Chapter 2: A Series of Unexpected Events (PART 1)

"… …FIRE!"

"Huh? Where?"

"In me" Xiao Yan Zi rolled her eyes but asked in concern, "What's the matter with you Qing Er? You're vaguely here."

Qing Er looked to Xiao Yan Zi and forced a smile, "I'm fine." Xiao Yan Zi curled her lips for a second, then squinted her eyes at Qing Er, "As if." She went up as Qing Er tried to look away, and poked at her, "Are you thinking of my brother?"

"What?" Qing Er blinked as innocently as possible, either trying to fake a sudden lost in hearing, or that she didn't understood Xiao Yan Zi. It was probably both but Xiao Yan Zi bought in none.

"Come on, Qing Er" Xiao Yan Zi shook her on the shoulders, "For your information, Xiao Jian had confessed to Yong Qi and Er Kang. About you, hmm, and him. Or is it only him? What's your say?"

"Xiao Yan Zi! I… Well… "

Qing Er doesn't stammer, but she did.

Upon which, Xiao Yan Zi continued on anxiously, "Well, you, what?" She inhaled deeply out of a sudden, and exclaimed, "You didn't have the same feelings for my brother?"

"Xiao Yan Zi!"

Qing Er surrendered, but there was another sighing voice overlapping hers.

"Yong Qi!" Xiao Yan Zi called out as he crossed his way towards her, "You are done with your work!" She spoke it as a matter of fact, and threw herself into his arms when within reach.

Yong Qi caught her, couldn't help but gave a chuckling Xiao Yan Zi a straight face, "Do I have to keep reminding you about your current condition?" Xiao Yan Zi stuck out her tongue as she looked down and gave her big belly a soothing rub, "And there goes your father again!"

Yong Qi tapped a hand on Xiao Yan Zi's temple and shook his head, "Did you ever stop to think for a moment why is that so, the mother of my child?" He nodded at a grinning Qing Er as Xiao Yan Zi snaked away from his arms, not wanting to be fussed over.

"I think… …" Xiao Yan Zi swirled a finger and diverted the topic, "Qing Er might have someone in her eyes already. Why else, if she's not mesmerized by my brother?" She looked serious and worried, while Qing Er found herself caught between a laugh and a cry.

Yong Qi just sat and poured himself some tea, "What makes you think so?" Xiao Yan Zi blinked and sat opposite him, "Because she doesn't admit?" She supported her chin in both palms, turned to catch Qing Er raising a hand in time.

"Nethier did she deny" Yong Qi murmured over his cup of tea, and the two ladies paused, hands locking on each other's.

Qing Er blushed, and decided that avoiding the question wasn't a good idea.

Plus, she might be able to get around with Xiao Yan Zi, but definitely not Yong Qi. They had known each other since childhood, and as demure as he looks and could be, she knew nothing would escape the Prince's insticts.

And that Prince's insticts told him that she's holding back. Looking into Qing Er's eyes, Yong Qi's thoughtfully locked brows loosened. "We would help."

His face warmed as he flashed a quick and gentle smile, while Xiao Yan Zi nodded ferociously.

"Ha" Qing Er managed, stood to start her way out, "Sure, but some other time. Maybe. I have to go now, since Wu Ah Ge is back and Lao Fo Ye will be needing me."

"Qing Er" Yong Qi stepped before her at the door. "Thanks for keeping Xiao Yan Zi out of creating trouble while I am at court and…" He lowered his volume, "If it doesn't work, well, no harm, no foul, right?"

He was cool and causual, but Qing Er felt something in her gleamed and shone. "Right."

"What did you tell her?" Xiao Yan Zi popped her head out from his back as Qing Er walked away. Yong Qi felt his heart tripped for a second, and turned to surround his arms at her waist.

"Okay. My bad. Forgot to inform you that I was about to creep up around you. But I would still like to emphasis that, your 'what-if I turn around and knock into you' didn't happen," Xiao Yan Zi added when she heard Yong Qi- assumed she heard Yong Qi- sighed.

Fine. Now he did sigh.

Xiao Yan Zi scratched an ear, which Yong Qi regconised as the in-guilt tell of hers.

He smiled fondessly and removed the hand from her ear. "Why not you go get dressed into your commoner clothes, and I do the same while thinking of a suitable punishment for you?"

"Wh- What? Wait," Xiao Yan Zi pointed a finger at Yong Qi, and drilled it gently on his chest, "You're not going to have me punished for that… But why are we changing?"

Although she had wanted to get out of their residence, Xiao Yan Zi admitted that her current staminal couldn't keep up with her enthusiasm.

"To Hui Bin Lou, of course!" Yong Qi answered, "We need to talk to Xiao Jian, and get him talk to Qing Er."

Oh well. In that case…

"What are we waiting for?" Xiao Yan Zi cheered a little, and hurried towards her wardrobe while calling out for Ming Yue and Cai Xia. "Thank goodness I'm married to you, not Er Kang. Zi Wei is only pregnant, but he treats her a like priviledge prisoner! Let's go raid into Xue Shi Fu and rescue her since it's on our way!"

"Don't worry. I'll slow Er Kang down while you go get Zi Wei and smuggle her into our carriage." Yong Qi joked along, receiving Xiao Yan Zi's cheerful laughter as reply.

"That's my man," she gave him a playful wink, crossed over in her commoner wear but undone hair, and pecked lightly on his cheek, "Now, go get changed too!"

It's late in the night and Yong Qi entered his bedchamber, a little surprised to see his beloved wife still up.

She was sitting by the bed, both feet in a basin of warm water while Ming Yue and Cai Xia entertained her with what he assumed to be some female talk. The two servants rose upon his entrance, and paid their respects.

"I'll take over from here, both of you can call it off for the day." Yong Qi said and took a piece of cloth from Ming Yue, while Cai Xia added the remaining of hot water into the basin from a kettle.

White steam rose from the water surface, and Xiao Yan Zi let out a soothing sigh, with two feet rubbing on one another.

The servants left, and Yong Qi pulled a stool over to sit on it, folded his sleeves before reaching into the steaming water, to catch a wiggling foot.

"Is it hurtful?"

"Aren't you tired?"

They voiced out at the same time, and broke into laughter together.

"You first" Xiao Yan Zi chuckled, and poked him in the air with a wet toe.

Yong Qi draped a towel over the foot she stuck out, and began drying it gently, along with massaging on the acupoints. "I am to be honest, but it's not unmanageable. Furthermore, it's nothing compared to what you're going through. How are your feet? Do they still hurt as much?"

Xiao Yan Zi shook her head, and examined her dry foot while Yong Qi began on the other. "They don't hurt, they just ache. That's more irritating. I can handle physical pain, mainly because I am used to big and small injuries. But this pair of feet? They ached as much as how swollen they look!"

There was a tinge of annoyance as she scorned at her own feet.

Yong Qi rose to put away the towel and basin, blew off the candles before joining Xiao Yan Zi in the bed.

She turned, and tossed. And turned again.

With another toss, she lifted away her end of the blanket.

She felt heavy, breatheless, and uncomfortable. The weight of the blanket clearly wasn't helping to soothe it. Hence, she wanted to seek comfort in Yong Qi's arms, but there's her baby bump in the way, like an enormous obstacle between them.

As she let out a frustrated whine, Yong Qi stretched a hand over, and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. "It's winter. I don't want to risk you falling sick."

"Humph" Xiao Yan Zi pouted, looking away from Yong Qi in the dark.

But he smiled, as if he saw her expression and thought it was cute.

Yong Qi shifted towards her, slid a hand under her waist, and hugged her from the back. "There, it should lighten some burden off you."

It did, but the weariness in Yong Qi's voice brought a frown to Xiao Yan Zi's forehead. She leaned into him, relaxed, and commented, "Why did Huang Ah Ma have to give you that much of a workload? Even Si Ge isn't as busy as you… That's unfair…"

Yong Qi let out a small laugh. He didn't mind the workload, and especially welcome that if it means he could gain attention and concern from Xiao Yan Zi.

"Si Ge attends to a different business… And you haven't seen the amount of documents in Huang Ah Ma's study… My current effort is the least I could do to help," Yong Qi explained in a voice thick with drousiness, and buried his face into Xiao Yan Zi's soft and mildy sweet-scented hair, "Anyway, it's my duty as a prince, and as a son, to lighten my father's workload."

"Hahaa, stop it Yong Qi! It's ticklish," Xiao Yan Zi nudged him off as Yong Qi's breathing was right against her neck. He murmured and adjusted his position, and was about to fall asleep when Xiao Yan Zi started another topic.

"Hey, what do you think we should do with Qing Er and my brother?" She wondered, trying to look over her shoulders to Yong Qi, without having to move her body, "What's with man and their pride? My brother has confessed his feelings for Qing Er already isn't it? Then why is he avoiding the topic today? It makes it seems like he had some unmentioned difficulty."

Yong Qi winced at the randomness of his pregnant wife, and tried to keep up with the conversation. "Hmm… Seeing that even you can see through his façade, I wouldn't say he did well on the avoiding part."

"What did you say?" A slight threat flicked in her tone, and Yong Qi let out a fake yawn to pretend not hearing her. "It's late my dear, and I have to get up early tomorrow… I'll promise to settle things between Qing Er and your brother. Fret not and get some sleep… I can hear the little one protesting."

"But—" Xiao Yan Zi began speaking, but heard Yong Qi's second yawn— a truthful yawn. "Alright," she softened her voice, paused to listen till his breathing went slow and steady, then tightened her grip on the hand he placed on her belly and murmured, "Well, goodnight then, both of you."

She smiled as Yong Qi's brought her closer to him in his sleep, or rather she assumed that he had fallen asleep by then, hence missing the satisfying curl that slowly appeared on his lips.

A few days later, Xiao Jian, Qing Er, Zi Wei and Er Kang, were all gathered at Yong Yan Fu (Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi's residence) backyard.

"What?! Xiao Jian just proposed the idea of marrying Qing Er to Huang Ah Ma? Did you guys plan it? Why wasn't I informed? Ahh, no, more importantly, what did Huang Ah Ma said?"

Er Kang shook his head upon Xiao Yan Zi's bombarding questions, "I was just getting to it, wasn't I? Yong Qi, calm your wife down," he added the last line when Xiao Yan Zi was apparently trying to figure out an argument.

"Sorry bro, helpless about that," Yong Qi laughed a little, shrugged carelessly, but placed a hand on Xiao Yan Zi's back, and started his gentle stroking.

Xiao Yan Zi returned a mischievious pout when Yong Qi just smiled fondlessly at her on her left, and as Zi Wei patted her hand on her right. She gave up arguing, and looked to Er Kang for further details.

"Just today, right after the morning court… Yong Qi and I brought Xiao Jian to Huang Ah Ma, and Xiao Jian proposed his true feelings and said what was necessary. It seems like Huang Ah Ma had already knew what was going on, and to our advantage, he requested only one condition— Which is for Xiao Jian to take up an official position."

Xiao Jian's brows just locked tighter upon Er Kang's announcement, and Zi Wei inhaled a little more nervously. Qing Er couldn't help but take note of the two reactions and started worrying herself, whereas Xiao Yan Zi almost leaped in excitement if Yong Qi weren't holding her back.

"That couldn't even count as a condition! Huang Ah Ma could just assign my brother any position, isn't it? With Xiao Jian's capability, nothing is a problem! Even if Huang Ah Ma wants to put him through a writing test, he would pass with the effort needed to blowing off dust!"

Xiao Yan Zi was positive and grinned into everyone's faces, to find all of them managing an unconvincing smile. "Am I missing something? Zi Wei?"

Zi Wei whose name being called flashed a warmer smile almost immediately, "Well, nope. Actually, you have a point there. Xiao Jian is great in martial arts too, thus, he need not have to serve as officials like Ji Shi Fu, attending every morning court and involving in more complicated politics; He could be a military official, or one in the palace or city secure team. That would at least minimize his need to interact with the higher ranks and gives him more freedom to roam about the city and/or the country. Right, Xiao Jian?"

How could he say no, to a kind and thoughtful Zi Wei, who was only trying to help him and his sister feel better? That's excluding the fact that she was also heavily pregnanted and putting on a begging sign in her eyes.

Er Kang walked over, placed a hand on Zi Wei's shoulders and looked to Xiao Jian with an equally powerful but manly expression. "Zi Wei is right. Is there really no room for negoiation, Xiao Jian?"

Xiao Jian struggled a lonely battle within him, and breathed out his answer harshly as though to convince himself too. "No."

His tone made Qing Er jumped a little. He caught a hurtful expression on her delicate face, and shot her an apologetic look. She saw that and shook her head gently, but smiled bitterly.

Unaware of her parent's death background, Xiao Yan Zi made Yong Qi poured her a cup of tea, and was drinking from it while the small movements went on.

"Come on brother," Xiao Yan Zi commented, still holding on to her half-full cup, "Which is more important? Qing Er? Or your pride? Furthermore, being an official means that you can have rightfully free access of the palace, which will make things easier if I were to hold a gathering in Shu Fang Zhai or Jing Yang Gong! Plus, you can never ever leave me without notification when you have duties to call to in Beijing!"

She's still worrying about him leaving unknowingly, after the incident happened in Nan Yang, when his identity was still a secret. "You know I could never leave you again, even if I am without an official position. I am your brother. That alone makes looking after you my duty." He said as dearly as a brother would, to a younger sister he thought he could never have seen again since he was five.

Qing Er was touched by his outright confession for Xiao Yan Zi, but only Zi Wei and Er Kang could have sense his deeper feelings hidden in the unsaid words.

Xiao Yan Zi merely looked at him and blinked innocently, slightly confused by his sudden sentiments. "Freedom is the last thing to worry! I'm the proof! I haven't bored to death since marrying Yong Qi…" Xiao Yan Zi managed a guess and gave what she deemed as her piece of advice.

The fact that Xiao Yan Zi had knew and fell in love with Yong Qi before Xiao Jian ever found her, just irritated him. Xiao Jian punched a fist on the tabletop, pushing himself on his feet, "If you were me, if you had gone through what I'd been through, you will probably not marry Yong Qi."

Something intense in his voice, on his look, gave Xiao Yan Zi a shock that she dropped her teacup, spilled the remaining on her dress, and broke it as the porcelain touched ground.

"Xiao Jian! What are you trying to imply? I had long ago resigned to the fact that you and I could never be on our best term. But here I am trying to help you with Qing Er, and this is all about you and Qing Er, not Xiao Yan Zi and I. If there's something with me that you disapprove about, we'll settle it some other day. Just the two of us."

Yong Qi braved up to a mightier and rowdier Xiao Jian, but looked nothing less.

Xiao Jian smelled an invitation to a challenge that will probably end up with a gruesome fight that involves punches, bruises, weapons and broken hearts of his beloved friends, soulmate and younger sister.

He clenched his fist tighter to calm down his own temper, but that sent Er Kang rushing to Yong Qi's side. "Yong Qi, you better check on Xiao Yan Zi," Er Kang urged as he saw the prince's fierceness brewing.

Fortunately, that successfully diverted Yong Qi's attention. "Are you okay?" Yong Qi helped her up on an arm, and Xiao Yan Zi nodded. "I'm fine, totally. The winter clothes are thick enough. I just need to change." Concerned, she looked to Xiao Jian. "Brother?"

Xiao Jian felt his heart jumped, but managed a bitter smile. "Xiao Yan Zi, Yong Qi… I meant all I wanted was Qing Er, only her. If without the misunderstanding of your identities, and Lao Fo Ye decided that you could only marry Yong Qi as Huan Zhu Ge Ge, but not as the Xiao Yan Zi who make a living by performing on streets, will you agree to the condition?"

Xiao Yan Zi pondered, and shook her head when she finally figured out what Xiao Jian was trying to express. Zi Wei and Er Kang exchanged a relieved glance, and Qing Er smiled sweetly with understanding.

However, Yong Qi wasn't convinced. Regardless, he coughed off the slight embarrassment, and attended to his wife. "Let's go get you changed. And you look like you need your nap. So… I'll excuse ourselves since you guys are familiar with your way in the house."

Xiao Yan Zi had learnt to differentiate if Yong Qi really meant something or if he's just fussing over her. Thus, she shot him a grin and wrapped herself on his arm.

Yong Qi's straight face softened a little, and the two left. The rest stood and started for the main door, with Xiao Shun Zi and Xiao Gui Zi helped running arrangments on the sides.

Upon departure, Xiao Jian grabbed hold on Qing Er's hand, and locked his thick brows. "I am sorry."

"You don't have to be," Qing Er stretched out her free hand, to outline the stiffness along his cheekbone and jaw, "You know I will understand and respect, regardless of the choice you made."

That's the Qing Er who had memserised him even before they met. He knew she would be nothing less than how Zi Wei and Er Kang had pictured her, but started thinking if he was making a mistake by laying his lips on her in front of the servants and their friends, as a respond to her thoughtful words.

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Can't imagine how LONG it is since I last posted... Planned to complete one full chapter before posting, but thought it would have been too LONG again, hence here it is! Still loving this two as ever and hope you guys enjoy the (incompleted) story!