong to another again.

 10 In a Dark Alleyway

    *Warning*


    This chapter gets a tad bit gory


    I suppose this where the dark aspects come in.


    ~


    Far away, in the heart of the capital, in the red light district, where it was at the peak of business. Although the sun had already gone down, the streets had sprung to life, with bright lights that lit up every building, and could be seen from miles away.


    In front of the Hundred Flower brothel, which was lit with countless candles and torches, making it bright enough to be seen from afar. The brightness served to attract more guests to the establishment.


    A young man was swaying as he walked out from the Hundred Flower brothel, a drunkard with the potent smell of liquor, he was dressed in orange brocade robes, an extremely vulgar choice. Even so, everyone showed him the utmost respect, as he was from a noble family. The young man needed help from the head lady of the brothel, who was in her 40''s but still retained her womanly elegance. The woman helped him into his extravagant sedan chair, buttering him up with flowery words of praise. "Please come again next time, young master Yan." She said sweetly.


    "Don''t worry, this young master would be sure to *burp* to come back and see *hic* be sure to make sure that no one touches Chun''er." The young man said incoherently. He manages to fish out a bag of silver and hands it to the head lady.


    "Of course, of course, we wouldn''t dream of letting her serve someone else, she is only reserved for young master." The head lady''s eyes light up as she receives the silver, the weight was at least 30 tales and replies with a smile to please the esteemed guest.


    "Good, good, this young master will go now *hic*. Return to the manor." The young master Yan orders his sedan bearers.


    The sedan is lifted by four men, all dressed in the sedan bearing uniform. The sedan disappears into the cold winter night. The head madam puts away her false smile and heads back into the brothel with the warmth of the light.


    The sedan was carried for a long period of time in the streets of Qing Cheng that were deserted from the bitter cold. The sedan was swaying back and forth and the young master was feeling nauseous from the constant swaying, especially after eating the finest foods and drinking countless cups of liquor. He felt that all his organs had melded into a pile of mush that was splashing around in his stomach.


    The young master could not handle the swaying any longer, as all the delicacies and drinks he had earlier threatened to escape from his stomach. He could not hold it any longer.


    "Stop!" A shout came from inside the sedan. The four sedan bearers halted and placed the sedan on the ground with care. They were quite used to this, as the young master would most likely go to throw up in some alleyway after indulging himself in luxurious delicacies.


    [What a waste.] They all silently thought, no one dared to express this out loud.


    The young master bolted from his sedan and ran to the nearest alleyway where he threw up. The four sedan bearers stood, waiting for the young master. There was soon an unbearable stench that got to them, they knew that the young master was throwing up every single thing from the earlier meal. The continued waiting, standing like ice sculptures in the cold weather.


    Meanwhile, young master Yan had already puked up everything in his stomach, but he now entered a coughing fit. He now coughed so violently that his orange brocade robes now had specks of blooming red flowers that grew larger and larger with every cough, beautiful yet bloody. Young master Yan soon felt as if his stomach had been turned inside out, there was a burning sensation all over his body, particularly his abdomen which felt like there were burning coals placed on it. Soon he was no longer able to endure it and his body gave out beneath him.


    The sedan bearers had waited for quite a while now and the young master still had yet to return. The weather had become a lot colder now, as it became the dead of night. To the four people waiting, it had become a game of endurance.


    Who would be the one to check on the young master. They all knew that the young master would lash out at the person that bothered him and they did not want to be that person.


    They all waited longer until a finely built sedan bearer said "Fine, I''ll go, I can''t take this any longer." And walked off towards the direction that the young master had run. Already accepting that he would suffer from the wrath of the young master.


    With that, the other three sedan bearers heaved a sigh of relief as they would not be the ones to disturb the young master.


    The finely built sedan bearer walked towards the alleyway that he had seen the young master dash towards. He walked with slow steps full of caution, towards the young master, but when he got there, he could only let out a shriek of horror "Ahhhhhh!" The lone voice echoed through the empty streets, causing the three other sedan bearers to rush towards the alleyway.


    When they got towards the source of the shriek, they couldn''t stop themselves from trembling uncontrollably. What they saw was hard to describe, the young master was in a crouching position, his fine clothes were covered in blood, his still open mouth had traces of blood, the eyes were still wide open and bloodshot as if he had been in unbearable torment within the last moments of his life. The last was his skin color, which had changed from being a peach pale complexion to one that had bluish, blackish veins popping out from the skin, he was obviously dead. The four sedan bearers wanted to throw up after witnessing the scene before them, after all, they were ordinary servants, not soldiers.


    "What¡­what do we do?" A sedan bearer asked.


    "We...we should report this incident." another responded.


    "I''ll go." The one farthest away from the body ran quickly, to find the constables to report the death of young master Yan.

 11 Ruan Qinwang Manor

    With Feng Yun gone, Madam Lin was left alone. She slightly dozes off for a stick of incense''s worth of time, gently sleeping off her intoxicated state before she came to.


    She could not remember a time since she was sixteen when Feng Yun was not accompanying her. She thought she would have a sister that she would grow old with, someone that would be with her through all the stages of life. She knew that she would only be a small moment in that girl''s life. She understood why Feng Yun would choose to stay away from relationships.


    She then thought of herself for a moment.


    She whispered two words: "Wen Jian."


    Suddenly, a black shadow appeared next to her. It was a man dressed in black, he had very common features, with slightly thick lips and messy eyebrows, he would not be easily noticed in a crowd. "Do you have any orders, madam?" The man asks respectfully.


    "Prepare a carriage, I want to go for a ride around the city."


    "Yes, Madam." The man says as he retreats without saying another word.


    Moments later, a seemingly ordinary carriage comes through the mansion''s grand gates. It was strange to see such a plain carriage come out from a mansion that had such beauty to it. If this were to happen during the day, it would most likely draw the attention of many.


    Fortunately, the streets were mostly deserted and no one really paid attention to the plain carriage, nor the man who could not be easily spotted in a crowd driving it. The sound of the horses'' hooves could be heard as it made its way down the streets of the capital.


    "May I ask where madam wishes to go?" The man who was driving the carriage asks.


    "Ruan Qinwang manor." The cold voice sounds from inside the carriage.


    The man does not say anything and continues driving the carriage in the silence brought on by the cold night.


    Madam Lin''s identity was no secret to those within the clan. They all knew that she was once the proper consort of Ruan Qinwang, they all knew how she had ended up being one of them.


    They had never been worried about her ties with the prince getting in conflict with their interests. In fact, the life of an insignificant prince could be easily taken, and they would not face any repercussions, but it was the madam that stopped them from doing so. She had said that she did not want him to die so easily.


    She had said that she had her own plans.


    Their journey was silent, there were no words to be exchanged, aside from Feng Yun, the other person madam Lin felt comfortable giving the orders she could not say to anyone else was Wen Jian. This was because his personality was very detached and would not tell anyone else. A person that only listened to her orders.


    Madam Lin''s expression was filled with nothingness as she slid the window of the carriage open, allowing a cold, yet refreshing wind to enter the carriage, with the warmth of carriage colliding with the bitterly cold air from the outside.


    She closed her eyes, as she allowed the cold air to blow toward her face. It had been a long time since she experienced such a feeling. She remembered that day well.


    As one descended a mountain, the temperatures would inexplicably plummet accompanied with bouts of dryness.


    As Madam Lin thought of the terrain in the descent into the mountains she let out a mocking smile as her palm touched her chest as if holding onto a memory lost to time.


    It was best to let go¡­


    She had always said that to herself in the years past, yet there was a part of her wanted to have some fun before this matter was settled.


    Her emotionless gaze stared into the passing world as the carriage quietly drove by.


    After some time, she closed the sliding window, retreating back into the warmth of the carriage.


    Whether it was cold or warm, nothing hardly made any difference to her now. She felt as if she should have died long ago, yet couldn''t move on, like an angered spirit who continued to linger in the same place years after it had met its death.

 12 Dwelling on the Pas

    The sound of hooves comes to a calm stop, without arousing any insects or birds. Madam Lin lifts up the curtain in the carriage and looks at the calm mansion within view. The carriage had been stationed a good distance away, but still had a perfect view of the mansion.


    On top of the gates was a boldly written plaque with the word Ruan Wang Fu written on it. The brush strokes were fierce and powerful, with the nobility of the ruling class. Madam Lin knew that this plaque was written by the emperor, two generations ago. The current emperor was only his nephew, so his standing within the court was quite high today. Back then, it was Ruan Wang''s older brother, the emperor a generation ago who arranged the marriage between them.


    She remembered the day she got married, she would never forget that humiliation. The groom did not show himself, making her a laughing stock of the entire Qing Cheng. He did not come to her room that night and put her in a remote courtyard, not even bothering to give her a glance.


    Thinking till then, she placed the curtain down and closed her eyes. She said, "Wen Jian, it''s cold out there, why don''t you come in."


    The man outside the carriage, with his ever stoic expression, said "Yes." He knew that she had wanted to talk to him, after all, they would not get a chill even if they wore thin clothing in a snowstorm. He stepped into the warm carriage with a slight fragrance of sandalwood incense and sat on the floor, across from Madam Lin.


    He looked at the woman who still had her eyes closed, as if deep in thought. He thought of a time when he was younger, when they first met, during the hard times of famine and war. He had been a child that was kidnapped from his family to be sold and she just happened to be nearby. She took him in and he grew up with her son, she had never treated her differently from her own child. He once asked her why she took him in.


    She gave a smile and said one word. Fate.


    Perhaps it was, how does one care for another in such a manner?


    After a while, madam Lin asked: "How is Hui''er?"


    Wen Jian thought of Lin Qinghui, the madam''s son. They had been exchanging letters for a while now, ever since Lin Qinghui was away, taking care of his own business. "Replying to madam, he is well. He is thinking of coming to pay madam a visit later on."


    "He has never been to the Qing Cheng capital, why would he come?" She asked, her voice filled with suspicion.


    In fact, she knew why her son had wanted to meet his father. She had never kept this from him, she had people paint a picture of Rong Wang and gave it to her son. She knew that her son kept that painting and brought it with him whenever he would do business for the clan. She remembered one of the reports she got when he was 16 years old and heard that his luggage was stolen by a notorious group of bandits, he got so furious that within a night the mountain hideout of the bandits was bathed in blood, never to commit a heinous deed again. They were wiped out because they had taken a mear painting.


    Thinking about it, it was simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.


    She really did not understand that child, was she not a loving mother? Is she not enough? Does he really need to see such a father?


    "He said he wanted to attend the meeting for scholars." Wen Jian answered.


    She gave a laugh, her son had excelled in martial arts and literature, she had even taught him medical skills. He was talented, going to such an event was truly beneath him. She knew he wanted to go because they had found out that Ruan Qinwang would his first public appearance since returning to Qing Cheng.


    "Whatever makes him happy." She sighed before closing her eyes once more.


    Wen Jian nodded, as he sat solemnly in the carriage, sitting opposite of madam Lin. He too closed his eyes and went into meditation.


    After some time, he heard the madam''s voice full of warmth "Ah Jian, do you miss your family?"


    "No. They probably have less of a burden now that I''m gone."


    "How could you say that, all parents no matter rich or poor will love their children, it is an instinct even all creatures have."


    "It doesn''t matter now, I have been gone for twenty years, they probably forgot I existed."


    "I know you don''t think that, if you did you would have thrown away that jade, and yet you still keep it with you."


    Wen Jian immediately touched that small piece if amber colored jade that hung around his neck by a leather string. He gave a slight smile. "Madam, what do you wish to tell me?"


    "Some of your family are living near Qing Cheng." Madam Lin said as she handed him a small bamboo tube. It was the ones that were used to hold important messages, they would hold information, and was used to carry intelligence.


    "Thank you, madam." The man bows as he puts the bamboo tube away.


    Ruan Wang Fu


    In a small remote courtyard, there was a man sitting, he was only in his forties, yet he had a head of hair that was almost fully white, pinned up by a simple wooden stick, making him look like an old man, he was dressed in dark colored brocade robes that seemed to meld in with the darkness. If madam Lin saw this man, she would recognize him as Ruan Wang, as for the room, she would be surprised to see that not a thing in her room had been moved since she was gone.


    The old man was sitting in a room, dimly lit by a single candle. On the table, one could see a scroll, it was a portrait. The portrait of a young woman with ordinary features, but her eyes were as bright as the stars shining in the sky. He stared at the woman in the painting, as he toasted her a cup of wine and downed the drink himself, his eyes were full of sorrow, as he looked upon the painting. It was all he had left of her, it kept him from forgetting what she looked like. The painting looked like a younger version of Madam Lin, a painting from a time of youth and innocence.


    "You said you would haunt me even as a spirit. Why aren''t you here as promised? Why won''t you even meet me in my dreams?" The man''s hoarse voice said as he stared into the bright eyes of the woman who seemed to be unaffected by time, perfectly preserved in the lifelike portrait.


    The room itself was quite unenthusiastic, with not much decor, the only things that stood out was a bunch of paintings and handmade knickknacks, there was also a bamboo parasol, with a red leaf drawn on its oil paper. It was a large detailed leaf, full of meticulous lines, that showed every single one of its veins, all painted in red, a contrast to its plain white background.

 13 The Inciden

    He was accompanied by silence until he heard the sound of footsteps pacing back and forth by the door. He could not help but be unhappy from being disturbed from the tranquil atmosphere, nevertheless, he got up.


    Outside the door, there was a man dressed in dark blue servant robes, pacing back and forth. He was trying to make a decision of whether or not to knock. He knew that his master did not like to be disturbed when he was in that room and no one was allowed into that room, with the exception being the servant, who had cleaned the room for twenty-three years. The old servant had gone back to her hometown in retirement and there was a new replacement, however, the new maid was not careful and ended up knocking down a paper origami crane, to make matters worse, she stepped on it and it ended up like a squashed dumpling. When Ruan Qinwang found out, he was so outraged that he commanded the guards to beat her to death, there was no amount of pleading that would pacify him and the wailing maid was dragged out and beaten to death. After that incident, no one dared to joke around when it came to that room, or the very courtyard itself. The new maid that was assigned to that room was very careful, as to not destroy anything in the room as to not end up as her predecessor.


    The door opened and the old man dressed in brocade stepped out, he had an aura of nobility that surrounded his body, making one feel respect for him. The man dressed in servant''s robes was so busy making heads or tails of whether or not to disturb his master, that he did not realize the door opening or who the person that came out of the room.


    "Xu Fei." The voice said sternly.


    "Huh? Master." The man stopped his pacing, as he realized who the voice belonged to, and bowed respectfully.


    "Where you looking for me" He knew that Xu Fei would not bother him unless something important has occurred.


    "Yes, something has occurred in the city." Xu Fei regained his calm exceedingly quick.


    "Just tell me." Ruan Qinwang was rather impatient after being disturbed.


    "Yan Lei Tang was just found dead in an alleyway." Xu Fei reports to his master.


    "Who is Yan Lei Tang?" He then pondered for a moment before asking another question "Is he related to Grand tutor Yan?" One has to understand, Ruan Qinwang had not participated in politics for nearly a quarter of a century, he did not know the younger generation of nobles, nor did they know him.


    "Yes, he is Grand tutor Yan Kun''s eldest grandson, born from the first wife of Yan ZiKun''s eldest son. The boy is extremely spoiled and frequents brothels. He is known for his vile manners, even among the circle of nobles."


    "Just find out how he died and report back to me." Ruan Qinwang said he wanted something to be proven before a move was made, a lesson learned far too late. Since a person like that died, it didn''t seem to be too great of a loss to society.


    The doors of the room were closed, as he walked out from the silent courtyard that now did not hold a living soul.


    He looked upon the moon glowing with radiance and gave a sigh.


    [How wonderful it would be if she were here¡­]


    It was all too late now.

 14 Mistaken Idenity

    In a desolated part of the capital, there was a small bureau, where not many living souls would dare to venture. The surrounding homes that could afford to move have already long been abandoned, leaving a road of eerie silence that was a ghost road in the middle of the capital.


    Xu Fei was dressed in his constable robes and walked down this desolated road that led to the Capital''s Morguetury. Surprisingly the morgue was not as busy as one would expect with the large population of people and even larger count of the number of deaths each day.


    On the contrary, it was quite peaceful on this dark and frigid night.


    One would almost mistake this place for a bureau that processed paperwork if it were not for the unmistakable stench of rotting flesh. This was mainly because there were not many corpses that made its way to the morgue in a timely manner.


    Xu Fei walked the steps up to the wooden door and knocked on the lion handle. It was said that the bronze lions would prevent evil spirits from entering and taking possession of the corpses, but that was merely a tale from long ago. Today, its main purpose was to serve as fancy decor, or welcome other officials into this forsaken place.


    The knocks vibrated the entire door, sending off three loud knocks. Xu Fei waited silently and patiently for someone to open the door. He looked at the empty streets and silently shivered, hoping that the one to open the door would be human and not ghost.


    "Creek¡­" The wooden doors opened, Xu Fei kept his eyes on the person that opened the door. His old and wrinkled hands gave the constable the chills.


    "What''s the matter, constable Xu?" An ancient voice resounded, there was almost an echoing sound that could be heard from the interior of the old walls.


    [How does that person know my name?] Xu Fei was internally creeped out by this, but he silently endured, after all, he had come here on official business for Ruan Wang, and it would not bode well for him if he suddenly decided to escape.


    He looked up to see an old man, dressed in a white uniform, the man looked old and shriveled, his hair was a color of ash, and his eyes a dull, murky brown, at this point, Xu Fei was unsure whether the person he had laid his eyes upon was human or spirit.


    "Ahem," He cleared his throat and began to speak " I am here for information on Yan Lei Tang''s death." Xu Fei said solemnly.


    "Hmm¡­, come with me." The man said as he walked down the corridors, the paper lantern he held in his hands gently swayed, distorting the shadows on the walls, giving the appearance of demons dancing in the night.


    Xu Fei silently followed the old man past the corridors. He kept his eyes down on the stone ground, only following the light that swayed back and forth.


    "We''re here." The old man said bleakly, as he looked at the constable with his head down, and continuing to walk.


    Perhaps, a warning given any later would have caused Xu Fei to accidentally knock himself out. Luckily, he was reminded, and raised his head, only to be greeted by a room full of the dead.


    The air was a refreshing smell of ginger and incense, strangely, there was not the hint of the scent of rotting flesh that he smelled when he was outside. If it were not for the tables that were covered in cloth, outlining the distinctive shape of a human body, Xu Fei would have most likely believed that he had walked into a parlor or a barbershop.


    "May I speak with the coroner." Xu Fei said politely.


    Upon those words, the man standing with the lantern gave him a strange look, the murkiness within his eyes stirred like waves and torrents.


    Xu Fei felt strange shivers running down his spine.


    [Did I speak something wrong?]


    "Cough, constable Xu, I am the coroner." The man said. It didn''t seem that he was angry that Xu Fei had failed to recognize who he was.


    "Oh¡­ Then why did you open the door for me, I thought¡­" Xu Fei was at loss of what to say.


    The man looked upon him ever so silently "Constable Xu, you see, I am the only one who works here, I am the coroner, the scribe, the bookkeeper, and the housekeeper. It has been this way for the past three years." The man informed him, without as much as the slightest hint of annoyance.


    "Oh." Xu Fei was now feeling slightly embarrassed for not doing any investigating before arriving here. He had done much more investigation on the deceased Yan Lei Tang, even going as far as noting the brothels which he visited, and the friends that he had.


    But the thing he did not look into was the morgue, where Yan Lei Tang''s body currently resided.


    Never had he imagined that this place would be so underfunded. Perhaps, he had expected that a place that executed investigations of the dead would be slightly more funded than what it is now.


    All broken, and without repair.


    "What should I call you mister?" Xu Fei finally realized his mistake and politely asked the old man for his name."


    "You can call me official Tong." The man answered sheepishly. Perhaps that was because he felt that this young man had much more to say than an old man like him.


    "Okay, official Tong I need the report for Yan Lei Tang''s death." Xu Fei made his request with much politeness this time. He admired this man for being able to spend time in a place such as this when the entire street had already moved out if possible.


    "In that case, then right this way constable Xu." Official Tong said as he gestured with his paper lantern. At this point, official Tong resembled a guardian spirit who was leading the way for recently deceased souls, and Xu Fei quietly followed behind him.

 15 A Detailed Investigation

    As the cloth that covered a human outline was gently lifted, Xu Fei came face to face with the corpse of Ya Lei Tang for the first time.


    Even he, who was once a seasoned veteran that guarded the borders of Qing Cheng and was accustomed to bloody battles was disgusted by the corpse of the eldest young master Yan.


    Perhaps it had something to do with the unflattering orange brocade robes that had specks of dried blood from when his lungs were coughed up in pieces, staining his lips with dried blood that had darkened, perhaps it was those wide open bloodshot eyes that appeared to stare into the nothingness of one''s soul or the veins that threatened to burst from his forehead, under the skin of a bluish and purple tint that made him look monstrous.


    Yet, official Tong looked at the body without batting an eye, not even showing the slightest expression of being appalled by the scene. It seems that he was quite used to seeing such scenes.


    "Constable Xu, come and see this." Official Tong said as he slid a tin bucket out from under the table on which the corpse laid.


    "What is that?" Xu Fei was about to ask when he saw the contents of the bucket, which were a bush of blood and pieces of flesh, he would most likely have the urge to retch if it were not for the smell of ginger that filled the room.


    It seemed that he would never look at ground up meat the same way again.


    "The contents that were found in eldest young master''s stomach, he threw this up before his death. As you can see, this is what''s left of his internal organs." Official Tong told Xu Fei in a very informative manner.


    "So, how did he die?" Xu Fei was unclear of what the thrown up mush of internal organs represented.


    Was this something that could happen naturally, if so, then he only had himself to blame for this misfortune.


    Official Tong was looking at him as if he was talking to an illiterate cow. "No, this lowly official believes that eldest young master Yan was poisoned with something that turned his organs into mush, which is how he died. As for the type of poison, forgive this official for not knowing." Official Tong said slowly, annunciating every single word as clear as day.


    "Believes? What you don''t have any confidence?" Xu Fei asked.


    "Young master Yan is of noble descent, for a mere coroner of an eighth rank to mar his noble body, wouldn''t that be akin to asking for death?" Official Tong asked. Although his tone was telling that he was afraid, yet the way he presented himself made one feel as if he did not fear what might happen if he carried on with the autopsy.


    But in the darkness, with the only source of light being the flickering candle, Xu Fei did not catch on such actions, only hearing the voice filled with fear.


    "Forgive me for being rude official Tong." Xu Fei apologized to the old coroner.


    The old coroner''s lips slightly tilted upwards as he replaced the white sheet back over the body.


    Xu Fei finally felt a peace of mind, once he saw the cover being placed over those wide open eyes. It was a feeling one felt after camping in the woods alone for the first night, and the relief of seeing the sunrise once again.


    "Wait here a moment Constable Xu." Official Tong said as he scurried off somewhere, without even so much as asking for Xu Fei''s opinion. Leaving Xu Fei alone with the many white sheets.


    The poor constable was frightened as he stood in darkness with so many soulless bodies to accompany him.


    However, official Tong seemed to be caring enough to hurry back at his quikest pace, holding with him the detailed report of the autopsy that had been conducted.


    "I thought it would be best if ihis was given to mister to read over." Official Tong said as he handed over a file that was bound in hard leather, seemingly about twenty pages thick.


    "Thank you!" Xu Fei said as he took the file from official Tong''s old and withered hands, giving him a polite smile. "I should get going now." He added.


    "Please." Official Tong guided him o the door, and passed him the lantern. To which he politely declined, and made his way back to Ruan Wang manor.


    Official Tong''s murky brown eyes followed the rushed constable, as he quickly got out of there. By his actions, it would seem that he no longer wished to remain there a second longer, yet, who could blame him.


    Official Tong shook his head as he closed the heavy wooden doors behind him as if closing the veil between the living and the dead.

 16 Black and White Stones

    The next morning, Madam Lin felt refreshed after she woke up from the previous night.


    As she gracefully sat down on a bamboo woven chair in the chambers of the lounge area. The light beaming through the ricepaper gave off a heavenly white light that gently doused the chamber with a weak yet bright glow.


    Madam Lin was dressed in all white robes with dark purple embroidered thread that was woven into beautiful intricate flowers near the cuffs of her sleeves and her neckline. Her long cascading black hair fell gently over shoulders, with a small portion of it held up by a silver hairpin with plain design. It was the hairpin that felt slightly out of place with her outfit.


    Her eyes were lazily looking down at the go board which was laid out before her. Her hand holding both the black and white go pieces in her hands.


    Placing them down upon the board, they made the distinctive sound of stone meeting wood that echoed in the quiet room.


    It seemed that this game was nothing more than a one-sided game. It was the placer of the black and white stones who decided the ultimate outcome of the battle.


    Her eyes were blank as she placed the stones down one after the other.


    Suddenly, there came a knock on the door.


    It was the powerful sound of the knock, which helped madam Lin return to reality. She looked down at the go board to see that she had been playing a one-sided game.


    "Come in." She said, a little flustered.


    The door slowly opened without so much as the slightest creak, revealing a stout old man with silver white hair, dressed in smooth gray robes that did not have the slightest decoration stitched upon it. There was the slight fragrance of fermented berries and plum, as the man entered.


    The man sat himself down in the bamboo woven chair across from Madam Lin without being given an invitation.


    As he sat down, a smell of fermented plum wafted toward Madam Lin, as she smiled and took a deep breath in. The delightful smell filling up her lungs. She could remember the previous night when she was intoxicated after downing a few sips of wine.


    "You''ve been at your crafting again?" She asked the old man, a tone with three parts teasing and seven parts mischief.


    The old man chuckled and replied, "Of course, you know I do it all the time."


    Yes, he did craft wine all the time, there was nothing else he did. It was said that he also drank most of the wines he crafted, only leaving a small percentage to be consumed by others. It was this that made Madam Lin Question how he was actually able to stay sober and not speak with slurred words.


    After the previous night, she had tasted how strong the liquor he made was, and she did not wish to have the same experience with a drink once again.


    Madam Lin merely smiled as she continued to place the stones on the vast wooden board, and the man''s eyes were fixed upon the movements she made.


    "Would you like tea?" Although her heart knew the answer, this question was merely one out of formality.


    "No thanks, you know I would never drink that." The old man replied he had a slightly mocking smile upon his face as if questioning why she was even bothering with formalities when he knew that she was not one to follow strict rules.


    "Oh? Please forgive this unknowledgeable one." Madam Lin seemed to be begging for forgiveness to her senior before she asked: "To what do I owe the pleasure of Mister Song coming to visit me in my chambers?"

 17 A Flawed Bloodline

    "Before Feng Yun left, she told me that you wanted to speak." The old man replied.


    What? When did she want to speak to him? She never said she wished to speak with him, when did Feng Yun get that idea?


    Then she thought of the suspicious actions that she had done in front of Feng Yun. Fine, perhaps she deserved it. Then she and Feng Yun would be considered even.


    "Ah yes, next time when you make your liquors, could you make it with less alcohol content?" Madam Lin saved the conversation by thinking of what happened the previous night.


    Never before had she gotten so intoxicated after a single drink. There was a time when she believed she had a good tolerance to alcohol, but after that night, that all went down the drain.


    [Never again.]


    "Sorry Madam, but you know that when I ever do make wines, I like to make it to the best quality it can be, but a lower alcohol content means a lower quality, I apologize, but that is something I would be willing to do." Mister Song replied with a frown. He could agree to anything, but when it came to his precious wines, he wouldn''t hesitate to decline.


    "Oh well, it was worth a shot. Sorry, you came here for no reason." Madam Lin gave a shrug and said to Mister Song as she got back to playing her one person game of Go.


    "But I do have something I would like to talk about." His voice was said with the utmost seriousness.


    "Oh? What do you wish to speak to me about?" Her voice was unenthusiastic as if she could not help but want this conversation to end quickly and for Mister Song to be out on his merry way.


    "The emperor, you may have heard that he is unwell." Mister Song started.


    "Yes, and?" Madam Lin interjected before Mister Song even had the chance to finish.


    "His father too was in poor health and died an early death. I had to ask, did you have anything to do with the deaths of the previous two monarchs?"


    "No." Madam Lin answered with a single word.


    Hearing the response, Mister Song was relieved, as if a large weight placed upon his chest had been lifted, and he could take in a breath of fresh air. He was about to bid farewell to Madam Lin.


    But she arose from her game of carefully placing her game pieces in strategic locations, leaving the entire board in a stalemate between both sides.


    "Wait, Mister Song, don''t you wish to know why the past generations of emperors have been ill so frequently, to the point of meeting their deaths before the age of thirty?" Madam Lin asked in an eerie voice that plunged the entire room endowed with light, straight into darkness.


    It was the smile across her face that seemed like a smile, yet it was not quite there, that made her seem a little off.


    Mister Song felt the urge to leave, yet it was a strange sense of curiosity building up within him that held him back. It was near impossible for him to resist this temptation of knowledge, so he patiently waited for Madam Lin to speak.


    Madam Lin reverted back to her original expression and gave a gentle grin as she began.


    "Ah, it is times of peace that give birth to the schemings of the inner palace." Madam Lin shook her head as she began, "You know very well that the emperor generations ago married with his cousin or the empress dowager''s niece." She smiled and continued "This continued on over the past generations, the emperor would always give the Phoenix seal to his cousin, and the child born between them would undoubtedly become the crown prince. It would never matter how many consorts he had, as long as the empress gave birth to a son, the child would be destined to become the next ruler." Madam Lin''s voice slowly trailed off.


    "What of it?" Mister Song asked. He could not draw the conclusions between the story being told, and the early deaths of the monarch.


    "At first, it was fine, but as time passed, you would notice the many monarchs dying an early age, while their brothers born of different consorts lived longer."


    "You mean to say, what''s killing them is the bloodline of the empress?" The question was proposed in a manner lacking all confidence.


    "You could say that, but it''s only the blood relationship between the empress and the emperor that causes them to give birth to children who are ill." Madam Lin replied with a careless tone.


    "Thank you for your time madam." Mister Song cups his hand before seeing himself off.


    "Hm." Madam Lin slightly hums as she places down a pitch black stone, slowly picking up the glistening white stones around it, collecting it up in a single hand.


    In this battle that was the Go board, one side had won, while the other had lost all its troops and was doomed to lose this game.

 18 The Clues Along the road

    With the sun shrouded in a blanket of thick and gray clouds, the skies were threatening a downpour soon. All the forest creatures had hidden away, quietly within their small little burrows, while the people had gone for cover within their huts.


    The roads were empty for the most part, yet upon a winding road behind the mountain, there was a fierce gallop of a horses'' hooves that echoed around the mountain. As the sound grew closer and clearer, one could see that upon the black steed was a rider completely cloaked in red. A blood red, to be more specific.


    Yet, no one knew why upon the mountainous road of dirt and pebbles such a person would appear.


    The black mare was galloping at a quick rate, yet the rider was strangely calm. One could not tell the features of this mysterious, but the petite figure upon the horse told that it was a woman. Riding freely, with the red cloak floating behind her from the free winds.


    All of a sudden, those dainty jade-like hands pulled back on the reins, causing the robust mare to slowly come to a stop. Before it even came to a stop, the rider had already descended from the horse in a swift motion, that seemed to be too fast for the human eye.


    The cloaked figure arrived at the giant tree that greeted those who would ascend the mountains. It was a tall tree, that had its roots intertwined, growing on top of each other over the years, giving its roots a feeling of a giant robin''s nest.


    It was supposed to be bare, for its leaves had long shed, the colors of golden and brown. Yet there was a branch that was stuck at the top of the tree that did not belong there. It was a branch that was blooming with red blossoms, that blended in well with the surrounding branches.


    A streak of red jumped to the top of the hundred-year-old tree and floated down gracefully, not even making a slight noise when landing on the ground. If one saw that tree, it was unchanged, except for the branch of blooming red blossoms that had disappeared from sight.


    The red-cloaked figure pulled off the hood that covered her face, revealing Feng Yun. Holding the branch, Feng Yun inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of a wild bamboo garden.


    Her face was filled with delight, as she climbed up on the horse.


    Her face was still intoxicated with a devastatingly beautiful smile as she gallopped the winding path along the mountainside.


    There was an inn along the road, a rest stop for the roadworn travelers to stop and rest.


    She got off her horse, and handed it to a servant who worked for the inn.


    "One room please." She said politely, her mood was still good, giving her a brimming light blush on her soft cheeks.


    "Sorry miss, there are no rooms availble?" The servant who had been thrown the reins of her horse replied with his head bowed.


    "What? Why is that, this is a rural road, could there be so many people passing by?"


    "No, but we have a few officials that have come, the entire inn was booked, please miss, go elsewhere, I know of another inn twenty li away, night has not fallen, if you continue, you may arrive before nightfall." The man said with respect.


    "Thank you."Feng Yun replied as she was handed back the reins. She decided to walk for this li to allow for the horse to get some rest first.


    As she turned her head, another branch caught her eye. It was standing as straight as a javiline, unbending towards the the wind or shine that came its. Feng Yun pulled the branch from the ground, her eyes were stagnant as a clear pond for only a second, before she put it with the other branch.


    She pulled lightly on the horse, leading it away, the soft sounds of the horses'' hooves could barely be discernable, as the figure in red slowly took time to praise the beautiful mountain scenery, along the long road of travel.

 19 A thought, a mirror

    It was nearly nightfall when Feng Yun arrived at the inn that was twenty li away, she had not yet felt exhausted from the long journey.


    In her hands held the branches with red apricot blossoms that were in full bloom, she had tied them with a red cloth, and they looked like items one might find in a chamber of newlyweds. The perfect painting of the blossoms in perfect bloom, that would seemingly last for an eternity.


    She left her horse in the stables and entered the inn, it seemed to be a very desolate place for one to spend the night.


    There was not a single worker that she saw there, save for the innkeeper who was ticking away at his abacus. He was so focused that he had not noticed a young lady in red that had entered his inn.


    Feng Yun looked at him, she had already taken off the silk veil, revealing a beautiful face with those dark piercing obsidian eyes that stood out like a firefly in a sea of darkness.


    The Innkeeper kept his focus solely upon the worn wooden abacus as if trying to tie up loose ends until he felt a looming and chilly presence, which convinced him to look up, to meet the figure of a person entirely in red. The innkeeper suddenly jumped for a moment, his mind shocked to see a young lady in the middle of nowhere.


    He was unsure if this figure was human or spirit, and surely, the dimness of the candlelight in the inn did little to help this.


    Such a figure reminded him of the ghost tales of young girls who hung themselves on the eve of the wedding night because their frail hearts could not take the pain of a life without their beloved, so they chose the path of death, rather than the lifetime of a marriage without love. Their lives drained from their lifeless bodies, leaving nothing but a beautiful shell that would soon rot in the dirt.


    "One room please." The figure in red spoke.


    He was expecting a rusty old voice, but it turned out to be the pleasing sound of a young woman.


    He inwardly let out a sigh of relief, "This way please." he said as he led the way to the room.


    As far as Feng Yun could tell, she was the sixth guest in the room, all the others were resting in their rooms, while the others were playing a game.


    "Here, this is the water lettered room, is there anything else that miss needs?" The innkeeper inquired.


    "Send someone to take care of the horse, and tomorrow I will be having breakfast."


    "Yes right away." The innkeeper replies as he retires, leaving Feng Yun in front of the empty room.


    She enters, gently lighting a candle in front of the mirror. As the only source of light after the sun set, the candle was lit before a bronze mirror, with a reflection that gave off an eerie yet gentle light.


    Feng Yun took off her crimson cloak, revealing a light green young maiden''s robes. Her clothes were slightly more conservative than what a young maiden of the capital would wear, the fabric was thick and luxurious if one looked closely they could see patterns of tiny leaves woven into the fabric. She sat down in front of a bronze mirror.


    She looked into the plain mirror that showed her reflection. She could not remember the last time she had seen this face, but she was certain that this countenance had not changed the slightest bit.


    She took a comb from her pocket and gently began combing her thick, long silky hair that was as black as ink. She gently did her hair with pieces of green silk ribbon that held her thick hair in place. In one of the drawers, she placed a jade hairpin with the design of a beautifully carved leaf gently sliding it into her hair.


    After some time, Feng Yun blew the candle out, allowing herself to be swallowed by the darkness of the night.

 20 The letter from an old acquaintance

    Ruan Wang Manor.


    It was nearly dark in the capital when there was a knock resounding on the doors of Ruan Wang manor.


    The magnificent doors opened, to reveal no one standing there. There was only an envelope on the floor in front of the manor.


    Xu Fei eyed the envelop suspiciously, before bringing it before Ruan Wang for him to decide. He made sure that there were no substances upon the paper that may harm his master.


    "Master, an envelope was just placed outside the manor." Xu Fei reported as he placed the envelope on the study table.


    Ruan Wang looked at the envelope, which had written upon: Addressed to Ruan Wang. The calligraphy was messy and seemed to be written by a child.


    Ruan Wang internally found it within himself to laugh as he thought how this handwriting had actually gotten worse over the years. He dismissed Xu Fei. Before he proceeded to open the letter.


    The contents of the letter plainly invited him to go to Fu Lai restaurant in two days.


    Ruan Wang placed the letter back into its envelope, before pondering upon it.


    ~


    Meanwhile, Madam Lin sat quietly within the grand study room, that may as well have belonged to the emperor. There were countless valuable decorations that were perhaps considered priceless, yet it laid around to liven up the room, as opposed to locked up in a safe place.


    There was a knock upon the door.


    "Come in." She said, putting down the scroll she was reading.


    A servant dressed in white entered, and placed a bamboo tube on the desk before leaving.


    The bamboo tube was still in its sealed state, with a process exclusively known to their methods. Proving that their messages had not been compromised.


    Breaking the seal with a twist, her dainty fingers pulled out a small rolled up piece of paper from within the tube.


    After reading the contents, her lips twisted into a crafty little smile, as if she was looking forward to the two old friends meeting at the Fu Lai restaurant.


    "Shall I have someone watch them and report back?" Wen Jian''s voice came from a corner that was veiled with darkness, such that no one would be able to sense that there was another person within this grand room. The darkness blending with him as one.


    "Do what you wish." Madam Lin didn''t care for what they would speak of when the people met again after so many years.


    There was no sound, and everything was as still as before. One was uncertain if the person had disappeared, or stayed behind watching over the study room.


    Madam Lin rested her chin on her hand and gave a sigh "I miss Feng Yun, how long has she been away?" It was as if she was complaining to herself.


    "It has been three days." The voice answered.


    "Oh, feels like three months." She complained once more, "Yun''er must be having fun somewhere traveling around with her Rong''er they could be enjoying a signature dish of a restaurant, while I have to stay here and do all this paperwork."She lightly threw the scroll on the desk, landing with a light thunk.


    "It''s not fair!" She cried out once more. She seemed like she would break into a few sobs.


    The light thunk of the scroll was enough to alert everyone within the manor. Perhaps if they were normal domestic servants of any noble household, they would not have been able to hear such a sound, but they all had a sharp hearing, and many of them were quite on guard when it came to sounds from the dead of night.


    "What happened?" A servant girl was startled as she was woken up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes as they adapted to the darkness


    "Nothing, go back to sleep. Madam is throwing a fit again." Someone said.


    "Again? Didn''t she have one yesterday? And the day before that?" They were all confused, Madam Lin had been throwing a fit at the frequency of one per day, ever since Feng Yun had departed.


    "Isn''t Feng Yun only a maid?" A person was confused as to why Madam Lin placed so much on Feng Yun, wasn''t she merely the servant girl who served Madam.


    "Be quiet, Feng Yun is more than a servant girl to Madam!" An elder servant reprimanded. It seemed that she knew how important Fang Yun was to Madam. Their bond was more than that of master and servant, but that of sisters.


    "I understand." The person reprimanded replied, as the whispers died down. Everyone returned to what they were doing.


    The moon continued to shine brightly, as it''s luminous rays penetrated the thick rice paper windows a person usually put up in the winter. Outside, the weather had begun to grow colder, but deep within one''s homes, it would forever be a feeling of warmth that went down to the very bone.

 21 A slight smile at red blossoms

    The sun rose up early in the mountains, though the sky had become brighter, there were still large clouds that obscured the sun, making it so that the sun''s rays would never fully penetrate through.


    Feng Yun did not mind this weather, she liked the atmosphere that was brought by this lighting. Bright, but not too overly bright. Which was also her motto in life.


    She had arrived downstairs to eat breakfast, which was already prepared, after all, there was only one guest in the inn. If he did not wait upon her who would he wait upon?


    After she had the meal, she gave him a silver ingot and immediately went to the stables to get her horse.


    The innkeeper was in a daze. When he snapped out of it, he wanted to run after her and call out "You gave too much, I can''t accept it!"


    But by then, the girl had already gone far away. So far, that a shadow of her could no longer be seen.


    He could only return to his desolated inn.


    Feng Yun rode for an hour, her hands still held onto the red blossoms that were tied with red ribbon. Her eyes gazed upon the colorful scenery as the horse trotted on. They were both filled with an endless feeling of vigor.


    The encounters with the blooming red blossoms grew to be more frequent, as she always stayed on the path the red blossoms bloomed.


    She couldn''t help but roll her eyes at how much free time a certain someone had on their hands to plant so many red blossoms here and to keep them blooming in such weather. She couldn''t help but question if that person was an idiot, or full of romance.


    Still, her heart was immensely touched, there was even the beginnings of a slight smile that appeared upon her peach colored lips.


    Before her, was a tunnel that was lined with red blossoms and at the end of that pavilion was a speck of dark ink blue, amongst the sea of red.


    Feng Yun gently removed her blood red cloak, revealing her dress of light green that was beneath. Her hand held gently held onto the branches of blooms.


    She slowly walked to the end, to the speck of ink blue that became clearer to her eyes.


    Even now, she could still remember him the day they parted, and she took up the responsibility of serving Madam Lin. She had told him "We have many years together."


    Indeed they had.


    At the end of the red blossom tunnel, a young man came into view. He looked to be no older than seventeen years old, with beautiful dark eyes and quite tall. He was perhaps taller than Feng Yun by half a head.


    There was a very alluring smile on his face, it seemed that any young lady could easily be smitten by him, yet he only had eyes for the person before him.


    He held out his hand, and Feng Yun gently took it, not to her surprise, she was pulled in for a long and tearfully long embrace, which lasted for a long time.


    It felt as if they had been apart for centuries, thus she did not refuse and enjoyed every lasting moment of it.


    After the joyful hug, he pulled her to sit in the Pavillion, where she saw the extent that the red blooming flowers had reached.


    "Wow, Ah Rong you must have spent a lot of time on this." She quietly spoke as she eyed the red sea as far as the eye could see. She had to admit that he was very thoughtful to have put this much effort into it.


    "Not much, I only spent a year cultivating them to grow in this weather." The young man smiled, as he broke off one of the flowers, placing them into her ink black air.


    She laughed as she touched the flower "Do I look like a newly wedded bride?" she asked.


    "You always look like one he said as he gave a big smile, revealing his dimples. Compared to his previously handsome self, he resembled a foolish child.


    He placed the red cloak over her shoulders, and at that instant, the ghost-like girl dressed in red disappeared, and the person who stood in her place was a young blissful maiden at her wedding ceremony.


    She couldn''t help but feel her heart warm up.


    "Were you in on it with Madam?" She suddenly asked, recalling the strange behavior of Madam Lin.


    "Hmm." He nodded his head. "You knew?" It was not so much as a question, just a confirmation.


    "Yes." She answered.


    "I knew she would never be able to keep a secret in front of you." He snorted, as he thought back to Madam Lin''s personality.


    "Is that so?" Feng Yun asked, her eyes opened wide as she stared at him.


    "She also said we should travel together for a while." He thought back to the letter Madam Lin had sent him, wishing them well, and telling them to enjoy their time on the outside for a while.


    "She did?"


    He nodded "We should go to Xi Nan, I hear the scenery is superb, and the four seasons are like spring, what do you think?" he asked, as he looked toward Feng Yun for her opinion.


    Feng Yun thought of it for a while, she had been there before, but it was some time ago, she wonders how it has changed since then. She nodded "Okay if we go, we should see their spring flower festival. I once saw it a while ago, it is a vibrant holiday in which the most beautiful flowers are on display, and afterward, they take the flowers home to create a flower wine, a specialty of the holiday."


    "All right, we should go and try their wine." He said as he firmly planted a kiss on her cheek, causing her skin to flush a slight glow of red, she shyly looked towards the ground.


    A slight breeze blew across the flower grove, causing the flowers to slightly shake, and carrying with it the scented pollen that floated about, giving the air a nice and fragrant, yet not overpowering.

 22 Washing ones hands with a Gold Basin

    "Madam, are you awake yet?" The voice of a young maidservant asked shyly.


    The girl was just outside the door, carrying a golden basin filled with water. She had a painfully shy expression on her face. As if she did not know what she should do. Coupled in the maidservant''s dress, she looked precisely like a new worker on her first day of work.


    Since Feng Yun had left, no one really knew how to take care of Madam Lin, and there were no other maidservants who had any experience in doing it, all the servants had no idea what to do. Thus, this girl was chosen to serve Madam Lin when she awoke.


    "Uh¡­" Madam Lin slightly moaned as she groggily tightened herself in her thick quilt. "I''m up." She said as she rubbed her eyelids.


    "I''ll be coming in madam." The girl said as she pushed open the doors, to see the figure of Madam Lin, wrapped in the thick blankets, just like a cocooned silkworm.


    She had no choice but to set the basin to the side and wait until Madam Lin fully woke up.


    "You''re Ru An, am I right?" Madam Lin, who was in the bed suddenly spoke. Her eyes were cleared as she looked upon the girl''s features.


    "Madam is right, this servant is Ru An." The girl said in a gentle voice, her head bowed slightly. She was quite surprised that Madam actually remembered her name. She was only one of many servants within the manor. She was sure there were even some servants who didn''t know her, yet madam knew her name.


    "Help me get ready." Madam Lin said as she pushed the heavy quilts off her body, and sat upon the bed.


    "Yes." The girl bowed as she brought the golden basin to the table next to Madam Lin. After dipping a towel into it, she wrung the water from it in an awkward manner.


    As Madam Lin watched Ru An''s actions, a hint of playfulness flashed in her eyes.


    "Are you expecting me to wash my hands in the golden basin?" She asked Ru An, who was trying to predict if Madam Lin would say if the towel was too wet or too dry. But what she heard was unexpected.


    Ru An looked at the golden basin, as thoughts swirled endlessly in her mind.


    How could she have been so, to actually pick the golden basin for madam? There was the copper basin, the wooden basin, the jade basin. Out of everything, she actually picked gold.


    How could she have forgotten that the golden basin was used as a symbolic way of people of the jianghu to retire and live a secluded life, away from all worldly matters. Washing their hands clean of everything they''ve done in their old way of life and starting anew.


    What would madam think? Would she feel that everyone thinks that she is useless, forcing her to retire?


    Thinking about this, Ru An quickly kneeled down and said "Madam, this servant didn''t mean it this way. I will quickly change the basin."


    "No need. Since you have already brought it in, how can I not use it?" Madam Lin asked as she placed her jade-like hands into the golden basin, her fingers moving around the lukewarm water, creating a slight disturbance in the water, small bubbles arose. She wet the towel and patted her face.


    Her refreshed eyes looked toward Ru An, and she said: "Help me get ready."


    Ru An was slightly startled as she stood up. She couldn''t help but feel that Madam Lin''s mood was as playful as said, she could be gentle at times, but she could easily change in the blink of an eye.


    She quickly got Madam Lin''s clothes, which had already been chosen previously by Feng Yun before she left, and helped her get dressed. The robe was a lighter shade of emerald green. The fabric, neither thick nor thin, but was enough to keep in warmth in and the cold out. There were no embroideries on the dress, but there was a decorative lining of embroidered thread around the sleeves and neckline that gave it an exquisite feeling.


    After getting dressed, and having her hair done by Ru An, in a similar fashion that Feng Yun would have done, yet she still that Ru An''s skill was missing a notch when compared to Feng Yun, she could only lightly sigh.


    Though this girl''s skills were good, she just couldn''t be compared to Feng Yun.


    After getting dressed, she asked: "Is the carriage ready."


    "Yes madam, it is just outside." Ru An answered with her head slightly bowed out of habit.


    "Let us go then."


    "Should this servant come as well?" Ru An asked shyly. Her duties did not usually apply to her following Madam Lin out of the manor.


    "You are my maidservant, are you not?" Madam Lin turned to her.


    "Yes." Ru An answered.


    "Good." Madam Lin said she turned around and took a glance at the basin before she turned towards the door.

 23 Merchants Emporium

    The carriage departed from that manor slowly, driving at an even pace. No one noticed this seemingly common carriage that one could hire for a tael or two as it stopped at the side door of the merchant''s emporium. The place here was where all merchants of the capital came to order and receive their goods.


    "Welcome, Madam." A man''s voice said.


    As she entered, she was greeted by a middle-aged man who was dressed in brocade robes of a dark blue, his hair was black, with a few traces of graying near his temples. For his age, although the graying was a little premature, it showed the onset of a stressful lifestyle.


    "Emporium Head Ning." Madam Lin replied as she showed a delighted smile allowing the head of the merchant''s emporium, Ning JinYuan to lead the way to the study.


    "Please sit madam." Ning JinYuan gestured to a chair in his study.


    Madam Lin sat down gently and nodded to him as if accepting his goodwill.


    Ning JinYuan sat down himself opposite of Madam Lin.


    The doors opened, and a servant entered with a tray of two teacups. Placing one before Madam Lin and the other before Ning JinYuan.


    As they entered, Madam Lin had smelled the slight breeze coming from the cups. She already knew it was two cups of Honey and Jubee tea. How wonderful that tasted in this season of uncertain coldness in the weather.


    "Hope you don''t mind this lowly tea madam, it is imported from the southern regions, it is quite a sweet fruit." Ning JinYuan said as he took up his own stop and gave it a slight stir to cool it down.


    "What brings madam here today?" Ning JinYuan asked as he brought the cup to his lips and took a sip.


    "Nothing much. I just need to see the records of the top grade goods bought by the imperial palace in the past month." Madam Lin answered. She did not speak in circles, but dove in straight into the point.


    "Okay." Ning JinYuan said. He understood that she was the true overseer of the merchant''s emporium. No matter what, he had to report to her, yet she did not have the arrogance of a superior, instead, coming over to see him personally.


    "Thank you." Madam Lin said she was quite touched that he did not ask her purpose for coming over for no reason.


    Ning JinYuan left madam Lin within the room, with the records of the goods ordered and received by the imperial palace within the past month.


    Madam Lin began to comb through them tediously before she found some strange goods that were brought into the palace.


    Listed as second-grade oolong tea. Which was out of the ordinary because any tea that went into the palace had to be first grade since only the best was reserved for the palace, and it was only the emperor, and his consorts who could enjoy such a tea.


    She looked down the list, to find that the tea had come in from the southwest regions.


    A wicked smile formed on her lips as if she finally got her answer. With that, she had finally gotten her answered.


    The records were all placed back in their original places, everything placed neatly back into its place. The door opened, and madam Lin walked out in a dignified manner.


    "Have you gotten your answer madam?" Ning JinYuan who was standing outside the door asked.


    "Yes. thank you emporium head, Ning, I will be on my way." She refused his offer of escorting her, by walking a few steps faster and closing the door behind her.


    Ning JinYuan did not say much, only giving a gentle smile as he watched her back disappear from view.


    Upon coming out from the back door, Ru An is still quietly seated in the the driver''s seat of the carriage. When she heard the door, her back immediately straightened, like a student trying to show best behavior in front of a teacher.


    Madam Lin saw the sudden panic and her lips curved upward. "Ru An, why don''t you go into the carriage, it''s cold out there?" Madam Lin asked as she placed her hands on the girl''s hand in a strange intimate.


    "It''s okay, Ru An is not cold." Ru An said as she pulled her hands away.


    "Very well then." Madam Lin said as got on the carriage. Ru An barely remembered to hold the curtain up for her, as she was so new to all of this.


    "Where do you want to go madam?"


    "Just drive around for a little while. I want to take some fresh air. The weather here is so much colder than I''m used to, you know how it is in the southern regions, we never get enough snow, maybe this year, I will see more." Madam Lin said inside the carriage. Although the curtain was thick, her voice had not been muffled, yet it was only the two of them who could hear it.


    "Yes." Ru An said as she gave the reins a light tug and the horses moved at a slow speed.


    The carriage moved silently along the small streets connected with the larger streets that were not so populated with a sea of people. Madam Lin could hear all the vendors yelling loud and clear for people to come and buy their products, have they not heard that a truly scented flower would attract onlookers even if one did not do anything?


    She silently shook her head, as she thought of those youthful times when she had snuck out from the manor and crossdressed to walk the streets of Qing Cheng like it was her home.


    That was many years ago¡­


    The silk thread dragon''s beard candy was her favorite to have on such rare occasions. The taste of the silky threads, so sweet as they touched her taste buds, melting on the spot.


    They vendor, she wondered if there was still the same shop that opened no matter the time of year.

 24 A Road Blockage

    After driving the carriage nonstop for an hour, there was a crowd of people up in front blocking the road, so that no carriages could pass through. They had surrounded a person who was sprawled out on the ground, the person seemed to have fainted or died.


    The carriage came to a slow stop.


    "Ru An, what is the matter?" Madam Lin''s serene voice came from inside the carriage.


    "Nothing madam, there is some trouble up ahead." Ru An answered.


    "Make a detour." Madam Lin ordered.


    Ru An complied, with a tug on the reins, the horses moved swiftly on towards the southern gates, which were wide open and without a soldier guarding it at this time of day, because there were other carriages behind it, it could only move forward, and in front of it, there were people who seemed to be farmers, dragging their ox-drawn wagons that were filled with straw along.


    Ru An''s eyes glanced over the straw-covered wagons in weariness. As she went along with them, not because she wanted to, but because she had no choice, as one of the many carriages that were sandwiched within this hoard of merchants and farmers.


    There was a feeling of uneasiness that rose from within her heart. After the many years of training, her deep-rooted instinct to survive had been activated once more, after it laid dormant within her for so long since she had been working in the manor.


    Within the carriage, she could hear Madam Lin humming an eerie, yet beautiful tune.


    "Hm hm hmm hm hmm¡­" It gave a feeling of a soft white dove flying above the mountain range all the scenery flying by at a gliding sight. This beautiful bird could feel the cool wind blow upon its pure white feathers, all of a sudden a stray arrow came out of nowhere and pierced through its body, dyeing its feathers a bloody crimson color.


    Ru An heard the tune and felt as if the surrounding atmosphere had gotten colder by a lot. She wondered why madam would be humming this tune out of nowhere, but knew that it was not her place to ask.


    Her grip tightened around the reins, as she urged the horses forward.


    "I wonder who the target will be." The voice inside the carriage said. Madam Lin did not believe that anyone would notice her as she moved around the capital. She was certain that the road blockage in the city was staged, to make sure the carriages went out of the safety and protection of the city, and onto this rural and desolated road for a detour.


    "Shall I find a way out?" Ru An quietly whispered.


    "En." Madam lin said.


    Ru An accepted the order, and quickly set her plan. The carriage was moving at a slow pace, along with the others around it. She secretly launched a pebble towards the hind legs of the horse.


    The horse that was leading the carriage suddenly buckled under its weight and collapsed, neighing loudly and attracting the attention of everyone traveling.


    Everyone turned around to see the horse had fallen in an awkward position and the young girl who was driving the carriage jumping off to tend to the fallen horse immediately.


    The carriages behind her had no choice but go around her. There were a lot of stares with murderous intent directed towards her, yet she decided to ignore them, and tend to the horse that fell down in front of the carriage.


    A person dressed in farmers clothes silently watched the girl, his hand was reaching under the straw to grab something, yet he was stopped by a person next to him. When he saw that person shake his head, he could only abandon that thought and retract his hand, as he urged the oxen foward.


    It was only when Ru An felt the murderous intent stop that she silently let out a breath, and pull her hand away from her wrist.


    "At least we weren''t the target." Madam Lin said with a shrug as the caravan passed.


    Ru An had already taken good care of the horses. They weren''t hurt in any way, they had been long trained to do such a stunt when they were tapped in the right place. They would be able to easily get up once they were once again tapped in the correct place.


    "Does madam want to head back?"


    "No, I want to see what they intend to do with such a large group of people." Madam Lin and Ru An was wondering the same thing. A group of people that size surely wasn''t sufficient enough to deal with them, yet based on the size, it was definitely to deal with a person with high status.


    Ru An nodded and allowed the carriage to trail behind the hoard at a distance.

 25 Observing an Assassination

    No one noticed that behind them, trailing on quietly was the carriage which they believe to have broken down. Ru An was quite the expert driver, making the horses go at a slower pace so that the sounds coming from the wheels would be at a minimum.


    Madam Lin peered out the curtain, moving closer to Ru An, to the point she was practically sitting behind Ru An''s shoulders, making the girl feel discomfort. There was practically the warmth and breath of another human being right behind her, yet she did not feel consoled.


    "Hmm¡­" Madam Lin thought for a while, as she observed the many carriages that were in front. It looked nothing like a civilized line of carriages traveling. Instead, it looked more like a flock of sheep not knowing where to go, and without a herding dog to guide them.


    She spotted one carriage that was built beautifully, made with ebony, and curtains of brocade. The carriage was pulled by top grade horses that were from the northern regions, resistant to the cold, and strong enough to bring a full-grown man dressed in a full set of armor into the battle-field. The beautiful carriage was in the center of four carriages that were the color of darkness and driven by men who were dressed in a black uniform. Which were also surrounded and forced to move slowly.


    "It should be that one." Madam Lin''s finger pointed at the brocade carriage in the middle. It was the most beautiful thing that stood out, like a crane in a flock of ducks. Perhaps, sometimes being too flashy didn''t bring on the best-intended results.


    Ru An looked towards the carriage and wondered what kind of status the person within held. She knew that it wasn''t ordinary, but then thought of what kind of power the enemy of that person held, in order to send so many to do the simple task of sliting the throat of a single person.


    Surely, a secret assassin that carried out his assignment in the dead of night would be just as effective right? Also it would not be such a waste of manpower, and many lives would not have to be extinguished for no reason.


    Perhaps, no one would understand why the perpetrator had made such a decision. Or maybe, the years of power and being on an elevated podium got to his head.


    The carriage silently trailed the hoard in front, as they had deviated from the main dirt road, and onto a lesser known one that had not been traveled nor trampled upon in a while. As the lush grass that was still growing tall with pride showed.


    Madam Lin''s eyes were filled with a sense of anticipation as though she was about to watch a brilliant show.


    By now, she was practically sitting right beside Ru An, who tugged lightly on the reins, as the horses slowed to a silent stop.


    All of a sudden, from the treetops, descended men who were wearing black masks and holding identical swords that gleamed in the light, that emitted a cold bone-chilling aura.


    At the same time, the farmers who were traveling around the surrounded carriage reached into their wagons and pulled out their swords, the merchants also did the same.


    "Ahhh!" There was a scream from the poor unsuspecting people who had been cornered into going along with this hoard of carriages. How tragic it was to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. If they were not on a carriage perhaps they would not have gotten dragged into this.


    The assassins feared that onlookers would be witnesses to their crime. With a quick thrust of their blades, they quickly silenced the witnesses. With a short amount of time, the ground was filled with running blood.


    With no one around to bear witness to their crime, they quickly surrounded the brocade laden carriage and its four protector carriages.


    "Hmm¡­ I wonder if they will survive?" Madam Lin placed her hand under her chin and watched without any emotion at all. With all the bloodshed that was happening in front of her, she was unfazed.


    Ru An had her eyes fixed upon the bloodshed and screaming. There was a fire that was burning within her eyes, as though she felt her blood rushing towards the four limbs of her body, warming up to get her ready for a battle.


    She suddenly spoke: "I don''t know if the guards will survive, but the person they are protecting, will most likely be unharmed." It was as though Ru An was very well versed in such a situation, knowing those that will survive and those who will perish.


    "Oh? Tell me why." Madam Lin asked, her eyes wide with anticipation as she looked at the artery that was pulsating so fast on Ru An''s pale neck.


    "The guards that are protecting the carriage has formed a formation around it making sure that not even a fly will be able to get through," Ru An pointed to the guards who had placed the black-clad carriages as a blockade around the brocade laden carriages and used their bodies as shields around the carriage, "this goes to show the lengths these guards are willing to go to prevent the person inside from getting hurt, even willing to give up their own lives. With the move and communicate together, I believe that they may be death guards." Ru An spoke analytically as her eyes were still glued on the fight.


    "Hm." Madam Lin nodded as she fishes around her pocket and finds a wrapped oil package of sweetened lotus seeds and placing one into her mouth.


    "Want one?" She hands one to Ru An, who takes it and places it into her mouth. Yet with her actions of taking the lotus seed to putting it into her mouth, her eyes did not leave the fight for even a second.

 26 Should we save them?

    After a while, Madam Lin began to get bored as though she had lost interest in a play: "I think we should be heading back now." She said.


    "Yes, Madam." Ru An snapped out from the momentary bloodthirsty gaze and took a last look at the people fighting.


    By now, the two sides had locked into a stalemate, there were many corpses of the guards and assassins scattered about the ground. Each side had countless losses, but the assassins still poured in like water leaking into a boat. To put it simply, they were helplessly outnumbered.


    Ru An took up the reins and pulled it gently, and the carriage was going the same, slow and steady pace it was going.


    The two looked like a pair of master and servant that had just been out to see some scenery, there was no sign that they had just watched a bloody battle that had just occurred.


    "Should we have helped them?" Madam Lin asks.


    "Does madam want to help them?" Ru An questions. Today, did Madam Lin feel pity for a passerby, to the point of wanting to save them? This was different from the woman she heard about growing up. Said to be so ruthless she watched the entire Ye clan get executed or exiled, and watched each and every one of them meet a horrible end, yet not even lifting so much as a single finger to help.


    "If they survive, maybe." Madam Lin shrugged her shoulders as the carriage continued to move ever so slowly.


    ~


    In the city, Ruan Wang was prepared to get on an unassuming carriage. He was dressed as a noble, in brocade robes, yet there was nothing in his possession that conveyed the lofty status he held as a prince and the uncle of the current ruler.


    Xu Fei was standing by his side. It was he, who was prepared to get on the carriage to act the driver. He was dressed in common clothes, such that one could only see him as a lowly servant and not a decorated constable and solider.


    "Master, please." Xu Fei bowed as he gestured toward the carriage.


    "No need for any of this play." Ruan Wang muttered beneath his breath as he carelessly boarded the carriage. Once inside, he realized that the interior had been switched out, leaving a luxurious interior that was fit for the emperor.


    "Is there a need for any of this?" Ruan Wang asked speechlessly as he eyed over the interior of the carriage.


    [This seemed a bit much.]


    "It is not too much, Ruan Qin Wang." Xu Fei said with a wide smile as he reminded Ruan Wang he was a member of the imperial family, and of highest rank too, considering that he was the current emperor''s uncle, even the emperor had to call him imperial uncle, giving him the highest standing in the entire Kingdom of Qing Cheng.


    Considering that the current empress dowager was his brother''s wife, and had to call him brother, he was quite high in the imperial family.


    Yet, with all the power he had.


    All the power he once accumulated to fight with his brother.


    He had already let it all go over two decades ago. His ambition had already been a bright candle put out by a strong storm. Everything he had or ever wanted had died on that mountain that day¡­


    ¡­ With her¡­


    He had grown to love simplicity when he left the imperial capital forty-nine days after that incident.


    After that, her every word had been etched in his mind.


    The way she played the qin, so beautiful that even the majestic birds who roamed the skies would envy that sound to perch on a branch and tweet in hopes of disrupting her concentration, but they never could, as she grew more joyful and played even more beautifully to accompany her newfound companions.


    She had also been a great player of Go. Playing against herself for hours, she had the ability to predict her opponent''s next move, it was as though she could see into the future. Sadly, he never had a chance to play against her, as he looked down upon her so condescendingly the first time he heard of her.


    The daughter of a concubine, whose mother had died giving birth to her. A woman with plain looks who did not have the care of her father. Who spent the youngest years of her life in seclusion, hidden from the rest of the world, by her own family.


    She had also been quite good at her skill in medicine, as she claimed that it was self-taught since the moment she learned to read.


    She had always been a mystery, who acted as a young maiden, who had the joys and curiosities of a little child, yearning to be free and roam to every kingdom going on an adventure, yet, what tied her down was the duty that was to her own clan.

 27 General Li Xuans Reques

    In another part of the city, Ruan Wang was sitting at a table, in his old, age-worn hand was a cup of tea that had steam rising out of it. His eyes were lifelessly staring into nothingness, as he put the hot cup of tea toward his lips, it was as if he did not notice that it had been boiling and recently made into tea. He did not notice that the tea had caused a burn to his lips, or simply he no longer felt pain.


    "Hey, the tea is hot." An old voice called out to him.


    "Hmm, the tea is indeed not bad." Ruan Wang said as he took another sip. It seemed that he was used to drinking near-boiling tea.


    The man sitting across from him looked at him strangely. He was the same age as his friend, but time had been kinder to him, his hair was still mostly ink black, with a few strands of gray and his eyes were full of vigor, he was a general, who had protected and served his country as any iron-blooded man would. General Li, Li Xuan, a man who held a third of the military forces in Qing Cheng.


    "Why did you want to meet with me?" Ruan Wang set the cup of tea firmly on the table and asked.


    "Can''t I meet with an old friend." Li Xuan asked. They were once old friends, perhaps even as close as sworn brothers, but time had caused them to drift apart.


    "We have not met in over two decades." Ruan Wang simply stated.


    "I know, ever since she died you were unwilling to talk to me." Li Xuan said as he suddenly remembered Ruan Wang fei. That woman was bestowed to marry Ruan Wang by the late emperor, she was an ordinary looking woman, and the daughter of a concubine. At first, she was placed in a remote courtyard but as time passed one would discover that she was a young woman who was brimming with talent, it could be said that only through time would one find out what was hiding under those layers. A pity that she died so young at that fateful day on the cliff.


    Yes, he had gotten the message proving her innocence, but it was too late.


    "You knew what had happened, you could have told me. If you had gone to inform me, this tragedy would not have occurred." Ruan Wang said in a desolate tone. Perhaps he had been angry at himself for being too impulsive that day, perhaps he was only looking for someone to blame. He truly felt that day was quite off, nothing was going the right way that day.


    "Believe me or not, I truly got the news too late." Li Xuan sighed. He too felt regret, it was as if someone had waited for the right moment to let him know everything, only for his actions to be futile in the end.


    "Let''s not talk about it, why did you want to see me?" Ruan Wang immediately changed the subject as soon as his eyes began to become cloudy with the oncoming tears.


    "Remember Gao Hongbo?"


    "The Left Prime Minister? Hasn''t he already served three generations of emperors? That old man still hasn''t died yet? How old is he this year?" Ruan Wang thought about this talented, but shrewd old man who had served his late imperial father, his imperial brother, and now his nephew. It could be said that his position in the court could not be shaken. Many officials of the court were his students, so many of them would call him teacher and bow to him respectfully if he were to walk by.


    "He is nearing his eighties and has yet to retire. His Gao family is at the height of power, they control a large portion of the literary officials. The Grand Tutor just lost a grandson, he would most likely ask for leave from the imperial court to take care of his family''s matters. This leaves me as the only one who stands to oppose him."


    "Why did you call me here for?" Didn''t Li Xuan see, he no longer cared about the matters of the court? They could all fight as much as they wanted, and allow the imperial court to be tainted with rivers of blood from the innocent, but this is something he would refuse to take part in.


    Experiencing it once in a lifetime was already enough.


    "I fear that the Left Prime Minister will make a move."


    "What does this have to do with me?" Ruan Wang was starting to get annoyed, if this man wanted to talk to him about political affairs, he shouldn''t have asked to meet in such an open place. Then again, this man had a simple, straightforward personality, it was already a miracle that he could think like this.


    [After all, the walls had ears.]


    "I know you will never forgive me, and I will not beg you for forgiveness, but I hope that on the account that we were once brothers, you would protect my family if anything would happen."


    "En." Ruan Wang signed, any man would wish to keep his family and that man whom he met years ago, who once neither feared the heavens nor the earth was no different.


    "Thank you." Li Xuan said, his voice quivering with emotion. He could not hope for forgiveness, he did not think that his old friend and brother would agree to his request.


    They were silent for a while, it was a mutual understanding. Time could not flow backward to the time when they were brothers, and everything could not be changed with one word of forgiveness. It seemed they had once imagined what could have happened if that hadn''t occurred.


    But there was no what if?


    There was a knocking outside of the room, followed by the voice of a waiter "Esteemed customer, your order is ready, shall I bring it in?" The waiter did not know the identity of these men and treated them as any other noble people, after all, they had changed before coming, and they looked like men of prominent noble families.


    "En." Li Xuan nodded.


    "Coming right away." The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered, in his hands he was holding a jar of wine. He set them on the table and left with a bow.


    Li Xuan took the jar and poured it into two bowls. He placed one in front of Ruan Wang, who looked at it, but did not touch it. Li Xuan had gulped down the bowl of wine, letting a few drops escape and roll down his neck. It was probably the habits that he had in the military barracks. After all, such a bond with his brothers could not be changed so easily. Li Xuan wiped his mouth carelessly with his sleeve.


    "Good wine." He said, then looked at Ruan Wang, who had not even touched his bowl of wine yet. "You''re not drinking?" he asked.


    Ruan Wang shook his head.


    "Don''t mind me."He said as he picked up the bowl of wine, and gulped it down as quickly as before "Thank you old friend." Li Xuan said with a smile.


    Ruan Wang: "..."

 28 A Thin Layer of Ice

    The sun shone in the sky like a glistening lump of gold as Madam Lin gazed at its reflection in the large lake. The water was on the verge of freezing because of the low temperatures, trapping the many fishes beneath the surface.


    Though a layer of ice had formed on the surface of the water, it was still thin, thus it could not be trodden upon, even carefully.


    Looking at the small and large group of fish nearing the surface, the only thing separating them a thin layer of ice, as though grasping for the air. Madam Lin''s face formed an almost mocking smile.


    "Do they not know the only thing keeping them under the water is a layer of paper thin ice?" Madam Lin asked, as though in a deep wonder. This was a question that she seemed to be asking herself.


    Ru An, standing off to the side seemed to dare not answer. Her head lowered slightly.


    "Do you think they''re adorable?" Madam Lin asked Ru An.


    Ru An nodded her head quietly, looking at her dress.


    "A pity they can''t survive above water. I don''t even understand why they''re kept as pets. All they do is eat what you give them if you give them too much, their bellies swell and they die." Madam Lin said, as though ridiculing all those who have ever kept fishes in their small ponds among the scenery of fake mountains.


    "We have fish in the manor." Ru An quietly stated.


    Madam Lin seemed to not have heard Ru An as she bent down, placing an pale hand over the thin ice. As though by instinct, the fish came in an instant, clamoring at the shadow that was above them, all fighting for the food they believed would soon descend into the water.


    "If they''re starved long enough, will they eat flesh and pick the bones clean?" Madam Lin suddenly spoke, again, it seemed as though she was speaking to herself once again.


    Ru An: "..."


    Madam Lin truly had her mood swings, she could be as kind as a goddess, or as cruel as the overseer of the underworld.


    There was no seer who could predict which mood she would end up next, which has been a headache of the servants in the manor. Such a master was truly very difficult to serve.


    "Ah¡­ Ru An, say do you think we can fish here?" Madam Lin stared over the large lake and asked.


    "We did not bring any bait or fishing poles, plus it is best to fish in the center during the freezing of the lake, but this ice can barely support a person''s weight, it is best to wait until the ice gets thicker." Ru An answered tactfully.


    "Fine." Madam Lin said as she walked around the lake to take a walk. Ru An silently following behind as a dutiful maidservant to this lady that very few people knew of, yet could silently pull the strings to bend everything at her will.


    The rocky ground was barren, and the grass was yellow, in the process of turning into hay. The grass and weeds that were by the lake, had been frozen stiff. This place was mountainous, full of thin soil that could barely be held by the thin grass from being blown away.


    Every footprint left in the soil would be blown away by a small breeze.


    There was a small hut nearby, the kind that was used to be a storage place for medicinal herbs to be shipped to the merchant''s emporium, but now as the weather turned frigid, it was left abandoned and empty as the only herbs left were too dry and distasteful to the eyes, and thus was left behind.


    "They are leaving way too much valuable medicines here to rot." Madam Lin said as she smelled what was left behind. "This is a waste. When I get back, I must tell them to stop this practice!"


    Ru An took a close look at the ugly plant that was full of yellow holes in them: "I don''t think this would sell madam."


    "But there is nothing wrong with it!" Madam Lin insisted.


    Madam Lin''s mood had changed yet again, leaving Ru An baffled at how to act. She remained the obedient and shy maidservant just to be on the safe side.


    She silently watched Madam Lin pile up some firewood in the fireplace, as she prepared to light a small fire.


    Within no time, there was a small crackling sound as a fresh new fire had begun to glow from beneath the wood. The hearth of the fires was a soft orange glow that brought a strange sense of warmth to this empty and abandoned hut.


    Ru An meanwhile tried her best to tidy up the small place to the best of her ability. Sweeping up the dust with a straw broom.


    As her gaze landed on madam Lin who was silently feeding the small sticks of firewood into the hearth almost mindlessly. Her heart felt tensed for an unknown reason.


    Madam Lin could have gotten burned over and over again so many times, and if the fire got too large, and caught onto the wood that made up this hut, the entirety of this place and the trees and shrubs could have been burnt down to the ground, not even leaving a single hair behind.


    Perhaps, Ru An felt some sympathy for Madam Lin, who in her entire life had never ceased thinking of a single man.

 29 Stew

    "What do you think we should cook tonight?" Madam Lin looked towards Ru An and asked.


    Ru An looked up, to see that above the embers of the warm fires was a pot half filled with water. With how slowly the fire was burning, it would be a long time before the water would be boiling.


    Wait a minute, her job was to cook for her master, now her master wanted to cook for her? How could she possibly live with herself if a servant was to eat the food that her master cooked?


    Ru An quickly seized the large ladle that Madam Lin had prepared to use.


    "Madam, please let this servant do it." Ru An pleaded.


    "Nonsense, why can''t I cook?"Madam Lin asked as she struck Ru An on an acupoint, weakening her arm. Madam Lin immediately grabbed the ladle and looked at Ru An with an apologetic expression.


    Ru An, massaged her numb arm expressionlessly before she said: "I''ll go find a small animal." As she headed out the door.


    With the door closing silently, Madam Lin couldn''t make heads or tails of the girl''s reaction.


    Was she filled with grievances or not?


    Ru An in truth was not angry, nor was she holding any unsaid grievances. She was merely a servant, whose job was to take care of her master.


    There was a sense of coldness in the air as she wandered into the forest that was just outside. The forest was practically barren from living creatures as most of the animals had hidden away after gathering a large amount of food to fill their bellies.


    Though the sun was still out and beating upon the yellowed grass, there was not much warmth that could be drawn from it. It was as though even the coldness that was bound to the ground was stronger than the penetrating rays of light.


    Ru An''s eyes scanned the grounds of the forest around her. There was no smell of the earth, the coldness in the air had already numbed her senses, making her feel as though she had never truly been able to make out the smell of anything at all.


    As she went deeper, she felt her entire body slowly calm down. There was something about the trees that felt to her, like a home. Perhaps, that was because she had once lived in a place that was very similar to this when she was a child.


    She could not clearly remember the past, as it was a time of war and turmoil between the kingdoms.


    But she did not wish to remember either. The only thing she remembered was a kind woman calling her Xiao An. There was no recollection on whether that woman was her mother or aunt, her elder sister, or a stranger who she had met in the middle of nowhere.


    As Ru An was silently trying to clear up her memories, there was a small rustle coming from a small bush.


    Everything became silent, as the only that one could hear was a small sound of rustling, at this moment it seemed that all time had stopped altogether. Even the breeze that was blowing stopped at the moment.


    A small yet fat furry creature jumped out from the bush in a powerful hop.


    Ru An looked on with disappointment. Such animals had such thick coats of fur for show, merely an illusion to seem bigger to scare off predators, yet in reality, they were nothing more than a layer of fur, skin, and lear muscle.


    [Better than nothing.] She thought to herself.


    She kicked a rock toward the rabbit, causing it to fall down immediately.


    There was no doubt that it had died, the rising and depressing from its lungs had stopped, and it lay there with no motion. In truth, perhaps this was the most merciful way to kill it. There was only one kick with the rock flying towards the heart at the correct rhythm, stopping it at the perfect moment.


    Other times in the wild, perhaps it would struggle to the death after its throat had been torn by an animal with sharp teeth, being eaten before it took its last breath.


    Ru An collected the rabbit, bringing it to the hut, where she saw that Madam Lin had cooked up a pot of water, and had a few chives and potatoes on the side. Ru An wondered where Madam Lin got those items before she realized that these plants were wild and could grow in the harshest of conditions.


    Madam Lin heard the footsteps and looked towards the door, to find RuAn quietly standing there holding a fat rabbit that was dangling by its long fluffy ears. With the way she was holding it, it must be dead.


    Looking at it some more, there did not seem to be a wound on it, and it was certainly not staining the floor with blood. Then again, Ru An was an expert when it came to hunting or killing and not leaving a trace.


    When Madam Lin saw that Ru An was prepared to skin it in this hut, she quickly said: "Ru An, please do it outside."


    Ru An complied, who would have thought that Madam Lin would have some things that she did not like as well.


    Outside, the thick scent of animal filled the air, giving the night an eerie feeling, as though it was destined to be filled with blood. Ru An skillfully slipped the skin from the rabbit''s carcass in a single piece, until what came out, as a result, was the skinned rabbit, perfectly glistening with red. The slim and strong muscles that the rabbit had in its hind legs were very defiant, with an masterpiece of arteries crawling beneath, like thin worms wiggling around.


    The meat was cut, and the organs remove to be placed in a separate bucket.


    Ru An''s hands were covered with the stickiness of blood as she handed the meat to Madam Lin.


    "Maybe you should wash your hands." Madam Lin said as she poured the slices into the boiling water, adding in the potatoes and chives.


    Ru An walked outside to pour some water over her hands, carefully rubbing them until the sticky stains on her hands gradually dissolved, becoming nothing more than a puddle of contaminated water with a sweet yet nauseating scent that lingered in the air.

 30 A Knock on the Door

    The stew was just about finished as a fragrance of chives permeated the air. There was a sea of white steam that settled around the room, touching everything and giving its scent to the hut.


    Ru An was tidying the hut as she couldn''t help but become captivated by the smell. It seems that making a stew out of simple ingredients was not so bad after all.


    "Ru An, come try my masterpiece cooking. Not too shabby is it?" Madam Lin asked, spooning a few ladles into a small bowl and handing it to Ru An who took it with both hands.


    Ru An took a spoonful and put it into her slightly dry lips. Her taste buds instantly feeling a gratification. Why didn''t she know that Madam Lin cooked so well?


    "How is it?" Madam Lin asked on as she carefully watched Ru An sip up every drop.


    "It''s very good." Ru An answered truthfully with a strangely drunken smile on her tender lips that had been moisturized.


    Madam lin did not say anything as she poured some for herself, "You know what would make this even better?" She gently askes, taking a deep sip of what she cooked.


    "A few taels of rice, would just give it the perfect thickness." She answered herself.


    There was now a dusty light outdoors, for the sun had begun to set. There were a few estranged particles of dust that floated around the hut, yet madam Lin did not seem to care about soiling her beautiful dress, sitting directly on the floor.


    ~


    Outside, as the sun was beginning to set, with each of its beautiful orange rays touching down upon its earth, almost intertwined, shining brightly upon the freezing air.


    There were two figures walking slowly almost out of breath. Their breaths were heavily frosted, seemingly as though nature itself wanted them dead, drawing every warm breath from their heavy bodies.


    One was dressed in the finest of brocades, and the other, dressed in black, seemingly wanting to blend into the darkest of nights. The two young men were as different as night and day, yet they were together almost as friends, without worrying for who held a higher status in society.


    Upon seeing a small hut not so far off in the distance with a steam of smoke from it, the man in brocade''s eyes lit up, "Look, Xiao Wu, we can ask for help over there." He said pointing towards the little hut.


    Perhaps if it was a normal day, he would not have put such a decrepit looking place in his eyes, but now in such a situation, it was hard not to think of how cozy it might be.


    "Your Highness, what if it''s a trap?" The young man called Xiao Wu asked.


    "Who cares, If we''re going to die out here, we might as well be in a place that is warm." The man in brocade said with a smile, as he slowly supported Xiao Wu, as they slowly walked toward the hut.


    "I think they''re coming." Madam Lin slowly said.


    Ru An nodded. It seems that she had heard it too.


    In all honesty, she believed that Madam Lin did not care whether they lived or survived. It was merely a comment that she had made on the carriage.


    Soon, as expected, there was a knock at the door, and Ru An, played the dutiful role of a servant, opening the door, to be met with suspicion.


    "Who''s there?" A voice called out.


    There was no need to call out, they could all see her and she could see them, there was no need to say a word at all.


    [This was clearly a small hut, yet there was a maidservant here, along with her mistress who is dressed in the finest clothes imported from the south.]


    Seeing the two lost in thought, Ru An frowned. It was fine allowing her to stand there, but how could she continue allowing the cold wind to seep into the hut.


    "Who are you?'' She asked.


    The young man dressed in brocade let out a cough: "This young lady, we are merchants, and were unfortunate enough to get robbed on our way to the capital, would you be so kind as to allow us to stay the night?"


    It was truly an awkward feeling for him to explain to a maid, yet he knew that she would be at the door until she deemed that he would not be a threat to her mistress.


    "Ru An, let them in." Madam Lin said with a gentle smile.


    "Thank you." The man dressed in brocade said as he pulled his wounded guard into the warm hut.


    Madam Lin''s gentle smile froze as she saw the young man''s face and those eyes. She could feel her breathing speed up as she immediately tried to calm herself down.


    Once again, an amiable smile graced her lips as she offered them some delicious stew.


    "Young man, we were just in the middle of having dinner, would you care for some?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, kindly gesturing towards the pot that was still warm, over the dying fire.


    "It''s kind of you." The young man nodded and agreed to eat some.


    Madam Lin smiled a gentle smile full of motherly love, carefully laddeling some into two plain wooden bowls and giving it to the two men.


    Xiao Wu looked at his master, preparing to caution him, when he saw his young master take the bowl and put it up to his lips, downing the bowl completely.


    Once he saw his master completely drink the contents of the bowl without question, he placed the bowl up to his lips and drank it too.


    To his surprise, it was not as crude as he expected from a hut in the forest, the stew was fragrant and the meat, tender and chewy when it entered his mouth. The wild vegetables made for good compliments to each other, with neither too overtaking.

 31 A Favour to be Returned

    When Madam Lin saw them both drink her stew without question, she couldn''t help but chuckle slightly.


    Her slight chuckle made the two young men stand on edge, as though expecting to be ambushed at any moment.


    Madam Lin gently shook her head.


    "Perhaps you should take a look at your servant''s wound." She said, looking at Xiao Wu, who seemed to be dazed from blood loss.


    It was then that the young man was reminded of his wounded bodyguard, coming over to support, and attempt to take a look at the wound, which had been made by a blade.


    "I''ll look." Madam Lin assured, coming over with a few of the herbs that had been left there intentionally. Internally thinking how the not so good looking herbs had turned to be useful after all.


    She lifted his arm to see the wound which had been made by a blade, deepest at about two inches. The blood was thick and sticky a color of deep red.


    She lightly touched the blood and sniffed her fingers.


    [Good, there was no poison on the blade.]


    There was not much that could be done, so she simply ground up some blood coagulating herbs and put it on the wound before she skillfully bandaged it.


    "He should be fine if the wound does not touch water for the next three days." Madam Lin says with a smile.


    That smile was gentle and soothing, it was no different than that of a mother''s smile trying to calm her frightened children. Such a smile soothed everyone, even Ru An who had a degree of fear and respect toward Madam Lin felt that kindness that Madam Lin had only shown to her own son.


    "Thank you." The man in brocades said in a grateful manner. It seems that the smile had also impacted him.


    "En." Madam Lin said as she put away the medicine slowly.


    This left the young man at loss of what to say. He could only carry on this slowly dying conversation.


    "May I ask madam''s name."


    At this question, Madam Lin paused and said: "My name is Lin YuLou, but the people around me call me Madam Lin."


    The youngman pondered for a moment, before he said "My name is Hao Xian."


    Madam Lin''s eyes flashed a trace of hostility, before they returned to their original lipid and calm state.


    [The second prince, Canglong Hao Xian, son of the once powerful Imperial Consort Ying and legitimate daughter of the Ye clan, Ye YuYing.]


    A gracious smiled graced Madam Lin''s lips, as she said "Young master Hao, since I have helped you, you should owe me a favor? No?"


    Canglong HaoXian''s face darkened and replied: "Is what madam truly needs a favor, after I return, I will have some directly bring you a million taels."


    "No need for that, I have plenty of money, but what I lack is favours." Madam Lin waved her hand and said with all seriousness.


    "Fine. If it is to my ability and not against the morals I stand for, then I will do everything in my utmost power to accomplish it." Canglong HaoXian swore solemnly.


    "Hehe¡­" Madam Lin chuckled. "Do I seem like the type of person who would make you do something against your will?" She asked softly.


    "It''s hard to tell what a person''s heart holds." Canglong HaoXian said in all seriousness..


    "Indeed it is, I once made a bet with¡­ someone, and that was the only time I had ever lost. By losing, I hid away for a very very long time." Madam Lin paused for a moment, "But I do not regret it, it has made me see the world in an entirely new way." she said in a reminiscently.


    Her blank eyes gazed out the small cottage window. Looking into the nothingness that was night. It was so darke out here in the middle of nowhere, like standing in a dark room, yet one knew that in the four directions, they were completely surrounded by the forests and all the beasts that lived within. No one standing here would believe that the imperial capital of Qing Cheng was merely a few miles away.


    Her ears sensed a movement a distance away. A strange smile that was devoid of all feelings including happiness and sorrow appeared upon her face.


    "It seems we will have some guests." She seemed to be speaking to herself. That voice was so low that the two people she had just welcomed into the hut did not hear her.


    Ru An was the only one truly listening, her face expressionless.


    "Madam, I will check on our carriage." She bowed respectfully, then left.

 32 Blood Under the Moonligh

    Of course, Ru An did indeed make her way to the carriage where the horses were left. She had to make sure that nothing had been stolen.


    Along the way, she made her way by the lake that had been glistening in the morning, but by now, it had lost all warmth. She felt as though there was a cold stream of air wanting to enter her body. It had been a while since she had felt this way.


    Her thoughts returned to the morning when Madam Lin asked about the fishes that would be willing to eat fresh meat if thrown into the lake because they were so hungry.


    Her precise words were: ''If they''re starved long enough, will they eat flesh and pick the bones clean?''


    At this thought, Ru An felt a chill in her spine, and she quickened up her pace, to the point of nearly running.


    As she neared the carriage, she could hear the sounds of rustling about the trees. She could sense those eyes watching her every move, lingering around to catch her off guard.


    But she would not allow them to do that.


    As she neared the carriage, she heard the sounds of silent hearts beating, speed up, as men dressed in black jumped out in front of her. Their speeds and coordinations matched each other well, as though they had done this countless times before.


    Ru An remained calm and collected, yet her eyes narrowed as she looked at the shadows that appeared.


    They stood there for a good moment until a gruff voice said: "Little girl, have you seen two men, one of them is wounded."


    "Nope." Ru An shook her head without a second thought, as she went forward to get to the carriage.


    "Little girl, think carefully." The voice said again and paused as though wanting to scare her, "Or else it may be your head." The figure wrapped in darkness came closer, as though trying to observe her closer, yet it was futile to look through the dark masks of these men. "You know, you have such a pretty face, a pity if it had to be displayed on a spike."


    Once the man was done speaking, a stream of laughter echoed into the night.


    The laughter and the extra words really threw Ru An off guard, causing her to ponder, were these assassins or common bandits? The way they dressed and moved together suggested they were assassins, yet the way they spoke and laid their plans before a young woman in attempts to scare her suggested the mannerism of bandits.


    Ru An was slightly unamused at this point, after listening to that voice.


    "Enough!" The shout was enough to spread for miles and miles, full of internal energy that was bursting with anger at the same time.


    A chain, it seemed shot out from the girl''s sleeve, winding itself around the man who had spoken for the longest time, causing his throat to gurgle incoherently for a few seconds before he toppled over soundlessly.


    This action sacred the men in tow as their laughter ceased abruptly.


    Ru An stood there perfectly still as though nothing had happened.


    Their bodies trembled, yet they knew that there was no backing down at this moment, for they had already angered her to a near brink. But perhaps if they all charged forward, the safety in numbers. Now, how they have regretted that there were only around fifteen men that were in these forests, having ordered the rest of the people


    Ru An''s emotionless countenance stared at each and every one of the masked faces that were charging towards. Now, it seemed that she was about to be swarmed over by the masses of bugs.


    As they came, she readied herself. She had not a sword in hand, while so many were pointed towards her, yet the one thing she did have up her sleeve could easily wipe out so many without discrimination.


    As they came, her sleave swung out, the chain could seemingly reach out miles upon miles, and inflicting a severe wound to the necks of her assailants. It seemed that those who met with it had no choice but to meet their deaths.


    There was not a single person that survived the onslaught.


    Ru An took a deep breath, breathing in the thick scent of copper that currently stifled the air. The sounds of crickets still continued to chirp restlessly.


    Her eyes landed upon the bloody mess and slaughter that she had caused, but there was no hint of a tear that could be seen on her delicate face.


    She quickly dragged each and every man to the lake she had passed and threw them on to the ice, which quickly gave in and cracked under the tremendous weight of the corpses. Soon sinking to the bottom, never to be seen again.


    Before she left, she could already see some of the movement under the water, as the fish swam closer and closer, their silvery scales shone brightly under the moonlight, ever so beautifully, as the small instances of reflected light danced on the thin ice.


    The ice would form again the next morning, and no one would ever know what had happened.

 33 A New Day

    The sun rose up early this morning, everything was calm and peaceful. At least as peaceful after a night of bloodshed could be.


    Ru An returned to the small hut with the horses in tow. The seemed to be undisturbed by the commotion that had occurred last night, and Ru An was quiet as always.


    No one sensed anything wrong with Ru An, but Madam Lin smiles as she looked at her from head to toe.


    There was not the slightest giveaway that a night of bloodshed had happened yesterday, her clothes were as clean as always.


    "Gentleman, we''ll be heading back to the capital, do you need a lift?"


    "That would be most appreciated." Hao Xian agreed.


    "Where does young master Hao wish to be dropped off? If you want, I can invite gentlemen to have a cup of tea at my manor." Madam Lin asked.


    "There''s no need for that, Madam Lin can drop us off once we get into the capital."


    Madam Lin smiled and nodded.


    They all got on the carriage. Surprisingly it was comfortable, from the outside, it seemed that space was small, but now on the inside, it seemed very spacious. It could easily fit five people, still with extra space to spare. Now that he thinks about it, this carriage was in no way inferior to the carriages used by the imperial family.


    Ru An sat in the driver''s seat and urged the horses forward, and they set off at the pace of a walking horse.


    As they were riding, Madam Lin felt the change in temperature, she slightly opened the curtain to peer outside. There was the frozen lake she had seen yesterday, gleaming under the dawn of a new day. She felt a hint of murder that lingered in the air.


    "Ru An, make sure you order the servants not to buy fish for the next few months." She suddenly ordered.


    The people in the carriage were confused as to why she said such a line. Yet it was only Ru An who fully understood the implication behind it and quietly nodded.


    Once she stopped her loud speech, she turned over to the two people who were sitting with her and said "Sorry gentleman, I just didn''t feel the appetite for fish all of a sudden. I don''t think I will feel it when I go to the capital again. I hope you forgive me."


    "No worries madam." Hao Xian coughed and said.


    "Okay then, I think we will be arriving soon." With that, she put down the curtain and allowed the ride to remain in peace.


    The sun soon slowly rose higher and higher in the sky, yet not warming a single thing in sight. Soon, the bustling sounds of people chattering came into their ears, and they knew that they had returned to society.


    There was something uplifting about seeing and hearing other people after being in the wilderness for a while.


    As the carriage slowly drove through the gates, Ru An showed a pass to the guards, who immediately allowed them to pass without further questions, or even so much as asking who was on the carriage.


    This action a young master Hao, and he quickly asked: "Didn''t they have to check our carriage?"


    "Didn''t they do it already?" Madam Lin asked with an innocently confused look.


    "That''s it?" He muttered, then looked at Xiao Wu who was equally as surprised. If this was the level of security in Qing Cheng''s capital, then the city would soon be flooded with infiltrators, even a common gambling den has more security than this capital.


    Madam Lin quietly smirked as she saw the worry on their faces.


    Even in the plight that everyone in the court had placed him in, he still had much time to worry about the capital''s safety. Such a character was really hard to find, and to find one in existence was nearly theoretical.


    It took quite some time, maneuvering the busy streets of the capital without running anyone over, but such a task was assigned to Ru An who was an excellent driver.


    There was silence, despite knowing that there were loud noises outside, there was no sound that made its way into the carriage. Perhaps it was how this carriage was made that did not allow any sounds to come in. It was so easy to get sucked in by the silence.


    "Young masters, I believe we have arrived." Ru An announced quietly as she looked ahead. She was unwilling to drive the carriage any further. Not because she did not want to, but because there would soon be guards that would come out to stop her if she even thought of going further, and they were people she did not wish to deal with.


    The two people stepped off the carriage as the curtain fell behind them.


    "This is the imperial palace?" Young master Hao asked.


    "Of course, where else would the second prince live?" Madam Lin''s voice echoed from behind the curtain. Such a situation made her voice very mysterious, almost like a ghost, or a ruler passing off the decision that would be enacted upon as the law.


    With that, the young men blushed. So, it seems that their identities had been known all along, then what was all that act about?


    "Remember second prince, you still owe me a favour." Madam Lin stearnly said as she urged Ru An to drive away.


    Watching the carriage disappear as it got further and further away.


    "Your Highness, should I look for information on them?" Xiao Wu who was next to the prince immediately asked.


    "No need, they don''t seem to be our enemies." The prince said as he walks into the palace, with his servant following closely behind.

 34 A Little Bird

    As Madam Lin returned to the manor, there was a white dove that flew encircling the manor.


    Ru An looked emotionlessly up into the sky.


    "Did you have fun?" Madam Lin''s voice came from behind the curtain. Startling the girl who was driving the carriage.


    "They were somewhat lacking¡­"Ru An''s voice trailed off. It was as if she had an expectation that wasn''t met, leaving her hopelessly disappointed.


    "Well, the people you had trained you and I were monstrous beyond imaginable, no need to feel so terrible." Madam Lin chuckled lightly before she continued, "Have you seen through their identities?" Of course, what was being referred to was the group that these people worked for.


    "I find their martial arts to be imbued with seven parts shadow and three parts militaristic skills." Ru An answered tactically.


    "I see, it seems something will be brewing up really soon. We''ll just observe." Madam Lin said.


    Ru An slowly urged the horses forward, and directly into the side gate of the manor. The gates slowly closing behind them.


    Madam Lin returned to her room, while Ru An returned to her tasks, not forgetting to inform the people in the manor to refrain from buying fish from the outside markets.


    She silently swept the dead leaves that were falling from the tree in the courtyard. In a peaceful and elegant motion, she soon looked at the dove that swiftly flew down towards the tower, landing on a bamboo rod that was stationed near the window.


    The broom she was holding in her hand was placed against the tree as she ran to the tower to take a look.


    As she ran upstairs to the tower, there was already someone up in the room tending to the pigeons.


    "Mister Wen." Ru An bowed in respect before entering the room.


    Wen Jian nodded, before carefully untying the string on the bird''s leg, and allowing the creature to fly back into its bamboo cage to rest.


    He handed the bamboo tube off to Ru An and immediately went back to tending the wary birds. They welcomed the fresh water being put into their bowls and a few granules of wheat being poured into the bowl.


    Wen Jian carefully stroked each bird as though thanking them for their long journey.


    Ru An immediately ran to Madam Lin''s room. Since he had given it to her, it was definitely something that could be seen with Madam''s eyed only


    Her footsteps silently glided across the stone floor, as she made her way to Madam Lin''s quarters which were at the main hall.


    A sound of banging came on the door.


    "Come in." A gentle voice said.


    Ru An quickly opened the door to place the bamboo tube on Madam Lin''s desk, before scurrying away quickly. She was a person who knew her boundaries, and what could not be overstepped.


    With the tube on the desk, Madam Lin went over to take a look, pulling out the paper, she scanned it over with furrowed brows. When she was done, she recorded down the information and burned the slip of paper.


    After that, a smile perfectly fitted itself upon her ordinary face. She looked towards the direction of Ruan Qin Wang''s manor.


    "It seems that we will be meeting soon." It was a short while before her eyes dimmed lightly, and she slowly walked to a wardrobe deep within the room.


    The wardrobe was slightly old and dusty seemingly, and it did not seem to belong in this room. The wood it was made from was common pine wood, and did not have the slightest carvings, even the most common peasant would have such a wardrobe. There was a small gleaming lock that prevented anyone from opening it.


    Madam Lin carefully took out the key, which was with her at all times and opened the lock.


    With a ''Click'' the lock opened, and for the first time in over a decade, the contents inside were able to see the daylight.


    Peering inside, Madam Lin pushed aside a garment with dried blood on it that hung lifelessly inside, making her way to the back of the wooden drawer, where she kept a few of her brocade boxes.


    She carefully took out each and every box, carefully making her way to the bottom.


    As she breathed in the old and musty smell, a flurry of emotions spread throughout her body, making her feel as though each box was a heavy brick weighing her down more and more.


    It was so strange, she took out the brocade box opening it. Inside was a long object that was wrapped in layers of cotton cloth. Unwrapping them carefully, it revealed a bamboo umbrella, that was the color of ivory, it was a very plain thing, but one could see that it was a sentimental artifact, based on the way it had been carefully protected all these years.

 35 The scheming Gao Zi Zheng

    Night fell upon the imperial capital, the air became even more bitter cold, it was so bone-chilling that no one dared to step out on the streets at night. It seemed that this year''s snow would be especially severe. Who knows how many people would end up refugees once the heavy snow hit, it seems that the government would soon have their hands full once the weather became more severe.


    Within the Prime minister''s manor, Gao Zizheng was sitting in his study, practicing calligraphy with a brush in his hand, he was dressed in thick, lavish brocade robes, a man in his forties and still gave off a formidable aura. Sitting within the study was a rather nervous look middle aged in the robes of a third-ranking official. The silence in the room was suffocating, and the second-ranking official seemed to be waiting for everything to end.


    Within the room, one could hear nothing more than the cold wind blowing beyond the opened windows.


    The official shivered as he walked closer to put his hands over a braiser, the only source of warmth in the room. Gao Zi Zheng seemed unaffected by the cold winds, as he lifted his head up to observe the official''s actions with a slight curve upon his lips.


    Suddenly, a pigeon white as the snow flew into the opened window. The official quickly held on to the pigeon and removed a small piece of folded paper from the bamboo tube attached to the pigeon''s claw.


    General Li Xuan had miscalculated, the person who wanted to bring him down was the Prime Minister''s second son, Gao Zi Zheng.


    "He is an old friend of the imperial uncle, this means that he has some other support, should we think this thoroughly?" a supporting official of the Prime Minister''s faction, official Ma said.


    "You seem rather reluctant, official Ma." Gao Zizheng commented as he continued to bring his brush over the pristine white paper.


    "Of course not Minister Gao, but the Prime Minister¡­ He should know of this." There was a hint of uncertainty and fear within the man''s voice.


    "My father has gotten old, he now desires peace." Gao Zi Zheng said with a saddened sigh, as he placed his brush on a porcelain brush stand. "We must get rid of General Li before the next winter arrives." He proclaimed as he allowed the intelligence report to fall into the braiser and get consumed by flames.


    This caused official Ma to shudder endlessly. He was standing so close to the braiser, yet why was there no warmth. He opened his mouth and asked: "Then I assume that the assassination attempt was your doing."


    Gao Zi Zheng looked at him for a while before saying, "If you could so easily see through, what would be the point." He sighed for a moment, "Official Ma, are you starting to desire peace like my father?" His eyebrow raised in questioning.


    Age was not the number that continued to increase year by year to him, but the point in life when one grew tired.


    This was something that one should have seen coming, as a person got older, the way they thought would change as well. Now, it was no matter of concern whether the person had been leading troops to the border, clashing head-on with the enemy, or playing games of deceit within the palace walls. Growing older, one would reflect on the past and think about all they had done in their lifetimes. In the end, everything came down to wanting a break from everything.


    Gao Zi Zheng smiled bitterly at this point. He thought about the past when he was just a child. Oh how much he admired his father who could go to court within the palace walls and make those opponents bow down and submit, if not, then they risked everything from the exile to execution of the entire clan.


    Thinking till here, he smirked. There was a promise that had been made, he wanted to be like his father, an outstanding minister who was only one person, yet stood above millions of other. Indeed, it was, as they say, that ambition was a wildfire that continued to consumed until there was nothing left, it kept you wanting more and more.


    In the end, there would be nothing left to want, but a higher position.

 36 Another carriage enters the Imperial Capital Gates

    The next few days, the first snows had begun to fall, Qing Cheng''s imperial capital was covered in a thin layer of snow. The snow was perfectly in its habitat, as the air was bitter, thus the snow that had been falling did not melt. Instead, they rested perfectly atop each other, and slowly piled up to a few inches within the first couple of hours.


    It was a clear, yet beautifully chilling day. Every breath exhaled would turn into a cloud of frost, as people wore many layers to keep what little heat that was in their body. There weren''t many people on the streets either, but there were guards stationed at the eastern gates.


    A young guard stared into the distance that was obscured by the wind blowing snow. His eyes squinted furiously as though he was searching for something. Finally, he saw it, a glimpse of something moving.


    "I think something is coming." He said to the person standing next to him.


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    "It''s too cold for anyone to be traveling out there." The person beside him said assuredly.


    "But I really see something." The young guard said firmly.


    "Okay, let me take a look." The person said as he squinted his eyes toward the white blanket of snow, and indeed, there seemed to be a shadow of a carriage moving in the distance. There only seemed to be one small carriage, so it didn''t seem too important to alert everyone else.


    "Is the gate is open?"


    "Always."


    "Good, when it arrives, we can take a look." The two men seemed to have found something worth wild to do as they carefully watched the figure slowly come towards the gate. On a normal day, this would have been considered boring, but now when the line between earth and sky were indistinguishable and everything in front was a blank color of white, this could be considered a method of passing time.


    After what seemed like an eternity to the soldiers standing atop the gate watching, the carriage finally made its way to the entrance of the gate. The soldiers strangely felt as though they were being played, as the carriage took its time to get here.


    They saw that driving the carriage was a young man dressed in white, his body blending in with the snow perfectly. If it were not the black carriage that he was leaning against, his body would be hard to spot in the distance among the snow.


    There was something strange about this particular scene, the man seemed like a cold and distant. There were no signs of the cold having entered his body, his cheeks that should have been flushed from the cold showed no signs of redness. If not for the frost forming at each breath, they would have mistaken him for a statue.


    It was as though a staring contest had ensued between the driver of the carriage and the soldiers guarding the gate.


    "Sir, are you entering?" One of the soldiers could not stand the coldness gave a light cough and asked.


    "Yes." The man who was on the carriage spoke a single word as he reached into his sleeves to take out his papers, handing them to the soldier who had spoken. They had observed how his fingers were not stiff, red nor swollen from the low temperatures, his actions were very natural as though it was just everyday occurrence.


    "Name: Lin Qinghui, from the southern province of Hu Nan?" The soldier said with uncertainty. When he heard the south, he could not match it up with this man who seemed unafraid of the cold.


    When Lin Qinghui heard the doubt in the man''s voice, he showed no change in expression whatsoever. As though it happened all the time.


    "You are a merchant?" The soldier asked.


    "Yes."


    The gaze landed on the black carriage that the young man was driving. There was a sense of the unknown when they approached this man, and if they could just look at what it contained, perhaps they would be able to unlock some of the mystery.


    "What''s on the carriage?"


    "Goods." Lin Qinghui said with another word.


    "We have to take a look." The soldier said solemnly.


    When Lin Qinghui heard that his carriage was about to be searched, a slight frown showed on his lips before the expression disappeared altogether and he resumed his indifferent exterior. "Be my guest." He said inviting them on, but it seemed that he did not have the intention of moving from where he was sitting.


    This made the atmosphere very awkward for the soldiers as they did not have the slightest idea of where to start. In the end, they could only go to the back and open a few boxes, which were lined with insulation that kept the medicinal herbs inside from spoiling.


    There was nothing much suspicious about this carriage, so they just allowed it to enter the imperial city.

 37 Night Visi

    After the carriage entered the imperial city, Lin Qinghui drove around, meandering for a while before he decided to go into an inn to stay for a few nights.


    He had the horse and carriage filled with goods taken care of, the only thing he took with him was a long painting container that most painters brought along with them as they traveled places. The canister was wrapped in a dark blue brocade and stood out greatly, as his cloak was white.


    Upon entering the inn, he could spot the innkeeper dozing off at the front desk. The middle-aged man occasionally shivering in his sleep, from the cold air seeping through the plain wooden doors.


    Seeing this, Lin Qinghui did not show any change in expression, simply tapping gently on the front table, producing a loud and clear sound to awaken the man from his sweet trip with the god of dreams.


    The innkeeper awoke to see a handsome young man dressed in a pristine white cloak, carrying a blue painting container. His eyes were as beautiful as the twinkling stars in the sky, and his gaze neither cold nor warm.


    "How may I help?" The innkeeper gives a cough and asks, as he snaps out from his stupor.


    "People come to the inn to rent a room?"


    "Of course." The innkeeper blurts out. He could not believe that he had asked such a rhetorical question. Of course, would a person come to the inn to buy vegetables?


    Lin Qinghui places a tael of silver on his desk and says "A room for eight days please."


    "Here", the innkeeper grabs a tag and key indicating the room number the key led too, "Room six." He added.


    Lin Qinghui took the tag and walked up the creaky stairs. Though this was the imperial capital, there were differences in qualities of inns, and this was one of lesser quality, so the prices weren''t as sky high as one would imagine.


    He opened the door to reveal a decently clean room, and placed his things on the table, before sitting down at the table, to close his eyes.


    His ears silently listened to the night. The winds rustled in the bare branches, as the snow fell continuously from the sky.


    It was when the third gong came in the middle of the night, that his eyes opened again.


    "Since it''s cold out there, why don''t you come in." Lin Qinghui said quietly towards the closed window.


    "You know, your mother said the same thing to me." The person outside came in as quick as a shadow, closing the window behind him so the freezing wind would not enter much.


    "That so? Then did my mother send you here?" Lin Qinghui looked towards Wen Jian and asked. He did not seem to be too bothered by the opening and closing of the window.


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    "Of course not." Wen Jian assured, "Though your mother should be getting news of you entering the capital. She should not be caring much."


    "I''m surprised that she did not send people to stop me." Lin Qinghui said flatly.


    "Why would she? It''s not as if you do not know her well." Wen Jian commented.


    Lin Qinghui was silent for a moment, he did know her well, there were not many things that she cared about for that matter, she did not bat an eye as her family was getting executed. She was only running the clan because of an obligation, thus it was the only thing in her eyes as of now.


    "I know." He silently said, "About the goods, you can bring it with you when you leave. I will be staying here for a few more days." He was referring to the carriage he was riding in when he had entered the imperial city, he truly had some business to attend to.


    "Sure, you''re going to the meeting for scholars?"


    "Why bother to ask when you already know?" Lin Qinghui asked.


    Wen Jian was prepared to leave, but halted his steps when Lin Qinghui spoke again "How is Ru An?" His tone was that of asking a normal question. There was no sentiment or longing within his words.


    "She is well, currently the one serving madam since Feng Yun left." Wen Jian answered before leaping out the window and disappearing into the night. The window was left open, allowing the cold wind to enter.


    Lin Qinghui did not do anything after he had left, merely standing anchored in his spot, and looking out the window from which was now empty, with nothing but darkness reflected by snow and rooftops covered in layers of ice.


    That little girl that he found a long time ago while on one of his trips should have grown up a long time ago, but he had left her in under the care of Wen Jian, perhaps it was time to return.


    He let out a sigh and proceeded to close the window. As he did, the sounds of a carriage could be heard driving by.

 38 A Beautiful Instrumen

    In the vast manor, the moon was covered with clouds, there was complete silence, all the animals had gone into hiding. It was a cold night, there was snow covering the ground. Madam Lin was sitting under a gazebo, with the cold winds blowing the thin curtains that shielded the bare structure.


    She was wearing only a thin white robe, sitting in the cold night. Her hair was held up with a simple wooden hairpin, her eyes were staring blankly down at her fingers which were flicking away at the instrument that was on the table. Blood was starting to drip from the strings, onto the beautiful amber wood.


    She was sitting with her back straight in a mahogany chair with a matching table that had a guqin on it, the instrument was made of fragrant wood. The table had a small incense burner on it, and the scent of sandalwood rose with the transparent white smoke, disappearing within the night. Madam Lin had been playing this instrument for almost three consecutive days, her body was nearly reaching its limit, but she kept on playing. Her bloodied fingers were crazily flicking at the strings of the instrument.


    The music was bold and aggressive, like the sound of a send off to war. It was indeed a beautiful piece and one that was hard to master. The music continued to play, it was as if the person playing did not want to slow down. The music only sounded in the manor, not even having the chance to reach the ears of people beyond the manor.


    Outside, the manor, there was a brown falcon spreading its wings and souring the cold night. It was a beautiful bird, that was strong and powerful, the wind and ice were blowing up like a blizzard, but it still pushed through the harsh weather, flapping its wings even more powerful than the last time. Seemingly mesmerized by the tune.


    The servants stayed quiet, pretending to not have heard the tune. They did not dare praise it openly, nor judge her actions. They went on with their daily duties as always.


    The only person that ever dared to deny her request came to take a look at her out of worry.


    "Madam, you should stop before you hurt yourself." Mister Song gently chided her as his eyes looked down at her bloodied fingers that were plucking on the strings.


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    There was no sound from Madam Lin as she continued to pluck at the strings, her eyes overtaken by an empty gaze. Perhaps she did not hear him.


    Seeing Madam Lin in this state of mind, mister Song found it unsettling, as he watched her continue to play the same piece over and over again.


    "Madam, your hands will be ruined if you continue this." He said something else.


    The woman again did not answer, the fingers that were dripping in blood continued to stroke the instrument.


    "Forgive me, Madam." Mister Song muttered under his breath as he pressed on the acupoint at the base of her neck and she collapsed in exhaustion, falling into his arms.


    He reached for her forehead, finding her body to be ice cold, after all, all she was wearing was a thin robe. It was snowing outside, no matter how powerful her inner energy was, it should have depleted by now.


    He gave a sigh, carrying her to the bed, where he ordered servants to prepare some water and medicine, to which he carefully treated her wounds and tucked her into bed.


    He saw to that she was well taken care of as he looked upon her face that was as pale as paper laying on the bed.


    [How cruel he was to you, and yet you still suffer thinking about him.]


    There was a serene calmness in Mister Song''s eyes as he walked from the bedroom, gently closing the doors behind him. His mind was in deep thought at this moment as he walked through the scenery of fake mountains and the frozen pond that lay beneath his feet.


    [Dear child, if not for that bet you had with your master, perhaps to this day you would be living happily in Ruan Wang manor, neither you nor that foolish boy would have to bear the pain or guilt of such sufferings.]


    Mister Song stood on the bridge, watching the frozen pond that had now been topped off by a thick layer of snow, everything looked so solid, that a person would not know what lied beneath the snow was once a lively colony of fish when spring came.


    [You should know that Master has a grasp on everything that happens in the world. A bet where you are the winner is simply impossible.]

 39 Preparing for the Meeting of Scholars

    A few days later, the meeting for scholars would soon commence. All scholars of respectable talent would be going to Duke Ming Xiang''s manor to have a few cups of tea, and share their thoughts with peers of the same caliber. It was a relatively safe meeting, considering that Duke Ming Xiang held no actual power in court and was a man who liked to travel most of the year, perhaps only returning once or twice a year. Now that he had returned, he decided to hold a meeting of scholars.


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    It was not that everyone knew of the matter, only the scholars of various institutions got wind of this matter, and made sure not to tell outsiders.


    Such secrets were nothing to Lin Qinghui, who had access to all channels of information.


    Tonight he would go to the meeting of scholars.


    This night, he changed his clothes and dressed as a scholar his face was also changed as he no longer resembled Lin Qinghiu anymore, instead, there was a man with pale skin and a face that could easily blend anywhere that stood in his place. The only thing that could never be changed was the eyes that were bright as the stars itself, seemingly able to search a person''s soul.


    Lin Qinghui waited until he could not hear any footsteps before he disappeared into the night.


    Arriving shortly at Duke Ming Xiang''s manor, just before the doors opened. The scholars congregated around the front of the manor, organizing themselves in small groups, talking to each other about the current political status of the state. It was as though at that moment they had no fears of what may happen to them as they spoke out, a strange yet unforeseen world that may only exist in the future.


    Lin Qinghui let out a slight smile as he gazed upon them, seemingly entranced by their conversation.


    As he listened, he carefully took a few steps closer, wanting to listen more, having been entranced by what they were speaking of.


    That was until he felt a sudden tap on his shoulders. Turning around calmly, he was met with the face of a smiling scholar dressed in pale yellow robes. The robes were made with a fine mulberry thread, with the embroidery of bamboo leaves stitched at the hem. This entire getup gave him the air of a scholar, even being next to him would cause a person to smell the scent of recently ground ink.


    Lin Qinghui did not speak first, so the man could only whip out his fan and say, "Hello dear friend, my name is Han Louyang, a student of the imperial academy, I have never seen you around here, and I''ve been to every gathering, yet I wonder why I have never seen your face before." The man asked questionably and produced a stretched smile, grandly fanning himself many times to not seem so awkward.


    Lin Qinghui could not even begin to wonder how he caught the attention of this person who seemed to be filled with suspicion. Perhaps one day this man would be a high ranking official in the court, as of now, he was merely a scholar attending a meeting of scholars. Nothing too important.


    "My name is Qing Hui, a scholar of Huang Quan Academy in the southern provinces, I have just arrived." Lin Qinghui said calmly and collectively.


    Han Louyang clasped his fan closed, and used it to massage his back, "Huang Quan Academy, never heard of it before, southern provinces did you say?"


    "Though you may not have heard of it does not mean other people have not, perhaps you should look for your friends and talk to them, perhaps they wouldn''t have heard of such a small academy with barely more than thirty people, it was pleasant to meet you scholar Han." Lin Qinghui cupped his hand in a farewell manner as he walked away.


    "You too scholar Qing. May fate allow us to meet again." Han Louyang did the same as the departing man walked into the crowd, blending seamlessly in.


    "May fate allow us to meet again." Lin Qinghui said as he raised his hands in a dismissive manner. He could not help but give a smile.


    This meeting was giving him an excitement that he never felt before. Perhaps it was that he had something to look forward to or the meeting of flesh and blood for the first time since he had ever been alive.


    Seeing a person etched unmovingly on a piece of paper was one thing, while the reality conveyed so much more than the emotion of the person painting it.


    He truly wanted to see what this so-called father of his truly looked like in person, and would he have an undeniable connection when he saw him, or would it be the same as every other person he has seen.

 40 The Banque

    He didn''t have to wait for long as the doors to Duke Ming Xiang''s manor soon opened, and all the scholars went in. They seemed to know precisely where to go, as though they had been here one time or another.


    Nevertheless, Lin Qinghui followed them. The inside of the manor was spacious, but there were not as many pathways to walk as the manor of a wealthy merchant. How strange it was that the manor of a duke was incomparable to that of a wealthy merchant. One could not even begin to compare how there were fewer servants as well.


    Everyone made it to the inner courtyard of the manor where the meeting would soon take place. Lin Qinghui followed, and they arrived at the Pavillion with a few pathways lined by stone carvings. Just one look, one could tell this place was well taken care of despite the low number of servants.


    Lin Qinghui could not help but feel a slight sense of admiration for this duke Ming Xiang whom he had never seen before.


    Things soon got settled quite quickly, as platters of food and wine were being served on tables that were placed within reach of all the scholars. As people who studied and abided by the rules set by predecessors, among them who went to the various academies, there was no divide in rank among them.


    Even if some were from nobler lineages than others, they had been taught the same type of etiquette that scholars should have for one another.


    The myth of the drunken scholar held true to some degree, as on a cold day, it was commonly believed that wine would improve circulation and make one''s body warmer. All scholars who had faced the bitter cold had a decent tolerance to the wine being served and drank a few cups of the fine liquor before the feeling of warmth arose in their chests.


    As for Lin Qinghui, he also had a cup before putting it down.


    "Uncle Song makes it better." He mumbled under his breath before looking towards the other scholars who were downing the drinks like it was water.


    Which for the most part made sense, because it would be terrible if everyone got drunk before an hour passed, then it would not be considered a meeting of sharp minds, but of drunkards.


    ~


    "I don''t see why there is a need to go." Mumbled Ruan Wang as he sat on the carriage on its way to Duke Ming Xiang''s manor.


    "You promised to go Master." Xu Fei said as he drove the horse at a steady pace.


    "I find such gatherings quite boring, besides, what else can scholars do but recite poetry and paint sceneries of mountains." He seemed to have seen his fair share of scholars. The old men of the court were as sly as foxes and despicable when it came to murder without the need for weapons, while there were some that were far too righteous, forgetting that their bamboo brushes could never win against knives and sabers, they would most likely meet their end before even seeing the gates to the palace. There were those who had too much ambition and ended up becoming pawns.


    "Perhaps Master will find something new." Xu Fei said as he hurried on the horse, who went forward at a quicker pace.


    They arrived at Duke Ming Xiang''s manor within a short amount of time. There was no one there to greet him, but he did not seem to mind as he got off and entered the manor without so much as a servant by his side.


    As he entered, there were no guards to stop him, it seemed that the rumors, with the duke out traveling most of the time, this place was quite short on servants. However, there was the duke''s butler that waited for him. And guided him to the tallest structure within the manor, which was the main hall that was at the third story.


    The architecture was ancient, incorporating designs from the previous dynasty into it. There was only a feeling of an old barren icy cave as he walked the stairs to the third floor. The halls were vast, yet empty, just like the old ruins of what was once an imperial palace.


    He saw Duke Ming Xiang staring out the window in a field of ice, the duke was a middle-aged man with nearly all of his hair that was still black as ink held up with a white jade pin. He wore long thick robes that were a pale ivory color, all very simple, without the need for excess decoration, or so much as a ring or pendant to adorn himself. The man did not seem to have gotten older since the last time they had seen each other.


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    Without a single word, and he knew that this person before him had the most carefree life out of everyone he knew.


    Duke Ming Xiang turned to look at Ruan Wang and said: "Sorry for slighting you, your highness, but as you can see my manor is short on servants.


    "No worries." He did not mind it the slightest.


    Duke Ming Xiang smiled, the duke had a type of smile that would bring the gloomiest person out of that state of their existence.


    "How have you been?" The duke asked as


    "I tried to follow in your footsteps, but it seems I am still unable to be free from worries." Ruan Wang said in what seemed to be a whisper under his breath.

 41 How to Live an Unrestrained Life

    "Well, not everyone can live such a carefree life as this humble subject." Duke Ming Xiang said with a laugh and continued, "The first step is simple, be born to a common family. Families of wealth and power are way too complicated to deal with, especially their internal struggles. If you do not fall in that category, you should try to stay away from all troubles, keep away from all political factions and hope you get ignored. But if that doesn''t always work as well, you can try to limit contact from others and isolate yourself, if that doesn''t work, you can move away, find a place you want to go and enjoy yourself. Then, if you still get bothered, you can always fake your demise. Easy as that." Duke Ming Xiang said in a carefree manner.


    At his words, Ruan Wang was speechless, to think that the unrestrained Duke would have such a way of thinking. This meeting truly gave a surprise.


    "I presume Duke has already made it to the fourth step." For the first time, Ruan Wang really felt like laughing, it seems that even some had a facade of living life in a carefree manner while drowning in one''s own worries.


    "So have you, your highness. I heard you have only returned, and I have to ask, why now?" There was a dangerous bright glint in his eyes. Of course, to return when the emperor was ill, the timing was sensitive, to say the least. Those of the imperial court would be suspicious.


    "For my great-nephew, of course, the imperial court was never a place for a young child like him." Ruan Wang wanted to say there were so many lions and wolves eyeing the crown prince like hungry beasts waiting to tear his flesh and drink his blood.


    "The emperors since the beginning of the lineage have been living shorter lives, what is to say he will live longer than his father."


    "That is a risk I''m willing to take."


    "You seem to enjoy taking them a lot." Duke Ming Xiang said with a smile that was not much a smile.


    "Certainly, do you think there is a single person alive in the imperial court that got where they are today without taking risks?"


    "And if you were to fail, have you thought of the consequences then?" Duke Ming Xiang asked sternly.


    "Then I may be forced to jump on the last step."


    Duke Ming Xiang gave a smile when he listened to Ruan Wang''s words. If it was so easy to do without arousing suspicion, would he have not already done it long ago?


    He could not take any more of Ruan Wang''s speech and said: "Why don''t we see how the scholars are doing, after all, they''ve been invited and I should at least have the duty of being the host."


    "Sure." Ruan Wang said as he followed along.


    They made their way to the inner courtyard, where there were the scholars'' gentle voices full of poetry and literature. The voices of the well-learned men who spoke ever so fluently, and full of etiquette. The many years of teachings deep in their minds, all shown for today''s meeting.


    "See, nothing more than poetry." Ruan Wang was prepared to whisper to Xu Fei, before realizing that there was no one beside him, and Duke Ming Xiang who ended up listening gave a smirk.


    As the two middle-aged men entered, the scholars were nearly drunk from their stupor hardly noticed a single thing, believing that the people who arrived were also scholars. After all, there was no age to the intellectual mind, a middle-aged man may not necessarily be better learned than them, who mocked the older generation for lack of willingness to change.


    They continued on their conversations, unknowing that the owner of the manor had arrived. Oh, what joys there were to the unknowing mind.


    "Not too bad, right? I had the wine laced with some diluted Brugmansia, the effect is fabulous, wouldn''t you agree?" Duke Ming Xiang said proudly.


    Ruan Wang was slightly speechless, to think that the carefree duke would do something like this, he then looked at the scholars who were pouring out their heart and soul in a conversation about the current politics. There was no restraint, no regard for consequences, they were merely talking about what they wished. "And what do you have planned after you hear the true words in their hearts?" He inquired.


    "Oh, nothing much, it''s good to know what youths think of the current situation within our court. The medicine will wear off by tomorrow and it will be as if nothing happened." Duke Ming Xiang said with a shrug, he had never thought of using what those scholars said today and use it against them in the future, he was not that kind of person. Wait a minute, the duke looked at the young man sitting in the corner who did not seem to be affected by the wine.


    Ruan Wang followed the duke''s line of direction as his eyes landed on a young man. He felt that this man was a stranger, yet at the same time, there was a sense of familiarity within. This person was clearly a stranger, but why were there some feelings of knowing him?


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 42 The Starring

    To this stranger who he had just laid his eye upon, he had no recollection of ever having seen this person before. This place was the gathering of scholars, therefore this person must be one to attend. And with people of the lower ranks, society was designed in such a way that they would never meet.


    But he looked at this young man with what could be said to be mediocre features. He had a nose, a mouth, and lips that were as plain as any sheet of paper that was found in a store. Yet those features did not seem it could be pieced together with those eyes. If this was a puzzle, those eyes could definitely not be placed over that face.


    What confused him even further, were those eyes that seemed so familiar. He was sure that he had seen them somewhere before.


    As his staring got more noticeable, the young man who was in his line of sight seemed to have noticed and stared directly back at him. Those eyes were fixed on him, carrying a hint of playfulness, which could perhaps be mistaken as a hint of mockery.


    "Do you know him?" Ruan Wang asked the servant who was by his side.


    The servant cautiously took a look at the young man who was in the middle of a staring contest with his family''s lord. After a long, concentrated look, he answered "No. I don''t believe so." To be truthful, even if he did see such a person in the past with such plain features, he would not have remembered either way. It was no different from looking into a crowd and trying to remember each person''s face.


    He watched as this noble lord continued this staring contest with this unknown young man, who was most likely a scholar. Wasn''t this too childish to be doing, not to mention status, age was another thing? How old were their ages added up anyway, to do such a thing that even nine-year-olds scorned, was simply too embarrassing?


    Soon, it seemed that the young man had given in and a smile cracked on his face. But his eyes had yet to move from Ruan Wang''s pupils.


    As Ruan Wang stared longer, it was an uneasy feeling that he should be able to know where he had seen them before, he had a feeling that if he didn''t remember then he would regret it. He racked his mind to pinpoint exactly where he had seen these eyes before.


    Suddenly, he felt a curtain of black before his eyes, and it was all dark.


    "Your Highness!" The servant quickly called out and held onto Ruan Wang''s unconscious body, preventing him from collapsing to the ground.


    "Ruan Wang!" The duke hurriedly called put. He ordered some servants to bring his friend to rest, while he called for a doctor. It was already quite late in the night, so a royal physician was not called, they could only settle for a noble''s doctor.


    Little did he notice, as he was unconscious, there was a trace of worry from the young man whom he had been having a staring contest with.


    The doctor, who was a short white-haired man came in a hurry, barely able to contain the dissatisfaction of being dragged away in such a manner. He seemed to calm down after he arrived at the duke''s manor. It seemed that whoever it was must have some status that he could not contend with.


    After taking a pulse, it was concluded that the cause of the fainting was an over-exhaustion of the mind and that there were not any severe implications on health.


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    "This lord should be fine after some rest." The elderly doctor said as he packed up his medicine case.


    "Thank you." Duke Ming Xiang said as he saw the doctor out politely.


    "No worries." The doctor said as he quietly left through the back door after getting a hefty sum from the Duke''s manor. He seemed to be quite pleased as he walked the night road by himself. There was a tapping sound behind him. At first, he thought it was just a passerby, but soon it was certain that the footsteps were only following him.


    Too frightened to turn around, he tucked his money pouch away and quickened up his pace. How he regretted not bringing along an assistant because he had rushed. His throat involuntarily swallowed, only to realize that his throat was dry, and his palms sweaty.


    Perhaps if he threw away his money pouch the person following him might leave him alone. With much more value on his life than the money in the pouch, he quickly threw back. Without turning around and quickened his footsteps. The figure looked at the pouch in amusement but held no interest in it.


    Soon the elderly doctor was at wit''s end, thinking that the pouch he threw did not serve as much of a distraction, he felt as though his heart was bleeding if he knew this would happen, might as well keep it.


    Soon the footsteps appeared behind him and a hand grabbed a hold of him.


    "This courageous brother, that was all the money I had, this one really doesn''t have any more valuables, please spare my life!" The trembling old man spoke with his eyes closed.


    The person who grabbed a hold of him did not know what to think. Was he to be mistaken for a common scoundrel for all to see.


    "Who needs your pathetic life, I just want to ask you, what was the condition of the man you just saw."


    The old doctor did not know if this was a trap set by the duke or his other rivals. If it were to be leaked out that he gave up information on a guest from the duke''s estate, then he could kiss his life goodbye. "I don''t know what you''re talking about." The old man said carefully.


    "Do not lie to me, I''ve been keeping an eye on the duke''s estate and you''re the only one to come out. Do you not know the consequences of lying to me." The figure shrouded in the night said in a deep voice making the threat more severe.


    "Yes, yes. That man was all right, only exhaustion rest should do the trick." The doctor had thought it through. His life was worth much more than information, besides how secretive this person was, he doubted his words would make it to anyone''s ears.


    There was a cold wind that blew by. The pressure that had caused him to freeze was lifted. Slowly opening his eyes to nothing. There was no longer any pressure on him, could it be that he had been threatened by a ghost. A shiver went up his spine as he went to pick up his pouch. Cautiously finding his way back.

 43 Sharing A Cup

    Ruan Wang woke up some time in the middle of the night with a horrible headache.


    "My lord, you''re awake!" Xu Fei cried as he quickly rushed to the bedside.


    "What happened?" He asked as he rubbed his head.


    "I''m uncertain, Duke Ming Xiang had sent a servant saying that my lord has fainted. The good news is that the doctor said that rest is the best treatment."


    "Where is the young man?" Ruan Wang suddenly remembered something.


    "Uh¡­ Who?" Xu Fei asked he was confused as to what his lord was talking about. After thinking about it, he said: "My lord, the scholars were sent home."


    Ruan Wang nodded a bit before going back to sleep. Perhaps his mind was too muddled and he saw something that did not truly exist outside of his imagination. Who knew if that face that he thought there was some familiarity to was real in the first place. Maybe it was a sense of longing that gave him hallucinations, but they weren''t that bad at all, at least he could still meet people who had long gone.


    Xu Fei hesitatingly retreated, wondering if his lord''s mind was starting to unravel, after so many years of solitude. He had heard tales of a young maiden whose mind unraveled when she was confined for days and separated from her lover who did not have the same status as her. It was when there was a large fire somewhere in the capital that he heard of such an occurrence.


    His lord''s mind would not be so frail, would it?


    He abruptly stopped those thoughts there.


    ~


    Within a small house that was built over the pier. The white foam waves were splashing into the wooden structures firmly planted int the grounds as a pillar of support. The weather was too cool for anyone to be outside.


    There was one lone figure that was sitting with glassy eyes, pouring himself a drink in his pristine porcelain cup. Gulping the liquor down as fast as he poured it. The strong and spicy liquor was burning his tongue as he continued his empty gaze across to the cold yet beautiful scenery that was the single most prosperous pier of the entire capital of Qing Cheng.


    There were countless ships that docked to unload and reload goods before setting off again. At the dim of night, lanterns would be lit to give some semblance of light. The lanterns cast an eerie red glow at the deck of each ship. It was not difficult to spot such a ship a few miles away.


    This little house that was built over the river was in just the perfect spot to look at everything. Such places could be used as restaurants or wineries, but these places would close down when it became too cold to have a meal comfortably outside.


    Lin Qinghui sat in such a barren house, silently sipping the wine.


    A pair of footsteps came closer, nearly blending with the few gusts of wind outside. The footsteps stopped as the person expected that Lin Qinghui would turn around, but their hopes were dashed when the young man resumed drinking the liquor.


    With a sigh, the person said: "Mister Song''s signature liquor was never meant to be drunk in such large amounts."


    "Really? I''ve never heard of such strange rules. Why didn''t he tell me when he handed them to me?" Lin Qinghui asked. His cheeks were slightly rosy from drinking the liquor.


    "Perhaps that is because he can''t bear to say no to you."


    "I''ve heard he refused when my mother asked him to make a wine that would make it harder to get drunk."


    "Young master." Ru An sighed as she came closer to the young man. Her steps slightly flustering as she came closer. In the end, she stopped three steps away from Lin Qinghui.


    "Will I bite?" He asked.


    Ru An shook her head. She could never understand how to properly serve a person, whether it was the man in front of her or his mother.


    "Then why are you so far away?"


    Ru An did not say much when a gust of strong wind blew in, rattling the bamboo curtains.


    "Should you not be serving my mother, why would you come here?" Lin Qinghui seemed to think of something, "Was it Wen Jian who told you?"


    "Your mother has people taking care of her, what use would I be?" She seemed to be saddened by how she was merely a drop of water in a stream. But Madam Lin did have many people serving her, she was neither one too many nor one too few. It did not matter whether she was gone or not.


    Lin Qinghui poured another cup, setting it on the table across from him.


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    Ru An stood for a while before accepting his invitation. "Thank you." She said quietly, quietly looking at her young master''s side profile as he stared across the pier. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and even in darkness only lit by dim candlelight, she could see the rosy tint on his cheeks.


    Her memory of him was very similar to this person before her. When there was a light in those eyes that were filled with compassion. She remembered that he was no different from an untouchable immortal when they first met on that faithful day in the forest.


    The sound of the waves quietly pounded the pillars beneath their feet. Ru An had yet to touch her cup. There were ripples on the surface, quietly like water that was dancing to the wind.


    She followed his line of sight to the pier, which was a vital part of the capital. Without it, there would be no way to get necessities across the harsh terrain that was a part of the capital. Though it was a cold night, there were still some walking the streets holding a lantern. That made for small dots of light that were slowly moving across the visage of land in darkness.


    This place was quite close to Ruan Wang''s manor, could it be that this is the reason the young master had decided to sit here by himself and drink?

 44 Secretly Watching

    "Young master." Ru An silently looked on.


    "Hm"


    "Did you meet... Ruan Wang?" She wanted to use a word that was more intimate, but in the end, she decided that it was not her place to do so.


    The house stayed silent. She could tell that the young master had no intention of saying anything. But her question had already been answered by this silence.


    She had also wanted to say that there would never be a time he would sit in an isolated place and drink just to have a drink. He would usually have a drink with company, or just to get in the mood.


    The silence between them did not last very long as Lin Qinghui asked "Where did Miss Yun go." though it was quite disrespectful to call Feng Yun a ''miss'' considering how she had watched him grow up and how his mother treated her as a close sister, he could never bring it to himself to call her by aunt.


    "Lady Feng Yun went to deal with some business, who knows how long it may take, it is a task that Madam put her up to, I think she should get a break after so long."


    "En." Lin Qinghui seemed to have agreed and understood how things were going and decided to put his head down on the wooden table, quietly closing his eyes, prepared to doze off for a bit.


    Ru An was quite surprised to see that the young master had been prepared to fall asleep here. In the usual flow of things, he could never fall asleep so abruptly. Perhaps today''s events had really worn him down so.


    She also placed her head down and looked across to Lin Qinghui''s serene face that was peaceful sleeping.


    She had a slightly shy expression as she was prepared to reach out her hand to touch his face. As her hand was nearing, she suddenly paused in midair as her face changed into a shade of red. Within the dark lighting that only glowed by the breath of candles, it was hard to tell, but not impossible.


    She felt her heart beating faster at the thoughts that bombard her mind. There was no way of slowing them down.


    Just, how could she ever think of touching the young master who stood so lofty above all?


    Perhaps he had never noticed such an insignificant person like her. Or he had just picked her up all those years ago to merit a good deed to build good karma.


    Right, he was a person who loved to travel within the borders of different kingdoms, and he would do good deeds to offset the murderous trail that was behind him. It was strange as he had never held onto any true beliefs, and would do as he wished.


    At first glance, one would believe him to be a frivolous young master, yet after some time you would find that he was not such a person who enjoyed the luxuries of life. But there were so many who made an impending judgment just based on a single meeting, it was unfair to him, yet he never placed any mind to it.


    After some time she waited until her heart had stopped its uneven beating and the burning sensation on her face to cool before she got up to leave.


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    As she was leaving, Lin Qinghui''s eyes opened and watched her figure walk further and further away. The drunkenness in his eyes had faded away, leaving them full of clarity as he watched Ru An''s small figure disappear into the night.


    She did somewhat resemble a helpless little fox as she made her way into the night. Yet he seemed to have forgotten that she was no longer that timid little girl that he had picked up along the way all those years ago.


    There was a satisfaction as he watched her shadow disappear. Once Ru An had left, Lin Qinghui felt himself at loss at what to do.


    It was at this certain moment that he evert felt lost in his lifetime.


    "Ru An, where have you been?" Madam Lin asked as Ru An entered through the back door.


    Ru An was startled as she carefully closed the door behind her. Just why would Madam be at the back entrance of the servant''s quarters? Was there no one guarding this manor, or was it because she had purposely evaded the guards tonight, and now there was no one left to watch.


    "I went to buy some food." Ru An said nervously as she brought a basket from behind her skirts into the moonlight.


    Madam Lin looked down to see a bamboo basket that was covered with a white cloth. The basket was quite old and did not seem to be something that could be from the manor.


    "Did you buy the basket as well?" Madam Lin seemed unconvinced.


    Ru An nodded, "It was dark so the vendor wanted to sell everything quickly, and I got the basket as well."


    "Very well. I will see if you got a good deal." Madam Lin said as she lifted the cloth from the basket to reveal some roasted chestnuts that had already gone cold. With a crack, the chestnut was easily opened to reveal the tender part of the nut. Madam Lin took a bite and her eyes lit up. Though the nut was slightly cold it was still quite sweet. After some time, Madam Lin said: "You got a very good deal."


    Nodding, the entire basket of roasted chestnuts was taken away from Ru An who was simply standing there amazed. Truth be told, she had really expected to be questioned thoroughly, and now Madam Lin had taken her basket of chestnuts like a trophy.

 46 Passing By a Familiar Tune

    "My lord, you should be well enough to travel now." Xu Fei said as he slowly helped Ruan Wang get up from the bed.


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    Ruan Wang nodded as he held his head. Though he knew that it was not in his best interest to have a perpetual thought, he was still unable to shake those thoughts from his mind. Every time he attempted to close his eyes, he would be haunted by the mirage of that unadorned face.


    He looked toward Xu Fei who was helping him up and said: "Do you think it is possible to keep seeing a person whom you have never met before?"


    "What do you mean my lord, is there someone that you keep seeing?" Xu Fei asked with worry.


    "Yes, but I''m sure it is someone that I have never seen before, yet there is this sense of familiarity¡­"


    "It could be someone from the past life." Xu Fei casually recounted the many fables that he heard from those storytellers on the streets.


    Of course, Ruan Wang had been trying for decades to see his late consort in his dreams but he was usually met with dreams of darkness or no dreams at all, so what were the chances that he could get an unknown person into his dreams.


    "Perhaps." Raun Wang said with a smile. He looked at the window, to be met with the darkness outside. "It''s dark outside." Ruan Wang said to Xu Fei with confusion, wondering if they were to be traveling under the cover of night.


    "It will be quieter." Xu Fei took the chance to say. With no sunlight, it meant that there would be no one walking around and there would, in turn, be less noise that would cause a headache. Humans were strange warm-blooded creatures who loved sunlight and detested the darkness. If it was dark out, they would return home a little earlier and eat dinner a little sooner. Such was human nature.


    Ruan Wang did not mind if he went home with the sun in the middle of the blue sky or no longer seen. The time of day did not matter much to him.


    He sat upon a carriage that had the floor lined with a thick cotton quilt and a few pillows. The travel was not to be considered luxurious, but it was comfortable enough that an ill person could sit inside without being touched by the cold and harsh weather.


    "How thoughtful." Ruan Wang said as he got in. The carriage had unexpectedly exceeded his expectations. As he was not one to care about the smallest of details, nor order anything to be added to his plain carriage, one could only expect that nothing would be added or removed from his carriage.


    At such words, Xu Fei bowed his head as though saying naturally this is for you because you are not well, but those words were unable to find its way from out of his lips.


    As they were traveling, Ruan Wang came up with the brilliant idea of opening the carriage windows just as Xu Fei was becoming proud of himself. The wind came in and Ruan Wang''s recovering body was met with a gust of cold wind.


    "My lord, you must keep the windows closed." Xu Fei cried out, startling the snowflakes in the air. His breath was like a frosted cloud.


    "No need." Ruan Wang said to him, preventing him from having the extra ideas of coming into the carriage himself and nailing the windows shut.


    Though Xu Fei was not one to be easily frightened, he had a vague feeling that if he dared to close the window against his master''s orders, what awaited him was the future of being kicked out of Ruan Wang Fu. There was only so much that he could act out. If going against one''s master''s wishes did not warrant getting kicked out, then he would certainly be able to get away with many other things.


    In the end, he surrendered and slowly urged the horses onward with a slight tug on the reigns. The wooden wheels turned, flinging some of the loose powdered snow in different directions. It was quite a serene yet violent sight to behold. The horses pulled forward the carriage, with the heavy sound of horseshoes that came along. The large warm-blooded creatures exhaled a deep that were also fully frosted into clouds.


    Outside the carriage, it was filled with endless darkness. There were not many lanterns that would light the way for a clear path. Most homes had their doors shut in an effort to preserve any bit of warmth within.


    Though it was as though this night was to be uneventful, those who were escorting Ruan Wang were still cautious.


    The wind blew a small hill of snow into the opened carriage window, causing the person inside to cough heavily.


    "My lord." Xu Fei called out, in an attempt to get his master to close the open window.


    "I''m fine." Came the words from within, "No need to worry."


    Though those were words to ease a person''s worry, there was no way Ruan Wang would be willing to concede and have the windows closed.


    There was a light ahead in the blowing snow. A guest house that had two red lanterns lit in front of the plain wooden doors. Though the heavy winds blew, the lanterns merely rattled for a few seconds before returning to their still state. It was as though the guardians of the doors stood in the fridge air, holding them in place, guarding the lanterns and preventing the fire from being extinguished.


    The doors to the guest house were wide open, welcoming an array of guests to come and go. However, where would there be any guests at this hour. Still, they left the doors wide open in a warming manner.


    From within the guest house, there was a sound of a very faint melody. The worn instrument was being played by experienced hands. This particular instrument was not one known for its loud and overtaking sounds, like that of the pipa or the lute, instead, it had a reputation that came with gentleness, and a scholarly air. Its music could not be heard if someone was more than an earshot away.


    Though the melody was muted, no one could deny that it was not there. So much so, that even Ruan Wang who had not appraised music in so long was slightly moved by the wondrous melody.


    "Stop the carriage." He ordered.


    He quickly got off and walked towards the guest house, almost tripping in the process.


    "Lord." Xu Fei called out, in an effort to get him to stop, but Ruan Wang was able to recover from the sudden ice chunk that stood in his way.


    "No need, wait for me here." He said in a slightly raised voice. When he had spoken, it was not so much as speaking, it was a command that had to be obeyed or there would be consequences to follow.


    Not one word was said as they silently watched Ruan Wang nearly stumble a few times before making his way the guest house.


    His feet were no longer under his own control as he stepped over the threshold to the guest house, officially entering the courtyard.


    There was not another expression upon his face, aside from one of joy. Like a worried wife would be upon seeing her husband return from war.


    Though there were years of separation between them, that feeling they had at the first meeting still remained.

 47 Conversation in Candle Ligh

    It was dark within the guest house, most of the candles had been blown out and the guest presumably has retreated to rest.


    Since there was no one upon the first floor, he made his way to the second floor, to be greeted by a maze of closed doors.


    He came upon a room that had open doors on the second floor. The occupant inside was faintly lit by a single candle that was on the table. The wax had, for the most part, melted to resemble that of coagulated blood.


    The woman was dressed in pale white robes, her face was covered by a veil that made it hard to see her true countenance. With her fingers stroking the long, yet worn instrument, plucking evenly to create a heavenly sound, in which the rivers flowed downwards and the mountains sprouted from tall clouds.


    Her eyes were completely focused on playing the instrument, as though there was nothing in the world that could be able to enter her eyes. Ruan Wang was within a heavenly trance within no time.


    His mind was as clean and pure as a wall of ice, as he saw a young woman sitting beside him, also plucking the strings and making such a heavenly tune. The woman was dressed in light blue robes and her eyes were completely focused on the instrument that rested within her lap. Upon her lips, were a shallow smile as she plucked the instrument without a care in the world. Looking upon her, who would care what was happening in the outside world?


    The fingers plucking the strings came to a rest, and heavenly music stopped, the woman looked up from the instrument, and Ruan Wang snapped out of his daze.


    He looked into those eyes that were not obscured by the veil, they were as familiar as ever before, and now he somewhat understood. If this was nothing but a dream, then he did not want to wake up ever again.


    On the contrary to what he expected, she did not scream in horror to the stranger who had suddenly appeared in a private room at the guest house, as any woman would, upon seeing a strange man enter.


    Perhaps a thought born out of imagination, but he could feel the lips behind the veil curve into the shape of an unmistakable smile. But she did not speak at all, merely staring at him.


    His gaze was that of a person who had fallen upon a sorcerer''s love spell, unable to see anything clearly. His thin lips slightly opened at a loss of what to say.


    "Yu Lin¡­" Finally, those words came out, but they were spoken so carefully, as though at a moment''s notice, the name would somehow break apart and shatter into a million piece, never to be able to return to its former glory. Such a name was nothing but a long lost memory, covered in dust after not being spoken for years. Maybe the world had even forgotten of such a name, or the speaker had tried his hardest to recall how those words formed within his lips.


    The woman''s eyebrows creased as soon as she heard those words come from his lips. Perhaps she was disgusted as to why such a name would come from his lips. Perchance it was a feeling of surprise that he had actually remembered after so long.


    "Cang Long Ruan." She finally uttered from behind the lips obscured by the veil. Her voice gave away that it belonged to a woman who was no longer as youthful as she once was.


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    As soon as Ruan Wang heard his full name spoken. On the contrary to being angry at his name being spoken by this woman, he was rather happy. Knowing that other than that woman, there would never be another who would dare speak his full name so brazenly. The royal family had many unspoken rules, of which concerned the name of their members. The titles that they received were often used to replace their names.


    Such were the customs since founding times, sometimes it was not strange for those of noble statuses to have the given names forgotten within the annals of history.


    Ruan Wang silently closed his eyes in an attempt to absorb everything that was happening before him. This was not a dream, and everything that was in front of him was real. Even the person that was standing before him was made of flesh and blood.


    "Yu Lin, do you know, I''ve thought of you for a long¡­ long time." At this very moment, he had wanted to tell her everything he wanted to say to her. Silently standing there, he said, "That day, I found out later that you did not tell my imperial brother, I found out too late¡­" For words, he did not have to think too much about what to say. He had so many years to think about what he would tell her if she ever stood before him again. The sleepless nights were spent thinking of how he would ever dare to speak or ask for her forgiveness.


    In the end, after all the various scenarios that he had come up with, this was the best thing that he could say. At this moment, he did not dare speak of his undying love, only his regrets on past mistakes.


    The woman sat rooted in her spot, unable to show the slightest shred of emotion. "Why are you telling me this?" She suddenly asked not understanding why he was telling her about his regrets in the years past.


    Though Ruan Wang wasn''t smiling before, his face fell even more and he asked: "In your mind, am I beyond forgiveness?"


    The woman shrugged. In her mind, they had both done things that could not remain in the annals of history without later generations judging them, but ultimately the ending that had fallen upon her was something she had not expected from him.


    Her fingers returned to her instrument, wordlessly stroking the strings that formed the surging rivers beneath the mountain passes.


    She did not have an answer to his question. Yes, she was indeed angry that she had nearly died by his hand, but that was to be expected. What she was truly angry about was his disregard at all they had been through together.


    If one asked if she regretted their marriage, then no. But did she regret how she overestimated his love for her to that point of placing in that doomed bet, then yes, she did.

 48 A Toas

    In the end, there was not an answer that could be shown by her expressions or actions. While Ruan Wang found himself paying close attention to her every action.


    The stroking of the strings and her hand slightly coming through the strands of ink-black hair that was pulled into an updo behind her hair. A strange fusion between an unmarried maiden''s hairstyle, and that of a married woman''s.


    She was ageless, the years had passed by rather joyfully. He could see that the last day of their meeting upon the mountainous cliff that day did not weigh heavily in her heart like it did in his. Perhaps she had forgotten about him altogether.


    Madam Lin looked up at him, and for the first time, she saw the wrinkles around his sleepless eyes and his hair that had become gray. Strands of silver hair were displaced from the bun that stood affixed atop his hair. When looking upon him, no one could tell that he was once a prince that many young ladies of the capital swooned over, desperately trying to grasp his attention.


    Though she did not believe it at first when told that he had so regretted that day. Looking upon his face, she knew that what was they say was at least partly true.


    "Let''s not think about the past anymore." She said as she retracted her gaze, no longer able to keep her face without emotion.


    She brought forth a jar of wine, placing it on the table. The jar was unsealed with and unceremoniously poured into a plain porcelain cup. An aromatic scent of fermented fruits spread through the air.


    "Do you remember the wine that you had at your brother''s banquet?" Madam Lin asked calmly.


    Ruan Wang neither nodded nor shook his head. He certainly remembered at the time he had been invited to a banquet by the late emperor who was his brother, the child of the empress. He had at a point seen that his brother was one who had become suspicious and full of paranoia like the emperors of the past of the same lineage who were always mysteriously short-lived, as though a malicious curse had been placed upon the legitimate heirs destined to be the emperor.


    Though they were still not as a family should, he could not at all fathom that his brother would so blatantly serve him poisonous wine. Perhaps this was the moment that he had begun taking note of the young miss Ye that he had placed in some abandoned courtyard after his marriage as she showed off her skills to save him.


    Madam Lin watched the gaze that had changed to that of a reminiscing one, though no one ever knew what Raun Wang was ever thinking, she could somewhat tell that he was thinking of their past experiences.


    It was unfortunate that some things came too late.


    "This wine is quite similar to the one you had." Madam Lin lowered her eyes, her eyelashes casting a shadow over her face, "Have a drink." She said as she slid the cup of wine over to him. Her face was still unreadable as ever, obscured by the veil.


    Ruan Wang picked up the cup and downed it without a single trace of hesitation, as though it was the night at the banquet once again. But then, he had been reluctant to down the cup that his brother toasted him, yet now, with full knowledge that what he was ingesting could very well render him a corpse, he still drank it with full content.


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    If he were to live, and the act of that be in the way of him earning forgiveness, then what would be the point?


    As she watched him as he finished in a single gulp and show her the bottom of the empty porcelain cup. His actions filled with pride and dignity as the cup was placed back in front of her. Though the sound of the porcelain was minimal, it still rung in her ears in a near-deafening sound.


    Indeed, empty it was, without a single drop to spare at the bottom. The shadow of her eyelashes lifted from the veil as she opened to reveal a pair of eyes that were slowly turning scarlet. Her lips beneath the veil drew into a quiver. Perhaps she could have asked him ''why?'' but that would only be a question of redundancy as she had already known the reason for his willingness to drink the contents of the porcelain cup despite knowing what the contents contained.


    So, a pair of scarlet eyes stared at a pair of tearing eyes. Both were clever individuals who''s only fall from grace were their emotions.


    "You still care for me." He said in a gentle voice. The gentleness that melted her heart, like the first rays of spring that would slowly melt the frozen pond, though this was not an event that would happen upon contact, it would take some time for the ice melt, but there would be a day when the ice would fully disappear.


    Madam Lin did not answer him, she did not want to acknowledge nor deny his assumptions, believing that he could already tell. If she did open her mouth to speak, the voice that would come out would be coarse and tearful.


    They waited and waited. Such was a slow-acting poison, where one would be alive for a while before the onset of death. Ruan Wang quietly sat by her and committed her every action into memory, as though he wished to be comforted by the memory that his last moments would be with the woman he loved.


    If such memories could be brought with him to the netherworld, then how great would that be?


    Slowly but surely, he felt his eyelids growing heavier as though being weighed down by a heavy anvil made of iron and steel.

 49 The Room that Shook

    When she was certain he had fallen asleep, her hand drew closer to his hair, carefully stroking and putting back in place the strands of silver that never seemed to be in place.


    Her hand fell from the gentle stroking down to his right arm that hung down at his side. Such an arm was said to have been crippled long ago. His right arm was heavy, as one of a corpse, the temperature was colder than that of normal body temperature.


    As the sleeve of his brocade robe was pushed back gently, a thin scar stretched from near his wrist, extending towards the elbow.


    "Just why?" She whispered in his ear. "Why did you do that?" There were many more things that could have been said, but it was to no avail as the only person she could talk to had fallen into a deep slumber.


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    Before she could ask any more questions that only she herself would hear, she heard footsteps. Her head whipped around, to see an old man step into the candlelight. The slight orange glow of the candle flickered slightly, casting an array of oddly shaped shadows.


    "Madam." He spoke.


    "Did you follow me here?" Madam Lin asked. The person standing before her was mister Song, whose love for wine had long ascended the heavens. Even she could not understand why he would leave his yard of fermenting brew to follow her here.


    Mister Song did not answer her question, instead, he said: "Have you forgotten the agreement?"


    "No." Madam Lin answered in a word she spoke with contempt.


    "That is good, as you know, Ruan Wang''s death will be the root of all political upheaval in the capital. Do you wish to see the streets washed with the blood of innocents?" It was a rare tone of lecturing that he rarely used, but he could not understand the selfishness that came from her heart. Just like the philosophy of killing one to save a thousand, this was saving one to let a thousand live.


    "Why should I care?"


    "Do you not remember the Ye clan?" As soon as he spoke, he knew that it was a bad example. To say the least, Madam Lin had never had the slightest consideration for the lives of the Ye clan.


    Madam Lin let out a chuckle "And if he must die?"


    "Then forgive me." He said as he moved out of sight into the shadows. The candle flickered before plunging the whole room into darkness.


    The sounds of cloth ripping the air ensued for a while before they came to a stop. It was uncertain who came as the victor, but two shadows stopped at the same time and faced each other.


    Madam Lin, whose veil came off revealed a grin as she looked towards mister Song, whose sleave showed a tear with some blood seeping out. The two people did not seem to be holding any weapons. She took a deep breath of the air which included the burning scents of a blown-out candle and the scents of copper and iron, from the two men who were in the room with her.


    "I really don''t like drawing blood." She shook her head as looked at the two people in front of her.


    Though one person was unable to respond, the other was more awake and showed a face that was as calm as the moon shining over a pond.


    "Madam, it is time to leave." Mister Song said harshly, still using his lecturing tone.


    "But¡­" Her voice trailed off, as he was met with an oncoming palm of her hand. In return, he also used his palm to block the oncoming attack.


    A silent moment fell as their palms met, but did not touch. The strange energy that rebounded from the two energies was enough to make the entire room shake.


    The table was met with a vibration, causing the jar that sat atop the table to be inlaid with spiderweb-like cracks that slowly found a way to wrap itself around the jar. The porcelain cup met with the same fate.


    The same could not be said for the objects that laid surrounding the room. The vases and other fragile items that were in the room had shattered, creating a loud noise, as pieces fell to the floor, clattering into each other.


    The people who had been ordered to stay put by Ruan Wang also heard the disturbance and rushed into the guest house, disturbing the peacefulness that had been settling about.


    "We should leave." Mister Song said as he looked at the grinning Madam Lin who seemed so proud of herself. He understood that the shattering and shaking of the room were things that should not have occurred from their palms meeting, but there was an extra stream of energy that came after, causing the mess of broken shards that they saw now.


    The floor below them was vibrating as the heavy steps of over ten men came, looking for the place where the disturbance had occurred.


    The room had been long empty by the time Xu Fei and his accompanying guards entered.


    The moment they stepped into the room, the jar shattered, all of the wine spilling out and soaking the table cloth.


    "My lord!" Xu Fei called upon seeing Ruan Wang passed out on a table. There was a trickle of blood flowing from his lips, but the expression that was on his face was that of joy.


    Seeing that the situation was dire, that danger may be lurking around the corner. Xu Fei carried Ruan Wang back to the carriage, and the horses went galloping towards the manor. Where a physician was quickly called for.


    Though it was not known to the quiet streets of the capital yet, but once known, a period of turbulent of unrest would soon come.


    Xu Fei quietly stood on the porch, watching the flurries of snowfall in the darkness. He let out a deep breath, letting a cloud of smoke escape and blend into the distant darkness. He was never one to pray to the gods in the hope of a wish coming true, but he had so hoped that Ruan Wang would be able to make a full recovery and get away from those sorrowful memories.

 50 Old Tree

    In a faraway place, where the trees were full of green leaves and there was a garden of flowers in their full blooming glory. The place was atop a small mountain, overlooking a small and desolated village that seemed to be nothing more than a few crumbling sticks and broken stones.


    Right next to the village in a grass field were about thirty wooden stakes that stood erect in neat rows, among the tall grass. The wood had been hastily put down as a mark of remembrance. The stakes of which were old, with some that were slightly newer, getting replaced as soon as the wood had worn down.


    There were two figures that stood among the tall grass, silently ripping out the weeds and cutting the grasses that had grown well above an adult''s waist.


    "How long has it been?" Feng Rong asked slightly dazed as he plucked the weeds that had nearly tangled itself among the wooden stakes, almost becoming one. Weeds were such stubborn plants that always strived hard to survive, entangling the life out of the most healthy of plants. Feng Rong pulled with all his might before the weed let go in defeat.


    "Three hundred years, maybe." Feng Yun answered as she helped him out, cutting the grasses. Making a memorial site slightly more presentable before their eyes.


    Though this was not particularly on show for anyone, they still did their best. Feng Yun looked at the young boy who had on a heavy expression while he was doing the work and inwardly sighed.


    "I think that these stakes are still passable." Feng Yun says as she inspects the stakes that had already been grown over with a layer of moss, though the wood seemed old, it was still quite sturdy, not yet infested with insects.


    Everything was done with the utmost care, they were always careful not to disturb the old bones that were resting below. Even if there was a chance that those old bones had long become the remenants of dust long ago.


    By the time they had cleared out all the weeds and grasses, it was already dark outside, this time, without the slightest light from places nearby. The stars twinkled like bonfires one would see from a distant mountain. They were not quite tired of course, it would take more than manual labor to tire out their unique bodies.


    Feng Yun looked up at the night sky. There was a slight arc on her lips. Such brightness was rare to the small village, especially when not a single lamp had been lit in centuries. While she had not seen this scene since the village was inhabited by living vessels, it was nevertheless a scene that invoked memories from long ago.


    "Ah Rong, look up at the stars, it hasn''t been so bright here in a long time." She called out to Feng Rong who was still sitting in front of the field of remembrance for a great while, his eyes were closed and he was in a kneeling position. Upon hearing her voice, his eyes opened up to serenely look at the night sky. Nodding his head, he agreed and slowly got up from the place he had been kneeling, where the grass had already formed a concave indent entrenched in the earth.


    He dragged his body into an old cottage that had fallen into disrepair and had been rebuilt many times, the cycle repeating itself again and again. There, he climbed onto an old wooden bed and laid there. His eyes open, staring at the thatched roof that was above.


    Feng Yun quietly guarded outside. Looking above at the starry sky, then upon the neatly trimmed grass. The people that were buried there were the unfortunate souls of the villagers who were the casualties of some rogue bandits who had robbed the place.


    There was a light cough from within the cottage, which made her attention shift from viewing the grass to the person currently within the room.


    "I can''t remember their names anymore." Feng Rong says as he stares up at the nothingness. Time was but a blur to him now, all the events of the past were nothing but random flashes of light that had gone by rather quickly, that has led them to this moment.


    A strange yet melancholic smile appeared on Feng Yun''s lips, "It is good enough to know whether it was a good or bad memory, the rest is not important. Just sleep, such memories fade easily and by tomorrow, it will be fine." Feng Yun gently said.


    Feng Rong, who was on the crudely made bed did not seem to believe what had been said. But still, he thanked her.


    The night was sleepless. By the time the next sun arose, two figures were already standing above the small mountain, overlooking the small village. The village was well hidden, but perhaps this was because not too many have trodden upon it in recent years. It could be seen hat in the time that the village no longer had inhabitants, nature had taken over, thickening the branches and widening the leaves of the vegetation that grew in the perimeter.


    Feng Yun came close to the tree that overlooked the village, giving it a pat, as though praising it for its hard work over the years. Though it was old, it was still full of vitality, almost as much life imbued within as when it was first planted.


    "It was said that when living things have been alive for a long time that there was a chance that it would develop sentience and embody that of the living creatures that once surrounded it." Feng Yun spoke as she ran her hand over the rough bark of the tree.


    "Though such a tree has been alive for a long time, it is still not long enough." Feng Rong said as he sat beneath the trees for shade.


    The air was warm and slightly humid. Such was to be expected in the southern provinces, as four seasons were similar to that of spring. It would have been the best time to go to the spring flower festival that was a city away.


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 51 Flower Festival

    After half a day on horseback, they reach the outskirts of Xi Nan City. Such a place is large beyond comparison, and in some way, this place is even more bustling than the capital city. Perhaps this was because the capital was currently in a harsh winter that seemed to desolate the population size.


    On the other hand, the thought of having spring weather all year round was good. But this also made things feel too boring. To have no other types of weather would make one feel as though they hadn''t been to enough places, making an unfulfilled life. Of course, there was some folk who had been here all their lives and thought nothing of it.


    The two figures, one dressed in dark blue and the other dressed in green walked through the busy streets, hand in hand.


    Beneath all the music played from large hide drums and bamboo flutes, they looked very much like a young couple in love. Similar to that of little lovebirds flying from the nest. Yet at the same time, the look in their eyes also resembled that of an old married couple.


    There was an unspoken connection that tied them together. They were not like the young lovers that had heated passions, joyful for the times ahead. Instead, their temperaments were slightly muted by the passing years.


    As Feng Rong looked at the other couples that were chasing each other around, he seemed quite happy, and looked towards Feng Yun, as though hoping that they might do the same.


    But after seeing that look in her eyes, he could tell that she was reluctant, so he could only smile and look around.


    The flower festival, as one called it. Although such an occasion was only happening once a year, this was more of a festive gathering. Since flowers bloomed endlessly all year round, it was practically pointless to dedicate once a year to this holiday. This was unlike the capital where there would be colder climates, with events such as blossoms withering made flowers more of a rarity to behold.


    Such a sight made it seem as though the blooms were worthless.


    Feng Rong brushed past a couple who had flower crowns placed upon their heads. The crowns are interwoven with begonia, chrysanthemums, lilies, and marigolds, all different flowers that sat upon two heads of dark hair. He shook his head in distaste, such flowers, alone were already imbued with enough beauty. Was there such a need to heedlessly combine such flowers together in one place.


    Seeing him like this, Feng Yun knew that he had resigned himself to not wearing a flower crown. She could not help but want to tease him a bit.


    "What if I want one?" She looked at him with her wide eyes blinking.


    "Then I will make it myself." He declared, then he leaned in closer to her in almost a whisper, "Do you really want one?"


    Feng Yun, seeing him so close, gave a slight nod, "Will you wear one as well?"


    He looked towards all the couples who were wearing the same flower crowns and nodded, "As long as you like it."


    Hearing this answer, Feng Yun merely nodded and looked around, while Feng Rong went up to a flower merchant to purchase the flowers. To prevent Feng Yun from watching, he turned his back to prevent her from sneaking a few peaks while he worked on the pair of flower crowns.


    Not that Feng Yun would have any intentions of peaking, but it was better to make it a surprise and stop temptations in their tracks. The crowd was loud, with a few ladies chatting around, there were also scholars who attempted to create a presence to get noticed by a few maidens. Reciting poems that they had memorized from the anthologies of famous poems.


    The ladies hid with propriety behind their painted fans, as they listened to the scholars who had hoped to catch their eyes. The sounds of giggling laughter carried by the gentle breeze made its way to Feng Yun''s ears, evoking precious memories of past festivals. Of course, people change and go, but tradition always stays with some new customs getting added in through the years.


    With the sound of the flutes, slowly building its way up a climax. The gentle buzzing of the pollinators could be heard from far away as they pranced upon the blooms. The sound of the drums that had stopped slowly inched its way back into the music.


    Feng Rong who seemed to have completed his task of making a flower crown also walked towards her figure that was dressed in green.


    The second the music from the drum hit its loudest note. A thunderous vibration shook, and flower petals are thrown into the air by the festival participants. Feng Yun''s lips are slightly agape as she could not remember when this act was a part of the festival.


    [It seems much has changed.]


    As the petals fall, Feng Rong quickly places the flower crown atop her head. Not expecting such a thing, her hand involuntarily reaches to her head. But such an action is stopped in its tracks, as her hand is held hostage by Feng Rong''s palm. He is smiling so much, that his dimples are revealed. There is an urge to pinch those cheeks as one''s eyes gaze upon the mesmerizing smile.


    She looks atop his head, to see that resting upon it is a flower crown, mixed with the red blossoms, yellow marigolds, with neither flower overtaking the other''s glory. It is this that deserves to be hailed as a flower crown.


    "Can I see?" She looks towards Feng Rong and asks.


    "Yun''er, do you trust me?" Feng Rong looks deep into her obsidian eyes.


    "Yes." Feng Yun answers without hesitation.


    "You can judge it later, but for now, let''s enjoy the festival, alright?"


    Although she was unable to see the final result of the flower crown, she could assume that his taste would not be too horrible, "Alright." She agreed, after all, they had known each other for so long, that mutual trust had long been built. It was difficult to knock down the wall to build one made of suspicion.


    Feng Rong pulled on her delicate jade-like hand, as the pair began running. Soon Feng Yun ended up doing the one thing she had been reluctant to do.


    Soon, they like all the others around, arrived at the base of a peony stage, that was decorated with silk ropes that were the vibrant colors of spring. The ropes twirled into each other, tying off at the balconies of surrounding establishments.


    "The festival has not truly begun yet, it is better to watch from a higher place." Feng Yun says.


    As of now, they were at the base of the stage, soon many more would come, and they would be all cramped up with the others in the audience in the warm weather. No matter how one saw it, it did not seem to be a pleasing feeling.


    "En, we should try the flower wine now." Feng Rong said as they made their way away from the stage, and to the wine shops that had set up small stalls on the streets.


    The flower wine this year had come from last year''s harvest and had been fermenting in the jars for an entire year. This was not a really long time, considering the famous daughter''s red liquor would be fermenting deep underground for eighteen years. Thus the seller did not put such a high price on it.


    A small jar costing just a few copper coins. As Feng Rong bought two jars, they found seats in a private room with a view that overlooked the peony stage.


    "I wonder what kind of performance will be set on that stage?" Feng Yun said as she looked outside.


    "Didn''t you already see this in the past?" Feng Rong asked as he placed the two jars on the table, seeing that Feng Yun was not looking in the general direction, he reached out for a jar.


    "I don''t remember, it should be a dance." Feng Yun said as she reached out to grab the jar that had neared Feng Rong''s lips, "We will drink later."


    This left Feng Rong an empty feeling, looked dejected as the jars were placed far away from him.


    To pass time, they had called for some snacks along with some tea to be prepared first.


    Soon night fell and the world beyond the city grew dark, while the lanterns and candles that hung in the establishments were lit, making the city exceedingly bright. Breathtaking as it was, it was only newcomers to the city that were looking at the prosperous city in surprise.


    The peony stage in the middle seemed to gleam in the night as candles were placed in the perimeter of the stage. Once they were fully lit, there were a few figures in long peach-colored dresses that came onto the stage.


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    Feng Yun watched as women in their long dresses came upon the stage one by one, "Are they not afraid the dress will catch fire?" She asked as she took the jars of wine, pouring them into smaller porcelain cups, she turned to see Feng Rong who was laying on his back, seemingly despondent that he was unable to drink.


    "It''s time to drink." The two cups of wine were placed on the table, and Feng Rong immediately sat up to take the cup.


    The wine was drunk and Feng Rong licked his lips, "It is not strong, but it tastes good."


    "Do you think mister Song would be willing to make this?" Feng Yun seemed to enjoy it as well. But thinking as mister Song would not approve of low-grade wine, she only kept it as a question.


    Feng Rong shook his head, "It should be easy to make, and the fermentation time is not too long."


    They both looked over the stage. The place that they had chosen indeed had a great view, but strangely, the entire ground level by the stage was packed with people.


    The figures that had just gotten up on stage when a gentle melody started playing, the figures started to turn in the same direction, and slowly their long dresses slowly wound itself around their legs, this continued to happen until there was no longer anything left to be wound. The music stopped all of a sudden, and the figures froze.


    After a few moments, the music started to play again, this time the music was more lively, played with flutes and the pipa, giving the feeling of a new beginning. The figures that had been cloaked in their long dresses slowly stepped out like butterflies emerging from a cocoon. Their dull peached colored cloaks were no longer as they stepped out in dresses that were vertically striped in purple and green.


    The dancers danced in a very lively manner as though signaling the arrival of spring.


    By the time the dance ended, the crowd erupted clapping.


    "Hm¡­ They''re still standing there." Feng Yun said as she peered out from the window, onto the crowd. Since no one moved to leave, this meant that there would be something to happen after.


    Her questions were soon answered as the dancers took up baskets and started to throw some small trinkets into the crowds. At a glance, she could tell that they were a pair of tassels that signified the connection between a pair of lovers, in other words, this was a sort of blessing for a happy marriage for the pairs.


    [No wonder there was practically no one watching from above, it seems they all wanted to get this blessing.]


    Seeing the commotion beneath the window, Feng Rong came over to wrap his arm around Feng Yun''s shoulders and watched the scene unfolding on the streets.


    The scene beneath them was for some reason beautiful. As chaotic as it was, there was some meaningfulness in every action.

 52 Unexpected Gues

    After what was believed to be an attempted assassination on Ruan Wang, the entire manor had quieted down. It was overnight that Ruan Wang manor set down restrictions on everything going in and out of the manor. The servants had stopped going outside, while the only people who were allowed to come and go were those who delivered food and other necessities.


    An imperial physician had been invited into Ruan Wang manor to take a look and see if there was a possibility for a cure. After taking a look, imperial physician Hu concluded that the cure was not difficult to make, but there would be a long period of time needed for rest before Ruan Wang would be back in full health.


    "Thank you." Xu Fei politely says to imperial physician Hu as he is packing away his instruments.


    "No need, it is the imperial physician''s job to make sure our masters are in good health." The gray-haired imperial physician says as he takes his medicine box, ready to leave.


    "I will see you out." Xu Fei offers. He wanted to use this opportunity to ask a few more questions.


    Imperial physician Hu nods, as they are heading out, the imperial physician looks towards Xu Fei, "Is it possible that Ruan Qin Wang knew the assassin who poisoned him?"


    Xu Fei thinks back to when Ruan Wang had willingly stepped into that guest house. The lord had ordered all those escorting him to stay outside. Ruan Wang also seemed anxious as he walked into the guest house. Could it be that Ruan Wang knew what would happen and willingly walked into a certain trap?


    To not call for help even after being poisoned, there could only be two possibilities. First, the enemy was too powerful that even he could not handle it, and silently wait for his demise. Second, was that he knew the person.


    "I don''t think so, why do you ask." Xu Fei decides not to answer truthfully, prying a little deeper to see what imperial physician Hu is thinking.


    "It was nothing such that the poison was not one that acted quickly." Imperial physician Hu goes on: "In my many years of experience, assassins like to use a fast-acting poison to ensure the death of their target, but this poison has fast symptoms, and there is at least a week before it seeps in to end a person''s life. Within my many years of experience, I have never seen an assassin so careless as to allow the victim to buy time to find the antidote like this." Imperial physician Hu says as he silently observes Xu Fei''s expression.


    After listening to the old imperial physician speak, Xu Fei snaps out of a daze, brought on by the imperial physician''s explanation.


    Seeing that Ruan Wang''s trusted servant was in a daze, he quickly scurried off with a quick goodbye.


    The matters of Ruan Wang manor was kept low, the matter of poisonings had perhaps only made it to the emperor who was still ill and did not pay much attention.


    On a certain day, in court, there was news. Grand tutor Yan Kun had requested leave from the imperial court on account of personal matters. The emperor, knowing of the recent tragedies that had befallen the grand tutor''s family allowed him a year off from any courtly affairs, giving him time for his family to grieve.


    The Yan Family manor had already put up the white silk and worn clothes of hemp for the young master Yan who had perished so humiliatingly in a dark alley by the red light district.


    The funeral precessions had gone on as planned, and there were only close friends and faction members of the grand tutor that attended to pay their respects. Though the only outlier being Gao Zizheng, the second son of the prime minister who had suddenly arrived to pay his respects.


    Though Yan Kun was slightly suspicious in his heart, he still followed the proper etiquette and allowed those who wished to pay their respects to enter.


    Upon entering, the entire mourning hall had the distinctive scent of sandalwood and burning paper, to cover up the stench. Sticks of incense were lit and placed in large incense pots. There were much incense pots that ware placed throughout the mourning hall, thus that upon entering, one would be clouded in thick heavy smoke that was like the entrance of the underworld. At the front of the room, there was an altar that had the name of the young master, along with threads of white silk knitted into bows. The casket was behind the alter, one made of fine sandalwood and carved with valiant patterns of horses.


    There was a young woman cloaked in hemp with a white veil covering her head, kneeling by the corner. Her eyes were dry but red. She was making loud wailing sounds. No one would have expected that Young master Yan would already have a wife. Most would assume that he was unmarried and was enjoying his youthful years out in the red light district before he would be forced to marry and settle down.


    But if this was the case, then why did no one know of this young woman before? Their marriage ceremony had not been heard of. Within the memories of the close family friends, there was not a time in the past few years that they remembered an invitation to such an event.


    It was unfortunate, as she would be expected to mourn for him for three years.


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    "Do not hold onto grief." Gao Zizheng said to the woman, whose head was bowed.


    The young woman quieted down, but the sounds of wailing did not stop. As she had not been the only one doing the ghost wailing ritual. Her face was bare, and she did not have the appearance of the wife of a prominent family.


    Yet, it was some unknown reason that he felt unnerved by the sounds of the wailing ritual that surrounded them, along with the young lady whose mouth had not moved to speak to him.


    "Thank you, minister Gao." The woman said with a bow, after the wailing ritual, her voice had become hoarse.


    After hearing her thanks, Gao Zizheng felt a somewhat smugness when he saw her bow her head once again. That it was within his knowledge that the young woman ended in such a state because of himself.


    As Minister Gao left, the woman slowly picked up her head and looked towards the figure that had just left. Eyes brimming with hatred.


    A shiver came down from minister Gao''s back as he exited the manor that was decked out in white silk.


    As he entered the carriage, which was driven by an old housekeeper, he lightly tapped on the wooden windows of his carriage to make sure that someone could hear him.


    The housekeeper slowed down the speed of the horses, placing one ear near the carriage, "Yes, master."


    "Have them move tonight." A voice whispered from within the walls of the carriage.


    "Understood."

 53 Cold Palace

    By Gao Zizheng arrived at his manor by mid-evening. Descending the carriage with the help of his housekeeper.


    He hurried to his quarters where he ordered a bath be drawn immediately. Thereby, peeling off his outer clothes and throwing them on the floor. As a servant walked in with a wooden bucket to pour in the water for the bath. As the order was given abruptly, and the water could not be heated quickly enough, he said: \"Second master, this might take some time.\"


    Gao Zizheng shooed his hand, \"Quickly, quickly.\" Just as the servant bowed and prepared to turn around, \"Wait.\" he points to the clothes sitting on the ground and says \"Burn it.\"


    \"Huu...?\"


    \"I SAID BURN IT!\" Gao Zizheng bursts in fury.


    The servant only nods and brings the clothes along with the bucket back to the kitchen. Confused as to why the second master would want him to destroy the clothes that were in perfect condition.


    At the kitchen, he hands the clothes to a servant boy fanning at the fireplace. Embers and smoke float around the air, and the boy is coughing. \"The second master ordered it to be burned.\"


    The servant boy takes the clothes and inspects them. Finding no moth holes or imperfections, he asks: \"Why does the second master want to take a bath so early, and order his clothes to be burned?\"


    \"How should I know, it is not our place to ask anyway.\"


    The servant boy immediately stops talking, and tosses the clothes into the fireplace, as he would toss wood. With the fire well-fed, it grows larger. This continues until the cloth is entirely consumed and not a trace of it remains.


    ~


    \"Wen Jian, what time is it?\"


    \"It is almost midnight Madam.\" A voice says from the shadows.


    \"Understood, you may leave now.\"


    Quiet fell from within the shadows. It was uncertain whether the person had left, or if the person simply stayed silent without a single movement.


    Madam Lin let out a silent breath. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at a certain corner within the room. When there was the silence fell still, she finally removed her stare from the corner. Making her way behind the folding screen that has a painting of mountains. The area behind the screen had a single candle that illuminated the paper from which the scenery was painted. The slight sways in candlelight brought on the slightest tints of life to the painting.


    Her dress made from dazzled fabric that draped around the body was thrown directly over the screen, while clothes that were slightly more form-fitting were put on. Hairpins that held her hair in the neat hairstyle had also been removed and placed upon the dresser. By the time she steps out, she looked like a rich lady of a noble family prepared to go on a hunting trip, her hair placed into a simple bun.


    Without the slightest care for appearance, she looked at the corner that she had been eyeing and in the blink of an eye, her figure disappears.


    Among the rooftops of the city, there was a shadow that flew by. It was far too fast for anyone to catch on that it was a human figure, but if one stayed still long enough, there would be a wisp of a breeze that came out of nowhere. The roof tiles emitted the sounds of slight clattering, but the sound was not enough to hint that above the roof was a fully grown person, rather, it sounded like the wind rattling up the tiles.


    The strange rattling came and went, but this was the hour which many would be sound asleep in their homes, so no one noticed the oddity.


    The figure made its way to the palace, which was slightly more guarded, with its high walls and patrolling guards that stood erect, scanning the grounds for any sign of movement. There was not a single soul that noticed a shadow slip through the cracks.


    Yet, after slipping through the cracks, the shadow did not head for the main palace where the emperor and core members of the imperial family resided, instead, going to the secluded palace in an obscure corner that was the cold palace.


    The cold palace was where disgraced consorts and imperial members were sent to live out the rest of their lives upon falling out of favor with the emperor. It could not be said to be a horrible place, faring slightly better than the prisons, but other than that, there was not much more to say.


    The palace was surrounded by high walls, with the doors sealed shut. It gave off the feelings of ice. The number of people who have been disgraced since the establishment of the dynasty was inumerable, but yet, this place never seems to be filled to capacity. Their names are forever are forgotten. It was unknown how many had died off in this place, their bodies sent off to public graveyards, hastily buried beyond the capital walls without so much as a tomb being erected. Those who died within the cold palace would never have their name recorded. Their spirits cursed to forever wander the wilderness.


    Perhaps this was why the palace gave off this uncomfortable feeling.


    The rumors that had floated around had caused the cold palace to run into disuse. It was dilapidated, and there was not so much as a guard or servant that would ever dare come here at night.


    The figure wandered from building to building looking for someone.


    A small building that had been wrapped by old vines, nearly strangling the building that was falling apart. The front yard was nothing more than a patch of dry yellow sanded land, that grass would not even grow on. It did not fare much better inside with the four walls bare to the bone, with only a crude wooden table and some chairs. On the table was a chipped plate of cold, half-eaten buns. At the bed, there was a woman sleeping, her body wrapped in a cocoon of tattered quilts, her hair was disheveled as she rolled around unrestfully.


    Madam Lin silently looked at the woman who was rolling around, grasping for warmth within the tattered quilts. There was no warmth within the cold palace.


    What could be said? If she said she felt happy, that was not what she felt. If she said she felt sorrow, that was not what she felt either. It was so strange to hear of something than to truly see it with her own eyes.

 54 Chapter 54: Both Playing Games

    "My dear sister, I''ve come to see you." A voice that belonged to that of a young maiden who genuinely cared for her sister sounded within the confines of the cold palace.


    The voice was so wholesome, so pure, such that had it not been spoken within the confines of the deserted cold palace, many would have mistaken it for an innocent young maiden visiting her sister.


    After speaking, Madam Lin remained silent. Her eyes continued to watch over the woman who was on the bed, as though searching for signs that she had woken up. Her gaze brightens up as she sees the woman has a slight twitch. Her lips slowly pull into a frown as soon as she sees that the woman had decided to pretend she is still unconscious.


    Indeed Ye Yuying, or rather consort Ying as she had been known in her old glorious days had awoken upon hearing someone call out to her. But she remained with her eyes closed and wrapped in her tattered quilt in hopes the sound would go away.


    The sound was exceedingly innocent and it sounded very familiar, but her first thoughts had gone to the innocent young women she had to plot against in order to keep the emperor''s favor. Their cries in her dream, begging for their lives to be spare had continued to haunt her dreams. Their eyes filled with tears and brimming with hatred as blood flowed from their lips, as their hands with long red nails would reach towards her in hopes of dragging her to the depths of hell along with them.


    It wasn''t unusual that she would wake up from a horrible nightmare. But this night, the voice was so real, as though there was a female ghost right beside her. Could it be that the ghosts were no longer living in her nightmares, but had truly become part of the real world? In that case, they may very well be cable of dragging her down with them.


    She could not blame them for wanting to exact revenge on her. She only regretted that she could not see Xian''er for the last time.


    Seeing Ye Yuying still curled up in the quilt, Madam Lin tried again this time poking the back of the thin quilt.


    "Sister, get up." She called out. This time, she called a little louder.


    The woman''s eyes opened as she was shocked. The touch held a bit of warmth that no one would expect from a sprit. After concluding that the other party was s living human being, there was no need to fear. After the person called out to her, she was certain the other party did not intend on claiming her life, after all an assassin would not announce their presence, instead, she would have already been dead with a blade pierced through her heart already.


    Madam Lin watched as the woman roll towards her side. A hand reaches out from the quilt and grabs on to her wrist. The woman''s pale face smiles, the gaze in her eyes is unfocused as though something was off about her. Added on to her disheveled hair, she looked more like a madwoman.


    Madam Lin was slightly shocked, at the way Ye Yuying had reacted. But her emotions never showed through and pasted on her face was an excited expression. She hurriedly cried out "Elder sister, you''re awake!"


    Hearing that voice still innocent and that exciting expression, Ye Yuying''s unfocused gaze nearly faltered. She had spent the last ten years or so pretending to be mad. Could it be that someone even madder than her had come along? Yet still, she still latched on to the person''s wrist without saying a word, she carefully inspects the intruder with what little light there is. Perhaps it is because of her habit scanning the room when night comes, as in the darkness her eyes could make out the intruder to be a woman.


    Perhaps it was one of the palace ladies who sought to punish her. That wasn''t right, palace ladies rarely made their rounds out in the cold palace, and especially at night. She rarely even saw palace ladies in daylight, yet from this woman, she felt a sense of familiarity.


    As she was seizing the person up, she was also being inspected herself.


    It had been a while since Madam Lin saw this sister of hers. Back in the day when Ye Yuying was the eldest young miss of the Ye family, she would rarely be able to see this elder sister of hers''. Whenever she did, it would usually be at large events or family gatherings. Even then they did not converse, yet she could remember the eldest young miss'' servants attempting to find fault in every move she made.


    Not bad, even after being thrown into the cold palace, Ye Yuying''s acting had gotten better. It is unfortunate that there is no one to watch how much she has improved. Then again, it didn''t even matter if she was good at acting or not, the favor the emperor bestowed on her was not a result of this acting, it was merely to please the old patriarch of the Ye family, being good at acting was merely a greater advantage. However, once the Ye family fell, Ye Yuying was discarded as well.


    When she saw the state that Ye Yuying was in, she couldn''t help feeling a slight pity. Thinking about it, Ye Yuying''s personality was laced with arrogance, but that had stemmed from the family''s teachings, as the eldest miss, she was to look down at all those around her, after all, since her birth it had already been decided that she was to marry a prince, who may be the future ruler. Her fate had been decided since birth, and she grew up with her mother and family constantly reminding her that she would be the noblest of all ladies. This perhaps had given her the pride to look down on others.


    As she was reflecting on the past, she barely noticed that Ye Yuying twisted her head to the side, her face revealed a smile, "Do I know you?" she asked, her voice hoarse from disuse.


    Her gaze was still that unfocused gaze of a madwoman. But, she still latched on with no intention of letting go. It was not meant to hurt the intruder, after all, with the ability to come and go in the well-guarded palace as one pleased, this intruder had to be skilled at a certain level, such that a grip using her entire strength would not hurt them the slightest.


    Since she had already decided to play her role, there was no turning back.


    Madam Lin coughed lightly "Do you want me to grab a candle? And you can slowly observe if you know me or not." It would seem that Ye Yuying decided to stay in character. In that case, she will accompany this play until the end.