The next morning, Tang Zhelan was feeling better. She took her breakfast alone in her room which was delivered by one of the inn's staff while everyone was busy tending to their guests. Zhao Jing had come to her that morning, explaining that she would only be able to accompany her later once her morning tasks were done, which Tang Zhelan didn't mind at all.

  She would take this time to sort out her thoughts in peace while admiring the scenery in her balcony where she took her meal. The Zhao family was kind enough to welcome her here so she wouldn't dare to make outrageous demands to her hosts.

  There were so many tourists in the ancient town of Lijiang, something Tang Zhelan first noticed when she arrived in this place, but unlike the other hotels and inns she passed by, the Zhao family's inn didn't have many guests to entertain.

  Zhao Jing had said that they would need to serve breakfast for three families and two pairs or couples that were currently staying at their inn.

  There was no doubt that the place was beautiful and the Zhaos were doing their best to keep it clean despite the obvious fact that some parts of the inn needed some renovations and repairs. Tang Zhelan didn't like to be a freeloader and she wondered if she could do something to return the favor the family had given to her.

  After finishing her breakfast, Tang Zhelan dressed up in a more casual style that was appropriate for the weather. With her usual high heels forgotten in favor of the comfy sneakers, Tang Zhelan finished her look by fastening her windbreaker to protect her from the cold wind. The high altitude and low latitude resulted in cooler summers and milder winters in Lijiang, this was why she didn't need to dress excessively to go sightseeing.

  Zhao Jing had come just in time with her usual wide smile and volunteered to tour her around town.

  When the two came down, they spotted Zhao Feng cleaning the backyard of the inn. He beamed at Tang Zhelan the moment he saw her while she gave him a curt nod.

  "Miss, I wouldn't be able to give you a tour so I hope Jingjing coming with you is fine." He then turned to his niece. "Jingjing, you better make sure not to cause troubles to Miss! Try to come back before lunchtime and pay attention to where you are going," he sternly reminded Zhao Jing.

  "Uncle, leave it to me! Miss Tang and I won't go too far and be back before you know it." The girl grinned at her uncle before tugging at Tang Zhelan's sleeve. "Should we get going?"

  Tang Zhelan nodded. "Lead the way then, my little tourist guide."

  Zhao Jing proved to be a decent guide as they walked around the alleys and narrow pathways that were filled with people. Tang Zhelan spotted a few foreigners in the crowd and kept the girl next to her just in case the crowd separated Zhao Jing from her.

  After being stuck in a conference room, doing business meetings one after another, Tang Zhelan suddenly felt her life take a turn she hadn't expected to happen when the empress came back. She supposed that she should have expected it to happen when Tang Moyu returned.

  The town was obviously old and had a lot of history. Unlike the high rise buildings one could see in the metropolis, the old structures here spoke nothing of wealth but only history and culture the locals had.

  It was blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snowy mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by friendly people. Lijiang was a beautifully preserved ancient town, infused with cultural flavor. Strolling along the 800-year-old bridges and waterways of the world-famous Old Town district was like stepping back in time.

  "That's the Black Dragon Pool!" Zhao Jing's voice brought Tang Zhelan to reality. "We've reached the Black Dragon Pool. Look, Miss Tang!" The girl pointed towards the beautiful body of water below to the cliff where they were standing.

  Tang Zhelan followed the girl's gaze and was impressed with what she'd seen. There were several structures built around it and bridges that connected opposite sides. She had heard Black Dragon Pool was one of the best attractions here in Lijiang and it was even more beautiful than what she imagined it to be.

  Before the sun reached its peak in the sky, the two decided to go back to the inn. Tang Zhelan bought the two of them some ice cream which they ate as they walked back from the route they'd taken earlier.

  "Jing'er, I'm curious…" Tang Zhelan called the little girl's attention.

  "Yes, Miss Tang?" Zhao Jing scooped her ice cream from her cup and smiled with glee in her eyes.

  "How could you say I am kind without knowing who I am?"

  It was something that had been bothering Tang Zhelan ever since she arrived yesterday. While she knew that Zhao Feng could be biased to her because he'd worked next to her for years, she didn't understand why this little girl thought so highly of her when in fact, Tang Zhelan wasn't aware of Zhao Jing's existence before.

  "Because my Mommy said that you are our benefactor." Zhao Jing smiled at her. "When my Mommy gave birth to me, the doctors weren't hopeful I would live this day. I need to undergo surgery at one month old and it was a costly operation."

  Tang Zhelan listened to the girl's narrative but it still didn't make sense to her. How come she became their benefactor when she never knew Zhao Jing's family? Zhao Feng indeed once mentioned to her that he had an older brother and a niece but he never told her anything about their situation back here in Lijiang.

  "My Mommy and Daddy were crying, feeling hopeless as they had no idea how to bring me to a larger hospital where they could treat me. It wasn't until Uncle Feng sent a huge amount of money to my daddy that they were able to push the arrangement for my surgery. So Miss Tang, thank you for saving my life!"

  Tang Zhelan remained confused even after hearing Zhao Jing's explanation. She also didn't have the heart to burst her bubble and told her that she had nothing to do with settling the bill for her surgery. She said nothing in return and resumed walking alongside the girl.

  She supposed that she needed to ask Zhao Feng and clear things up with his niece once she knew the truth. Tang Zhelan racked her brain to remember but she couldn't. Did Zhao Feng use her name while helping his brother's family? But why would he do something like that?

  When she and Zhao Jing arrived at the inn, it seemed there was a problem at the reception area as the staff on duty was having a hard time communicating with their foreign guests. She was clearly distraught and worried, her eyes searching for someone to rescue her from this predicament.

  Zhao Jing frowned once she saw the problem. It had been a recurring one, something her Uncle Feng and grandmother had no idea how to deal with. It would have been better if they could hire someone to help them but it would surely cost them a lot of money for sure.