7 The Kind Miss

The morning was so busy. My friends which came for help were busy with packing things.

"Brother Chan! Thankyou for everything! Ill pay you as i return."

"Now my sister should  not pay anything cause this brother wants to do something good too once in a while and let me keep that pleasure" saying so he looked at the rice stocks he had brought along with his men in two huge carriages.

"You are the kindest person in the world" i bowed and smiled at him.

He smiled back at me. Beyonsu and his friends were packing the herbs into my carriage which were the harvest from my garden.

"Beyonsu be careful with that last package!we have only little!" I said as calm as possible pointing at the pack enveloped with straws right behind him.

"Dont worry jiejie!" He then continued.

"Huwanuwei sister! Goodmorning!" Bojan shouted behind the Commander who was in civilian clothes.

this stupid commander followed me last night! Now he acts  bigheaded even making Bojan uncomfortable. Cant he be like a friend? Now if possible ,ruining more things ,call me princess!

"Greetings....." the commander paused at his words.

"Thank you for coming MING ZENG!" I shot the words at him and continued to help others on packing.

"Check whos here!" Bojan said pointing at the three girls ignoring my temper over the Commander.

"Good morning!nice to see you all! Was it Bojan who bothered you three!" I greeted Aira and her sisters the three young ladies rescued at the enemy base.

"We heard about the event but it was through him we got to know that the kind miss Huwanuwei is ....Huwanuwei." the youngest Prompted as usual but minding to conceal my identity as the princess.how smart she is!

"Its a great pleasure to help you miss Huwanuwei!" Aira said.

"Thank you for coming and helping me as  friends."

Commander:

I kept on analyzing what she is taking. Bojan told me early morning that she is going to do something with the orphans so i brought some men along with me and some books.

"Ming Zeng! Its better if you can help us with packing without standing there like a rock!"

Everyone could feel her mocking expression under the silk cloth covering beneath her dazzling eyes. How can she embarrase me infront of a crowd?

So not letting her do it more i looked for Bojan and helped him with few.

"Sister Huwanuwei! is Ming Zeng a cousin of your's? He looks like your uncle!" As Chan asked so i wandered what she is going to say.

"Noway he's not my cousine and ill tell you about Ming Zeng ànd uncle later. Do not try to peep into information! And I have more things to tell you about me too."

"Alright! Then lets go!" He didnt look dissapointed but excited and curious.

So we left towards our destination with all the dry food,rice, herbs, medical equipments, my books, and some other bowls and stuff.

The view was different than expected. There were three huge newly built buildings .one is still on construction but the others were filled with people dressed in rags most of them suffering from hunger. The children were seperately under a small hut covered from the sides.

As we arrived every innocent person stood up as one of the kids shouted,

"The kind Miss has arrived!"

So everyone started to crowd infront of us.

"Please be calm, we have enough food and treatments for you'll Thanks to all of these people right behind me."

They all bowed greatfully.

"Now please get seated where ever you can while the food gets prepared. Meanwhile please be honest and lineup the wives or a family member's of the lost sodiers's unable to supply your family so that Brother Chan will take your information. Lineup near the constructions and please respect others and please be honest!" The crowed then splitted and brother Chan was followed by half of it.

"Aira, take incharge of the cooking! Bojan get her a count as soon as possible." They nodded and went away with the rice cart.

Then a group of men and women all in light blue outfits which looked like unforms came towards her.

"Good morning teacher!" They all bowed.

"Good morning! Thank you for taking part even without being paid."

"Its you who taught us the purpose of learning medicine, so we should obviously help the ones who need our help and apart from that you taught these poor friends of your's all the things you know free of charge and now we are having good lives. So we should act greatful for our teacher!" One of the men whom i now recognize as doctors.

"Thank you! But everyone cant continue with this, so some doctors will come under payments so you'll can go to your jobs at the palace and the government hospital as usual. And more teenagers will have the opputunity to learn here."

"So is the new building for us and the new students?" One of the nurses asked.

"Your correct! Now everyone split and first treat the severe! And carry the herbs and medical equipments to the left part of the new building and make sure that they are covered." They bowed and scattered.

The princess took her medical box from the carriage and started to walk towards the children's tent.

"Princess, let me help with something!" I requested.

"Commander! If possible help the men take the books to where the herbs are kept and cover them after that you might be able to help me give the medicine to the kids.

Obeying her i did as she said and even helped Bojan to serve the simple porridge which was already being cooked to the starving ones. Then i haurried towards the princess was.

All the children were seated around her listening to her story while eating the porridge. I noticed the bowls of medicine right next to the first bed at the entrance of the tent.

"Hey you little fox!" Princess said mockingly.A child smiled noticing that it was said to him.

"You finish the whole bowl or I shall stop telling the rest of the story for everyone." All the kids turned to him. Then he quickly grabbed the porridge lying by his side and gullped the whole thing. One of the kids were on her lap. She was about 2 years old and had innocent eyes just like the one whos carrying her. She seemed to be enchanted by the princess cause she kept on looking at her eyes making the princess look into hers time to time.

"Then the hungry fox badly wanted to eat something tried to get the hanging grape bunch jumping as high as possible..." she continued with the story acting it with her face. Not only the kids even I who have being standing at the entrance for couple of minutes at the entrance of the tent enjoyed the well known folk tale a lot. It was never intresting like this before. Her eyes danced and acted with each and every word.

As soon as she finished she noticed me stairing. Then retracting her gaze she patted the boy next to her,

"So everyone share the beds we have here and take a sit cause the Commander here is going to help me on making you'll drink the medicines." All the kids turned to me like magic.

"Are you the Commander?the real great military Commander back from the war???" They all questioned. I felt a bit embarrased by their praises infront of the princess.

"Now everyone keep it a secret cause no one knows! Can youll?"

All were delighted with the new secret." Yes"they allshouted neglecting their weak bodies.

"Now everyone should drink or their maybe punishments."

"Commander, take the medicine and give them. if they reject make sure they dont!" She warned the kids. I couldnt stop smilling at her childish expressions.

"Yes princess!" I bowed.

"Wait ! PRINCESS????" one of the kids voiced. All of them then turned to her.

"So are you the Princess Huwanunuwei the elders are talking about!the mighty women at the war with that great power and intelligence as my old papa says??"a girl asked as if describing her hero.

"May be... but Can I trust you all on that secret?"

"Yes you can"one of the boys shouted.

"But i have questions. I mean a lot!" The girl said and jumped with pleasure.

"Commander and i will both answer you ll while youll drink everything in the bowls! Now be quite or someone might here us." She said and everyone held their finger on their lips.

"Do you mean someone like me!" I didnt notice Chan behind me. Even the princess was surprised.

"Now i get things! I was worried when you were not there to be seen during the final battles!" Chang asked with his lips curved upwards.

"Are you angry about it? I just didnt want to bother any one i mean i liked to ...."

"Continue your life freely!" He completed her sentence.

She nodded and smiled.

"This brother of you understands you!" He hugged her.

So they are truelly like siblings..... i dont know why but i was happy to know they are like siblings not lovers....

Princess:

"Now you two make them drink these!"

Then for my surprise all the kids drank them without hesitation but asking so many questions.

I saw something new too. The Commander! The kids loved him a lot. They troubled him with so many questions but he continued answering kindly....

Hours passed and the commander bought me a lunch.Chan, Bojan,Aira and her sisters and the Commander, we all sat on the ground following me in the middle of the kids tent to have our lunch.

Commander:

Though she was hungry she first fed the little girl she was carrying.

"Aira, are you sure you can take care of her?" Asking so she tickled the little girl making her laugh still hanging to her shoulders.

"I love kids and im unmarried and its nothing cause you Princess takes care of her needs, Though my sister Yuan goes for work Mei Lee is there to help me."

"Yes I am! I wanted someone to be young than me in my family so i will no longer be called the youngest and get bullied by these elder morons!" The youngest replied excitedly making us all laugh.

"Aira, if you need help im there too."Chan said looking away but anyone could see his ears getting red.Now Aira is his love i guess.

"Oh i see!" The princess said sarcastically as usual.

"Brother Chan is glad to help you!"princess mocked and patted Aira on the shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Chan tried to act innocent.

"We think that you like her?" I replied formally carelessly.

"Now what do you say?" I ignored his fake arrogance while Bojan and the two girls laughed making Aira uncomfortable. Princess kept silent understanding Aira's situation.

"Oooohhhhh! Dont worry Even Aira likes you!" The youngest girl split the secret making flowers bloom on Chan's hidious face.

"Who told you so idiot!" Aira stood up furiously embarrased because of being caught and exited the tent.

"You'll have no proof!" Chan stood up.

""Brother chan where are you going?" Princess asked innocently. She is a demon with angel's wings!

"To tell sorry for my stupid sister Huwanuwei's words!" He then vanished out. Then everyone laughed except the youngest girl who is now carrying the child princess was carrying before.

"Should I too say sorry for Jiejie?" The girl asked the princess.

"No need. They are perfect and cute!"  "So take care of the kids. Tell her that I left cause I dont think both of them will come back soon. Theyve got lot to talk."She replied happily.Then our eyes met back again.They were dazzling with excitement.

"Uhmm!" Bojan broke our gaze clearing his throat.

"We shall leave now! Or we'll be late."

So greeting the kids and the two sisters we strolled to the village on horse ,where the sales of Bayan are done. For our mission.

So as we guessed they are upto something. Spying on them was hard but in the same manner we did at the enemy base we managed to get some ideas by dressing ourselves like stock providers. They had huge chests of gold all covered with salt. And they were not legal salt providers either.

"You both shall now leave back to the capitol cause its almost sunset and if you'll hurry you'll may be able to arrest them and might be able to get more information. So we can find how they've got the gold and some more. I'm leaving cause i have something important to do."

Now are you planning to go alone. I told you that I will come.

"Bojan will take care of that. So it's my duty to protect the sister of my emporer!" I bowed at her ignoring her frown.

"Listen Commander! Surelly the emporer or my brother hasnt ordered you to protect me and i can take care of myself. Even yesterday you followed me back. How do you think I lived all this time all alone?????? Its true I told you to come with me but Bojan will need you or maybe it will be easier if you are there?" Now does she know that i followed her last night?

"Princess Huwanuwei! I can take care of the merchants cause i will meet the troup we brought along in the morning to help people on my way!" He bowed and rode the horse back the way we came leaving us.

"Fine!" She rolled her eyes and rode the horse so fast making her hair look like wings behind her. I followed her.

So we reached the caves where her mother or the previous empress lay.

She went in and kneeled infront of the caves and spoke calmly.

"Mother, your daughter is here to see you! Im sorry for being late that day and not knowing how to save you. But now your daughter is a good doctor so now i can save many! Thank you for your flute and im trying some notes on it these days! And thank you for saving my life!" She said smiling and closed her eyes. Then suddenly her face clouded an dshe stumbled back.

Then i got hold of her.

"Princess are you alright!" The cave was too dark cause it was nearly midnight.

She opened her eyes and stood up and stepped out of the cave panicked. I followed her. She then sat under a tree infront of the cave supporting herself at the tree trunk.

"Commander! Im going to do something! I want you to stay quite and you should not at all fear about me. Do not move me from where i am cause if so something bad might happen to me. Dont worry bout me. So please give me sometime. Do you get it?" She asked me Seriously. Ive never seen her this serious before.

"Yes princess !"i replied still confused.

Then she closed her eyes like she is meditating. Her breath grew quiter. She looked like a statue.

Few minutes passed making me worried. Then suddenly she took her hands to her neck and started to struggle. I hurried closed to her and kneeled.

"Princess!!" I shouted but didnt mobe her. Then she opened her eyes and took in deep breaths.

"Im fine!!!" She stammered.

"But what happened?" Then she looked inside the cave. Her eyes were filled with fear.

"Ill tell you on our way back home." So we took our horses back and on the way she spoke.

"Commander, do you believe in ghosts?" She asked. Obviously i never believed in them.

"No, princess!" I replied. But now im getting curious on what she is going to say.

"So what im going to say might sound crazy or stupid to you!"she said. Now i feel crazy.

"At the cave i saw my mother!"

"What do you mean princess?" Now im worried about her.

"Tell me first whether you believe that meditating can improve a persons mind and intelligence?"

"Yes princess, even i meditate to calm myself and take good decisions."

"So in the same manner i used to meditate a lot and found out that this mind can leave our body even without dying!"

"I have thought of that too but it sounds impossible!" As i expressed my surprise she nodded.

"I thought the same until i did it. I used it as a method to relax. But that world is different from what we see. We see more than what we see by our eyes." Its intresting.

"So what do you think will happen to our souls or our mind when we die?"

"I dont know but the people and religions say  we go to hell or heaven!"

"Commander i never believed in ghosts. Even they existed i didnt care until i had to believe!"

"So do you mean that in the world youve discovered you saw the dead?"

She nodded.

"And today i saw my mother as a polterguist in the cave and she tried to hurt me!" She said calmly.

Things sounded crazy but they sounded too possible.

"But even if all this is true will your mother hurt you?" I asked cause mothers love their children a lot and even i believed that my mother is looking at me from heaven.

"My mother, was a kind, intelligent and a respectable women. But the moment she was dying she was hating the people who did this to her. She wanted revenge. She wanted father to love her. She wanted me to be by her side. Her thoughts were not pure and thats her fate. She is no longer my kind lovable mother. Now all i can do for her is do good deeds and help her to get away from how she is now."

"But how can it help her?"

"About that even i dont know! Some priests said so and i read in books. They sensed but its too complicated. But i have tried it before cause i started to see lot more horrible things before and it worked. I just wished for them."

"But it might be dangerous!"

"True. Some even has lost their lives because of trying things. But there something i believe in my heart!"

"May i know it what princess?"i couldnt hold my curiosity.

"I believe that if you are clean in yourself if you are true to your self and if you are confident on your self nothing evil can hurt you! Its all up to yourself you cant blame anyone else either. Not in the world unseen even in the world we see my belief made me strong and secured." She ended.

"I m happy for you princess!" She turned to me and smiled.

"Thank you for being with me today cause when i felt fear at first sight of my mother today it was you who made me feel safe, Ming Zeng!"

"Please be safe princess!" I hid my happiness and bowed respectfully.

"Commander, there are some records ive got from some merchants at home. Lets go through them too."

"Now?"

"Yes at my cottage!"

"So it will benefit in the questioning tommorrow evening of the salt providers Bojan must have already caught."

So im finally allowed in to her cottage?

Then she rode her black stallion fast and in few minutes we reached the street which lead to her home. But instead of going on it she turned into a smaller path and reached a small house. There was no light in it. She then got down from the horse and peeped inside the house from its creeking window. Then she turned to me and gestured me to remain quite. She then lighted the firplace at the back of the house which was surely there for cooking. She then took out a small package from under her sleeve of her dress and cooked it while letting a seat she took from the house dry by the fire. Then in few minutes she dismissed the fire and closed the pot with a lid which she cooked what she brought. She then on tiptoe went inside the house with the sheet. I reached the window and looked inside. An old women was sleeping inside. She took away the cold sheet which the woman was covering herself with and placed the warm sheet she brought along with her and made sure she feels warm. Then she took out a pouch from her sleeve and kept it on the ground next to her which looked like has coins within. Then she came out of the room with a huge smilling and even like she's forgotten me she rode back her horse. All i could do was follow her.

"May I know who she is princess?" I asked her while ascending the path to her cottage on foot.

"Her only son died at the war and she is too old and sick to earn. So Beyonsu looks after her when he can or else i go to her." She spoke and entered from the door. I followed her in. It was pitch black inside.

"Commander, close your eyes cause I want ro boast about my skills!" Im sure she said it with a huge smile on her face even i couldnt see anything.

"Alright!" I closed my eyes. Then she took hold of my hand dragged me more inside. Then she lit the candles cause i felt the warmth.

"Now look!"as i did i was infront of a huge sword and bow collection. The weapons were gleeming from the candle light furiously. They were really good work.

"So are you princess a weapon collector. All of these are so valuable. They have different designs which tells me that you have got these from different countries." She smiled sarcastically.

"Now let me boast sir! All of these are my work!" She then opened a smaller door."see! This is where i work and can you see the pots over there! I made all of those too!" She smiled. I could only blink at the impossible designs of dragons and nature on all the porcelain pots.

"Come with me." She then dragged me to another door.

"Now commander, this is my bed room. Slide the door!" Ilooked at her cause i dont know whether i should do this.

But her excited childish eyes which looked at me full of hopes made me slide the door.

As i did candles flickered automatically inside the room. That wasnt the surprise. The four walls were painted beautifully. All looked like true. The wall right infront of us was a beautifull river bay of the summer time with all the colourful blossoms. The rest of the walls represented the other seasons.

"Are all these your work princess?"

"Hmm. Painting was my hobby for a time. Now come in." There was only a small table and a cushion inside the room. "Please take a seat" i sat on the cushion as she said but not sure about where she is going to sit. Then she went to the Autumn wall and she opened a closet from the wall a secret closet... Now im more than surprised. Then she took out a pile of books and layed them on the table infront of me.

"Read" she simply said closing the autumndoor and opened another closet at the winter wall and grabbed a cushion from it. Then she sat right opposite the table.

"Go on.read!" She broke my stare on her. I quickly turned the pages.

"But they are just symbols. Have they hidden the records by these."

"No they are not symbols commander. Thats greek. I didnt have enough time to translate. So now you can too help me on that. I guess they have something to do with Greece too. Or who ever has thought to write like this has started everything from Greece."

"But how shall i help with this?"

"The problem is that we cant trust anyone to translate these and for Bojan i gave him some other work. So here is the greek alphabet!"she took a paper out of the book and held it to me. I took it. The symbols were  translated to chinese.

"Since i have customers from Greece too, i managed to get that." You have customers even from greece? She replied my confusion."Just jocking! Brother Chan gave it to me. His father used to teach him many languages since he was small. Though he is not a good official he wants his son to be outstanding.Now lets start!" She smiled excitedly and took one of the books and started with the job. Then i too followed. It was hard first. But the symbols were easier to remember than the chinese letters.

As we were done im sure it was passed midnight. I then started to turn the translated pages.

"Arn t these the records of customers of the red eagle nest from different villages? Ive came across few when questioning."

"If its true, this is not going to be easy. Cause its a huge network. Even company Phoenix is having a hard time with them. Well have to arrest and question all of these people." I nodded understanding.

"Princess how do you think that the company Phoenix is the least affected by the fake account sheets?" She hesitated a bit and continued.

"The workers are trustful and most of the sales are provided by themselves. They rarely depend on others. So less transactions with other merchants and companies makes it easy. But Red Eagle nest has started to spy on the work of Phoenix and even burned one of the porcelain stores. Already some of the customers were lost for the phoenix because the customers are struggling with their debts caused by those fake accounts. So if the red eagle nest is behind this... that explains a lot..."

True...

"But may I know how you got these records princess?"

She looked concerned.

"Ive got some spies and i dont still want to reveal the rest to you commander! Sorry about that!" She said humbly.

All i could do was nod.

"Now lets try to organize these names under the Government Officers incharge of these villages!" She kept another empty book and an ink pad with a brush on the table.

"So you also think that the government Officers are encouraging them?"

"Of course. If not this couldnt have gone this bad!"

Then we started to right down. But in few minutes the princess was sleeping on top of the table.

KIND MISS is too tired of being Kind today.  I murmered remembering what the poor people used to call her at the new hospital she built. How many more mysteries are there behind you  princess????

I took a sheet from her closet and covered her.

You are the most innocent when asleep! Have sweet dreams princess!

Looking at her for one last time i tucked her fallen hair strands behind her ear and left the cottage back to my lodge as the first sunrays of a new day evoked.