2 years later....

~Su Jin's perspective~

This early morning, Bao came to visit. She's now serving the young miss Yuan in the palace. She always come once a month to plea for me to go back to the palace, yet I've denied her so many times. I have already left the palace for already two years. The palace has not sent anyone to come get me back. I do not care yet it seems to hurt me so whenever Bao comes to visit.

I've done well and feel better than ever in my 25 years of life. Although a widow, I've done better than I thought I could.

The two shops I got from my mother's dowry are doing very well. They've brought a lot of customers and money. I can support myself. I feel that I am finally free to do what I want, not tied down to the Chang family nor to the feelings of the past.

The tea shop was renamed to Jasmine Tea House. It is now a place for many men and women go to enjoy sightseeing. From a small tea shop to a new and bigger tea house, it now has the attention of many people from all over the place. I never thought that some changes could bring me so much profits.

Jasmine Tea House is next to the lake, an artificial one built by the officials to make a waterway for easier trade. Because of Jasmine Tea House, many lovers came to meet at the lake which made its name, "Lake of Swans." It makes me happy that they found their love but it pains me also. 

At the tea house, I have singers and dancers as entertainment for the ones who love to have tea while being entertained, but their are also an extended place for those who want quietness.

My mother's Jewelry shop is still on it's way to fame. It only needs some touch to it. It needed to be repaired and I only got enough money from the tea house to rebuild it this year. 

But, I have been selling some new designs which turned out to be popular for many young women. I hope that it would turn out as good as the tea shop.

I made a few connections with some people such as the two siblings Ji Ling and Ji Qinbing from the Ji family that I'm discussing about my jewelry shop with. The Ji family are well known for designing buildings and are the ones I'm entrusting the designing of my shop to. 

It is now night and the moon is red. It's been awhile that I've seen a red moon. The day I was born had a red moon too. Rumors said I was a child with bad luck, that's why my family didn't really associate with me.

My shop manager came into the room and discuss some matters about the imperial family wanting to book the tea house for a meeting with some officials. 

"If money they have, then they can" was all I replied to the shopkeeper. He looked anxious. He knows about the past I have before I threw it away, before I changed my identity.

My shop manager and his family lives with me in the tea house. They are a family of five who's been working for my mother since she was young. The shopkeeper is Xiaoping. He was able to marry his wife with the help of my mother. I heard from him that my mother picked him up when he as only fourteen on the streets of Xi'Ning, the capital and where I live.  

Talking about my mother, I've never seen her. I heard she ran away with her lover after she gave birth to me. She had an arranged marriage with the Chang family and disliked it. I heard she tried to elope with her lover but they were caught and he was almost killed by the Chang family. My father--No, the current head of the Chang family fell in love with my mother at first sight and wanted to marry her no matter what. That's why, after she gave birth, not a month past and she already ran away with her lover.

But of course, I heard this all from the Chang concubines and their children. I don't know if I should believe or not. I tried asking Xiaoping, but Xiaoping made a pact with my mother not to tell me anything about her. She knew that I would ask about her.

I should sleep. Tomorrow, will be another busy day.

~~~~

"Some Oolong Tea please, young Miss."

"Sure thing," I said. I brew the tea in front of the guests, this was something that most tea shops don't do. They make it in the kitchen, not in front of the guests. But I figured, most people like to see tea being brew for entertainment.

"The palace seems to be in an uproar right now."

"I know. The Crown Prince haven't chosen a crown princess yet he has so many wives."

"What if he's looking for his first wife?"

"She's gone! That Chang Miss disappeared from the face of this land after she pleaded the emperor for divorce!"

Smile, smile, I told myself. They were talking about me! Why was I mentioned in that? The crown prince is at his own fault for not choosing a crown princess. 

I finished brewing the tea and left the room. 

Of course, one of this tea house's specialty is that a lot of rumors is spread from here and many people come here to gather information. It's not even a bar or an entertainment house, yet so many people still come here. 

"Madam, there are guests fighting downstairs because of Chao Hua," Xiaoping hurriedly came up to me. 

Chao Hua, again? Ever since she started working here, a lot of men have been fighting over her after she finishes dancing. 

I looked down from the second floor. Chao Hua was on the floor crying, this time. A man is on top of her trying to rip her dancing clothes off of her. 

"Put the man on the blacklist," I said.

"H-he's a regular, Madam," the servant next to Xiaoping said.

"Xiaoping, blacklist him," I sighed and said. 

Xiaoping nodded and left. I went downstairs and all noise stopped before me, only the crying of Chao Hua was left. 

"Madam! Help me Madam!" Chao Hua yelled out.

"Get off my merchandise," I said staring down at the man.

"She is mine! Hua'er is mine! Forever mine!"

"No! Nooo! Madam help me! Please, I beg. Please!" she begged and tears came flowing out once again.

I walked over. Xiaoping was back, next to me. 

"Mister, there are rules for this tea house and you've broken these rules," Xiaoping said.

"Rules? Don't talk rules to me! I am the Prime Minister's son! Song Hung! I can do anything I want! You can't stop me! I am the son of the Prime Minister! I will get what I want!"

"Kick this crazy man out," I pushed him off Chao Hua and took her away. 

"I'm sorry madam. It's all my fault."

"Chao Hua, have a break for a month. Go visit your mother in Lu city. She must be worried about you."

"Madam! I made you lose an important guest. I'm sorry! Don't do this to me!"

"I'm not firing you. I'm telling you to get a vacation. At this time, it's better if you aren't here. Too many people are going after you."

Chao Hua left the very next day. I went to visit the jewelry shop as it was still being repaired. 

"Lady, you're here again!" A very excited voice said.

"Only to see how the repairs are doing."

"Great, the Ji siblings just finished sending the designs for the second floor of the jewelry shop." 

"Dong Jufei, when would this be finished?" I said as I looked at the complicated but beautiful designs.

"This could all be done within next month."

"I see. Continue to sell the new jewelries. I brought some more designs for you to make." 

As I left, I saw someone with a very familiar face come into the shop.