74 Down to Business (VIII)

As the three figures were making their way back, along the road that brought all roads together, there was a small street that was dimly lit from the outside.

And in the entrance of the small street, there was a wooden oval frame that looked slightly moldy and some parts were broken. On top of the frame was a small nameplate that was written 'Jing Ke' road.

The young master in the dark teal robes came to a halt. His melo eyes were staring at the small dim road.

"What is this place?" His soft melodic voice spoke in the silent air.

One of his followers took a step forward closer to the young master and whispered a few words to their young master.

The young master nodded before heading along his way silently.

The three moved along the road into Da Fu and rented one of the rooms. However, when the same young steward came up to the room and asked if they needed anything, there was no response. He had thought that they had already gone to bed and left the kind young master alone.

Little did the young steward know, they were no longer anybody in the room.

The same young master was now resting in his or to be more exact her own room leisurely. Those that had been working on the construction work had all left and it was just the Empress' people left.

In her hands, she held onto a book and was reading it calmly. The Empress of Xin Li was finally taking a short moment of rest after her tour around the unfamiliar city that she was residing in. She had taken off her disguise and was dressed in white robes that were designed for her to move freely in it. Every time she had finished reading a page, her elegant fingers would slowly flick the book sheets to the next page.

Meanwhile, Su Rong had also changed back into her usual light purple court lady dress and was brewing some tea for her lady. She sat on the opposite side of Hui Lan and was focused on making tea for the mistress of Kunning palace.

On the other hand, Su Jou was in his own corners hidden from the outside world. However, this night, he was diligently taking down the notes he had learned from Hui Lan jie. His hands were moving fast as he wrote down everything he could remember. The stuff he wrote down would surely come useful against his sister in the future. As he thought of such, he kept on writing.

On the other hand, Hui Lan looked up from the book before asking Su Rong the question she had been waiting to hear, "So, when will you tell me about Jing Ke road, hm? This book does not have any much, from what I see, there must be something more..."

Su Rong's hands came to a halt for a short moment before she released a small sigh, "What you said is right, there's more than that...Jing Ke road...it's the capital city's dark market. That road is only a cover up on the outside, but inside, they contain all different kinds of secrets and riches in the capital city. I didn't tell you anything about them then...because their ears are everywhere."

Hui Lan closed the book that was the report of Jing Ke road and turned to listen to her friend more attentively. This place...sounded more interesting than she initially thought.

Su Rong put down the teapot from her hand, "Now, that got your attention, but promise me, you won't go looking for trouble there."

Hui Lan replied with a wide smile that covered her eyes, "I promise."

Her promise came so fast that Su Rong felt a bad feeling about it. Her friend's promise did not sound like a promise.

Seeing that Su Rong did not trust her, Hui Lan spoke some more, "I just think that I should begin to expand my knowledge from all sides that might come at me." Hui Lan spoke reasonably of her own reasons.

Su Rong thought carefully of Hui Lan's words and slowly nodded along in the end, "Fine. This road, underneath it, lies another world of its own. Different kinds of organizations are planted there. Though most of the organizations are there, they do not live in harmony. This place, once you enter it, you are alone. There is no such thing as friends in that place."

One of Hui Lan's brow was raised in interest, hm, organizations…

"People usually go there to buy news or information at a high price. Overall, it is best to avoid such places." Su Rong summed it up quickly and did not want to continue on the topic.

Sensing Su Rong's reluctance, Hui Lan could only change the topic, "Then, what about Yan Hua Fu, what goes on there?"

Su Rong passed the teacup to her friend before speaking, "You ah, you always see more than what the cover lays huh?"

Hui Lan crossed her arms in front of her, "Nothing ever gets away from my eyes." She spoke proudly. How long has it been since she was a professor and how long has it been since she had worked alongside her mother as her mother led the Xuan Group...speaking about the Xuan group, oh how she missed her family's organization...

"Fine, fine." Su Rong spoke up in the end, "This Yan Hua Fu, it is indeed what they say they are. They sell art, but they also sell information, secrets, and more; you could say they are also one of the main organizations on Jing Ke road. The owner, however, is known as young master Hua. In the inner circle of the business world, there is a rumour that he is not only the owner of the famous Yan Hua, but also the most famous inns in the capital city like Da Fu."

"Da Fu?" Hui Lan raised one of her brows.

...Wa, this person...he was this capable? She released her arms and placed her chin onto her palm of her hand as she thought of this young master...

Hui Lan could not help but think highly of this young master Hua.

Su Rong nodded, "En, but then again, it could also be just words of rumours to make this mysterious young master be more mysterious and naturally others would fear him more."

"Oh?" Hui Lan's fingers began tapping onto the table, "A mysterious young master as a facade...sounds similar to me…"

...Mysterious young master? Jing Ke road? Yan Hua? Da Fu? An organization...hm, these sounded good to me.

Su Rong tilted her head as she thought of what Hui Lan meant…

Nevertheless, her friend was already brewing something up in that beautiful mind of hers.

All of a sudden, Hui Lan's fingers stopped tapping on the table.

It was as if she had remembered something...

Hui Lan then cleared the table in front of her and Su Robg before taking a map out from one of her drawers and then opening it in front of them. The map was nothing else but the map of the capital city.

Su Rong looked up from the map to Hui Lan with a confused face.

On the other hand, Hui Lan was looking around at the map as if looking for something. Nevertheless, in no time, she found the place that she wanted and pointed at it with her finger for Su Rong to see, "Su Rong, this place, can you get someone to buy it for me?"

"Ah?" Su Rong did not expect Hui Lan's request to be as such.

"I want to start my own store in the capital city and what I want to sell is some wine, medicine and some essential oils. However, I need a place to make the wine and this place seems to be the most suitable one out of all the places that I saw. While the officials and everyone is busy with the case in the other part of the city, we'll keep ourselves away from other people's eyes first and start off humbly but become a dark horse." Hui Lan explained in full detail of what she wanted and what she had been planning all this day.

However, the Empress Feng was indeed not done, Hui Lan continued to speak, "Moreover, I want to talk to you as you are Su Gu Niang. Tell me about your business." Hui Lan leaned her back backwards as she waited to hear her friend's introduction about her friend's business.

Su Rong could only shake her head...tut tut, acting all like the Empress, "Well, we import and sell rice and barley as our main harvest. However, we also sell silk across the entire capital. Is there something you want to ask about?" Su Rong's explanation was short but covered everything of her family business.

Hui Lan nodded along, "Well, I have a request for you."

Su Rong did not hesitate and spoke, "Tell me anything and I'll do it." She was very open to any of her friend's requests.

To that, Hui Lan revealed a big smile, "Then, let me buy some rice and barley from you. I want to make some of my own wine from them."

Su Rong's eyes grew wide, "You!? Making wine? When have you ever made wine or enjoyed it in your entire life?" Su Rong could not believe her ears.

Hui Lan looked around her room before coming up with her best excuse, "I read it from one of my books. It sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a shot." However, in actual fact, it was her family's own secret recipe and she was sure that this period might not be ready to have a taste of it.

"You...are you sur-"

Hui Lan quickly cut her friend off, "Don't worry, I'll be more focused on selling medicine and some essential oils, that would just be on the side thing that I want to do." Or more like what she wanted to drink. Oh how she missed sparkling drinks and a good wine with some steak or bbq...sigh, she'll have to make them herself.

"But-"

Hui Lan cut Su Rong once again, "Since Bai Long Qin is now mine, I'll have all the medicine resources that I need. Moreover, I'm not selling the same kind of medicine like the Royal Physician, but rather...something for health and beauty. So, since I've talked this much, will you continue to stop me, Miss Su Rong?" Hui Lan asked playfully.

To that Su Rong could only back down.

...Since her friend seemed to be well prepared, then there was nothing for her to say.

"As you say, Empress…" Su Rong played along."

"Keke." Hui Lan giggled. While the two were conversing, a gushing sound was heard from the window side, to which made Su Rong got up and was about to dash towards the sound.

However, when the two young ladies turned to look at the window sill, a familiar figure was standing silently.

"Who are you?" Hui Lan spoke out loud without any hesitation.

"Ah?" The young boyish voice seemed to have slightly matured as the voice came into Hui Lan's head, "Miss, you've already forgotten me!?"

Hui Lan smiled brightly before sharing her thoughts to their special connection between each other, "You've grown up a little haven't you, Xiao Mao." Hearing his lovely voice, she could not bear to tease him any longer.

"Tch." Xiao Mao looked away angrily.

Su Rong on the other hand who could only see a round of twoots from Xiao Mao gave her comment, "Such an attitude. You disappeared for such a long time that our Empress doesn't remember you already ah."

What followed Su Rong's words was a long round of twoots.

"Aiyoo, what an angry owl. Are you sure you are Xiao Mao?"

Xiao Mao looked away, with a few angry twoots.

However, Hui Lan got up immediately.

"What's up with you?" Su Rong turned to her friend in surprise.

What actually happened was that Xiao Mao had informed Hui Lan that Feng Furen was already waiting to teach her lessons.

How could Hui Lan sit still from hearing this…

"Niang is here. I'm going off to practice first."

Hui Lan had already turned around, but remembered something, "Please get someone to buy that place and send some rice, barley and tools over to make traditional wine. Tomorrow, we'll be brewing some wine together! Oh, I almost forgot, send Physician Jin a note that I will meet him at the medicine shop in the evening. I'll be off for now. See you soon Su Rong!" And off Hui Lan went to the same route Feng Furen had shown to her when they had gone the other night.

Nevertheless, she wasn't really worried because there was another pair of eyes watching over her from above.

Hui Lan took a small glance above and smiled, "It's good to have you back, Xiao Mao."

Xiao Mao's twoot came through her ears into words that only she knew. However, her smile grew wider as she dash forward.

...She didn't want to have high hopes that the little fella would return for she regarded him as a free animal and not hers. Xiao Mao belonged to himself, so it was his own decision.

...Ah, the best time of the day was about to arrive, the time where she could learn this special move...

.

.

.

"Niang, I'm here." Hui Lan reported to the person who had her back to her.

Slowly, Feng Furen turned around, "You're here…"

From above, a peerless black owl descended from the night sky and landed onto a tree branch. Along with the peerless black owl, a peerless white owl descended to stand on another branch.

Hui Lan looked up and did not forget to greet him as well, "Long time no see, elder Chao."

"Hm, long time no see." Xiao Chao then turned his head slowly to look at his princess who seemed to be trying to hold in her laughter.

Hui Lan too looked away and pressed her lips together as she tried to contain her laughter.

...Was 'elder' too much?

Nevertheless, Feng Furen gestured to Hui Lan to get into position before speaking, "How was today?"

"It was great. I couldn't go to see you while I was at Da Fu, but I took a good look around." Hui Lan spoke while positioning herself to practice the Yin Ying move.

"Oh? What have you got on your mind?" Feng Furen could not help but ask in interest.

"I'll start a business." Hui Lan spoke without thinking much.

"Hm, sounds good to me. If you need any help, you can always ask me." Feng Furen did not even request for any details.

"Well, about that, is it possible if I could see you make the Dragon's Blood?" Hui Lan asked politely.

"Dragon's Blood? Of course, when would you like to see it?"

"Hm, tomorrow?" Hui Lan asked right after.

To that, Feng Furen smiled, "You can be quite impatient sometimes huh?"

Hui Lan smiled, "Since I'm doing something I like…"

"Hm, sounds good. I'll be in Da Fu waiting." Feng Furen spoke.

"Ah, actually, can you meet me at the medicine house."

"Medicine house?"

"En. It's on Si Wu road and the only Medicine house along the road, you cannot miss it." Hui Lan explained.

"Oh? What time?" It seemed Hui Lan had already everything memorised in her head huh?

"Evening please. I have someone that I would like to introduce to you."

"To me?"

"It's a secret hehe. Let's start practicing!" Hui Lan then began portraying out all the moves.

Hearing such, Feng Furen could not help but have some expectations.

...Who could her daughter already become acquainted to?

Nevertheless, as Hui Lan had a secret...

...Someone else was secretly strolling around the same road he had been strolling yesterday night. His footsteps were soundless and he had caught none of the guard's attentive eyes.

It was none other than the first prince.

He seemed to be floating in the air and roaming around directionlessly. However, only he knew where he was 'purposely' going.

But tonight, he did not see that person.

...Maybe, she was already sleeping…

Not finding the person he thought he would, he finally stopped and went along his way.

The reason he could enter the palace this easily these days was because of the annual ceremony that was left in his hands.

He had just finished his duties, but it seemed he should return home soon then.

...It's a shame.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, a figure in white was moving as if she was dancing along with the wind. However, each of her movements looked fatal and did not look much of a dance if one had looked closer.

It seemed...the more she did the Yin Ying move, the more sharper and faster she became.

Although there was still more left to go, she was already nailing the foundations.

It seemed, tomorrow should better ready for her...