Hu Li and Fei stand at the distance watching the soldiers doing their night patrol with the gate close. She look at Fei and tell him to leave.
"By the way, Bai Lu came out of the lotus days ago. He is grown up little."
"Did he say anything?"
"Yes he said that soon he will be ready to join you. He ask me to tell you that don't be too sad when you see him. He is not a child anymore."
"Please take care of him."
"I will. He is like ... my child."
Hu Li look at him with her eyebrow knitted together.
"He is my child. Not your's."
Fei laugh and pat her head gently. They waited for awhile soon the sun is raising and the gates open up. The people who are waiting outside started to line up to get into the city. Hu Li transform her look to Yu Bing and use her Yamen's badge to get in. She walk to the residence of Officer Zhou and stand outside to look at the burnt down place. Suddenly she remember her donkey. She frantically look and call for it. A neighbour come out to inform Yu Bing that the donkey is at her place. She happily meet her friend who ignore her and nearly got her burnt down with the house. Yu Bing thank the neighbour and give some coins for taking care of it. She give more and ask the kind lady to continue to feed it.
She walk to the residence where the children are kept in. The rats are outside and nervous fearing that it is the last of their master.
"I won't die so easily. Now tell me what we need to know."
After hearing what the rats have survey, she roughly know how many men are inside and what time is the best time to strike. She pick up her little friends and put them in her shirt pocket. Knowing they are safe, the two rats lay down to relax and soon falls asleep.
That night, she morph into a cat and enter the residence. She waited till the men most men are sleep. Only two men who are suppose to be awake but they are dozing off on the chair. She look at the night sky and morph back to Yu Bing. She walk slowly to the main door and open it. Outside are the men from Yamen waiting for Yu Bing. They all decided to trust Yu Bing since Officer Zhou trust this boy before his death. They all creep in quietly each holding a handkerchief laid with a liquid to knock out a person. First they approach the two men who are dozing off. After a struggle they become lump and they are tired up. After that they are carried out and place on a cart with a cloth over them. Two men from Yamen watch over the cart. While the rest, slowly comb the residence and knock out as many as they can find. The aim of this mission is not to create any noise and disturbance in the night and as well as not alerting the princess. After five men are loaded into two carts, they are push away to another place in the Yamen. Since the jail cell is not safe anymore, they have to locate another place.
Hu Li wake the children up and tell them not to talk. Their big eyes look at Yu Bing and wonder who is this beautiful brother. All seven of them follow her obediently and enter a carriage. Quietly in the night, they clean out the residence and leave it as it is. In the morning the carriage is still travelling and Hu Li provide the children with buns to eat and water to drink. Finally they reach a place she gets off by jumping off the carriage and lift the little ones off one by one. The place have a wooden plate name that display 'The house of happiness for the unfortunate children'. One of the Yamen guard, Du Wei suggested that the children to put at this place. It is a place where he had grown up. The owner have caretakers and a teacher to care and teach the little children. With skills and knowledge, the orphans will have a chance to survive in the world. Yu Bing and the driver bring all seven into the compound. The children are all running and playing with each other. The seven who are holding hands watch them play. They did not know what to do suddenly one of those who are playing stop. He smile and run to them. "Come!" He grab one of them and pull the child to the others. The six children look at Hu Li then to Du Wei the driver. She smile and say 'go ahead' with permission, they all join in to play. The teacher walk to Hu Li and Du Wei. He bow and Du Wei bow deeply.
"These are the unfortunate seven?"
"Yes but now they are not unfortunate any longer. They are fortunate to be here under your care."
"I heard from Du Wei about why they are here. We will do our best to teach them and keep them happy."
"Thank you for the kind heart you have."
"Teacher, i am thankful for your care all these years without you teaching and guiding us, the chances to live is low."
"It all depends on the child's character too. If one is wiling, one will be living the life they plan out."
He smile and stroke his long beard and watch them scream and run around. Hu Li reach out her pocket and give him seven silver tael. Du Wei and the teacher look shock.How did a young boy like him have so much tael? Du Wei s thinking that most likely she take it from the residence that they just raided hours ago.
"Go and change them into something convenient that you can use. I hope these are enough for the time being. If you need more, i can find some money."
"No it is enough for two years plus. In this deserted place, there is no need for so much money."
"Still you need to buy food and materials for teaching. It is a little money from my me. I hope it will help you."
"You are indeed a kind hearted person. A person like you will do good for the society we live in!"
The three of them stand together to watch the children have fun. Later when lunch is serve, Hu Li help to clean the little ones their hands and faces.
"This will be your new home for the next few years till you are ready to leave."
"Big brother, aren't you going to stay here with us?"
"No. Big brother and Brother Du Wei needs to go back and catch thief. So that it will be safe for you to live."
The children look at each other and they nod their head.
"When i grow up, i will go help to catch thief too."
"My brother is in the Yamen! He also catch thief! He said that too. Make it safe for me to go into the city!"
A little girl talks loudly as Du Wei clean her hands. Hu Li look at Du Wei, she must be the sister of the dead prison guard and they don't have the heart to tell her that he is dead. In silence they eat together, in silence they return to the Yamen together. Now Hu Li need to take the next step to night. To meet the Princess.