Phoenix in the Moonlight

"Miss, shouldn't we inform the Master?" Mian Mian said, kneeling on the floor.

"No need. This will not hamper our mission. The old tradesman will be taken care of in no time and we can move on to other missions without a hitch." Xin was busy packing the meager amount of clothing she had brought with her. Mian Mian and Bai had accompanied her when she came from the capital to serve her and assist her in her missions. "Bai'er, do you have similar concerns?"

The silent boy looked at his Young Miss and pressed his lips together.

"Miss, I fear that it will be difficult to navigate around that house once we go in. I have checked the premises and the security is harsh. The young master you will live with has a colorful life and he himself enjoys capturing and killing people. If he finds out that you are in disguise, I fear he might act against you." Xin contemplated for a moment.

"I understand. I will make preparations so that we are not caught." In reality, she had followed him closely for the past few days and knew his routine by heart. His servants didn't pay her much mind and treated her as if she was invisible, something she greatly appreciated. Moreover, their contract had stated that she could come and go as she pleased, as long as he received meals and companionship. If she planned thoroughly, she would not get caught.

Also, she couldn't help but feel thrilled to be sneaking around. She had grown bored of going on missions and completing them without a hitch. Sometimes, she wanted a bit of fun in her life to spice things up.

This man seemed reliable and brought her great pleasure. When he proposed that she become his mistress, she was stunned for a minute before she calculated.

The mistress of a rich man was treasured. A courtesan could always be bought with money and be suspected of being a spy, but a mistress didn't have the time or heart to do that sort of thing. She was dedicated to the man and spent her time trying to gain his attention. Wasn't this the perfect alibi? And she even got to stay in a beautiful house and play with the handsome man.

She could imagine that her young servants thought that she was indecent for being in a relationship out of marriage and compromising their mission, but wouldn't she be under scrutiny if she declined his proposal? He would pursue her and watch her every move. In her opinion, that was far more dangerous.

By being with him, she could appease his doubts and work at peace. He would soon leave and there would be no place to worry. She would move on and not think about him anymore.

"What news of the old man?" Xin asked nonchalantly.

"The old boss of the merchant sect has been acting suspiciously, trying to import weapons from Han without the knowledge of the others. I suspect some greater force behind him," Mian Mian informed. "I suspect that the boss of the Youth Hall has a stake in this and will be working closely with the old boss."

Xin squinted her eyes in suspicion. The Young Master Yifeng was equally suspicious, dropping from nowhere and acting close with Li Jie. Could he have a hand in this matter too?

"Keep an eye on their movement and keep me informed. Don't act rashly and attack them. We must scrutinize the situation properly." She knew that her father had his own plans in place. Who he would side with during the struggle was yet to be known, so she had to keep her ear pressed to the wall and wait for his command. She couldn't go around acting up and making enemies.

"Bai'er, a carriage will come tomorrow to take us away," Xin began. "Mian Mian, you and Bai'er will live in a separate courtyard while I accompany the Young Master. You must act your age and call me aunt. I may have taught you the ropes of our profession, but working undercover is perilous. I know you realize the intensity and judge me for my decision, but I have my own thoughts and calculations."

"Miss, we don't need to know. We trust you." Mian Mian threw her brother a glare. Bai'er remained stoic and nodded along.

He had never been good at flattery and Xin liked him for that. He was straightforward and ideal to be a shadow guard. But the poor boy had been dragged with her to the south to spy for her as she made connections. It could be said that the boy was close to his twin sister and wanted to protect her. At such a young age, they had been orphaned and disillusioned about the world. Xin truly pitied them. They were merely ten-years-old and at an age where they should play and read, but they had been pushed to remain by her side, serve her and force themselves into life-threatening situations.

The twins had been the children of her father's subordinate. Their mother had long abandoned them. Their father was a superb resource. It was obvious that he had incurred the wrath of the enemy forces. Someone had hired mercenaries to kill the man, leaving these children alone. These two had been under Xin's care at the time and she had exacted revenge on their behalf. She had hunted down the man who had killed their father and given him a gruesome death.