Zen woke in the middle of the night to get water. This being his first night in the big City Lord’s mansion, he walked around and got lost, unable to find his room. He was too embarrassed to ask the few guards he saw outside, patrolling the mansion grounds.

He decided to just go with the flow. Sleep would not come easy to him. He wondered the multiple dark and empty rooms, except for furniture. He was drawn to one of the few rooms in the house with the light on. From the room he could hear two voices. He crept closer to the room, taking care not to be spotted.

He could already recognise the voices of his grandfather and mother.

“Oh, my poor Lin Lin, your son’s return seems to have only brought you worries.” Jao said.

“Yes, Papa.” She said. “I have no idea how I am going to get him help. I am broke, maybe I should go to the streets with a wooden cup and beg the commoners for help.”

“Pssh, no daughter of mine would ever do that!” Jao said, not finding the joke amusing.

They remained quiet for some time.

“Well, I looked at the pot, you could always take some money from it.”

“Papa?” Wang Lin said, a disapproving tone in her voice. “I cannot take money from the city.”

“Why not?” Jao said. “It is not like other City Lords have not siphoned some money off the town budget for themselves.”

“Well, we all know of corrupt individuals. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll join them but for now, no.” Wang Lin said. “This Civil War really did a number on the town. It is going to need every copper coin it can get. Not to mention, there are lower officials with the same mindset.”

“Fine, then you should choose the second option.”

“There’s a second option?”

“The Yellow District market.” Jao said. “It currently does not belong to any family. But the Li Family want to take it over.”

“Those people,” Wang Lin said in disgust. “I don’t like them. They’re stuck up. You know they called me and Wang Ton bribebloods? They would not invite us to any meetings and tried their best to to make us outsiders to the noble community.”

“Well, that Wang Ton did not help things, especially after you left.” Jao said. “He never tried to make any connections with the local nobles and instead shut himself in.”

“Even so, they are blood purists, the worst noble around.” She said. “You heard what they did during the Civil War? They ordered their forces to enter houses and kill older sons of the commoners as a warning to any would be rebel.”

Wang Zen’s eyes widened at this.

“Regardless, daughter.” Jao said. “We need to make a plan. How long are you willing to wait to get your son help? And the money we can generate from the Li Family would help recoup and get us through the next few months, as well help your son.”

“True,” she said. “Not like I have much choice. They are the richest family in town but I will make sure that they pay through their noses for that Market.” She said, with a tone of amusement. “This bribeblood needs as much money as she can get.”

“Your sense of humour is so un-lady like daughter.” Jao said. “That Wang Ton has rubbed off on you.”

“Yes,” she said, the way she said, it was obvious she had a smile on her face3, which made Zen smile from the darkness. “He has.”