8 Market

"To be honest I wanted to bribe some maids to our side so it will be convenient for us." Han Lian Ai smirked, her eyes glinted. "But, to have you help me change like this is for the next six months is not bad at all."

"You are asking for a beating, Hui Lei!" Veins popped on Wu Xia's head.

Both Han Lian Ai and Han Wu Xia wore clothes that looked like noble clothing but not luxurious enough to be worn by First Princess and Crown Prince for the sake of disguising. They were inside a black carriage that was pulled by two strong red-hare horses. The carriage could accommodate four people so they had a lot of space inside.

"Okay, okay, little buddy." Said Han Lian Ai jokingly. "Anyway, who is that?"

Han Lian Ai glanced at the small window inside the red couched carriage. Han Wu Xia and Han Lian Ai were sitting facing each other and The window was on top of Han Wu Xia's head.

Han Lian Ai could see the back of the driver from the small window. Han Wu Xia told Han Lian Ai that they could trust this man,

"Ah, he is Ni Wen, our personal guard." Han Wu Xia said in a low voice. He was making sure that Ni Wen did not hear their conversation. It would be complicated if anyone else knew about Hui Lei.

"Hoo... our personal guard, huh?" Hui Lei raised an eyebrow. She felt unease. "If he is our personal guard... Where was he when the fire happened? Wasn't he supposed to protect you and Lady Tian?"

"When the fire happened, most of our guard were in the north." Han Wu Xia said. "They were assisting the Wei Province to go against the northern Empire of Zhao. Some of them haven't returned."

Han Lian Ai eyes widened. She was sick for two months or so, so she did not hear all of the rumors going on.

"What did you say?" Han Lian Ai gasped.

Han Wu Xia jolted when Han Lian Ai suddenly gripped his shoulders. "Ouch! Oi, calm down Hui Lei, your voice is too loud!"

"Why did the Crown Prince and First Princess's personal guard go away from the palace and leave them unguarded? Are you all out of your mind?" Hui Lei whispered.

"It was Royal Mother's idea."

"Huh?!"

"Mother heard that Wei Province lost many formidable soldiers because of the prolonged war, so..."

"Holy! How did the Emperor react?"

"At first, father was strongly against it. But, Mother insisted on helping the Wei Province. She said that we could not let the northern border get breached.

"..."

"The condition was dire and the northern gate that separated Wei Province with Zhao almost fell. Mother's guards are former soldiers, they sent them with the reinforcement from the capital."

"..." Han Lian Ai's heart ached. She finally saw the bigger picture. Han Lian Ai let him go out of her tight grip and fell to her seat. "So that's what happened. It seems like Lady Tian exchanged her family's life and well being for the country, again.

Han Lian Ai looked at her hand.

Before was the future of her own daughter, then her family's life, Lady Tian…

Han Lian Ai frowned her brows and clenched her fist. She placed both her fists on her thighs, looking dark and gloom.

Han Wu Xia pondered. He secretly cast a glance at Han Lian Ai and studied her. He thought that Hui Lei was a bizarre person. Hui Lei was not just cunning, he was swift and seemed nice too. Although Hui Lei was a grown-up man, he was a bit childish sometimes.

He totally believed that this man was a solemn and calm strategist before he revealed his real identity.

Han Wu Xia shook his head.

Hui Lei...

The name was not unfamiliar to Han Wu Xia. He had heard the name Hui Lei before from his mother. She said that she found Hui Lei and took him in years ago before Han Wu Xia was born.

Hmm... the Empire of Shen's strategist, eh?

Han Wu Xia could hear noises from the outside. He lifted the drape on his left a bit and figured that they had arrived at the market. The bright light that came in from the window shone on his face and made him squint his eyes.

Han Lian Ai also looked pass the drape and landed her eyes on the street's shops that filled every corner of the street.

"So this is the famous night market of Wǎn Qīngsōng* street? They said that Han Xu is a city that never sleeps, I understand what that means now."

Han Wu Xia looked to the side and saw the smile on Han Lian Ai's face. She only raised one corner of her mouth so Han Wu Xia could not say that it was a charming smile. But, she looked happy so...

The two of them were not steady on their seat when, suddenly, their carriage stopped. Han Lian Ai staggered and fell towards Han Wu Xia. "Agh!" Han Lian Ai landed on top of Han Wu Xia. Their head collided and she felt sore. "Damn, that hurt a lot..." Han Lian Ai cursed.

"What happened?" Han Wu Xia helped Han Lian Ai get back to his seat. "Why did we stop?"

"Ni Wen, what happened?" Han Wu Xia still felt sore.

"I am sorry, Young Master, someone is being beaten in the middle of the street. Should I go ahead and check?"

"Someone is being beaten?" Han Lian Ai frowned. "Take a detour around them."

"..." Wu Xia felt bad. He knew that they could not waste their time since the boutique might close up soon. Moreover, they could not risk their identity being exposed. Han Wu Xia clenched his fist. He looked to the side. From the outside, he could hear people talking.

"Hey look! Someone is being beaten! It is those rogues from the Heaven Restaurant again."

"What?! Those people from the Heaven Restaurant should stop being arrogant Just because they have Concubine Fu's backing! They turned this market into a mess, ah!"

"It is a boy! They are beating a kid, ah! Someone stop them!"

Yet, no one stepped forward, no one dared to the middle with one of the Concubine's people.

"Gasp!" The word 'beating a kid' made Han Wu Xia's blood boil. After he got his straw hat that had a veil-like cover his face. Han Wu Xia turned to the door, opened it, and jumped out. Han Lian Ai's eyes widened.

"Xia! What are you doing? Hey, come back!"

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The story will be updated every Sunday or Monday at 6 pm PST.

Translation:

晚 [wǎn] = Evening

轻松 [qīng sōng] = Light