Emperor's Cunning Wife

Feng Hong was in utter disbelief. His limbs were cold all over. He nearly triggered his sisters' deaths over his momentary impulse.

"How can a branded convict be possibly strolling on the streets?" He asked. His voice trembled so much from anxiety. The room was warm yet his scalp was full of cold sweat. Heart palpitated so fast as his mind began to form images of their possible doom, he looked at his hands, the memory was so fleeting, his encounter with the man may only be seconds but he couldn't deny that in the midst of that he felt an unprecedented danger which he overlooked choosing to satisfy his d.e.s.i.r.e. "It's my fault."

"They say we meet three kinds of people in our lives, the ones that will change your life, the ones that will destroy your life and the ones that will be your life. Don't you think this quote is right?" Ning Lou noticed his emotional turmoil and remembered a quote she read on the internet.

The threatening tears in the rimmed of his eyes had stopped from gushing out. Ning Lou sighed with relief as her words seemed to have a positive effect. "Aren't boys supposed to look cool? Crying won't do you any good. You're not even a cute girl."

"There's just dust in my eyes. I'm not crying." Feng Hong wiped his eyes with his sleeves. He knew she was just teasing him, pretending to be disgusted with his weak state. After completely recovering his calmness, Feng Hong asked, "Which part did you see the tattoo?"

"I saw a burn wound on his neck." Ning Lou rubbed her chin.

"How is that related?" Feng Hong sounded confused.

"He must've done that wound to cover the branded tattoo because he did a terrible job. I say, he should find a helper next time." Ning Lou clicked her tongue, too disappointed for her colleague.

Feng Hong caught her hint and also recalled some things. "From the way you said it. He's a runaway convict who has some unspeakable plans in Yangmei?"

"You know pretty much that I anticipated. I am quite curious about your past." Ning Lou rubbed her chin and didn't answer his question. She remembered how fast Feng Hong's hands were when he snatched the tassel from that man. Those hands of him had some smooth parts while the other was filled with callouses, but the strange thing was it was not from a weapon but from brush or something else. Although his mouth was sometimes unfiltered, his manner was not any brutish, the way he held the cup when drinking also showed some signs of decent conduct. The patches of his clothes were sewed perfectly. There were also some embroidered small clouds inside his sleeves.

Badump-

Feng Hong didn't dare to meet her gaze and stayed quite abandoning his inquisitiveness for the convict.

Ning Lou observed him getting uncomfortable and sighed, "I'm not a nosy person, don't worry I won't force you if you don't want to share anything. As far I know that convict was probably on someone's order to meet another person and that tassel you got was related to it. Anyway, this is just my guess."

Feng Hong nodded and dug out the said tassel from his inner wear. "He somehow managed to find our hide out. Did he follow me inside the alley like you did?"

Ning Lou stood up and inspected it. She c.a.r.e.s.sed the black tassel which has six loop knots emphasizing the central knot. She felt that she had seen the design somewhere but whether it was hers or the original host's memory, she couldn't figure it out. "When I was following you, I didn't notice him or anyone else tailing, so probably it's either your hideout just sucks or someone paid for your information." Anyway, this era don't have any CCTVs and tracking devices that man could only rely on tracking Feng Hong's location through forceful means.

Feng Hong caught the censure in her voice and pondered. "Why would someone go through such effort for a knot tassel?"

"This you need to ask him. Anyway, the fact that you managed to get here proves that you consented in joining my organization." Ning Lou spun her sight on him, but her interest on the tassel hasn't dwindled. The materials wasn't that expensive, no jade or other precious stones attached, however the man had painstakingly tried to retrieve it which mean it has some value. But, in their lawless world, meddling in the other's business was calling for trouble.

Seeing her so silent, Feng Hong guessed that he would not be able to get anything from her and switched topic.

"I was intrigued by the design. I haven't seen a knot that looks like it." Feng Hong stated explaining his situation back then.

Ning Lou heard his words and once again glanced at the knots, her eyes held unknown light. It is indeed different from the usual knots, it was simple, yet the colour was a foreboding Feng Hong's with uneasiness. Every time after he snatched the things that triggered his impulse, they will held no value anymore, so sometimes he just disposed of them somewhere, but regarding this black tassel he couldn't shrugged of the overwhelming feeling of being doused with ice cold water, he couldn't decide what to do beside from keeping it for the mean time.

"You're worrying too much at your young age. I say, how about going on some fun stuff tomorrow? It will be our first official business venture." Ning Lou grinned and stuffed the black thing on her sleeves.

The two stared for a while before Feng Hong nodded. With the debt of three lives he had no right to refuse. The other person clearly had done him a big favour so Feng Hong without any hesitation will go through fire and water, climb the mountains, and cross the ocean to repay it. He didn't questioned Ning Lou, and just readily accepted her arrangements.

"A man that knows how to be grateful, this lady likes." Ning Lou smiled approvingly. She turned around and rummaged her bed for a silver ingot and tossed it to Feng Hong, "We have a big day tomorrow, let's get you first some decent clothes."

Feng Hong watched a silver blur flickered in the air and caught it. "Thank you."

Ning Lou watched him caught it with ease and was delighted. "Better wipe off the dirt first before visiting a shop or else you'll be stopped at the door." She said as she roamed her fingers on his mud filled hemp clothes.

Only did Feng Hong remember his dishevelled state.

"There's water behind that partition." Ning Lou pointed towards a white screen.

Feng Hong nodded and trailed his steps. When he was behind it, he started taking off his clothes and stopped after realizing there was a girl in the room.

"I'll come back after checking on someone." Ning Lou added and the sound of the door being opened and closed transmitted into his ears. He loosened the grip on his pants and totally revealed his white u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r.

Outside the door, Ning Lou gripped the hidden thing inside hidden in her sleeves. This world had limited her actions a lot, her little knowledge was not helpful, but maybe that person recuperating on the top floor could bring her some light. It's just that, he had been unconscious till now.

After climbing the stairs, she finally arrived at the room and knocked according to Mother Shen's instruction. Finishing, a male voice gave her permission, "Come in."

Ning Lou raised her eyebrows and opened the door. There was a person, sipping the tea elegantly, its actions were quite graceful exuding beauty rivalling vent the finest courtesans of the brothel. There was a tinge of redness on its cheeks, lips like cherries, eyes shaped as apricots and feminine thin brows. When combined together, the face could lure men and women alike, but what a pity. Ning Lou thought and gazed at its flat c.h.e.s.t from which she dug two water balloons two days ago.

"No matter how long you look, my exquisite face wouldn't be yours. You should blame your parents instead for giving you such ugly visage. Quickly go in and disappear from my sight, your spoiling my tea time." The person complained with visible disgusts. He didn't forget what happened at that night when he woke up and saw her and him entangled in the bed, he felt goose bumps all over and bathed numerous times to rub off her stench else he will be infected with her face disease.

Ning Lou chuckled instead of getting angry. She approached him and slammed both of her hands on the table.

"What are you doing?" The person was irritated and got off his chair as fast as he could, he hugged his slender arms treating Ning Lou as some kind of contagious disease.

"I'm showing you our big difference." Ning Lou proclaimed and bounced her hills in front of him. "Too bad…" She paused and gazed at his non-existent b.o.o.b.s with a tragic look.

"The face can be saved but these can't be fake." Ning Lou squeezed her assets in front of him with enthusiasm.

"You…" The person exclaimed and raised his hand to grab her arm but Ning Lou already ran off to where Brother Long's bed was located.

"Stop there!" The angry shout resonated in the room. There was not a bit of elegance from it.

Just before closing the door, Ning Lou gazed at him and raised her middle finger while saying, "Balloons are not durable so you can use oranges instead or better yet silicon is more appropriate."

After she said that, a flying cup was thrown toward her face, she immediately closed the door and the cup failed to hit her.

"You b*tch!"