Capítulo 33: Mother

When Yu Feng returned to the spot, Officer Zhou Ming was no longer at the place she had left him. Yu Feng craned her neck to look for Officer Zhou Ming around the square and was disappointed that she could not find the person she was looking for.

At the thought that Officer Zhou Ming had probably left to deal with his official duty, Yu Feng shrugged and glanced at the steamed buns in both hands.

Well, since that man was no longer around, she could have two serving of the steamed bun. Perhaps she should save one and eat them when she was hungry later.

It looked like the night was going to be a long one and she might not have time to eat later when her job as a runner began.

Yu Feng smiled happily and took a bite at one of them while keeping another one in her robe. She found a spot to sit down and lifted her head to the sky as she continued to eat.

It was at this time that Yu Feng noticed the sounds of drums that came out from the watchtower. The sound of the drums from the tower was mixed with the festivities that were going on at the square and therefore, she had not to notice that the watchers were sending messages to the others.

Her chewing movement halted and Yu Feng tried to listen carefully to decipher the message.

A few days ago, that bad man had kept her in camp. He then sent a few men in black to teach her a few things. One of the things Yu Feng was forced to learn was how to decipher the code sent out by the watchers.

Since she had told them that she did not know how to read, those men had taught her to listen to the sound of the drums.

Fortunately, there was a moment when she had too much time in hand and Yu Feng had tried to study the codes. Therefore, she was able to learn quickly.

Back then, she had given up trying to decipher those codes after a month of studying. If only she persisted and continued to study them for a few more weeks, Yu Feng should be able to figure out that the watchers had five sets of codes and they were rotated each week.

Once she was able to decipher the drumming code, Yu Feng turned her head towards the north.

From her distance, Yu Feng was able to see signs of smoke.

The crowd was getting heavier and the sky was going to turn dark soon.

The workers had started walking around to lit up the lanterns along the street. An accident happened in the northern part of the city and the lanterns were caught on fire. Because the lantern on the northern street was connected, the fire spread faster and one of the shop lots in the area caught fire.

The firefighters were urged to go help and the officers who were near the area were asked to help with the crowds.

Because of the fire, the people nearby the area would try to escape. Without the officials overseeing the situation, it was fear that another stampede would happen and more people will lose their lives.

A festival was supposed to be a happy occasion, but for people who loved their loved ones during this festival, how can it be something to celebrate?

Yu Feng took a deep breath and decided to mind her business. Anyway, she was asked to stay around the area so that it would be easier for them to find her and let her relay the messages to that bad man.

Leaning on the wall behind her, Yu Feng continued to take another bite from her steam bun. Just as she finished her food, her gaze caught a familiar figure among the crowd.

Her eyes widened and Yu Feng continued to observe that woman from afar, fearing that her eyes might be playing tricks on her.

The woman's back was facing her as she was looking at something that the shopkeeper was selling, but Yu Feng was able to recognize it even with the crowd around her. Her hair was still black and she was still dressed as fancy as she was years ago.

That woman… she was her birth mother.

Yu Feng continued to watch her mother with a dazed expression on her face. Her heart ached at seeing how well her mother had lived ever since she was separated from her, while she was forced to live on the street.

Suddenly, Yu Feng wondered whether her mother was aware that her father had passed away years ago.

Her mother lifted something from the table and turned to the young woman beside her. Yu Feng followed her movement and shifted her gaze towards the woman. Watching her mother slid in a pretty hairpin on the younger woman's hair made Yu Feng felt at loss.

Yu Feng immediately recognized the younger woman. She was Minister Xu's eldest daughter and was only a year younger than Yu Feng. Young Lady Xu was dressed prettily in silk and her skin was healthy and rosy. She was the total opposite of Yu Feng who was forced to dress shabbily like a boy to protect herself.

Yu Feng thought that this situation was funny.

Her hands clenched into a fist and her heart grew heavy as she watched the way her mother treated other's people daughter.

The last time she had returned to Capital City to look for her mother, she had seen the two of them together. Just like this time, the two of them were acting affectionately as well.

Years ago, Yu Feng's relationship with her mother was affectionate. Why did everything had to change between them?

Suddenly, her mother turned around and their gaze met.

Her mother froze immediately. The smile on her lips disappeared. Her eyes widen and her lips started to tremble.

Yu Feng could tell that even if she was dressed shabbily like a boy, her mother was able to recognize her.

However, instead of walking towards each other, or hugging each other to celebrate the reunion between a long lost mother and daughter, both Yu Feng and her birth mother stood still as if the time had stopped between them.

The people walking around them, but the two continued to hold each other's gaze. Both were unable to look away.

It was not until Young Lady Xu said something to her mother that their gaze finally broke. It was Yu Feng's mother who was the first to look away.

Even from afar, even with the crowd and noise, Yu Feng was able to make out what did Young Lady Xu had said. It was not hard to read her lips.

Young Lady Xu had called Yu Feng's birth mother as 'Mother'.