Chapter 1- Ancient Star

Once upon a sky shone a bright yellow star twinkling brightly like a newly born star. Little did one know that this star is but a wisp of an ancient star which somehow, somewhere recorded the story of the past.

Many, many years ago before the submerge of Ti Dynasty into the great river and the old records of history gone, was a particular story known to few.

Seasons changed with tides and so did dynasties, formally known as Zhang Dynasty till the Ti clan took over. It had been more than fifty years since the beginning of the dynasty.

The rule of the second emperor was peaceful and prosperous, just like his father. Ti Capital City was a huge island but that didn't stop merchants and travellers.

It was far more lively than any other province in the dynasty and everyday was a market day.

This particular day, the sun was set mid-way in the sky when a huge golden carriage laced with intricate designs and jade tassels rode on the busy streets of the capital of Ti Empire, attracting awed gazes from the passersby.

Riding before the breathtaking carriage were two strong looking men in their prime. One was dressed in plain white robes whilst the other was dressed in a black robe with white and golden thread embroidery.

The man dressed in white plain robes excluded a gentle aura and was very handsome while the one dressed in black expensive looking robes excluded an aggressive aura but was average in looks.

A young lady dressed as a man stood by the side of the road selling hairpins and cosmetics. The young lady although dressed like a man had a voice as soft as clouds but a temper as bad as an unsettled weather.

It had not been long since she was hired by the owner of the stall but was already known in the market place for her strange taste of dressing like a man and for her bad temper.

Her skin was tan, probably from years of absorbing the sun rays and her hair tied into a messy bun. This young lady – already an old spinster about to clock twenty-two – had no spectacular facial features.

She had large eyes which curved at the ends, like that of a tigress and slim pointed nose bridge with a rounded tip. Her lips were naturally curved in a slim line with a thin upper lip and full lower lips.

Truly, her beauty was not remarkable except when those lips curved into the most beautiful smile and her eyes shine with stars.

This young lady was Yin Su, commonly called Susu.

Who am I? Nobody but a lousy narrator who sees everything but no one can see me. I am but a wisp of an ancient star which has long perished.

My colleagues in the sky call me an old fog which should let go of my attachment with the starry sky and peacefully rest in peace.

Yes, just as you imagined. Humans would call me a ghost but I am a wisp. I cannot help but be so intrigued with the matters of humans especially love stories but this particular one drew my attention.

Back to the story, my fellow audience.

As the carriage rode down the street approaching the stall of Yin Su, she turned to a vegetable stall owner and lowered her voice, "Boss Jian, are those men not the famous Yin and Yang Generals who serve the Royal Princess Zhao?"

"But they look like nothing but escorts, so much for their bravery," she mocked.

The older man turned to this young lady whilst trying to distract the flies coming from the butcher's stall some steps away from his vegetable, "Yin and Yang Generals, Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang?"

Xiao Su nodded, "Didn't you hear, both Generals were famous in jianghu (martial art world) till they pledged their alliance to the court."

Boss Jian thought for a while before nodding, "I remember, those years when I was interested with matters of jianghu, they were the ones who defeated the villainess, Ghost Princess."

Xiao Su shook her head in disgust, "Defeated? Of course not, she…"

"Stop the carriage!" An authoritative feminine voice from within the carriage was heard.

It was then, Xiao Su realised that the carriage was right infront of her stall and the men in horses had gone in front of them.

Susu lowered her head immediately as Xiao Yin, the black robe clothed general jumped from his horse and walked to the front of the carriage.

"Young Master, but her Highness is await…"

"His lordship requests that you stop the carriage at once and withdraw!" the female voice replied again which made Susu wonder who might be the lady who speaks with so much pride and authority.

"Yes, your Lordship," the Yin general replied, glaring at the carriage.

Susu glanced up and took a sneak peek at the sour expression on the Yin general's face. For someone as aggressive as Xiao Yin, that young lady was testing his patience.

The carriage opened and a girl as white as snow with beautiful exquisite features alighted from the carriage. Yin Su was almost struck with her beauty.

Xiao Yin turned around and saw a lad staring at the personal maid of the third young master. Xiao Yin shook his head and walked to meet his sworn brother.

Xiao Yang, the one with a gentleman aura had also gotten down from the horse and stood by the other side of the carriage when Xiao Yin walked to meet him.

"I can tear apart that maid's mouth, talking to me like a servant!" Xiao Yin was infuriated and folded his arms.

"Calm down, wait for a good opportunity to show itself," Xiao Yang smiled calmly and brought out a small folded fan from his sleeves.

Xiao Yin nodded and kept quiet when he suddenly remembered the face of the lad at the other side of the road staring at the maid in awe.

The face looked awfully familiar but he couldn't place his finger around it.

The maid opened the carriage door and the person driving the carriage assisted a young man down from the carriage.

Yin Su's attention moved from the girl who seemed to be a maid to the young man. He was tall and handsome and had what Yin Su would call an heroic stance.

Unfortunately, something seemed wrong with his eyes as he held his maid for support. Yin Su looked around for the yin and yang generals but didn't find them, maybe they were at the other side of the carriage.

Well, even if they saw her, how could they recognize her while dressed as a man. The maid and the young master approached her stall.

"Welcome, Young Master, I sell top-notch cosmetics and hairpins directly from Huarong store," Yin Su said full of enthusiasm.

The maid nodded, staring at some of the hairpins when her master's hand trembled.

"What would you like to get for your wife, Young Master?" Yin Su asked.

This young master was definitely related to the Royal Princess Zhao which meant that he had a lot of money. The more money she had, Susu would be able to find the person she had been searching for.

"Miss..." The young master spoke, his voice trembling.

Yin Su looked up expectantly when she noticed that although it seemed like he was looking at her, he wasn't. From her years of experience, this young master was blind.

The maid looked at her young master and corrected, "Young Master, this is not a woman."

Maybe her master mistook because of the soft voice of the seller. It was not bad for a man to have a light toned voice but it was ridiculous for a woman to dress like a man.

"Young Master, have we met before?" Yin Su asked out of the ordinary.

Although he was blind, he was able to recognize that she was a woman not a man. Many would love to believe that she was a man with a woman's voice than a woman in a man's clothing.

"You remember?" There was a rush of excitement in his voice.

Yin Su was taken aback by his words. When did she ever meet a relative of the Royal Princess?

The only people here that she had history was were those two generals. Then she had a duel with them infront of the heroes of that time but they played dirty and poisoned her.

Yin Su had gone to see revenge and caused a huge rift between them before cutting off one finger from both of them each.

But that was in the past, their fingers were in exchange for the harm they caused her when they poisoned her.

"Young Master must be mistaken, I..."

"You have travelled far and wide, I know who you search for," the young master cut in.

Yin Su was beyond shocked. How did he know that she came from far in search of someone?

"But this place is not the right place to discuss," his voice was calm and relaxing.

"Worry not about your stall, I will find someone to watch over it for you," the young master said and turned his head to his maid.

The maid nodded, "As you have ordered, third young master."

"This way, Mister..." The maid pointed at the carriage to Yin Su.