After Madam Cheng left the scene, the group of children that ran away started to appear one by one. With their leader taken away, they clamoured together to discuss.

“What are we going to do? She’s going to kill Zhi Lang and Ke Xin!”

“…”

“We got to save them!”

“How are we supposed to do that?”

“Yeah!” a few voiced asked in unison.

“… maybe we can help them escape!” an optimistic boy explained.

But, he was quickly rebutted. “Idiot! If it was so easy, we would have done it already!”

Although Shi Yan and Li En can hear their voices, the two chose to ignore it. Li En did not believe that Madam Cheng was evil enough to kill the two children in her care. Likewise, Shi Yan thought through the process and deduced that both Zhi Lang and Ke Xin would have ran away if they knew she was going to murder them. Would a fly not struggle when caught in a spider’s net? It was more likely that the group of children here were simply allowing their imaginations to run wild.

Shi Yan tugged on Li En’s hand once again and whispered into her ear, “Li En, can we go? I want to see more things…”

“Alright Young Master,” the old woman whispered back but couldn’t help to wonder, “don’t you wish to hear more about that woman?”

Shi Yan viciously shook his head, “No… I don’t want to…”

Li En gave a light chuckle, after seeing Shi Yan’s slightly frightened face. Taking the little boy’s hand, she surreptitiously leads him to a decrepit alleyway, away from the notice of the children.

After a long discussion, someone brought up the idea, “I know! Let’s ask that boy and that old lady for help!”

The group turned around to look at the place where Shi Yan and Li En were standing, to find the pair missing. All children quickly turn to each other for answers, “Where did they go?”

*************************

~ Walking along the alleyway,

*************************

The decrepit alleyway had fewer men and women laying around, compared to the streets. There were many that seemed malnourished, starving for food, which did not make any sense. A forest was just nearby, with plenty of food. Even Li En, who saw this scene was fairly startled but she kept her mouth shut. She was well aware of the situation within the Dynasty but there was no point in sharing such cruel facts with the little boy who was walking with her right now. [Please, just let him enjoy this moment a little longer…]

Shi Yan turned his head to look back. He wanted to make sure that no children were following them. After a few minutes without a sign of someone behind them, Shi Yan let out a sigh of relief. When he turned his head to look at the scene of bony adults, he could not help but ask the old woman. “Li En, why are they not eating well? There's a forest nearby… they could easily get some fruits to eat...”

“Erm… Young Master, do you recall that certain fruits can't be eaten? Some plants would cause your skin to turn pale and nails to turn purple?” Li En stares at the weak, close to death adults around her. “If they were to eat those plants unknowingly, wouldn’t they die? They'd rather starve than to risk their lives foraging for food in the forest…”

Although Shi Yan was rather young, he could tell something was off with the explanation. In a curious voice, he asked another naïve question, “Then why don’t people teach them? Li En, why don’t we teach them… maybe we can charge a copper coin for a lesson!”

Li En perspired a little, “… Young Master… I don’t think that they have a copper coin…”

Shi Yan let out a remorseful, “ohhh…” but quickly changed his viewpoint. “Then why don’t we give them a lesson first and then take a little bit of food from their harvest?”

Li En’s smiling lips gave a slight twitch as she hesitated to answer, “Young Master… I don't believe that they would pass their food to us once we teach them…”

“But shouldn't they feel grateful and want to thanks us?” Shi Yan’s voice seemed a little impatient.

“… Young Master… not everyone is as wonderful as you…” the slight compliment made Shi Yan a little blush once he heard it but Li En did not wait another second for the topic to continue on. Hastily, she points to the end of the alleyways, to a store facing the streets. “Young Master! Look! There's something there!”

Due to Li En’s abrupt exhilarated identification, Shi Yan turned his head and focused his eyes on a small store opposite of the alleyway. It was decorated by vases, either those made of clay or those made of a whiter, purer, smooth surface material (porcelain). Being a curious child, Shi Yan’s attention was immediately absorbed by the pure white vase. He tugged onto old woman’s hand and asked, pointing to the vase, “Li En, Li En! What’s that?”

The old woman breathed a breath of relief as she quickened her walking pace, and softly explained, “that’s a porcelain vase. Isn't it beautiful?”

*Un!* Shi Yan nods in agreement as the vase got closer to him. The clear markings of the blue lines, forming flowers, birds and the sky were remarkable. Although this depiction was, in reality, nothing more than a mere imitation of an experts' work of art, it was already considered to be the apex of man’s handicraft for the naïve little boy. Even when Shi Yan arrived directly in front of the porcelain vase, his eyes did not seem to escape from its allure.

*Ahem*, an old bald man within the store walked out and let out a cold cough as his soulless gaze landed on the boy staring at his work. "Have you seen enough?" Having been in the business for a long time, it was annoying to see penniless brats ogling at his shiny works of art; not being able to understand the true allure of his work.

Unconsciously, Shi Yan slowly shook his head, causing the old man's eyes to twitch.

"Sorry... please forgive him for his rudeness..." Although Li En gave an apology, it was one that was concealed with spite. [What's wrong with him simply staring at your vase? It's not like my Young Master is going to steal anything from you!]

The old man's gaze turned to Li En, "Madam, are you here to purchase anything? Everything in this shop is an works of art that cost no small amount." Looking at the way both Shi Yan and Li En dressed, the old man knew instantly that they were commoners. Such being the case, it was most likely that they did not have enough to pay for his goods. It was much better for them to not block the streets, allowing his vases to have a chance to catch the eyes of the travelling nobles.

[How rude!] Li En's face turned a shade darker but held a forced happy expression on her face. She looked towards the ogling Shi Yan and sighed. "How much does this vase cost?"

"78 copper coins!" The old man loudly voiced out his price with pride. "This is my best work so far, any less is not negotiable!"

[Who would possibly even bother haggling with you?] Li En cursed in her mind as she took out her leather pouch to hand over nearly everything she had inside but was abruptly stopped by Shi Yan's scream, "Ahhh!"

Startled, Li En looked towards the little boy and asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

The little boy looked towards the old woman with a saddened expression, "Li En... there is a scratch..."

"What!" The old man took up the vase and quickly surveyed the vase. When he found a small scratch on the bottom of the vase, nearly unperceivable due to the smooth white surface, his entire face turned black. "YOU LITTLE BRAT!!!" He roared as he reached his hand out in an attempt to choke Shi Yan but the boy was quick enough to manoeuvre back.

Li En, who had her hand prepared to strike stared at the old man with contempt. "Who are you to scold him?! He obviously did not even touch that pathetic vase of yours!"

"LIES! You contemptuous bitch!" *pui!* the old man spat out but his saliva was easily dodged by both Li En and Shi Yan. Watching these two make a mockery of him caused his eyes balls to turn red. "THEIF!! GUARDS!! THERE ARE THIEVES HERE!!!" The old man gave a disgusting smirk while he clenched the precious vase in his hand even tighter. He gently placed it back on the wooden table he took it from and fished out a distorted wooden crane from underneath the table.

Shi Yan hastily moved to Li En’s side and pulled on her hand, “Li En, Li En… why is he acting like this? Did I do something wrong? Should I say sorry?”

Li En’s heart softened as she heard the boy talk. “Young Master, there's no need to worry. Everything is just some confusion, that’s all. Please don’t lower yourself to the likes of someone like him…”

“ok…”

The commotion caused many onlookers, especially those idling on the streets to stare at the scene. However, no one wished to partake in such a troublesome dealings. They merely wish to enjoy some rowdy entertainment in front of them.

Seeing that the pair stood at the same spot even after he called the guards, the old man screamed again, “GUARDS! GUARDS!!” as he slowly walked out of his store with the cane in his hand. When he saw a leathered suited man walking about nonchalantly, the old man quicken his pace as he continued to yell in a pitiful manner, “GUARDS!!! Help me!!”

“What are you going on about?!” a droopy eyed black haired man dressed in leather armour turned around and asked. [Bastard, why are you making more trouble for me… why am I so unlucky to meet this type of situation at such timing…] The man sighed in his heart. Initially, he had already heard of the commotion and simply wished to quickly make his departure. Unfortunately, the dastardly old man had to pick him off to do an unnecessary chore.

Recognising that guard, the old man spoke with much delight, “ Venerable Qiu! I beg of you to help me!” the old man pointed to the vandalistic pair, “They’ve destroyed my vase without any hint of remorse! They still smirked and laughed at me! Please, Mr Qiu, help me deliver justice.”

[…] Qiu Zhiming had already seen such a scene on numerous occasions. He had known this old cock for more than 10 years and knew of this old man’s tendencies. Not to mention this old cock's [pathetic acting skills to simply, escalate the situation. This old man's nickname around here is ‘Pot Head’. He is a 67-year-old single man, with an incurable love for pottery. Many of the guards that knew him would even joke about vases being his wife. Any insults to his work of art would land the person into a torrent of screams and the heavens forbid anyone who damages his goods.

Although Qiu Zhiming did not have a great impression of the old man, hearing that he was close to certain nobles made him reluctantly forced to pay attention to the old man’s current whims; especially after he had been singled out. Of course, favouritism in this situation was also unavoidable and this old man knew about it.

Walking forwards towards Pot Head, Qiu Zhiming sighed in his heart but spoke in a more fierce manner, demanding authority, “you two over there, is what he said true?”

Gently, Li En directed the little boy to stand behind her as she glared at both the guard and the old man. In a patient manner, she spoke, "Dear guard, there has been a mistake. My Young Master here had merely spotted a flaw in that man's pottery and nothing more. He has misleadingly accused us of no apparent reason other than his own lack of self-confidence." Li En then points to the vase, "Please look for yourself to see that the vase has not been destroyed as he had mentioned."

Qiu Zhiming's brows furrowed as he tried to think of a way to help support the old man's accusation. He walked towards the vase and picked it up, following behind the guard closely was Pot Head. Hastily he explained, "Mr Qiu! Look!" Pot Head exclaimed, pointing to the small scratch mark at the base of the vase. "That boy has utterly ruined my work of art and they still dare to speak nonsense! How and I suppose to sell it now!"

Qiu Zhiming nods his head, "indeed-! Such a matter cannot be excused." Qiu Zhiming turned his head to ask the pair, "don't you think the least you could do is compensate the man for his lost? If you do so, I will let this matter slide."

"But!" Pot Head tried to rebuke, unfortunately, was quick to also be silenced.

"Don't you think this is enough? Just have them pay the full sum of money and let them go. Isn't it enough for them to pay?" Qiu Zhiming stared at the old man, thinking that this was the best solution possible. [I don't have to do any more work if I let this thing slide. What's more, this old man could definitely take the opportunity to exhort them however he wished. A win-win for both of us. Naturally, if the two can't manage to pay up, I can simply force them to take off everything they have right now to appease this old man. Looking at the condition of their clothing, it should be able to fetch a little more than a silver coin.]

Pot Head clenched his teeth as his enraged gaze lands onto Shi Yan. Money did not matter at this point. Although he could not claim to be rich, he was at least self-sufficient. Meals and pottery resources were all sufficient for him to live his daily life. This matter was about the disrespect the kid had shown for damaging his goods. He wished that he could overturn Qiu Zhiming's orders but understood very well that he had no authority to. Even with a few nobles backing him, they will not stick a hand out if they were to go against the Royal Guards.

Li En readily took out the 78 copper coins in her pouch and showed it to the guard, “the price of this vase is 78 copper coins. Please check the amount.”

The old man gave a despicable snort, “78 copper coins?! You must be joking!” Surprisingly, he took up the vase and passed it to the old woman with a sad look. “This is not deserving of such an amount anymore. 20 copper coins… and an apology…” The old man’s seemed depressed as though he had lost a part of his soul.

[What’s going on here? What is with this quick change in attitude?] Li En could not help but question after the big debacle that took place. [Why would he allow us to get away with a simple apology and a small fine?]

Initially, Pot Head was outraged by his damaged vase. He wished for some form of compensation. However, it was never his intent to get money from the two, especially since he already knew that the pair was poor. His work of art can never be replaced – this was his personal belief. A ruined piece can never be fixed but, he could always make more new pieces. What he essentially wished for was a pair of free servants.