"Where do you live right now?," asked Uncle Zhao. "In a tavern," said LiYing. "In a tavern? You should live in my mansion. You're my assistant. So if we have to go to the imperial palace at night, it would be easier, " said Uncle Zhao.
{...I shouldn't do that but it's my job. I also don't have to pay to live in a mansion. The benefits outweigh the cons. Fine...}
"Since it's my job to be your assistant then fine, " said LiYing. "Great!, " said Uncle Zhao.
LiYing followed Uncle Zhao to the mansion.
"We are here. This is my house."
{...Is this an imperial physician's mansion? It looks like a prime minister's house...}
"You look shocked," said Uncle Zhao. "This mansion is very big, " said LiYing. "It is very big. It makes me feel lonely but we have to live here, " said Uncle Zhao. "Why do you have to?" asked LiYing. "The past emperor gave it, " said Uncle Zhao. "Oh, " said LiYing.
"Let's go in, " said Uncle Zhao.
They went in and there was no one to be seen.
"Don't you have a family?" asked LiYing. "Yeah I do. They probably are still sleeping or they went somewhere, " said Uncle Zhao. "Do you not have guards? Do you not have servants?" asked LiYing. "Some guards and some servants but they probably followed my wife and children, " said Uncle Zhao. "No wonder why you said it was lonely, " said LiYing.
{...Poor Uncle Zhao. His wife and children probably only spend his money while Uncle Zhao had to do all the work...}
"They always go out to get stuff, " said Uncle Zhao. "Are you the only one that helps this family?" asked LiYing. "Not always. My son likes to do business with people but he mostly fails, " said Uncle Zhao. "Well, now you have me to help you, " said LiYing. Uncle Zhao smiled and they went into the hall.
Uncle Zhao sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. It was cold tea. LiYing poured herself a cup of tea and she smelled it. The tea was 2 years old.
{...Are these people that lazy? They don't even change the tea! How is it 2 years old? Doesn't Uncle Zhao drink tea? I better not drink it...}
Uncle Zhao was about to drink until LiYing yelled at him. "Don't drink the tea!" yelled LiYing. "Why not?" asked Uncle Zhao. "The tea is 2 years old! It's not good for the body, " said LiYing. "It's 2 years old? How do you know?" asked Uncle Zhao. "I smelled it. The tea is very old and can harm the body." said LiYing.
"So you have some talent in tea, " said Uncle Zhao. "I guess so. But how is 2 years old? I thought when you come home you would change the tea, " said LiYing. "I don't. Even if I change the tea, they won't drink it anyway so it would just be a waste, " said Uncle Zhao.
{...They don't drink tea? Then what do they drink all day? Water? Or do they go out every day and don't go back home until night?...}
"Well if you like drinking tea, then I would make you some. It won't be a waste anymore since I also like to drink tea, " said LiYing. Uncle Zhao smiled and nodded.
"Oh yeah. I forgot to ask you. What's wrong with your face?" asked Uncle Zhao. "I have a wound on my face so I cover it up, " said LiYing. "Oh. Well, I have some cream that can heal wounds and scars. I can give you one, " said Uncle Zhao. "Thank you, " said LiYing.
Uncle Zhao went to his study room and got out with a box. "Here, " said Uncle Zhao. LiYing took it and said, "Thank you."
Uncle Zhao made LiYing analyze some herbs.
"Nettle." "Correct." "Ginseng" "Correct." "Monk fruit." "Correct." "Bai he." "Correct."
"Hoelen." "Correct." "BaiZhu." "Correct."
After 2 hours of analyzing herbs:
"Uncle Zhao? Are we going to eat?, " asked LiYing.
{...I'm mad starving bro! I need some food...}
"We are going to eat but we have to wait until they come back because they have the servants, " said Uncle Zhao.
{...Dude! They have servants so why don't you have any servants?!...}
"Can I cook? I am hungry, " said LiYing. "You can cook?" asked Uncle Zhao. LiYing nodded. "Then go cook. Cook mine too, " said Uncle Zhao. LiYing rolled her eyes and said, "Ok but I won't cook for your family members." "Why?" asked Uncle Zhao. "I work for you not them. And they have servants, " said LiYing. "Oh."
Uncle Zhao led her to the kitchen and LiYing started cooking.
After a while, LiYing was done cooking. "Let's eat!" said LiYing. They both ate and when they were done, Uncle Zhao's family still didn't come back.
"I'm so full, " said LiYing. "Me too. You cook very well, " said Uncle Zhao. "Thanks."
Uncle Zhao led LiYing to her room. Uncle Zhao left and LiYing went into her room.
"This room is so big and it's for free, " said LiYing. She lit the candle up and sat down.
{...Pretty comfortable...}
LiYing took out the cream and put some on her face.
{...The cream's so cold...}
LiYing heard some people talking.
"Oh his family are back, " said LiYing.
"We bought so much stuff!" said a girl. "Look. I bought this pair of earrings. Do you like it?" asked a woman.
{...They bought accessories. Oh my God! Why do I have the worst memory?! I forgot to go to the tavern to get my stuff!...}
LiYing wore her veil and ran out.
"Look! There's a girl running. Who is she?" asked a girl. "She's LiYing, " said Uncle Zhao. "Why is she in the mansion?" asked the woman. "She's my assistant, " answered Uncle Zhao. "But she's a girl. I thought girls would only learn calligraphy and music, " said a boy. "Girls don't only do that, " said Uncle Zhao. "Why is she running?" asked the girl. "She probably forgot something, " said Uncle Zhao.
Simultaneously, LiYing ran to her tavern. She arrived and quickly went into her room. She packed her stuff and checked the room.
{...There are footprints. Somebody went into this room but they didn't take anything. The footprints come in but don't go out. The window is closed so the person might still be here...}
LiYing got her sword and opened the closet.
There were a teenager and a child hiding in her closet. They looked up and saw LiYing. Their eyes were filled with sadness and hatred. The huddles close to each other.
"Um, who are you guys?"