1.28 AuYeung Lai San - Going Out

A couple days later everything in the manor was running smoothly, only about a third of the staff had decided to stay at home with their families.

It was getting closer to the day of the Emperor's birthday celebration. Outside the walls of the manor, everyone in the city was busy. Restaurants were coming up with new dishes in honor of the occasion. Vegetable and meat vendors were shipping many of their materials into the Palace in preparation of the celebration. Popular seamstresses had been busy for months preparing all the orders they received from noble families, Jewelry vendors were selling their goods with glee. Even the flower hawkers find themselves running out of flowers each day, as families decorate their homes in brilliant colors.

But in our manor, it was the opposite. Wives worried for their husbands as they leave each day to attend court, spent each morning praying to the ancestors that they will return home safely. Children sensing something was wrong, dutifully studied quietly within their courtyards. The staff were busy covering for those that were not staying in the manor, but still the normal chatter and gossip was no longer there. They performed their duties quietly and solemnly.

As I visited my grandmother for the morning greeting, she had a task for me.

"Good morning grandma." I said as I bowed in a greeting.

"Come child, I have a task that I have to ask you to complete for me. I need you to go out with me to the goldsmith. I had put in an order for the present for the Emperor and also had left a few pieces for him to fix as well."

"But dad has specifically said for everyone to remain at home." I protested.

"Well he is not home now and I made an appointment for today. The old goldsmith had already retired but he is doing this for me as a favor," grandma said.

"But if father finds out that we went out, he would be very mad," I seriously said.

"Well I am his mother, what is he going to do to me. Punish me?" she said indignantly.

I chuckled and thought that it was true, what could my dad do. "Okay, are you ready to go?" I asked.

My grandma nodded.

"Jo-yi, go order the servants to prepare a sedan chair for grandma," I ordered.

"Won't you take a carriage, Miss?"

"No, it is so busy and crowded outside, it would be very inconvenient to take a carriage." I replied.

"Then Miss, will you need a sedan chair as well?"

"No, I am tired of sitting at home all day. It would be great to go out to stretch my legs."

"Okay." Jo-yi turned and left.

I slowly helped my grandma up and walked slowly to the front gate. When we arrived, the guards looked very hesitant to let us leave but seeing the old madam leading the way, they had no choice but to open the gate.

"Old Madam, would you at least bring a few guards with you?" the housekeeper asked.

"No, I will be fine. What stupid assassins would try kill a old woman that is already one foot in the grave." my grandma said.

"Grandma, don't say such ominous words." As I held her to help her onto the chair.

"Okay, okay. It is just words." She said as she adjusted herself in the seat.

After she was seated, I asked, "Grandma, where exactly are we going?"

"Oh yes, go to OnPo Street."

I ordered the servants that were carrying the chair to start heading towards the main street.

While we were walking, I asked, "Grandman, I don't remember a Jewelry store on OnPo Street.

"It is not a store, as I mentioned, he was already retired. We are going to his house," she said.

I walked quietly next to the sedan chair after that. OnPo street was not one of the bigger streets but more of a small alleyway at the edge of town. We walked by a few street stalls and I was craving some sticky buns, so I asked Jo-yi to buy some at the stall ahead of us while grandma and I continued slowly down the path.

Jo-yi was just paying for the buns when a child bumped into her and she dropped her drawstring purse and some silver nuggets spilled out. She gathered everything from the ground and paid the vendor just as we were approaching.

She happily turned to me and said, "Miss here you go." as she handed me a bun. Then she opened the curtain to grandma's chair and asked if she wanted one. Grandma refused and told her to help herself, which she did.

Jo-yi has been with me since I could remember and all my family treat her very well. She is like my sister.

We happily chatted while walking down the streets, along the way admiring the new and interesting items that were created and displayed in honor of the Emperor's birthday.

We turned down the street to a small quiet alleyway. I sensed that there was someone following us, so I turned to look but there was no one there. We kept walking closer to our destination. Suddenly from the rooftop three men jumped down and blocked our path.

They brandished their swords and the one in the middle said, "Put down your money pouches and no one gets hurt."

The servants carrying the sedan placed it down and rumbled through their clothes for their money pouches. They threw them down near the robber's feet.

Grandma opened the curtain, got off the chair and walked a few steps forward. I walked in front of her, shielding her and Jo-yi as much as I could.

The robbers then pointed their swords at me and said, "Now it is your turn, it would be bad to scar that pretty face of yours."

Jo-yi jumped in front of me and said, "Don't hurt my Miss, you hooligan"

The robber got angry and walked up and slapped her. "Stop talking and just hand over your money pouches."

At that, I got angry and I pulled out the little knife that I had hidden in my boot. "How dare you hit her?" I lunged at the offender and was able to stab his shoulder. He stumbled back as I pulled out my knife. He tripped and fell to the floor then ordered, "Get her!"

The other two men rushed towards me with their swords. I fought with both of them using the skills that my master had taught me. I had torn the curtain and used it to defend. During the dodging and twisting, I was able to bind the arms of the robbers and disabled them for a moment. But I was not strong enough to hold them, one was able to use his sword to tear the fabric to get free. He rushed towards grandma, picking up his sword along the way. He soon held her hostage, "Let him go or this old hag will die today."

I had no choice but to let him go.

As soon as I let the tension of the fabric go, he turned and slapped me, "Bitch!"

I held my face and glared at him.

He then walked away to pick up his sword, once he had it again in his hand, he pointed it towards me. "Good at fighting huh, why aren't you fighting now," he taunted.

He then used the handle of his sword to punch me in the stomach.

I toppled over from having the air knocked out of me. As I kneeled on the ground, I heard footsteps approaching.

Very quickly there was clanging from swords and I saw the robber that I had stabbed in the shoulder running away. Soldiers were chasing him. "Stop, stop right there," as they ran by.

Jo-yi ran up next to me and squatted by my side. She was out of breath, she looked at me and helped me up. "I ran out to the main street to find help. Thank goodness, the soldiers were patrolling the streets just now."

"That is very good thinking," I praised her.

As soon as I was stable, I rushed over to grandma who was assisted by the servants to sit down again on the sedan chair.

"Grandma, are you okay?"

"Don't worry, I was not hurt." As she lifted a hand to touch my face. "Oh dear, does it hurt."

"Don't worry, I can take it." I smiled at her. "But we really should hurry and finish our errand and head on back. Dad will worry."

The soldiers were able to catch the robber and were escorting him back towards us.

A soldier addressed my grandma, "Madam, we will bring the perpetrators to jail, first. Do you need an escort home?"

"We came out to run an errand, and have not finished. We will not take more of your time. Thank you for your assistance," grandma replied.

"Okay madam, please be careful on your way," the soldier said as he bowed and ordered the team to return to the Magistrate building.

"Grandma, let's go. It should be just up ahead." As I led the way.

After a short walk we were at the goldsmith's house. It was a very nice four courtyard house. There were youngsters playing and some young apprentices working on their arts.

We walked in and were greeted by an older woman. We explained that we had an appointment with the goldsmith. She led the way into the workshop.

It was hot and steamy, across from the boiling pot were two figures. We stood at the doorway and waited as the old woman walked in and then tapped on the shoulder of the elder gentleman.

He turned around and saw us, he gave a smile and a nod. Then the other person turned around as well.

It was General Szeto.