Walking down the streets, prince Wu Xiuying stopped by the crowd near the registry archive building. The gourds were trying to scatter people but they wanted the answer for the man who was being killed.
"What is this crowd for?"
Prince Wu Xiuying asked the princess who was with her man, it seemed they had already handed the assassin to their investigation department.
"You are still wandering around young master!"
The princess tried to snatch her eyes off his, there was strong magic in his eyes that she disliked being enraptured by them. The same thing happened when she met Li Shu and she must do something about it.
'Am I after someone to fill the gap in my mother's space?'
Even she couldn't understand it.
"The moment we were distracted by fire, this man was taking the last breath in."
The prince frowned, why would they kill this man? Did he know something which could throw them in hot water?
"Who was he? Related to your highness?" The prince didn't mean to hide this, now that master Qin recognized her, he could bring excuses.
"How do you know me?"
The prince shrugged, "The man I was playing Go board with told me!"
The princess smirked, so the old man had known since she bought him food. It was decent to hear it because he would come on his own soon.
Zha Gang neared the princess, making the space between the stranger and the princess larger, his piercing gaze landed on Wu Xiuying.
"The man was the accountant of the chancery, his name was Li Hui, he was thirty years old and as I realized principle was his priority, people who knew him, he was a good man that always paid attention not to take extra tax from people."
He reported and stepped back, but the prince could hear him. It was time to get back, he would take care of this during the day as Li Shu. Being across her sight as a merchant just could cause trouble and would make her suspicious.
"We should leave here," he murmured to Chao and he bowed his head.
"Be careful, your majesty! Here is unsafe if they recognize you!" the young merchant advised and after serving her a gentle smile, he left.
"Where is Yan Yuxi? Did she investigate this man?" The princess watched them being swallowed in the throng and looked around to find her guard but it was all the unfamiliar faces of the crowd.
What does signify this man to help them? Only the child who was dangled between the flames, or there was another purpose? His aura and the perfume were captivating, and she added to his appearance, he was more as if a royal. Why was she thinking of him the whole time, she could not focus.
Opening the way for herself, Yan Yuxi attended to the princess. Seeing the young merchant leaving with his guard before getting here.
"We must get out of the crowd!" she stated excitedly, wearing a blushed cheek.
The princess nodded and they walked further, she had done sufficient for tonight and discovered many things. Now, she had no qualm that it was related to the case her mother was working on. Her eyes caught the registry department, she should come here early in the morning.
"Tell me, what did you earn?"
The girl deeply breathed and Zha Gang sighed, how ridiculous, she had liked that handsome stranger! This woman was beyond belief, she fell for the man she just faced tonight!
"Ah, he is heavenly handsome your highness!" She giggled, her princess smiled back at her, and continued, "He is a merchant from Sheed, he had come here to buy fabrics. I paid one silver coin to extract words from the waiter of Tian tavern. He said they are seeking the Feng family's textiles. They arrived here today."
The princess pinched the bridge of her nose, this man was a guest in their land what he witnessed could make buzzes in other lands about them!
"Could they get any information? As long as we know, someone is using the name of the Feng family!"
"Yes, there was a man who used to come there, he said his name is Yin Yuanjun. Perhaps he is working with the thieves."
"You have gained valuable information, let us proceed tomorrow, I want to bring Li Shu with us."
She was thinking about her, she hoped the girl had forgiven her rudeness, she should have controlled her manners and emotions. The girl's shocked face was still in front of her. Did she accept the sweets? She had shown her a debilitated face about herself. That was why she assumed her rivals can simply take her life; however, she wasn't wrong.
Getting back to the castle, she dismissed the guards to have some rest and with her eunuch, they headed for the siblings' residence. The garden was as majestic as always, the laces and fabrics were as if wraiths dancing in the air.
"She must be sleeping by now…" before finishing it, she saw an umbra, her heart pounded fast. Should she knock on the door? No, she couldn't but she wanted Li Shu becomes her friend, becomes her sister. It wasn't just about the jewel.
"I stay behind the pillar, go ask about her health."
The princess murmured and Fu Liu just looked at her, why was she worried about this girl? Was it her sickness or she did done something wrong when she washed her! From the moment the Ladyship and Fu Liu revealed the siblings' physiques, the princess had changed, sorrow was glinting in her eyes.
Walking to the door he knocked, he wasn't in a position to ask the princess to speak her heart unless she didn't want to.
Inside the building, Chaoxiang stood straight and dashed to the balcony! Crap! This eunuch, now he was disturbing them.
"Go, open the door. They won't come in."
The prince was still sitting on the pillow, carefree and calm. The princess loved Li Shu; he did not doubt after all he realized. But Li Shu could not fill the seams of princess's pains. In a blink, he flew to the room and the door was closed behind him.
Opening the door, Chaoxiang bowed his head for the man.
Fu Liu was confused, not knowing how to start the conversation, so he coughed, "I am here to know if your sister is fine?"
"Master Fu Liu, if I didn't know you, I would say that you care about her. But I appreciate your manner, she is fine and fell asleep earlier."
"Good to hear it, I am leaving now."
He turned to take his leave but the thought was annoying that they believed he hated the girl, halting there he looked back over his shoulder, "Sergeant Chaoxiang, your sister is a good person, but it is a bit hard to settle with her."
Chao nodded and the man left.
The princess came out of the dark, if she was fine then there were no worries. Leaving the place with her eunuch, she trailed off, "Bring my personal physician to check on her tomorrow, there might be a cure for her."
"Yes, your highness."
Returning to her room, she began to undress with Ke Xin's help.
"Do you think that she will forgive me, Ke Xin?"
The girl blushed, it was the first time her majesty was opening a conversation like this with her.
"I am certain she will, she might show a tough skin but she has a beautiful heart. Her eyes are screening her spirit."
The princess smiled, remembering the merchant's eyes! His eyes were mysterious like Li Shu's eyes. How could two people have the same eyes and sights?
Being done with her nightgown, the ladyship asked for entrance and brought a tray. It was her chamomile tea, as she loved to have before sleep.
"He Xin, you can leave."
Dismissing the maid, she studied Ladyship Ma's expression. She was concerned, although she was the one who told her about her mother's secret.
"What is this nervousness that clouded your house?"
The ladyship poured tea for her, "Master Qin brings trouble with him!"
The princess picked up the cup and took a sip. "Like what were suspicions about my mother's death, I want to bring myself relief, if someone killed her, I cannot live my life with ease. I despise living my life in the horrendous notion of having the same fate."
"Physician Lu had been searching secretly, he says the clues had been devastated but the bloody kerchief is examined and the poison showed itself after one month!"
"I know, he told me when he came to check up on my health. Did Fu Liu inform you of what we encountered?"
"Yes, we must keep it hidden, are you sure that you can trust the siblings?"
"Yes, I need more forces on my side, to have them I must gain their hearts first."
The ladyship nodded, her highness was smart, she would not step forward before calculating the situation.