[9] Sparrow’s words

With meticulous focus, Han-Yan tinkered with the jewellery on her desk.

The door bell rang, caused Han-Yan to drop her tweezers at once.

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" came a familiar voice, from one of the hooded figures.

"You scared me there my prince." Han-Yan stood up from her desk.

"How is the info gathering coming along?" Wang-Yi unveiled his hood.

The other hooded unveiled as well, revealing to herself to be Shu-Wen.

"I have obtained vital information for most of the people on the list." Han-Yan answered.

"But who's the exception?" The prince asked.

"Jin-Fu-Gui. His tracks are too well hidden. Only Li-Xing knows about his secret dealings…"

"Still, good work. Now do you have their information written down?"

"Yes my prince." Han-Yan disappeared under her desk for a moment. There was a click then she placed a box on the desk and rose from her desk again.

She then opened her box, inside was a bunch of rolled up paper with a sparrow icon wax seal on it.

The prince picked one of them up, broke the seal and read it:

"Wu-Hou-Men has been freeloading off the city guard, promoting people based on bribes, and human trafficking from the refugees of the Yangtze river flood 4 years ago." The prince passed the paper to Shu-Wen, who then carefully placed it in her shoulder pouch.

"I will be take the rest of those info as well. Shu-Wen, could you please help me put the rest of the papers in the bag? Thank you."

"Yes my prince!" Shu-Wen said gladly, as she walked forward to the desk and began to stuff the rest of the paper into her pouch.

"By the way, when will my new sword arrive?" The prince asked.

"Another month at soonest my prince. He's still working on it." Han-Yan answered.

"Very well, tell him to take his time. And I appreciate him working on it."

"Yes my prince."

"We'll be retreating from now. Take care Han-Yan." The prince lifted his hood again.

"Take care as well, my prince." Han-Yan bowed.

***

The same Chinese lamp hung above their heads, casting a dim yellow light throughout the room.

Lin-Lin and Shi-Er-Wa giggled about something, but as soon as they saw the prince walk in, both of them stood up at once.

"Welcome back my prince!" Shi-Er-Wa bowed.

"You may be seated." The prince stepped inside the room, with Shu-Wen following behind him.

"Ah! If my prince is going to hold a private meeting, your servant shall leave you be at once!" Shi-Er-Wa quickly shifted to exit.

"No need, I want you to stay."

"B-But…"

"Stay." The prince's word was final.

"Yes my prince!" Shi-Er-Wa bowed again, then quickly scrambled to clean up the table.

"Where is Ye-Li?" The prince asked Lin-Lin.

"She's still at her work place, working overtime."

"I see." The prince sat across from her, with Shu-Wen sitting at his side.

"So what should we do now, my prince?" Lin-Lin asked.

"3 more of my people will come tomorrow. I will be hosting a tea party at Cha-Lou in the afternoon." The prince said.

"Who are they, my prince?" Shu-Wen asked.

"You'll find out when I get back." The prince said with a smirk. "I want you to come with me tomorrow, Shi-Er-Wa."

"M-Me!?" Shi-Er-Wa nearly dropped her plates.

"Yes. As for you Lin-Lin, I want you to deliver this scroll to the courier station at first light tomorrow." The prince handed Lin-Lin a scroll, which the later received.

"Understood my prince." Lin-Lin answered.