"My story?"

"Why," Jin qing gestured to the boiling water "This is how the rich do it. They chat and tell each other stories or little bits of their life while waiting for tea and snacks."

The little girl looked astounded and glanced over at her little brother. "But-"

"Oh, so you don't want to go first?" Jin qing asked, interrupting her. "Your brother will be fine, there's no use fretting over him when the water is still cold."

"I mean..." The girl looked over at the array of things laid out, then back at the two women in front of her. "Why should I tell you?"

"One, there's nothing better to do and unless you want to sit in silence, be my guest." Jin qing pointed out, "Two, why not? There's nothing to lose except for some energy, which can be easily gained back from some food and sleep. Besides, it allows me to help you better if I know your situation. You don't want to go back to that dirty alleyway do you?"

Jin qing needed her to talk. This girl would be the source of most of her information about the people in the streets, how they became the way they are and how they see the wealthy.

Though Jin qing can learn much by simply observing, it would be a lot easier if she heard it firsthand from someone who had been in this city a lot longer than she had.

The little girl fiddled with a piece of freshly cut ginger, not looking up at Jin qing to meet her eyes.

Yu Qi sighed and settled back in her seat comfortably. "I'm hungry."

Jin qing smirked. Only Yu QI would care about being hungry in such a situation. "If you're hungry, go get some food. Bring some back for this little girl and her brother too."

Ah... That reminds me...

As soon as Yu Qi left, Jin qing turned back to the little girl with a smile "You already know our names, but we don't know yours. Mind introducing yourself a little?"

"Nian Zhen" she answered, "And my brother's name is Xiao Wen."

"See?" Jin qing answered "That's a wonderful start. Now, do you want to sit in silence or tell us your story?" She asked, "At this point, I can only help you with your brother's bit of illness, but if you tell me more, I can help you more."

"Why are you helping us?"

Jin qing chuckled "You ask that a lot, don't you? And every time I'll give you the same answer- what's so wrong with a human helping another?" Jin qing did feel a little bad for not telling her the truth, but it wasn't entirely a lie either.

"Why don't you tell me your story?" Nian Zhen asked. "You're always asking me for mine, but why don't you say yours first?"

Ah... This little girl is smart.

"Nian Zhen, how old are you?"

"I'm turning thirteen." She answered, "My brother is ten."

Jin qing looked over at the boy, the back at Nian Zhen.

Neither of them looked like their age, especially with their thin frame.

Jin qing nodded and lifted the lid of the pot, checking if it was boiling yet. She didn't want to say anything in response and wanted to see how Nian Zhen would react.

"I answered your questions." Nian Zhen glared at Jin qing, a hint of defiance in her voice "Are you ever going to answer mine? You said it yourself that it's better to talk while waiting for the tea, and I asked you for your tale."

Jin qing admired her bravery and set her hands down on her lap as she usually would. "I'll tell mine if you promise you'll tell yours right after, with no delay."

Nian Zhen seemed to think about this for a second but nodded. "Alright- that seems fair."

"Well," Jin qing began, her soft expression never falling from her face "have you ever heard of the Xue Xian of the Wei Kingdom?"

Nian Zhen nodded "of course- the news was buzzing around about her capture not too long ago. But what about her? Why do you ask?"

"The Xue xian, well, I'm her."

The girl's jaw dropped open and her eyes widened to the size of plates in absolute surprise. "But aren't you supposed to be in captivity? Such a person like you- I'm sorry but aren't you a little too dangerous to be let out?"

Jin qing chuckled "am I? To some, yes."

To Gui Fei and Shen Feng, yes.
She is far too dangerous to be let out, basking in the light of freedom.

"But generally, no." She shook her head "I struck a deal with the emperor. Clever man, he really is."

"But why-"

"Who knows?"

"What did you say to the emperor?"

"A few things." Jin qing answered simply "It's a wonder what a few carefully selected sentences can get a person."

That was partially a lie. She still couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being used in some way, and how she was set free far too easily.

I'm not used to everything going my way too easily. I guess I should just thank the heavens for making my life slightly easier.

Jin qing lifted the lid of the pot and poured out a little bit of water into a separate bowl, and placed the ingredients in. "Now, I finished my short story." She said as she stirred "You promised me that you would tell me yours once I'm done."

Nian Zhen shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Well... Mine sounds almost just as simple as yours."

"Well," Jin qing smiled, still stirring "A story is still a story, isn't it? It's better than nothing."

"Where should I start?"

"How did you and your brother end up on the streets?" She asked, direct with her questions.

"My mother died during the process of childbirth of my brother." Nian Zhen fiddled with the tassel of the table cloth, refusing to make eye contact "Xiao Wen was her third child, and we were already poor. Our landlord kept on raising the rent cost, and I had to take care of my brother while my father and elder brother went out to work."

Jin qing nodded, paying attention while her hands worked.

Once the ingredients had soaked in the hot water for a while, she took all them out and poured out the water in the bowl. Carefully, she dropped the slices of ginger and steeped yarrow flowers into the boiling water and covered the lid.

"Go on." She said as soon as Nian Zhen paused for a moment "Don't stop."

Nian Zhen sighed "Well, I think I told you the rest, didn't I? My brother and my father were drafted in the war that has been going on. Both of them were killed, and my brother and I never got the reparations we were supposed to get for losing a family member in the war."

"How does that make you feel? What did you think about it?"

"Oh, I was angry." Nian Zhen said bitterly "And so were a lot of other people. After the siege, the neighborhood I was in- there were a lot of words traveling around for revolt. We were all too scared to do anything about it though, and a lot of them were afraid to lose the little bit of peace left in their home to even try."

Jin qing looked up "You're awfully bright for a thirteen-year-old."

"Thanks?"

"But..." Jin qing trailed off "What do you mean by ' a lot of them were afraid to lose the little bit of peace left in their home'?"

"Oh, they're scared of losing what they have." Nian Zhen said matter of factly "Most of the people in that neighborhood have a solid roof over their heads, food, and some entertainment to keep them distracted and comfortable. They have too much to lose even if they'll have a lot more to gain in return."

Jin qing had to stop herself from smiling.

The plan she had thought of earlier was starting to take shape, refining itself as the little girl went on.

Yu Qi had walked in with a box with food inside, breaking the silence with the sound of footsteps. She had changed out of the girly dress and back into the more comfortable clothes of a guard- only slightly modified to fit a woman.

"Have you two already started talking without me?" She pouted, her gaze lingering only slightly bit longer on the shine that must have been showing past Jin qing's eyes. "How rude. I've brought us all some food too. Is the boy awake yet? Is the tea done yet?"

Jin qing laughed "Why are you the one with many questions now?"

Yu qi smiled sheepishly, hiding the smirk she was about to have on her face. "What? I'm not allowed to have questions now?"

Nian Zhen stared at them, obviously a little confused about how the two women in front of her practically switched personalities in less than an hour or two.

Jin qing helped Yu Qi take out the plates of food in the box, and to both Jin qing and Nian Zhen's delight- it was all still hot.

Nian Zhen let out a content sigh and took in a deep breath, taking in the aroma of hot food with a bright smile on her face.

Jin qing studied the girl, placing a bowl of rice and pork in front of her. "Here, eat." She said, gently patting the girl's hand.

"But my brother-"

Jin qing looked over at the little boy who was still sleeping- but he looked better rested now rather than fitfully. "Don't worry about your brother. We'll have him drink the medicine when he wakes up, and we'll bring him more food when he does." She smiled, patting the girl's head warmly "eat. Your brother will be fine."

Nian zhen nodded, picking up her chopsticks and began to eat.

Jin qing and Yu Qi did the same.

Jin qing didn't make any eye contact with Yu Qi as she ate or filled the teapot.
She knew that she wanted to ask questions, questions she can't answer.

Yet.

But as for the moment, Jin qing was reminded of the life she had in the Wei. She was soft-spoken, gentle, and ladylike next to a child. Doing nothing but sipping tea and relaxing, it wasn't much different than before.

The only difference now was that she was in enemy territory, and she intended to destroy the kingdom rather than save.

Ahh I'm a little late- sorry about that.

With the Coronavirus infecting so many of the countries of the readers from this book, I remind everyone to wash their hands, cover your mouth, and of course,

stay safe everyone!