Yin Na and Huo Jin came over a bridge where many people could be seen. The entire bridge was lit up with lanterns and the bright moon's reflection was falling on the water.
"Be careful. Don't go closer to the railing. You might fall into the water," Huo Jin said concernedly.
His concern fluttered her heart. She smiled and looked into the water. "Let's go ahead," she heard him and grasped her wrist. "More people will gather on the bridge soon. It's better to leave before it gets crowded," he advised her. Yin Na lifted her skirt a little to match the steps of Huo Jin.
As they crossed the bridge, Huo Jin let go of her hand. "Should we go ahead towards the main market or leave for home?" he added.
"Let's go to the main market, Huo Jin," Yin Na expressed her desire. Huo Jin agreed with that and the two headed to the main market.
"Huo Jin, festivals are so lively. I still remember how I used to celebrate this festival with my parents and elder brother. Father and mother both used to make mooncakes. We used to gather in the front yard of our small house.
After ten years, I got to see this festival again thanks to Huo Jin," she stated.
"I did not do much except accompanying you to the market," Huo Jin replied.
"I am glad that he accompanied me," Yin Na said. Huo Jin passed her a tiny smile. "Huo Jin, how did you celebrate it? I heard that the tradition differs from Provinces to Provinces," Yin Na stated.
"Well, I never celebrated it. This will be my first time. I mean with General Wang's family this will be my first time celebrating such a festival," Huo Jin answered. Yin Na felt bad for asking such a question from him.
"My mother passed away right after my birth and my father passed away when I turned seven. As a slave, I cannot celebrate such festivals," Huo Jin told her more.
"Your life was tough. It is good to see that you turned out to be such a great and nice man," Yin Na praised him.
A chuckle escaped from Huo Jin's mouth. "I am not a great and nice person," he stated.
"You must not tell a lie," Yin Na asserted.
"I am telling the truth," Huo Jin replied. "If I would be a good person, then I would have stopped many wrong things from happening," He affirmed.
"Huo Jin, for me you are a good person and also for the Wang family. Even the Emperor and the Princes are your friends," Yin Na stated and passed him a smile.
"You are here?" Suddenly a voice interrupted them. They looked at the front and saw a nobleman with three of his friends. Yin Na was shocked by them and she started to tremble in fear. She took a few steps back and tried to hide her face from those men.
Huo Jin noticed her and found it unusual. So, he came forward and asked them who they were.
"You don't know me!" The same man again spoke with a bewildered look.
"He is the Fourth Rank officer, Zhou Xuweng in the Capital Bureau," the man beside him replied to Huo Jin.
"Yi Jiali," Zhou Xuweng called out the name of Yin Na which she was given during her stay in the Courtesan's House. Huo Jin tilted her head and found how terrified she was.
"Brother, you are mistaking her as someone else. I will let it go this time," Huo Jin said politely. However, his tone was enough to show that he was warning them.
"Young man, don't talk this way with a Fourth Rank officer," the man on the left of Zhou Xuweng warned Huo Jin.
"Yi Jiali, where did you leave that night?" Zhou Xuweng stepped forward and immediately Yin Na clutched the robe of Huo Jin from his back.
"Did you elope with this man?" Zhou Xuweng asked, glaring at Huo Jin, who was flustered to hear that.
"Come forward, Yi Jiali," he said with a stern voice and outstretched his arm when Huo Jin grabbed his wrist and pushed him back. Zhou Xuweng flapped his sleeves as he glared into his eyes.
"I told you to stay back, Rank Four Officer," Huo Jin sarcastically pronounced. He turned to Yin Na and told her not to be scared.
Zhou Xuweng's friends came forward but he stopped them. Huo Jin turned to look at them. "Leave before you all get beaten up," Huo Jin warned them.
"You seem new in the Capital. That's why you don't know what the consequences of your words are. Yi Jiali knows what kind of man I am," Zhou Xuweng stated.
"She and I have that kind of relationship," he said and smirked when Huo Jin smacked his face with a hard punch. The people got alerted to see them. Zhou Xuweng did not expect to get a blow from a man who was in his eyes, had no rank.
He stood up and attacked Huo Jin, but he grabbed his fist. His other friends came forward to help him, and one of them kicked Huo Jin that he fell to the ground.
"Huo Jin," Yin Na worriedly said and stepped forward when Zhou Xuweng grasped her hand.
"Where are you even going?" He questioned her. "You eloped with a man, and you should get punished for it," he threatened her. Yin Na started to cry when Huo Jin grasped the wrist of Zhou Xuweng. The people surrounded them, and they started to whisper among them.
"Leave her hand," Huo Jin scowled at him. "Leave before I drag you to the police bureau," He urged him.
"Huo Jin," Yin Na murmured as tears kept flowing down her eyes.
Zhou Xuweng did not like the way Huo Jin looked into his eyes.
"She is the Courtesan who served me in the Brothel House. So, don't argue with me if you do not want to get punished here… in front of everyone. I am her master. I have paid lifetime money for her," Zhou Xuweng stated.
"Serve you?" Huo Jin chuckled and pulled away Zhou Xuweng's hand from Yin Na. He grabbed his collars tightly and said, "She is not your possession.. She is Yin Na, the sister of General Wang and daughter of the Ex-General of the Han Empire. How dare you touch her with your filthy hand?"
