Chapter 63 : Middle of the Market

Zhou Feng life is....lonely that's the only thing that could Hong Liu considered it after reading all the details of her life, it seems like she lost her family went through everything alone, she uses to live in this shabby hit with nothing to look forward to except work. Shi Shi had the role of an overbearing lively good friend who can't help but be friends with loner Feng but it was also true they cherish each other a lot. It explains Shi Shi's worry for her when she finds out she almost drowned, their boss was actually a demon, Hong Liu and found some complaint every day to cut their pay, sometimes Hong Liu out up with it, sometimes she doesn't besides, Zhou Feng was a cook and since Hong Liu started to cook in the eatery their boss was having a hard time giving them hard time. Though Shi Shi told Hong Liu once that, she uses to give her, that means Zhou Feng threat to fire her all the time. Hong Liu was sure she won't get fire since she comes the business had boomed and her boss has no way but endure her erratic way. It has been six months in the mortal realm, she was good as far as somewhere that is not home you can be. Shi Shi and her friendship was going strong, their personality match a lot. Shi Shi personally like this changed Zhou Feng as well.

Today was their day off and therefor, Hong Liu with Shi Shi planned to buy some curtains for her hut, in six months she had changed that place in a small cottage. Zhou Feng use to have enough to live as good as possible but seems fate has been too hard on her that she lost the desire to keep up her surrounding beautiful. Hong Liu was waiting to Shi Shi at the town square with her jute bag stepped on her shoulder.

She looks around trying to find Shi Shi's circular soft face in the crowd.

"Zhou Feng!"

Hong Liu saw her come running towards, it was only when she hugged her suddenly that Hong Liu realizes Shi Shi was crying.

"What is it? why you are crying?" Hong Liu pulled her away, looking at her tear stricken face.

"That old fortune-teller Su Mu in the main market...he...," She sobbed. Hong Liu checked her carefully, there was no physical harm

"Calm down take a deep breath and tell me slowly what is it?"

Shi Shi took a few calming breaths.

"He tricked me and took my mother's green jade pendant," She sniffled. Hong Liu knew this jade pendant is Shi Shi's most priced possession, it was the last thing she had for her mother.

"How? what happened?" Hong Liu asked.

"He saw it somehow and...and... said that it was some ancient talisman that his family has for generation, and started to gather people around accusing me of stealing it, I got scared and he snatched it," she hiccup. Hong Liu opens her mouth in disbelief at the audacity of that old Su Mu! Her lips pressed furiously.

"Come with me!" Hong Liu dragged her gently to the main market to the stall of the fortune taller but she stops at the stall before it that sells fake jade-like stones. She took Shi Shi with her to the old Su Mu's stall.

"Give Shi Shi's jade pendant back," Hong Liu slammed her hand on his stall, the fat man with his grey moustache look up, his already small almond shape eyes narrowed with ill- intend and he smiled maliciously.

"What are you saying little girl I do not know," He smiled broadly showing his tobacco-stained teeth, that fired up Hong Liu further.

"Really? Do you remember this girl?" Hong Liu pulled Shi Shi and pointed her.

"Of course, I do. She stole one of my most prized possession it was an heirloom that is with generation in my family," He said, narrowing his eyes at Shi Shi, who shrink beside her.

"Oh really? You are a con artist! You tricked it out of her," Her voice was a little louder.

"Zhou Feng, keep your voice down everybody is staring," Shi Shi said consciously and sure everybody was staring, the crowd had stopped and gone silent. In the same crown a tall man with black stone eyes, in light blue simple robes stopped curiously to hearing the voice of the girl. It seems oddly familiar.

"Shush, let me handle this" Hong Liu said to her under her breath.

"So was this ancient heirloom is like?" Hong Liu asked, her voice getting louder. The tall man moved a little to get a better view of the girl.

"It is a green jade," He said confidently.

Hong Liu moved back a little, as the old Su Mu get up from his chair with his bulging stomach.

"Where was it from?" Hong Liu asked. she was doing it on purpose talking so loud, the tall man thought coaked his head giving a cold small smirk. There is not much entertainment in his life, this is sure to get interesting.

"What do you mean?" The old Su Mu hissed early.

"Come now, old Su Mu the whole Jin Chun city knows your legendary fortune-telling capabilities and you this very morning claimed that jade was in your family from generation, can't you tell this humble town folks where it come from?" Hong Liu raised her eyebrow.

"Its from the city of Shangong," The old Su Mu said.

The tall man who was enjoying the show leaning on one of the stalls chuckled, lier they don't trade in green jade.

"They don't trade in green jade," Hong Liu throwback, she didn't thought it would be this easy. The tall man nodded in mild impressed, for commner she knows quite well. Everybody started mummred in agreement.

"I know what are you trying to do, I won't be taken in," Old Su Mu hissed.

"Are you threatening me? Its you who can't tell where the jade is from how can you prove that it is yours" She emphasised. That made people uproar making the old fortune teller a little worried and Hong Liu try to keep her smile in

"Your friend also have no proof either that it belong to hers,"

"Take it out, I will prove," Hong Liu extended her hand.

"Why would I? It mine!"

"If you didn't these people will always doubt you! That you are the one who lied and tricked young woman," Hong Liu pointed to him dramatically.

The crown yelled for him to take it out, Old Su Mu had no choice but to do it and he took it from his pocket. Hong Liu snatched it with chain it had on her and she took out chain, giving it Shi Shi and then she close her hand, when she parted it. There were two identical small green jade.

"Tell me which is the real one," Hong Liu knew which was, she was sure the old man did gave it time to examine it comeplety but there was special kind of design behind it.

Old Su Mu look at one jade to another, confused and breaking to cold sweat as everyone look at almost intest to see what the fortune teller will choose. Old Su Mu finally govonf the pressure squeezed his eyes and pick the one that was in left hand. Hong Liu gave the right one to Shi Shi, who turn it over to see the red design her mother use to love that was made by her father and she smiled.

"This is the one, Now what does it prove?" Old Su Mu braged. Hong Liu sigh and took it from him, she throw it in the ground and she stepped on it, crushing the fake stone she just brought. The crowd gasp.

Old Su Mu's mouth was on the ground.

"Next time I saw you tricking some poor soul, I will drag you to law enforcement office!" Hong Liu turn flicking her hairs taking happy Shi Shi with her, the bells on her waist chimed as she got away from the ground.

The tall man leaned away from the stall quite impressed with the show, his cold black eyes shining with amusement. He saw that woman before, where....? He try to remember then a scent of peach blossom passed him as those bells chimed, even that chimed seems familer. Why? He thought.

"Your Majesty," The man with him in simple grey bowed.

"General Yang, why don't you shout that I am here?" The cold stone eyes turn to General Yang brown ones.

"Appologise, your..."

Cold eyes turn colder.

"Call me Xian Zhen or go back to palace, I don't need you to blow my cover," Emperor Zhong said.