Super White Lotus

Her eyes welled up in tears as she looked at her father's pitiable state. 'What could he have possibly done at that time? There were too many assassins. So many lives were lost that time.'

This reminder brought to attention the fact that the culprit has not been punished yet. She's still lavishing at her position as the Second Wife.

"Father, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself please. Who could have predicted that there were people who wanted to bring harm to us?" She held his hands tight, trying to comfort him. "Don't worry.. They will get what's due to them sooner or later.."

"Yes, father will make sure that they will be held accountable.."

"Mn! So father, just stay here for now and continue with your recovery.."

"Jia'er.. Why does it feel like you have matured so much while I was unconscious?"

She chuckled and sighed. "It's only for the better… Uncle, I will leave father to you.."

"Ah? Where are you going?"

"I have to go to the city to have a look.."

"What?! But it's dangerous! What if those people ambush you?" He tried to get up but was still too weak.

"They won't recognize me.." She then activated her illusion ring and the image of a young man was presented to him. "I will be using the name Shi Jin whenever I walk around in this. Uncle will explain it further to you. I'll go now so I can come back early too.."

"Then take your uncle with you.."

"No, father. I'm more assured if he's here with you.. I'm going with Lu Ping and Uncle has already arranged for the elite guards to follow me at a distance. I'll be safe, don't worry."

"I see. Just don't go to places that don't have a lot of people. Make sure that the guards will be able to spot you easily!"

He gave more instructions before he finally allowed Song Jia to leave.

"Let's go.." Just as she told Lu Ping, the door opened once more and Song Huo came out.

"Eh.. uh.." She almost called him Uncle. "Senior brother, why did you come out?"

"Hmm? Let me take you to the residence's entrance.." Song Huo was actually worried that Huang Dan or any of her accomplices would see Song Jia come out of the Patriarch's courtyard and start to question her.

"Oh? Then I'm grateful.." She cupped her hand and bowed.

She followed a step behind him and Lu Ping followed a step behind her.

Just when they exited the Patriarch's courtyard, what he thought actually happened.

The Second Wife, Huang Dan and her maid servant, Cao Yi were about to enter Song Xia's courtyard.

"Sister-in-law, you're here." A cordial smile plastered on Song Huo's face.

When Song Jia saw this, she almost couldn't help giving him applause. 'What an actor!'

"Brother-in-law, I'm here to visit my husband.." Her handkerchief was at the ready. "I am so worried that he's not conscious yet.."

"Don't worry. He'll wake up for sure! Sister-in-law has no need to worry."

A lone tear appeared flowing from her eye. She slowly reached to dab it dry using her handkerchief.

'Super White Lotus!!"

"How could I not worry? He's not awake yet! How can the clan function without him?"

Song Huo almost broke his pretense. He clasped his hands behind him.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. My father and I are here to handle the clan's affairs while we wait for my brother to recover."

As if she realized her mistake, her lips trembled, her hands froze. "Ah.. aha ha.. Yes, of course. We have you both to rely on. So, uh.. I see that you and your junior brother are going somewhere.. I won't hold you up then. I will just go see my husband.."

She was about to move past him but was stopped by Song Huo.

"Sister-in-law, the doctor has mentioned that there'll be no interruptions as my brother recuperates. When he wakes up, I will surely let you know first."

"Senior brother, I will be leaving first then. Do you need me to buy anything while I'm out?"

"Hmm.. I can't think of anything at the moment. I'll contact you if I remember something. Take care.. Lu Ping, serve my junior well."

"Yes, Second Master." She bowed to him.

"Alright..you both may go."

Song Jia and Lu Ping bowed to them in farewell then quickly left.

The two neither spoke to each other until they were a distance away from the residence.

"Young master, where do you wish to go?"

"Let's go wander around for now.." Before the soul merged, she rarely wandered around the city.

She took this opportunity to collect information and maybe find something useful to improve her cultivation or martial arts.

In the streets, stalls were lined up on the sides, selling various products.

The markets were managed by the Agency of Market Commandants and their staff. They registered the merchants, inspected the weights and measurements, looked for counterfeit coins, and stopped the sale of inferior products. They also had to be on the lookout for price fixing, and they had to set the prices for all the commodities. The markets were divided into sectors. Each of the sectors was divided into lanes and each lane had an entrance sign that told what the specialty was on that particular lane. In the center of the market was the office of the Market Commandant, and two additional agencies that were in charge of stabilizing the prices.

The market featured a wide assortment of fruits including pears, apricots, grapes, peaches, apples, and pomegranates. At the same time they sold nuts including walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts. Exotic meats were also sold. Camel, bear, marmot otter, pheasant, and enormous rats were among the most popular. Several species of insects were also sold. Also available on the open market was a wide variety of spices. Merchants sold fresh garlic, salt, ginger, and tangerine peel for flavoring.

There were all kinds of stores inside the market. Some sold horses, mules, cows and pigs. Slaves were kept in cages until they were sold. Merchants also sold ready made clothes, medicine, low grade silk, and iron tools such as axes. There were also fortune tellers, barbers, gold and silversmiths, breweries that produced ale, delicatessens, donkey rentals, and restaurants. The markets opened at 12 noon, and closed 1 and ¾ hours before dusk. After dark it was still possible to buy some things on the streets.

Because the market was where all of the wealthy lived, the items sold there were sometimes very exotic. This market featured products from all over the known world. Things like pheasant, turtle eggs, quail, goose eggs, sugar cane, and red oranges, and purple salt. It also continued a lavish market that sold precious metal, rugs, precious stones, and a crowd favorite, pearls.

Song Jia bought a variety of items such as fruits, nuts, spices, and clothes, some for men and some for women.

'Crystal, do me a favor and plant whatever you can using these. Will you?'

'Sure Jia! But I have to eat a few of them first to get the seeds..'

'Go ahead..'

After walking for quite some time and stopping to buy items here and there, Song Jia was now feeling hungry.

"Ping, let's go to a restaurant.."

"Yes, Young Master."

Song Jia still couldn't get used to being called 'Young Master'. But since they have to hide the fact that she's alive, she has to quickly adapt and get used to it.

From time to time, she would feel like being watched. So they could not let their guard down at all. However, she was clueless to some of the people who spotted her.

"Oh my.. I wonder from which family is that young man.. He's so handsome!"

"He is! Is he from a noble family? He carries himself with elegance!"

"He does seem like from a noble family.. My goodness.. He's like straight out of a painting.."

"Hmm.. I want to find out his name.. Girls, he'll soon marry me.."

"Yeah! Right! Ha!"

"Just watch!"

Having said that, they just watched the young man who was followed by a maid servant enter the restaurant they're in.