The wagon rolled deeper into the capital, swallowed by its lights and noise.
Behind them, the gates closed with a thunderous echo.
The first thing Zheng noticed about the capital was the noise- the lively buzzing sound of the markets at the imperial capital of Azure Nation, the street was filled with all kind of cultivator and people.
Zheng stepped down from his horse. Mei Chen followed down quietly.
Behind them, Master Ping adjusted his sleeves, gaze sharp beneath drooping eyelids.
"So, this is the capital," Zheng murmured, hands clasped behind his back. "It has changed a lot."
Mei Chen was surprised. "It has changed a lot? Have you been here before?"
Zheng turned with a bright grin. "Yes… it's been ages since then."
Both of them stared at him.
Zheng cleared his throat. "I came here with my master."
The moment they passed through the gates, Zheng's attention shifted like a curious cat- familiar place with unfamiliar buildings, some business was still running through their family.
Zheng stopped at a stall with a sign 'Celestial Dinning Hall.'
A plump merchant bowed eagerly. "Young master! Welcome to our humble restaurant."
"Celestial Dinning Hall?" Zheng spoke to himself, scanning around the restaurant. "So, this place is still running to this day."
"What would you like to have?" a waitress approached the group. "Most people visit for our restaurant to taste our special recipe that has been passed down through generation."
"I just wanted to visit a familiar place…" replied Zheng.
As they ventured deeper into the capital, they came across a fortune telling stall.
"Young Lady!" a creepy old woman proclaimed, "Your life will change after today!"
Mei Chen stopped at her track and embraced herself; nothing will happen to my grandfather, we came this far.
Zheng turned his head. "you can see the future?"
"Not only can I see the future," the creepy old woman said with confident in her voice. "I can tell what a person went through, what he is going through or what will happen to him."
"Can you tell about my future?" Zheng asked with curiosity.
"Do not," Master Ping warned.
Zheng stepped forward anyway.
"if I'm not mistaken, she is Yi Ran." Mei Chen said as she when for a closer look. "she is the infamous Diviner of imperial capital."
Zheng gave his right hand to Yi Ran.
She gently touched his palm. "My son, the road ahead will not be easy for you."
Zheng didn't pay much attention to her word, he simply paid a gold coin and left. Mei Chen and Master Ping followed him, confused.
After few distance.
Zheng paused before a spiritual pet shop. Inside a crystal enclosure lay a small snow-furred fox cub with faint icy qi curling around its tail.
"Spirit Ice Fox," the shopkeeper announced proudly. "Pure lineage. Suitable companion for a young master of status."
Zheng crouched before the enclosure. The fox stared at him with intelligent blue eyes.
"How much?"
"one hundred gold coin."
Zheng nodded seriously. "hmm..."
Mei Chen exhaled in disbelief. "aren't you charging it bit too high?"
The shopkeeper sputtered. "It is a rare beast!"
The crowd outside the shop began to mutter among themselves, they clearly knew the shop was known for charging unreasonably high price. But somehow, Zheng felt like the price was reasonable or maybe a little low.
Zheng did not say a word rather handed him the gold. "your price is reasonable, I'll take this fox."
Zheng stopped again. This time at a stall selling an incense.
"This place," Zheng said lightly. "it has the thing I need."
"And that is?" Mei Chen asked.
"a phoenix tear incense."
Master Ping studied him carefully. "Master Zheng, may I ask why you need a phoenix tear incense?"
Zheng smiled faintly. "it can help Mr. Chen senior."
"I don't want to offend you but we have used phoenix tear incense already." Said Mei Chen.
Suddenly at a near distance, a commotion stirred—two guards escorting a shackled man accused of fraud. The crowd jeered.
Mei Chen watched closely as she knew the man.
The shackled man kept repeating the same thing over and again.
"I DID NOT DO IT!!"
She walked toward the commotion, weaving through the crowd until she stood before the guards.
"Officers," Mei Chen began politely, "what want crime did he commit?"
"Financial embezzlement from the Chen family," one guard replied curtly.
"Miss Chen! believe me…. I didn't do it." The shackled man pleaded innocently. "Please! Believe me!"
The guards glanced at her. "Miss Chen?"
Mei Chen met his gaze steadily. "I believe you."
"Thank you, Miss Chen." The shackled man bowed his head.
The guard frowned. "what are we supposed to do now."
"First, remove his shackle." Mei Chen said. "Second, I'm taking him with me."
The guard couldn't dare to refuse Mei Chen, someone who might inherit the position of head in Chen family.
Mei Chen sighed dramatically. "I might just know who is behind this money embezzlement."
"who is he?" Zheng asked, confused.
"He used to manage our account up until recently. And when my grandfather's condition worsened, he was replaced by Lu Chen."
"Lu Chen?"
"He is my cousin."
"But why were you arrested?" Master Ping asked, concerned.
"They said large amount of money were missing from the account at my last month working for Chen family."
"He has been working for my family ever since I can remember, he is not the kind of man who would steal from other, let alone from us."
"Your words are too kind to me, my lady." The man said with a regret. "but I failed Mr Chen."
"What do you mean by you failed my grandfather?"
"Few months back, when I was revising our old accounts, I noticed that some of the account didn't amount to the report. Later after investigation, I found out that all that account was handled by Lu. I confronted him, he told me its his family and he have the right to do that and when I went to report to Mr Chen, I was suddenly dismissed without a proper reason."
"just after few days after my dismissal, I heard the news that Mr Chen's Condition worsened."
"WHAT!?"