Chapter 36

Imperial Concubine Wei
Capital

"I have always wondered about this." Yuwen Hong casually walked, leading the way, not hurried to get to wherever they were going to. "Why? Why did you run away at the borderlands?"

His hand brushed hers and she wondered if this was a signal to hold hands.

"I didn't run away." Li Lian observed the Capital bridge they were approaching. The same one she was on when she burned the fire explosives for Yuwen Hong.

"Well, when I woke up you were gone."

Blame Mistress Ki. Bloody woman. "It's because they took me away."

Yuwen Hong abruptly stopped. "Took you away? Who dared?"

"I was raised by my clan in the hopes that I would enter the palace at the right age. Of course, I was against it and that is why I ran away. I just wanted to live a normal life and not be chained to responsibility and obligation. So on the day I ran away, I so happened to meet you in the forest."

Yuwen Hong nodded in contemplation. "That's why you asked me to marry you?"

"I didn't know you were the same person I would have to marry. In my perspective you were a normal guy who could give me the freedom I needed. You looked to be reckless, and a wanderer, thus I thought if I married you, you would be the type of husband who would be gone half the time."

He laughed. "Reckless wanderer? Sounds like Oren, not me."

"Oren?"

"You will meet him someday. He is my swordmaster. Remember?" Yu'er continued to walk. This was the second time he was promising to introduce this person. Must be special. "The only concern I have is that he is perverted. I will make sure to let him know you are off limits."

Li Lian giggled. "Now we know where you learnt it from. As the teacher goes, the student follows."

"Trust me. We have nothing in common. He is a peculiar person. Who obtains someone's heart and disappears, not bothering to come back and check on me?"

"You have no idea where he is?"

"Nothing. Oren is as the wind, untraceable to people who don't know him and never got to sit as his student. That's why I am taking it upon myself to search for him."

"Is that what we are doing today? I like adventures."

"That, amongst other things."

Li Lian was surprised to see the once glorious bridge that people visited for views and leisure filled with a cacophony of sellers. Each to their own, they had their small stalls stationed to sell different kinds of goods. Some specialised in selling food, others accessories and so on.

A look at Yuwen Hong, and she knew this was not his idea, neither was he aware of it until now. She entwined her hands around his one arm. "I think this is good and profitable for the empire," she lied to calm him down.

But he didn't hear her, already raptured away by his anger. He proceeded toward the first stall. "Uncle, are you having a good day?"

The stall owner smiled the best he could, happy about the potential customer. "How can I help you? I have any kind of snack you would like."

"No, I did not come for that. I am a merchant and I wanted to know how I could get permission to set my stall here."

"It's very easy. Part with a few silvers every time you want to use this bridge and the government will look the other side."

Yu'er's voice dropped down a notch. "Really?"

"Yes, yes. The government has been lenient and this bridge is good. Even those who are not going to the market pass by here and find themselves picking something from us, though they had no intention to. There is good business here compared to setting your stall at the market." The man laughed and pointed his finger to what's behind them. "Every road passes by here. Good business for us. We can be rich and merry."

"Isn't it expensive? You have to pay taxes and also the right to use this place."

"Not at all. Since the high-ups don't know about this, there are no taxes charged to use this place. Only a fee for them not to know and servicemen to look the other side and not chase us away, which is way better than taxes to sell at the market."

Yuwen Hong's knuckles cracked. "Sounds good. I would like to trade here too, then. Please write down for me who I could go to for the right to use this place."

"It's a few people," the stall owner sniggered creepily, "but you know all things come at a price."

Yuwen Hong disengaged Li Lian's hands from him and pulled out a sachet of silver. "Is this enough?"

The man weighed it by the feel of his hand and grinned. "Of course, of course." He bent to take out ink and paper.

Li Lian was distracted by Yuwen Hong's selfishness. Since they've been together in the palace. It was alright for him to touch her, yet when she did, it wasn't alright. Was she just someone he could use?

Or she was thinking too much, maybe he just did it so he could pull out his money.

"Thank you." Yuwen Hong folded the paper and hid it in his sleeves. Whoever tried to use this corrupt way of making money was definitely in trouble.

"Yu'er―"

"What a lovely wife you have got, Master." A woman approached them, cutting off Li Lian to bring up her insecurities to him.

"Is it? We just wedded." Yuwen Hong drew her closer to him, making her forget her previous misgivings.

"I can see that." The woman examined their matching outfits. "Since you love your wife, what about some beauty products for her?" The woman pointed at her stall.

"Wife, let's go see." He ushered her to the stall.

"I have makeup for her beautiful pale skin." The woman continued advertising.

Li Lian examined the lipwears, the face powders. Very low in quality. "I like them."

Yuwen Hong chuckled at her lie. "But my wife already has many of these products at home. Nothing new, here." It became apparent that his voice had a heavy foreign accent the more he spoke. "Aunt, we are not from here but we like your Great Nevoria."

"Our Great Nevoria is the best, it is a golden empire." The aunt tithered.

"Is it? We are thinking of moving here, Aunt." Li Lian copied Yuwen Hong's accent, although not knowing where this was going."

"Do you recommend it?" Yuwen Hong supported her.

"Aiya. Who would like to live here? The salt is expensive, the taxes unreasonable. Except if you are a Nevorian, life will be difficult."

"Why is that?" Li Lian was interested.

"The emperor is merciful, he blesses his people with many donations."

So that is what they did for the next two hours. Yuwen Hong investigated the true operations of his nation by taking on different identities. When some aunt was asked whether she knew how the emperor looked like, she said, yes she had seen him the other day. He had a big nose, big lips and a big belly.

Li Lian laughed until she couldn't while Yu'er tried to justify the emperor. He kept saying, it was definitely not the emperor. He had seen him and he was fit and handsome as the moon.

Li Lian laughed more. Why would someone compare themselves to be handsome as the moon? It was really funny. Though she was nervous about the oncoming bloodshed. All who were responsible for corrupt ways had death waiting for them the next day in court.

"Yu'er..." Li Lian clung onto his arm as they entered a fabric shop. "About tomorrow, the officials―"

"An Inner Court woman will have no say about matters of the Royal Court," he rebuked. "Let it go, Li Lian."

"But―"

"Uncle, remember me?" Yuwen Hong silenced her, pushing her arm off.

Again!

The shopkeeper looked up and you could see displeasure take over his face. "Disciple Bai."

"Are we going to do it the hard or easy way today?" Yu'er pulled out a dagger. He definitely came prepared for everything. "I will ask again, where is Oren?"

"I really don't know."

"Li Lian, step outside for a moment. I will come get you."

Li Lian did not question it. She was frustrated by his way of thinking violence can solve everything. She was about to blow out with rage. Li Lian stomped off angrily, and folded her arms on her stomach outside the shop. Was it so hard to be merciful?

"Stupid Yuwen Hong," she cursed. "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword."

They said a man in love listened to the woman he was in love with. Yuwen Hong didn't listen half the time, what did that mean?

Her attention got diverted to a woman sneaking away with a fan raised to obscure her face. Even with her doing that, Li Lian still recognised her.

Shockingly, Li Lian was happy to see her. The woman felt like home after many years of living under her watch. To be honest, she actually missed her. 

"Mistress Ki! Where are you going? Wait!" She ran after her.

S.V