Chapter 38

Finally, the day of the festival arrived. We were using an animal mask like everyone else enjoying this festival and wore common clothes affordable in the empire.

And to tell you the truth, it's just like any normal festivities. Maybe I expect too much when we arrived here. Although my excitement died down, this festival still has its charms especially since it's in ancient times. More so, there are new things that I can see so it's not 'that' of a disappointment coming here

"Pretty lady, would you want to know your fortune?"

No grandma I want more than fortune and that is traversing time and space.

Ml's hand that clasped mine, it was warm and it makes me dependent on him. I can't move away. I can't find my way back if he is this clingy...

Demmet.

"Husband, what is this?"

I just saw a shell and there were unintelligible words in it, the form of a rune.

"These shells are special. How about picking one that caught your eye, My Lady?"

"Okay."

I chose the biggest shell.

"Mistress, the words inscribe in this shell you can read it."

I frowned. Really? Nope, can't understand it at all.

Wait, when I looked back carefully again it was as if something is actually forming. Is this sorcery?

"Aloud?"

"If Mistress does not will to do so. After all, this might be something close to your heart."

I look back at the letters and then at Ml before reading it for us to only hear, "Missed sun and moon."

It was actually carved 'Slumbered Fluttering Time.' Time...

I looked back at the old woman then to Ml who kept his stable smile and back at her. "Can you tell me more about these words?"

"Mistress, it will be as heaven's ordained. Time flows continuously."

But I already had a hint. Time meant I came in this period inside a novel by sleep and not any factors like truck-kun not hand an accident of being pushed or killed nor had fallen a manhole. Should I sleep my time away? Flattering could either mean it was too fast for my transfer to happen or that I'll cause a flutter while I'm here. Now that's bad news you got here my friend.

Yet the old lady merely bowed. "My Lady, until we meet again if fate dictates."

If fate dictates? Che. If you're a business woman you'll come here next year to pride your work. Scamming me of being mysterious ah?

"Alright."

I wouldn't have partly believed her if not for the changes in the engraving even if it's a trick or two. Can't she at least give me a hint? You can just give me a tarot card and reveal the meaning. Even the Tarot app that I downloaded on my phone before has more description than you. Sigh.

"Husband let's go?"

"Is it not to your liking?"

I curtly nod.

"That woman's word is not interesting as Li Jia Ying thought."

Next year. Maybe then I can have more freedom and by then, I could find her.

I guess as long as there is no other woman he takes as his wife, then I won't leave earlier than expected.

"Oh, why didn't you pick one of those shells?"

"This King already knows his fate."

I twitched my lips. This guy is amazing. Really the Ml. Applause. Applause.

"Won't you ask what is my fate?"

Look at that cheeky smile showing up. I'm sure he has another pickup line coming up.

I shook my head, smiling gently. "You have the heaven's halo. Li Jia Ying knows it'll be a glorious path to whatever way you may thread."

The fvck would I mind?

"You're such a cruel wife. You don't care about me at all."

Then why did you marry me? Huh?! Are you a psychological masochist? Hm?

I pulled him closer tip-toed and kissed his forehead making my hood tilt a bit. Hm, you didn't reject my touch even the slightest bit. That's not a good sign for me.

I sniggered, "Your handsomeness would lessen if you act like this to me, it's not very pleasing."

Ah just looking up at him, even at this angle with the sun radiating above us his face still looks dvmn attractive. Yet my neck, I quickly look down. It hurts ah.

"You just insulted your husband."

Then can you murder me now?

"Should Lia Jia Ying always flutter you?"

"No."

"Then is that all you have to say?"

I teased which made him laugh. He pulled the hood of my cloak which was a bit lost.

"Then this husband would shamelessly say you are the best of all the women even across the two empires."

Best? That's good, the great one should be Song Jing Hua. You're still on the right track big bro.

"You're crude. Two empires? That should be all the other Empires."

Jin Hai nodded, "Yes, all the other empires."

Even if he doesn't believe me and it's obvious that it's just a farce that's better. I'm not concealing it anyway. If he can buy my words or not, that's up to him. At least he knows that I think the opposite way.

Now, let's just roam around and enjoy all these unfamiliar things I'm seeing right now.

This is quite a bustling scenery. Kids happily run around and the adults do their own thing selling and buying things.

"Won't you buy something to your liking?"

He's just beside me moving his head forward not even looking at pieces of stuff.

"Nothing interests me."

Okay boss.

I bought a few things and of course the most important thing, writing materials!

Now all that's left to do is a looking for part-time work or a hustle while I'll be staying here. I can't see any skinning job here. I should enhance my skinning skills. Oh no, I'm thinking about dark things again. Snap out of it Jun Xue! Phew.

My eyes caught a pair of jade bracelets. The funny thing is the design looks like the one from an online shopping app I bought before that had scammed me when my parcel came. It's not like it's a coincidence. This looks way more authentic, if I let him buy this pair and gave the other one to him, would he like it?

No, he might be suspicious thinking I am planning something since I am not a woman who easily acts sweet and fluffy. Yeah, never mind.

I looked at other stalls and thought that we just probably need a place to eat before going back. After all, he is a busybody. I would be very happy if he spends more time on those documents than me while I reconstruct my plan.

"Husba...why are you looking at that?" He was staring at the jade bracelets. "You don't want to buy these?"

I shook my head. "No. How about we find a place to eat first before we head back?"

It's enough scouting for now and get back to the library again and read some of his stuff.

"You want to quickly head back?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

As everything looks vibrant, my eyes darted to the darker side of the streets we passed by. That scrawny-looking boy hides as he looked at us with his big black eyes with big black underneath his lower eyelid. The place behind him is very familiar. It seems you can't prevent poverty even if it's ruled by the Male Protagonist.

"Don't mind him."

"Hmm?"

"That place is where we've put all the captured citizens of the fallen empires."

Oh, so it was done with intention of imprisoning the people from those empires and kingdoms he defeated.

"Won't keeping them in one place be disadvantageous?"

Well, it's also good having them in one place. But if they rise and rebel it would not be a good thing especially since they aren't chained. Like come on, they are captured and it doesn't mean they don't have any desire to be freed from being prisoners or loots of war. Just by looking at it, the kid wants to see the festival but hesitated. There must be some rules.

"If they try to escape it won't be easy. More so, they are given a chance to prove themselves useful. If not, they'll be transferred to the East part of the Empire."

"Li Jia Ying heard from Physician Feng, slave fighters are popular in that place."

The good thing about Ml's domain is that even if those people from the defeated nations were brought here they are one community. They aren't slaves as he prohibits such dealings in his territories.

"It seems you're interested in Slave Fighters?"

"Not quite. Li Jia Ying just thought you're more merciful than other lords, very admirable."

But it would be good if there was a chance to see that place. Better yet having an unbeatable Slave Fighter for myself.

Haha, this is it! A loyal slave who would take the bullet, um, sword for me.

Who knows what will happen to me if I stay here without his protection? If there is a person that can be used and fearless enough to go against anybody just to protect me, it won't be a loss to treat him well.

Okay, now my path is a bit clearer: Find a way to go back but look for a slave to cultivate first, and look for a hustle. Alrighty!