A Maiden's Strange Voyage

With a little hesitation as Luoyang was a big place. Even as Yuan Shao showed a clear understanding of the city running through all of it. And allowed her to follow behind.

Even as he came to an abrupt stop. And so did she although nearly b.u.mping into him. She had stuck her neck out in an attempt to see what was happening. To find them already st the outside. Ready to make the entry inside. Or anything like it.

"What should we do?" She whispered to him. Leaning on the side. Even as he kept his eyes on the outside.

He had held his chin together. As though there would be an answer. "I"ll go over to see if there"s a way we can hear things. Or at least spot what was happening.

This was an impromptu decision. Even as she knew that perhaps informing them was better. But somehow Yuan Shao felt that this was more of a necessity. She could tell that he had his reasons and it wasn"t just because he wanted to be here. Or some form of glory.

There was a deeper reason. And that now was far from the best time to ask. Perhaps later when they were on their way back and not busy with trying to avoid being caught or something like that.

He had leaned against it, taking a chance to have a look. And she waited behind. In case anyone saw them. It made common sense to stand back even as he had headed back.

"I couldn"t hear anything. But it seems definite that they are doing something."

Even as they joined the group of people walking past the place. And trying to act normal. Only upon the second street had they began to talk.

"It seems risky. Wouldn"t seeing them be enough?"

"I couldn"t be sure. The last time I did this it was revealed to be minor. As such, I have to know more." To know more before making a move. A good choice. "But what I saw in there, and the cash was enough to prove them."

She stood at the back out of the knowledge that it would be useless to do it without watching their back. Or make it easy for her to hide and run back. Even as their current situation was a success. They had managed to turn back and not get caught.

"Either way, it is important because they can"t be spending time trying to investigate it when it might be just a rumor." And that he was taught it was better to observe and then figure out where to head next.

"Why?" She had wanted to know. Even as the inkling she got was the fact that it may not be worthwhile.

"It"s more like they can"t be sending people out at the slight mention of suspicious people about. They need something more." And it made sense too. Her mother would not really be bothered if someone said the food was good; she was bothered only when it was the majority of her customers.

"That does have its uses. But is something so risky worthwhile?"

"Well, I could have asked for permission but this is something that would have taken time. And I have the feeling that we would be feeling the results." The rest of the walk back had been quick and fast. Even as she picked up a dessert or two, with

Even as they were at the edge, with Feiyu standing at the edge. Knowing that they took a far longer time than a simple stroll along the streets. Which also made a lot of sense while they were here. Because of how it never made much sense added up.

"Where have you been?"

"I was looking into something. There were the members of the Fate sect." And thus why they took so long. Even as Feiyu still held her hands together. In clear disapproval.

"And I saw with my own two eyes that they were putting jewels, cash, and doc.u.ments on the table." Which had been deed polls? The printing press made it easier to do so and thus keep a better record of everything.

"Can your word be taken?"

"I swear."

"We need to look into this immediately. As they are now taking control of Luoyang." And it meant that it was much faster. It was still something that they needed to figure out as soon as possible.

It was a quick step. "But you"re still in trouble because you took an apprentice. You"re still in trouble too, Dianyu." Even as he gave a sheepish smile before she left. "It"s late, so we"ll be discussing it later."

Even as they went off. While they looked at each other.

--

She woke up the next day in the same room. Exhausted by the last night although she did not feel it until she was getting ready for bed. This was rather far from the place itself.

Even as she sat up, to find herself looking at the girl. It was rather random in her appearance. As she simply stared at her.

Dianyu leaned back while avoiding her eye. "Jiejie is looking for you." Clear that it had been Feiyu even as she took the chance to walk out next. Leaving a still baffled Feiyu.

She got up and dressed at the end. Knowing that she was going to get something. She had said it, even as Dianyu didn"t know. The girl had been an excellent apprentice for her, helping her in a variety of matters. And this was the first time she was antic.i.p.ating the punishment.

Although she realized no one told her where it was. Before funding Yuan Shao, who was hiding among the pillars. And she tapped him on the shoulder which had scared him at that point.

"Where is Feiyu?"

"How can you be this calm?"

"This is my first time." He blinked. Before curving into a smile. "It"s that way." Pointing to the right. Even as he remained outside. Perhaps only taking a small step each time.

"We"ll go together." She looked him in the eye. Being unwilling to really go. "She can"t be that bad."

"For you that is. For me, she will because I do this often. And my mother is much harsher with me." Even as they were now outside the room. And for a moment, inside Dianyu did see it resemble a slaughterhouse.

Even as Feiyu was merely sitting there and enjoying her tea. And her expression, which had been devoid of any emotion. Something that she had seen often. Perhaps it was the fact that she also didn"t really notice it. Until it was staring right in her face at this point.

She stepped into the room where she knew she was facing her. Finally coming to face her at the end of the day.

"What did you do when you followed him?"

"I stood at the back. As I witnessed him everything. But I did not join in." She did me think it was a good idea. "I was keeping an eye on the back all the while."

Even as Feiyu had played a song. She had the feeling that it was likely that this would be how she would deal with them. Although she saw Yuan Shao cover his ears. He had not brought his instrument perhaps guessing that she would have taken it away regardless.

She stood willing to accept it. It was rather justified as well as not. Since she had disobeyed things, which was why they were getting off with probably a slap on the wrist. Because she was acknowledging good reason behind it.

She heard the dreams. Even as it all but reminded of the time she was back in her mother"s office. Whenever she had committed a mistake and was asked, or a lesson.

In both cases, it was never a fond relationship. If anyone were to ask her, her best memories with her were the times they had went out. They had talked to each other and simply sat down. And when she had listened to Dianyu marvel about the possibilities of the future and adulthood.

Even as now she was seeing it. "Taking matters into your own hands means accounting for the consequences. It also means knowing what they might bring. Yuan Shao"s decision had good things as much as bad. You followed him which was a good thing in case something went wrong. Even as you could have simply gone back and informed us which would be an understandable choice."

The boy could have been seen as impulsive, and done something that could jeopardize them as much as it had been quick thinking.

"He gave us something concrete. Without overstepping his bounds. Even as he should have waited." But Feiyu made it clear that even then it was not the best course of action.

"But always you remember that your decision alone can change things." So this wasn"t punishment. As much as it was the truth. Her mother had always told her of that. To exercise judgment not alone but as a whole. To see the pictures rather than the details.

"I understand, Master."

"Of course." He had also said it.

"You are dismissed Yuan Shao I informed Madame Yuan about this. She would have wanted to know regardless." Even as he stood up before leaving. But not so for her apparently.

"It was a good move. You supported Yuan Shao, covering most of his bases. You didn"t choose to join in and had made a decision which would benefit the both of you."

She could not really say why. But whenever her mother was handling someone difficult, she often asked someone to look out for any more. She often looked into whether there were ways where they could have been attacked from behind.

It was to understand the situation. She knew that joining him was of no use. It was better to ensure that they could leave. "And I think I may have to start teaching you a little more about strategy. Because you have a lot of talent for it. And an unflinching look into the truth."

"I just made a sensible move."

"Which was based on logic. And the strategy is important when you"re stuck in a difficult situation. And having to figure out between two good possibilities and realizing which is better and more suited."

"Why?"

"Because you"re going to have a new teacher for your parasol. I can"t really teach you that but there is someone here who could. She is the one who taught Liu Jin. And I would need to fully focus on the investigation. Especially with this."

It made a strong choice too. "But I will focus on teaching you the best methods in a situation. We are always going to be lesser than others. So, it is important that you know how to play to your advantage."

She blinked. Before she nodded. "That makes sense. So how are we doing it?"

She took out a chess set before them. Carefully arranging all of them. When she was done, she said, "take a seat."

A life hesitant before she did so. "I"m going to teach you how to play chess first, and then I"m going to start having you answer and think up of questions and ways to change it."

Even as she was staring in bewilderment. "So soon?" She didn"t think that it would be this soon. And with their pace, it didn"t seem to go along any further.

"And that next spring, you"re going to try a hand at being promoted. You pick things up fast, and you have a sensible head."

She looked in surprise. "You question things when they are wrong. And being able to discern when decisions are made because they were the best. And you are mature to know when it"s a necessity or to put up with terrible conditions."

"What if I"m too young?" She had only known fifteen years of her life. And in a couple more months sixteen.

"The youngest person to ever made it has been twelve. And no it"s not Yuan Shao, though he had been fourteen almost fifteen."

Which Feiyu started to teach her how to play.