Story Inspired by HZGG

By Dytia

It was just another sunshiny day. Xiao Yanzi was bored. Zi Wei and Jin Shuo were busy embroidering while she has nothing to do. Xiao Yanzi sighed. She wished Yongqi and Er Kang were here. But they were busy. Huang Ah Ma has assigned them to welcome the arrival of some foreign dignitaries and they have been gone for a couple of days. Suddenly, Xiao Dengzi and Xiao Zhuozi announced the arrival of Er Kang and Yongqi. Zi Wei's eyes simply lit up and she rushes towards the door where Xiao Yanzi was jumping up and down excitedly.

' Speak of the devil, he sure to come.' said Xiao Yanzi happily as she ran towards Yongqi's open arms and promptly hit his head.
' Ouch... It is bad enough you call me a devil but must you hit my head too,' shouted Yongqi as he chased her all around Shu Fan Zai.
' Serves you right for leaving me bored and all alone.' said Xiao Yanzi sticking her tongue out. Right at the moment, Yongqi caught her. Xiao Yanzi playfully tried to escape. ' Okay, I am surrendering. Let go of me.'
' I will let go if you come with me to the party.' Yongqi replied.
' What party?' asked Zi Wei. Er Kang explained to her.
' Yongqi has been invited to a dinner party at the British embassy tonight.'
' And I want my fiancée to accompany me,' said Yongqi slyly. Xiao Yanzi shouted excitedly.
' How exciting? I have always want to see those foreign people. Zi Wei, isn't this fantastic.'

Er Kang and Yongqi looked at each other guiltily. Zi Wei noticed their look and asked what was the matter. It seemed that Yongqi can bring only one female escort beacuse he is a guest. Er Kang on the other hand is only his bodyguard and his presence is allowed only to make sure of Yongqi's safety.
' Is that so. Then, I do not mind not going.' said Zi Wei
' But I do. If Zi Wei not going, I'm not going.' said Xiao Yanzi sulkily.
' Xiao Yanzi, I insist you accompany Yongqi. Do not worry about me. Jin Shuo will be with me so you don't have to worry about me.'
' Oh, all right then.'

**** That night at the British Embassy ****

Xiao Yanzi was a disaster right from the start. When they arrived, Yongqi introduced her and Er Kang to Lucy Zhao. Lucy is Yongqi's friend. She has been living in England for a while and just got home. Both of them have been writing to each other during the past years. Xiao Yanzi was a bit jealous seeing how intimate Yongqi and Lucy. But she brushed the feeling off. ' Yongqi loves me,' she assured herself. Lucy extended her hand towards Xiao Yanzi to shake hands. Xiao Yanzi rushed forward offering her hands only to trip and fell right on the floor. Lucy laughed. ' Yongqi said you're charming. He didn't said that you're funny too.' Xiao Yanzi blushed as she slowly stood up. She wanted to say something but Yongqi stops her and whispered, ' Be quiet, let me do the talking.'
They mingled among the guests. Yongqi struck up a conversation with a couple of foreigners and talked in English. Xiao Yanzi was completely puzzled. She never heard Yongqi speaks that way before. But she was secretly proud of him. At the same time, she hates the way Yongqi laughed and jested with Lucy and the other foreigners. True, Xiao Yanzi was excited seeing so many foreigners but the excitement wore off. She whispered at Er Kang, ' I'm hungry. Can we eat now?' Er Kang hushed her to be patient..

Then, music starts. Some guests started dancing the waltz. Lucy smiled at Yongqi and asked if he still remembers how to dance. Yongqi nodded and asked if she's confident enough with his dancing skills to dance with him. She readily accepts. Yongqi winked at Xiao Yanzi. Xiao Yanzi smiled weakly. Her heart was boiling with jealousy as she watched Lucy and Yongqi danced around the ballroom. Then, one of the foreigner ask to dance with her. Xiao Yanzi didn't understands him. Er Kang told the man that Xiao Yanzi neither knows English nor how to dance. The man told Er Kang he'll be happy to teach the lovely lady (Xiao Yanzi) to dance. Er Kang hesitated. He thought that Yongqi might get angry but at the same time, Xiao Yanzi hurriedly asked him what the man said. Er Kang finally told her about the man's request. She agreed. Er Kang was horrified. 'If Yongqi could dance with Lucy, why can't she dance with other man.' She thought.

At first, Xiao Yanzi kept stepping on that poor man's toes (oh.. the foreign man's name is Mr. Smith
and he is the British ambassador). But soon, she got the hang of it. ' It's just like practicing kungfu.'
she thought as she gracefully moves with the rhythm. At the same time, Yongqi kept glancing hotly at her.
How could she dance with another man? A stranger at the same time. Lucy interrupt him, ' A penny for you thought, Wu Ah Ge.'
' Err... nothing.' Just then, the music stops. Yongqi bows down and quickly rushes towards Mr. Smith and Xiao Yanzi.
' Excuse me, Mr. Smith. I like to have a word with my fiancée,' said Yongqi as he pulls Xiao Yanzi away.
' What's got into you? Let go my hand,' said Xiao Yanzi hotly.
' What were you doing? You are a princess and my fiancée. How dare you dance with somebody you don't even know? Are you nuts? What will other people say about you?' Xiao Yanzi's eyes widened and almost shouted back.
' How about you? You left me all alone and danced with that banana girl!'
' What girl?? Lucy? She's an old friend.' said Yongqi defending himself. Er Kang interrupted them.
'It's time for dinner.' Xiao Yanzi refused to go. Yongqi quickly calmed down. He began to see that Xiao Yanzi was jealous of Lucy. No wonder she danced with that man. He put his hands around her, ' Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you just now. Let's go eat. You must be hungry.' Slowly, she smiles at Yongqi. No matter what Yongqi did, she could not stay mad at him long. Reluctantly, she followed Yongqi towards the dinner hall.

Yongqi forgot that Xiao Yanzi had never learn how to use fork and spoon before. He assumed she already know. Xiao Yanzi was curious at first when she saw the dining table. She carefully scrutinized the small knives, that vicious looking spiky thing (the fork), the small silver mirror with handle (the spoon) and the white porcelain plate. Why there are no chopsticks? She was seated next to Yongqi with Lucy on his other side. She decided to copy how Yongqi eats. But she still could not figure it out. Soon, there's flying pieces of steak, spilled soup and vegetables tumbling down the floor. Everybody including Yongqi laughed at Xiao Yanzi. Angry and embarrassed, she snapped at Yongqi and left the table with tears trickling down her cheek. She didn't mind if other people laugh at her. But not Yongqi. She hurried out of the embassy as fast as she could, almost knocking Er Kang on her way. Er Kang asks her what's wrong.
' Everything is wrong. I want to go home now, Er Kang.'
' But..'
' Now!!'
Then, they heard Yongqi calling her name. Xiao Yanzi pleads to Er Kang to let her go home. Er Kang shook his head. Xiao Yanzi turns around and saw Yongqi running towards her. She quickly fled. Er Kang tries to chase her but it was dark and Xiao Yanzi was too fast for them. She has disappear.

Xiao Yanzi kept running and running until she grew tired. It was so cold. She was scared and all alone.
' Help me…' she whispered dejectedly. She should not have run away.

Then, she heard horses. A carriage. Xiao Yanzi turned towards the roadside. Then, she heard somebody calling her name. She turned around expecting Yongqi and Er Kang. But all she saw was the man she danced with.
' Madam, the Fifth Prince has been looking for you. I'm so happy that I have found you,' said Mr. Smith. Xiao Yanzi didn't understand a word he says. He tried to communicate with him using hand signals. Xiao Yanzi grew more puzzled. Exasperated, Mr. Smith took Xiao Yanzi's hands and threw her into the carriage. Before Xiao Yanzi could get out he shut the door. Xiao Yanzi repeatedly tried to smash the door open but failed miserably. She shouted and tried to shook the carriage as hard as she could making it hard for him to control the carriage. The carriage almost turn upside down if it was not for Mr. Smith's skills. Soon, they met another carriage. It was Yongqi and Er Kang!

' I've found her!!' shouted Mr Smith. Yongqi jumped out of the carriage and dashed towards Mr. Smith's carriage. The door opened and Xiao Yanzi almost flew out of it knocking Yongqi down. They both fell flat on the muddy road. Xiao Yanzi shouted at him. ' You bad man. How dare you kidnap me? Huang Ah Ma will cut off your head for this!!'
' Xiao Yanzi, it's me Yongqi!' Xiao Yanzi shrieked. 'Yongqi?' Er Kang and Mr. Smith helped them both get up.
Xiao Yanzi hastily hugged Yongqi. ' Yongqi, I'm sorry I ran off. I didn't mean too…'
' Yes… yes… You are okay now. It's late and Huang Ah Ma will be worried if we don't get home soon.'
Xiao Yanzi obediently nodded and slowly rested her head on his shoulder. Together, they walked towards the carriage.

*** The following night ***

Xiao Yanzi was standing all alone in Shu Fan Zai. Zi Wei and Jin Shuo slept already. She could feel the wind blowing against her cheeks. Soft sounds of rustling leaves serenaded her. Her heart aches as she remembers how Yongqi lied for her in front of Huang Ah Ma. How could he told Huang Ah Ma that last night was a great success? She failed Yongqi and that's the truth. She is an embarrassment for the palace, Huang Ah Ma and most of all, Yongqi. No matter how hard she tried, she would fail to impress everyone. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Yongqi lovingly watching her.
' How did you get here unannounced? It's late…' Yongqi placed his index finger on her lips effectively silencing her.
' I want to see you alone.'
' Why?' He smiled as she took Xiao Yanzi's hands and brought her out into the courtyard. Casually, he bowed down and kissed her hands.
' Xiao Yanzi, may I have this dance?' Xiao Yanzi was speechless. He placed Xiao Yanzi's left hand on his left shoulder and placed his left hands around her waist. Slowly, he danced with Xiao Yanzi in the pale moonlight with the stars twinkling brightly across the velvet sky.

THE END