Hu Li stalk the maid that working for the Princess. She constantly change her appearances so that she blend in with the crowd. after so many days of following her. One day. the maid goes inside the residence where the Yamen are watching. Hu Li transform into a cat and leap on the wall. She see inside the house, there is some children living in there. They are having lessons, it seems like a normal place to be in but why there is no one exiting from the front door?
At night, she leap into the residence. She walk in without anyone in the courtyard. She smell the air there is no explosives. Only the smell of human who haven't bath for ages. She hear people talking in other rooms. She also hear children laughters. Slowly she walk in without anyone noticing a cat or maybe they do but she gets ignore. She stands behind a flowerpot hearing the humans in the room talking
"So what does the Prince needs to do."
"He wants more explosive to be make and needs them fast. The one that we left in th forest is destroyed. He is annoyed and told us to do it."
"Do something? Why don't he come here and do something? The Yamen are walking around lately."
"Hey there is a strange guard from the Yamen, that boy can really run."
"Run? He can run all he wants we are fast."
"No brother! He is really fast! Ridicules! He was chasing me that night at the deserted mountain area. He is really speeding nearly catch up with me but i don't know why he stop chasing and disappear."
"You must be dreaming! That place is full of rocks and pebbles. Not easy to run in that condition!"
"That's why i am surprise how can a boy like him nearly catch up with me!"
"You must have bump into something ... better go pray."
"Back to our topic, how are we going to get more materials?"
"Hai Xia is buying them and looking for a place to pack them. The problem is the that guard who is supposed to be death where is he now? Why can't we find him?"
"He won't and can't say a thing. He knows very well. His sister is here."
"Poor him, blinded and not able to talk well. Now for sure he can't say a thing."
"Don't forget he can write."
"Tomorrow morning go to those begger and ask. Give them some money to look out for the man."
After that what they talk is nonsense. She wait for the lights to go off. That night, the sky rain with little rain drops. She push open the window where the children are sleeping in, she counted there is seven. She close the window after that. For now she knows that they won't harm the children. So the more important thing to get the Yamen to come in here to arrest them but on what ground.
Hu Li walk home in the light rain. Officer Zhou's mother is waiting for her. Hu Li hurry to bring her in the room to shelter from the rain. She have bought some steam buns and a bowl of noodles with vegetables and meat in her wooden carrier. She open it and ask the older lady to eat.
"I am worry that i don't see my son and my daughter-in-law."
"Madame, don't worry we are fine. Just doing more work to earn more money. After that you have a bigger house to stay in and Officer Zhou will have a nice wedding along with some grandchildren for you."
She smile when she hear that and eat the bowl of noodles in peace. After that Hu Li tuck her in bed and pat her gently. She look over to see Mister Zhou standing sighing. She signal to him to step outside for awhile.
"My son is in danger?"
"No. He is fine. He.. will live."
"If he is dead, my wife will not live. Her madness will eat her up eventually."
"No i won't allow it. He will return. Mister Zhou, promise me, when your son is back, go to nirvana for yourself and the future. You and your wife will meet again in another life."
"I am worry that i leave her, i will miss her in another life. It is better i go with her. For all life times we are going to have, i want to marry her only."
"How did you die?"
"It is better that i don't say it and leave it in the past. It is my fate, i accept it."
The older man look up the sky as the little rain drops down. That night they watch the rain water falls from the sky and waited for the morning to come.
The next day, she goes to visit the injured men. The rats who are staying with them say that no one come by. Officer Zhou by mid day wakes up in pain. The Yamen staff who are watching him quickly inform the in0charge. While Hu Li is watching the front door of the residence. When she got the news that he wakes up, she rush there. Yu Bing hold the hand of Officer Zhou. The injured man turn red.
"See i have a very healthy body. I can recover anytime.My heart and my fate is very tough. It's not my turn to report to the lord of hell yet!"
"You better get well soon. I have a hard time with your mother. She is crying everyday asking for you."
"What did you tell her?"
"What else can i say but you are working hard to earn money to get married and give her plenty of children."
"Heavens! How can you say that! OUCH!"
He touch his wounds. While the rest of the Yamen staff look at them. After awhile, the in-charge of Yamen appear. He is the uncle of Prince Wang Cao and of course The prince is standing beside his uncle. Hu Li at that point of time don't know if she should trust him or not. All men bow to them as they walk in.
"Greeting Prince Wang Cao and Lord Gong Ye."