18 Let us start a Revolution

Three days later, Xu Dan Tea house.

"What kind of rotten luck do I have" Su Liya thought as she walked out of yet another fragrance shop with Zhu Fengyin and Nanny Lin. Preparing for a wedding was very stressful. In the last four day, she had been forced to go through every single protocol.

Su Liya, like most modern girls, could tell the differences between stitches but in the four days since the imperial decree was delivered, she had been forced to pick up sewing. Embroidery was a nightmare, she couldn't understand how most noble ladies took it up as a hobby.

Her hands were stiff from all the stitches, she had been so happy when they were done with sewing the wedding gown. That was until Nanny Lin announced that they were going fragrance shopping.

She had initial exclaimed with joy at the thought of leaving the minister's house. However the joy was short-lived, Su Liya had sniffed different types of fragrance that she had lost use of her nose. 

Five fragrance stores later and they were finally done shopping. Zhu Fengyin noticed Su Liya's long face as they left the last fragrance store. "this girl is trying so hard, maybe I should give her a reward, '' Zhu Fengyin thought.

She raised the curtain and looked out of the window. The street was very active, people went about their business. Traders sold their wares while street performers put on their performances.

Throughout her previous life she had never stopped to observe the common people. Since she only had eyes for Zhongshan Cheng, she was so focused on winning his heart that she inadvertently lost herself.

This time she wasn't going to make that mistake. Zhu Fengyin dismissed Nanny Lin, and instructed her to return to the minister's manor with the carriage while she grabs lunch at Xu Dan Tea house.

Su Liya was shocked when Nanny Lin let them go, she never expected the strict middle aged woman to accept Zhu Fengyin's flimsy excuse. When they got to the tea house, She got down from the carriage and supported Zhu Fengyin down the carriage.

They stood by the entrance until the carriage was out of sight. Turning sideways and gesturing to the tea house, they were in public so she made sure to watch her actions "Young Miss, right this way", she said, eyes cast down.

Her false submissive behavior was amusing, Zhu Fengyin snickered. 'Who is she trying to fool? I have never seen someone look this 

"You look awkward, this won't do. LETS GO!" Zhu Fengyin grabbed Su Liya's hands and ran towards the crowded streets, dragging Su Liya with her.

It happened so fast, Su Liya was shocked and speechless. She couldn't quite make sense of her new friend's sudden change in attitude. Zhu Fengyin dragged her from one performance stall to another.

She never let go of her hands as she sampled various street foods and watched different street performances. Zhu Fengyin Laughed and tipped the performers, when she wasn't shushing her from asking questions, she was shoving cakes, candies and other snacks into her mouth.

Zhu Fengyin was about shoving a piece of sweetened nuts into her mouth when she caught her hands. "Alright I think that's enough with all the mouth feeding. What's wrong with you Fengyin? Why are you behaving out of character?".

"Out of character?!" 

"Yes!, I find it strange that a Queen of prosperity like you would suddenly start acting like a_"

"A what?!"

She growled and spat out, her Expression tight "like me okay! Damn it!"

Zhu Fengyin threw the nut into her mouth and chewed gently. "Queen of prosperity? I guess I was acting a little stiff, right?"

"Yes!" 

"Well no need to worry about that anymore, I am done trying to impress a group of people who would never understand me. I am going to rebel*.

"What?"

"After a lifetime of sacrifices and pain, of acting the proper way, speaking the right way, I tried so hard to please everyone at my own detriment, but not anymore. This time I am going to live for me not Zhongahan Cheng or the Zhu family, me! I think I have earned that don't you think?"

"Yes you do, as a matter of fact you deserve more than that. After the life you lived, You deserve a happy ending and that is what you will get. Who cares if the whole world is rigged against us, we are going to have the last laugh" Su Liya placed her hands on Zhu Fengyin's shoulder and pulled her closer "Let us go start a revolution".

******

Minutes ago at a table overlooking the street in Xu Dan Tea house.

Lu Yaozhu was seated on the seat nearest to the window while he conversed with a veiled Zhu Fenfang. They ran into each other at the medicine store two shops away from the tea house.

Lu Yaozhu was there to pick up intelligence from the Ginseng group under the pretense of picking up a prescription. The Ginseng group was a network of spies, which dealt with information. He had caught the manager's eyes as soon as he walked in, he walked to the counter and presented his card number.

A few minutes later a staff member ran over with the bundle of wrapped prescriptions. He paid for the prescription and walked to the door, when he heard his name called in a low melodic voice.

"Master Lu"

He looked up and found that it was Zhu Fenfang that called. They exchanged a few pleasantries before he was invited to join her for lunch. 

Lu Yaozhu interacted with Zhu Fenfang a few times, their mother were cousins. However while they got along a little, he did not see her as anything more than a sister. 

The Emperor had gotten more paranoid, everyday it was a gamble to leave. The last thing he wanted was to bring an innocent woman in the middle of that hot mess. 

The Waiter had just delivered their order when he saw a carriage with Minister Zhu's logo stop at the entrance and two young women camw down. The young mistress trapped her maids hand and ran towards the market. The sight of that scene was amusing, he found himself smiling.