9 The Great Merchant

Few weeks passed as we were arresting and questioning the salesmen and the Officers we gathered information regarding the fake account sheets. The princess was dismissed from the mission as the emporer wanted her to rest though im sure she will be doing harder work somewhere. However i only checked at nights at her cottage if she was in there safe. I dint see her just saw the candle light inside.

But the information gathered always lead us to more and more singlemerchants and small companies leading us away from the "Red Eagle Nest" the company for sure behind all these problems. Also it was hard to continue because of money issues during this hard time of the country.

The Emporer was now more active in his duties than before as he is under princess's medical instructions and the empress's help on his duties as the emporer.

"Commander! We this wont go further if someone doesnt sponsor us on this matter. The treasury has to supply our people and we cant use them on this account matter. Do you know some way of getting a solution?" The Emporer asked me as the empress, colonel Bojan, minister of the sales department and i were discussing on the fake account matter.

"Your highness! Do you know the company 'Pheonix'? Its the largest and the richest in the silk road, spread all over Asia, and has its main Office in our Capīitol. And thats the least affected by this matter! Also they are the only strong rivals to the Red Eagle Nest!",i suggested.

"So you mean that we can ask their help i mean they can sponsor us and help on getting hold of them?" The emporer asked concerned.

I nodded. "But how is the matter! Like the head of the Red Eagle Nest, the Head of the Pheonix is also unknown. Only the most trusted knows i guess." As i said the empress sighed and smiled.

"Dont worry about that! I didnt come through that idea before but I shall ask her to come to the state council gathering tommorrow." How does the empress know and HER???? Emporer had the same question working on his head.

"But how do you.." the empress cut the emporer's words.

"You'll meet her tommorrow! I have to ask her first cause it was kept a secret for so long..." Empress smiled. Even the minister stared annoyed. So we were dismissed by the emporer.

The rumors had spread as the ministers were wandering who this powerful person arriving at the state council. They have their money burried in company Pheonix too and they really wanted to discover who this wealthy powerful head who rules over the silk road is.

"The Head of the Company Pheonix has arrived." One of the palace attendents announced. The huge door of the state Council opened. Everyone held their breath.

For everyones surprise the Princess appeared. Dressed in gold robes shining bright like the sun she majestically walked in and bowed to the emporer. Though everyones hopes dropped because of not seeing the head of the pheonix the princess's beauty and mesmorizing appearance enchanted everyone. A gold pheonix was embroided at theback of the robe brushing along the floor as her long hair was tied as a bun behind her head elegant and smart with a small hair pin of a pheonix supported it behind.I couldnt help letting my lips gap enchanted by her beauty.

"Princess Huwanuwei! Sister, I really appreciate your presence but we were expecting the head of the Pheonix!"

As The annoyed emporer spoke princess looked in surprise at the Empress.

Smilling back at her the empress stood up taking everyones attention.

"Everyone let me introduce The Head of the Pheonix!"

She nodded at the princess. Everone shocked started to chatter. The empress spoke again.

"It might be surprising you all, but our Princess Huwanuwei has come a long journey in her life without her family and here she stands as the Head of the Company Pheonix. She has always helped us in the mission of the fake accounts matter but now she will also sponsor us and we should be grateful for her and proud of her!"

Everyone came to realization. No one knew about her past. The respect towards the empress and the gratitude shown to the princess because of the war they believed the words.

Princess stood in the middle calm and respectful as ever listening attentively to each and every word discussed at the council.

So thats how she got the records....so thats what she said that shes not ready to reveal yet....or are there more...

I agree that im intrested on her but she is still too puzzling....when shall i know about her?....

So she again was summoned to the mission by the emporer...

Princess:

I stepped out of the state Council. All i wanted was to run away from this place escaping everyones questions....i cant blame them though...

So as an old promise given i went to the crown prince and accompanied him.

"Princess Huwanuwei! " my brother's voice barked from behind as i was teaching the Crown Prince about some herbs.

"Now when will you tell me everything about your history..... im your brother and im supposed to know everything about you and i had to act dumb today infront of everyone?" Replying his raged voice with more flames within me i even scared the Crown Prince.

"You are telling me to tell you what???? Is it about the life ive spent working hard without anyone and loosing things i love?????Is it easy? Looking at my mother die on my hands when i was just six years old.....left alone in the woods... starting from slaving people, pulling sacks, working to blacksmiths, carpenters and being sold out to merchants escaping from them i met the new family the Japanese royal family....i started business.....the lost Crown Prince of Japan, PRINCE HIKOYAI...the son of the family who looked after me like their own daughter....he cared me and loved me and i was incapable of returning the love he wanted which he confessed he longed for, while dying on my hands because of saving my life....I lost many of my friends all of them whom tried to support me...how shall i turn them into words.??????

All alone in the world i had to battle with everyman because of being a women.....hiding my identity because of wanting to live among the enemies.... hiding myself as a women dressed as a man.....i had to bare all the loses. Trying to take my head away from all those i looked for my biological family and was abandoned by my father or the emporer of China again telling that the rules should be obeyed.... that my innocent mother was punished for something she havent done and i was punished for something i never knew... i had to seperete from my blood family until the 15 years of my mother's punishment passed.... later he proved that my mother was innocent and took off the punishment but what use???? She is already dead and his daughter has already turned into a woman all alone..... then lying down all those feelings i came back when he was about to die cause he is my father and something behind me told that since my mother loved him i should love him too....he told me that he loves me but then again he also died while i watched him die infront of me in the midst of his family weeping without me and my mother, dressed myself as a palace maid....and you were there too...he told you that i am your sister yet you didnt lend me a hand even to cry on.... so i left again and kept busy on the only farmiliar thing called bussiness that kept me living and made me feel important or recognised at the least... now i try my best to do everything to everyone not letting them a fate like mine occure to them....and Now your questioning me rudely as if it was you had to go through the worst???? Telling that you are embarresed!!!!!! Now are you happy that i told you my life story????? By the way i told all these to the empress an did think that she must have told you some5hing about today..... may be you were not in good health to listen everything....but now you are fine and here you know!!" His face looked pale. All his face showed was despair, saddness and regret.  He was hurt!  But i cant help it!  I couldnt stand any longer.

I finished my words.

"So if your highness allow me, let me leave!"  I bowed and left the place not waiting for his reply.

Beating the anger, saddness rolled within me. He doesnt deserve all those words. Its just that im hurt.

Then i bumped in to the person i least expected at the moment.

"Princess! Are you alright? May i escort you to your house?" The Commander asked noticing my paleness.

For some reason i just wanted to run away cause i felt like hugging and crying on him complaining about my feelings. But though i have accepted him as a good trusted friend in my heart he havent given a space in his heart like that for me.

So i couldnt. That thought made me feel sorry for myself but in contrast my words shooted him with rage.

"Now what do you want to know about my past? You always try to dig them out on the way....and why did you have to check on me everynight at my cottage if you havent accepted me as a friend????is it all about your duty.???" I brushed the tear away crawling down my cheek. I want to take all the words i split on him right now.

"Im sorry princess!" He said truelly and bowed.

"I didnt mean to upset you..... true i cant call you by your name...true its my duty to protect the royal family...im sorry for not being more than that! But you may trust me just as i do.....its true that i was curious about your past but that doesnt affect the trust and respect i hold upon you Princess!" He said still with his head lowered with flow, hurt and truthfully. What are you doing Huwanuwei? You hurt your brother and now you are just screaming at a innocent loyal dutyful person.

I sighed.

"Im sorry Commander! For all the screamings its just that i had a rather stressful sensitive converstion with my brother! He loves me and is worried about me...but i also have reasons to shout at him.... im unfair on him but....i dont know ill have to say sorry to him..may be a little later...." he looked into my eyes with sympathy.

They were pitch black matching the strips of brown hair sided to the right covering part of his forhead. The gaze was held. My heart raced little by little. Am i getting feelings for him? Stop it...its just....he is a good friend.....

I broke the gaze uncomfortably.

"If you dont mind i would like to be alone for awhile. Im fine! Dont worry!"

"If thats your need princess!" He bowed.

"And if theres information you want more from my company now you are free to get. Ill inform them about you. Anything needed will be supplied by the main office in the Capitol. Ill work on it too." I said remembering my job.

"Thankyou princess!"

"Please do not thank me.....by the way you are not the onlyone having DUTIES!" i mocked trying to change the serious mood. After a long time he smiled truelly actually enchanting me. I last saw that at the war pits when having a breakfast with him.

"Of course princess!" He kept with his handsome smile.

Commander:

Its nice to see you angry, sad and all..... and you are the most beautiful when happy. Princess Huwanuwei!!!!!! I wish that i could take all your worries.

So a new day arrived. I thought of first visiting the main Office of the Pheonix. I entered and revealed who i am and asked for their records as the princess told me. An old man took me to a small room which looked more like an Office and i was offered a seat. I noticed a painting of a group of young people on the wall and obviously i recognised the princess easily, in male clothes, younger and more childish in the centre of the group should be around 13 years old sweet and energetic,while the others were about 15 to 17 years of age. And right at the left corner stood Chegseng for sure.were they friends that long??There were five other men and another woman other than the princess covering her face with a cloth embroided with flowers. The old man behind me spoke.

"Sir, Madam Huwanuwei has asked me to provide me anything you want. So here are the company records of 3 months before." He handed me a whole pile of books.

"Thank you!" I said but couldnt keep my curiosity.

"If you dont mind can you explain this painting. I mean i noticed Madam Huwanuwei in the middle." The old man smiled as if he is a proud father talking about his daughter.

"Madam Huwanuwei, this is how she opens this huge company.she was only 16 by that time. She has left the family adopted her because of many reasons. Poor child worked hard but had true friends for support and ...also was betrayed by few. Even before she was accompanied in business.Did you notice me at the back?" As he said i noticed another much older man behind one of the young teenagers in the picture.

I nodded.

"I was there since then helping with her business which is why im incharge of this head Office."

He continued. This man is so attached to her it seems.

"The girl with her is my daughter. I used to be an well known a kind of wealthy master  but after a fire at my household i was bankrupted. Madam Huwanuwei saved my daughter from the fire. Even then she was a good nurse and treated even my daughter's burns. She treated high class people for a high payment and the poor villagers around without money. And that made people around love her,trust her and take care of her. No one could hurt her.By that time she has started a salt business and lived like a man. She only was in women's robes when she went to treat people still with a silk mask. That time night markets where you can earn the best prices werent safe for a woman so she had to dress as a male. The boys around her were her friends. Three of them even fell in love with her and even faught with each other. But with time they realised what she needed were friends. So they got around her business. In the way i could,  to show my gratitude for saving my kid i helped her as i could and later she did more to me. Starting from salt she then worked under a blacksmith to learn that art ,she was already good at pottery while doing the business. She grew with talent. She made money by herself through those. Also she was really good at dealing with costumers. I helped her with her accounts. Her friends then learned different skills under her and all of them managed to take in students and train them. We started to earn alot giving more job opputunities. Specially the work of our young Madam, swords and valuable porcelain pots got attention even from the high class families. With time when she was about 17 they opened a huge store exibiting their work. Even foreign merchants purchased for huge prices.First she used to sell the items according to their social status and life style. The way she talked with the customers and the way she convinced them mesmorized everyone. no customer could resist her work."

Of course i saw it at the war. The way she spoke to my men, its just too heart striking!!!!!

The old man continued.

" As the Company developed she displayed fixed prices which is also fair where no one again can resist. However  This group of friends became young lads disgusted by the senior merchants who were afraid of their development. So in the mean time one of the lads were poisoned by thoughts of greed by them. He stole all the money which he was incharge of destroyed the whole store. He has planned to have a job under some other merchant. The young lads burned in fury as they got to know the kid at the right corner Chengseng, their colleague had done all of that. They even planned an attack on him. But for my surprise Little Madam didnt. She forgave the boy saying that she hasnt built trust on him, she hasnt being a good friend and it was her fault. Surprised by her statement with shame the boy Chengseng surrended and became the most important member of the team. They became best friends with time.He took incharge of all the security of all the stores we opened all over asia within few years. He trained hard and made an army. And most of the men volunteered as mostly were people who were being helped immensly by our young madam and the other lads.

You should understand what a power she has in the silkroad by now just only within five years because of their unbending friendship and hard work." I nodded as i remembered the army Chengseng bought up for the princess at the war.

"Now these friend live apart with their own families around the world enhancing the business. Once a year they get together somewhere in the silk road with their families. And about her true identity only these lads and i used to know. Her biological blood and  adupted blood. My daughter passed away few months before at sea with her family. Now instead of her im running this place." The man sighed.

"Im sorry about your daughter," i said feeling his grief.

"Now i want my little Madam to have a happy life with her true family. Now she will be twenty one this year and it is high time for her own.! However who ever that man who takes her hand will be the luckiest fiance in the world!" No man can resist of being fatherly to the princess was sure to me. Who will be the luckiest???? Ming Zeng do not light up impossible dreams!!!

I thanked him back again and exited the place. So that was the story of the great merchant Huwanuwei.

Princess Huwanuwei, you have gone through a lot!!! You are just too wonderful.