Hu Li hear the running foot steps. She look to see a maid running to her direction holding her arm. The girl kneel in front of Princess Wang Ching.
"Your highness! The second safe house is massacred! Most of our men are slaughter inside!"
Hu Li stand up and look at the maid on the ground. She ask calmly the next questions.
"Who is the enemy?"
"I don't know! We were attacked suddenly! They are all wearing black outfit!"
"How many of our men have managed to escape?"
"None! I was running with Xiao Ping but she got killed when she tried to block them! I run with all my might to return here to inform you!"
"Go and apply some medicine."
"Princess... It's dangerous now..."
"I know what to do. GO!"
The maid get up weakly and drag herself away. Hu Li stand there and wait. She have long smell a faint lingering of explosive powder. She wait for it to disappear or come to her. She hear the sound of footsteps coming from a distance. She see her brother walking to her. He is dress in black. He walk into he courtyard but did not walk nearer.
"Eldest sister."
He hold his sword in his hand and bow to her.
"What is it little brother. It's already pass midnight. If you are here for food ..."
"No i am not. I think you have seen your maid."
"So you are the one who injured her?"
"I suggest that you stop at what you are doing?"
"Oh what am i doing? Sitting on the swing?"
"Eldest sister, you know what i am referring about. Two years ago, i told you that whatever nonsense things that you are doing, i will destroy them! I will continue to destroy whatever that will jeopardise the throne or this dynasty! I know you are not satisfy with what father is offering to you but this is a dynasty that only accept male heirs! All generations, only male can be the heir to the throne! So eldest sister, i will protect you. Don't think of doing things that is impossible!"
"Somethings are already done and in motion. You alone ..."
"Even if i am alone, i will stop it!"
"Why?"
"Why? Because we are blood siblings! Our mother ask me to protect you from everything including the mistakes that you are going to make. I take it to my heart as my life mission! My sister will never make mistakes that will cause her life! I will remove all the obstacles! You said you don't like that Shrimp, i am slowly removing him from our dynasty! I am working on it! So stop whatever you are doing!!"
Prince Wang Cao as he speak, the mucus from his nose is leaking. He is crying and afraid that his sister will be beaded if found that she wants to sit on the dragon throne. He is afraid for her. When he is growing up, she protect him from the bullying. She becomes the tough Princess that everyone fear. She dare to kill a wolf with the dagger in hands in front of everyone to show that she have no soul in her. While in her own boudoir she cry alone and repeatedly wash her hands. He knows that his sister is doing things to pretend to be cold and cruel. She pretend to be a tyrant among the siblings and control her father as will. Even the empress is afraid of her and leave her alone.
"Don't' be the bad guy! This time i will be the bad guy, for you!!"
Hu Li is touch that the love he have for his sister. She walk towards him and hug him. He cry like a child while she pat his back. After awhile she blow smoke on his face. He close his eyes and sleep. She slowly walk to the open boudoir and place him on the couch. She sit beside him as he sleep. The night will soon turn to light it's time for Yu Bing to go outside. She goes into the bedroom and instruct her little friends to stay inside. As usual watch out for anything strange.
"Where are you going?"
"To see outside these walls, what has happen."
"Why can't we go with you?"
"No you too small. I am afraid i will lost sight of both of you. Staying here will be safe."
She morph into the little cat like how Hei used to look like. She walk out and jump down the stairs outside the bedroom. She look at Wang Cao who is still asleep. She slowly walk to the steps up the brick wall. Walking and balancing on the wall, she walk and take her time to see how the structure of the palace is. Some maids and guards who are working in the night is yawning and stretching. Eunuch who spots her try to chase her with brooms and sticks they can find. Finally when the sky is lighting up, everyone is hurry to wake their masters up. Thus Hu Li walk out of the palace without a problem. She find a quiet alley and morph into Yu Bing. She walks out the alley into the main street. She walk towards the Yamen who is busy in the morning. Men are running in and out. She show her badge and is allow to enter. She look around the chaos and roughly know that they have clean out the second residence that the maid last night have run out from. She spot Du Wei and he wave. Together they walk and talk.
"Last night, we cannot find you. We raided the second residence with Prince Wang Cao. Most of the men inside were killed. They are highly skilled. There is another one on drugs but we managed to kill him. A few have run off now we are searching for them."
"Everything is destroyed in the ...."
"Yes most of it is now transport out of the city to be deposed. Last night, Wang Cao is like a manic. Scare most of us. Now he probably gone back into the palace."
"Yes he is ... the first and second residence, what is the Yamen going to do about it?"
"For now, its seal. No real estate is allow to touch or sell it without the official documents from us. We cannot tear it down as it cause a lot of coins to pull it down. "
"So what are we needed to do now?"
"Base on the last letter you have written, Lord Gong decided that we need to stop the wedding carriage to get into the city."
"So you told Lord Gong too..."
"We have to, he is in charge of the Yamen. We cannot act unless there is an order from our superior. Thus i have no choice but to inform Lord Gong what had happen and what you are doing. If i did not tell him, you might be expel from the Yamen after Officer Zhou's death and this investigation have to stop."
Hu Li look far into the sky and sight. This is the way how the human works, she cannot not follow the protocol given. She nod her head and they continue to talk.
"The carriage, will have to stop at some point before reaching into the city. We have to find an excuse to get her off to switch the wedding carriage before coming into the city."
"That will be easy... just tell me which route are they travelling from."
Du Wei stare at Yu Bing and wonder why he have some much confidence in doing things.