Huan Zhu Ge Ge

(Love vs. Friendship)

By: Princess Pearl

(Fang Ci)

"Xiao Yan Zi! Dinner ready!" Qing’er called her when she saw her at the lake

"Ok! Qing’er, can I talk to you for a second."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Have you ever afraid that once Xiao Jain might take concubine?"

"Well, he won’t. I trust him."

"How come you so sure?"

"Why you ask that question? Is something wrong between you and Yong Qi?" feeling something wrong

"Um… I… I decide to break up with him." Said sadly tears roll down from her eyes

"What? What wrong? Did he bully you?"

"No, no. He’s not. He’s very nice to me." Look away

"Is it because you afraid he might take concubine?"

"I rather die than…" sitting down picking the flowers

"Don’t even think about it! Yong Qi would never taken any concubine! He’s very faithful!" sit next to her, "Think about it. Just because of that make you think of breaking up with Yong Qi. Have you ever think for him? You’re not the only one who’s in love. Yong Qi loves you deeply. Tell you the truth; I really admired the love he gave to you. I’d never saw anyone so caring for his lover like him. So protect over his love. And so treasure it. You should feel proud about it." Xiao Yan Zi feel a little ease, secretly smile to herself,

Qing’er continued, "If you love him then don’t make him suffer. Did he tell you how much he misses you in the palace? Ling Fei Naing Naing, Huang Shan’s favorite concubine had send us a letter, in the letter she said that in the palace Yong Qi din’t eat or sleep much just like you, he’d been rude to Huang Shan a lot. That’s a thing nobody would dare to do, and I think he’s the first one. She said that she’d never saw him in such desperate."

"Xiao Yan Zi! Qing’er! Come on! We’re starving!" Ziwei called

"Ok! We’re coming!" turn to Xiao Yan Zi, "Don’t think about it anymore, it just a silly thinking."

The three girls walk back to the house, when they enter the door, they met Yong Qi. Xiao Yan Zi looks at him deeply with the eyes full of regret and sorrow. Yong Qi looks sadly at her, his heart really aching, and he’s still mad at her, still hurting by those word. He looks away emotionless and heads to the dining room like he doesn’t want to see her. Xiao Yan Zi was heartbroken. She didn’t know Yong Qi would react like that. She thought he would be happy to see her like he use to. She feel terrible, a few tears drop roll down from her beautiful face.

They sit around the table; they sit in pair, Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi didn’t talk much. Yong Qi act coldly with Xiao Yan Zi. ‘Look what I’ve done now! Yong Qi doesn’t like me anymore! He hates me!" She turns to him and looks at him with a pleading look but he turns his head. Whenever she tries to talk to him he always do that. She’d been crying since she saw him at the door and no one knows that.

He look at him again, her eyes gleaming, which make she look so pretty. This time Yong Qi look back at her, he was shock! He never expects she’s crying! Look what he did! He makes his beloved crying because of him! She looks at him disappointedly. She couldn’t stand it anymore, she push her chair out and run out to the door.

Everyone was confusing, Yong Qi got up his chair and chase after her. He saw her running to the lake, a place where she always at when feeling sad. Xiao Yan Zi keep running her tears drop uncontrollably. She use her hand to wipe the tears, but there’re too much and it even make all her hand wet. She stop at the tree, trying to catch some breathe. The she feel someone behind her, she look back and she saw Yong Qi, who’d been chasing her.

"Go away!" She shout, collapse on the ground

"Xiao Yan Zi I’m sorry!" held her on his lap

"How come you do that to me?" sadness tears roll out. Sawing that Yong Qi wrap his arm around her and hug her tighly

"Please forgive me. It because I was too desperate." He said

"No. It your fault." Understanding, "I should say that. I’m sorry. I just afraid that you might… um, taken concubine. And it really hurt me when you act coldly to me." Still crying, her head lean on his chest.

"Why would I have concubine? I love you with all my heart!"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"If you do, you know what I would do?"

"What? Kill me?" laughing, Xiao Yan Zi laughs along

"No." said softly and raises her hand up to touch his face. He can feel it, he can feel her soft hand, and he grabs her hand, touching those slender fingers of her

"Then what you’ll do?" kiss her hand

"I’ll die, I’ll drink poison THAT make from flower so I will never be intact, and you will regret all your life because of my death. I’ll make you live with me, and nobody can have you." try to smile evilly, in sweet face doesn’t show any evil but a sweet innocent feature.

"I never know that you so wicked. But I don’t care, because I would never take any concubine."

"Anyway remember your promise… There’s one more thing. If you fell in love with someone, and you don’t want to hurt her feeling too, then what would you do?"

"That will never happen."

"What if it happens?" Touch his face gently

"You ask too much, now it time for me to ask. What if you like someone else."

"Nice try. Don’t think you can get over it Yong Qi. Answer the question."

"Ok. I will…" just then Xiao Yan Zi place her finger on his lips.

"I don’t want to know the answer." She said softly, still not satisfied with the problem. She’s still worry about it.

"Yong Qi." She said, her hand touch his face, her back lean on his arm, she’s lie down onto his embrace, he hold her close to him, "I’m afraid."

"Afraid of what?" feeling worry

"Afraid that one day you will abandon me." Her voice breaking, a few tears roll down

"How could I? I love you so much. How could I abandon you? The one should be afraid is me not you. You so attractive and intelligent, probably a lot of guys will like you. So then you have many choice and it time for me to be afraid."

"Am I fit to be…" without a word Yong Qi lean down and kiss her, not letting she say anything.

"Trust me. I will never like any other girl but you. You’re the only one in my heart." He said, she smile warmly at him, she was touch by his word.

"Thank you Yong Qi. Thank you for liking me so much."

"You’re my life Xiao Yan Zi."

"But I’m just a merely girl and you… an Ah Ge. I’m not fit with you."

"Then I won’t be an Ah Ge, I will be a commoner. I will ask Huang Ah Ma to let me be a commoner to fit with you. Ok?" He laughs

"Yong Qi I’m not kidding!" Feel a little angry for Yong Qi not takes it seriously

"I mean it. I’m not kidding too. Look Xiao Jain is imperial guard and you id his sister of course you fit with me." Kiss her forehead, now she’s satisfied with the answer.

"Oh one more thing," She looks away shyly, "next time don’t hide some where and sudden jump out like you always did. It scare me and… and don’t um, don’t." She couldn’t say, as she’s so shy

"Don’t hug you or kiss you in front of everyone, or cuddling you so much? Am I right?"

"How… how did you know?"

"Because I can read your mind. I understand. It too soon for you, and this is your first love life right?"

"Yes. I’ll try to get use to it. I never know that once when I’m in love it make me feel so great."

Xiao Jain behind the tree, not far from them much and heard everything. ‘Yong Qi is right! Xiao Yan Zi will be suffering if I separate them.’ He’s understand everything now, he understand how much they love each other. He was shock in the first time when she said will be suicide if Yong Qi taking concubine. One simple word described how much she loves Yong Qi. Not letting she like Yong Qi is just like trying to kill her. Being a brother, Xiao Jain knows that Xiao Yan Zi is a weak person, everything can hurt her easily, and anybody can make her suffer.

If someone she know or don’t know come up to her and said some thing bad like they don’t like her or they hate her, it can make she sad for all day long. She always thinks the world is perfect. Everybody is nice to one another. Helping the other if they need help. She trusts everything from everyone said. And it all because she stays in the forest too long, not knowing what the real world like.

That’s the main reason why Xiao Jain so worried to let she like Yong Qi. Once they married, Xiao Yan Zi has to move to the palace. Life in the palace is dangerous and she is so innocent, he afraid that he might loose her someday. But now there’s nothing he can do about it, she would be more suffer if he separate them.

************

"Yong Qi, I want to talk to you about Xiao Yan Zi." Xiao Jain said, while they all alone

"There’s nothing to talk about. You’ll never stop us." Angrily

"I see how much she love you and how much you love her. And I think you two will make a great couple." Yong Qi’s eyes widen

"Am I dreaming? You mean it?"

"Yes. But you have to take care of her. If one day I saw she cries because of you I’ll kill you."

"You won’t. You can trust me."

"I trust you" place his hand on Yong Qi shoulder

"Um, I’m planning to bring Xiao Yan Zi to the palace. What do you think?"

"Bring her to the palace?" shock, he didn’t know it would be that fast. He always thought Xiao Yan Zi only move when she’s marry to Yong Qi.

"Yes, after this vacation."

"You… you can leave she here and come visit her sometime."

"Not if I still survive on that day? Look! I can’t live without her! For a minute I thought you let us be together." Feeling furious

"Sorry Yon Qi, but have you think how she will be like in the palace? She will be like Mei Ling! She will get beat up everyday! And all we can do is watching them." Xiao Jain said, "You know how it feel, Yong Qi." Lower his voice

"But I’ll miss her a lot and… and she have to go to the palace one day." He smiles secretly

"Maybe you right, she have to go to the palace someday." He sighs, "Ok. She can go to the palace after this vacation. We have to tell this to Huang Shan."

"He’ll be here in few days or he might be here tomorrow."

************

Xiao Yan Zi’s snake got lost again, she looking for it these days. She worried about it a lot; it’s been stay with her for a long time and she love it so much. Even if she have many friends now but she still didn’t forget how much it make she happy when she feel sad.

At the same time Huang Shan arrive to the forest. He didn’t get use to sit one place in the carriage for many hours. The carriage keeps shaking up and down. It makes him want to throw up. His face was pale, his eyes hurt, his head aching. He feels like seasick or worse than that. It all makes him furious, no one dares to speak to him. If anyone makes him mad, he cut his or her head off. It just not a good day to mess with him, actually nobody should mess with him in any day, especially today.

He orders the guard to stop and rest. The maids trembling help him get off the carriage. They lay out the clean precious blanket out to let him rest on. They set out foods and drink just like a picnic. Some maids sit next to him and serve him, well, they still trembling. Some of the women-dancing in front of him, a few younger women playing the qin. A most pretty lady is singing. All the guards surround him and the other.

Looking at the scene in front of him making him even angrier. As they were scare they didn’t do anything right. The dancing women keep mistaking the position; some of them even bump to each other, some of them falling while they try to rise up one leg. The qin player keep doing the wrong note, haft of them doing one song and the other haft doing some different song, it take a while to make them do the same song.

The maids serve that him, they even pour the drink on to his hand, and all they do is ask to forgive them. The singer can’t even sing, but when she can, we don’t call her singer but screamer, a great screamer indeed. The guard to weak as they trembling, he bet if a weak person pushes them slightly they would fall immediately. Instead of facing other direction to watch out for any one want to harm Huang Shan, and prepare to fight back, they facing him. All of them look like dead people, their face pale as a sheet.

"SILENCE!!!" He shouts, "What is this? A performance? Or is it a new way to torture? I must admit it’s a very good one! Who said they could come? Look at all of you! Am I looking like a prisoner trying to escape and now got caught by you? Are you trying to attack me? You are supposed to protect me not the forest! Facing them not me! And you all." Pointing to the women, "Are you want to make me deaf? How come you they choose you to dance for me, sing for me and play qin for me? You’re the worse! Now get out! I want to be alone!"

"But Huang Shan we have to protect you."

"Did you hear me? I said leave or I’ll cut off your head!"

"They leave silently, leaving him alone. He let out a sigh, shaking his head. Sitting down and rest next to the tree. He close his eyes but just then he feel something touching his hand, he open his eyes and saw the snake, the one that Xiao Yan Zi raise. He flung it over, the snake hurt badly. Then someone threw a rock at him making his head bleeding.

"How dare you!" Xiao Yan Zi shouts

"I the one who should say that! How dare you threw a rock at me? You shall behead!"

"Oh I’m so scare! Go head! It was your fault first! You hurt me snake!" running to the snake a held it up

"Oh! So that snake is yours!"

"Yes it mine! Any problem?" She threw another rock at him, then another, then another

"Stop it! Stop it at once!" he run to her and grab her arm

"Ouch! That’s hurt! Let go of me!"

"Of course it hurt! That’s what I’m trying to do!"

"How come you hurt a girl like me? Man don’t hit girl don’t you know? Did you go to school? At least a brainless person knows that! I think you’re worse than them! Owww!"

"Hmp! How dare you said that!" angry, "Do you know who I am?"

"I don’t care who you are! Even if you a king! But if you’re really a king, then I feel sorry for China! Having such an uneducated king!" Feeling angry and hurt, worry for the snake

"You went too far now! Guard!" he shouts

"What now? Call for help? Is your mommy here, Mr. King?" feeling too furious he smack her

"I said that enough! I bet you’re the one that don’t go to school. Did you know that you have to respect people older than you?"

"Of course I know! But I don’t like to respect you! You’re hurt my snake!" The guards come and shock as what she said

"Do you know who he is? He is Huang Shan!"

"How can I believe you?"

"I don’t need you to believe! Guards! Cut her head off!"

"You can’t do that! You’re murder! Can’t protect yourself and call your baby-sister for help? Show me your own strength! Stop calling for help! And show me your lack of brainy!"

"Ok! I’ll show you! I’ll show you how smart I am! Let have a competition!" let go off her

"Competition? Great idea! Finally you have SOME LACK OF BRAINY there! If you win you can do anything you want. And if I win I can do whatever I want!"

"Ha I don’t need that! I can do what ever I want now. I can have what ever I want now."

"Well but you still didn’t have my believing! Anyway beside all that I want to compete in who can trick whom more! That will add some fun!"

"Sure!"

"But one rule, you can’t ask your baby-sit for help or any one for help."

"Ok. It getting fun! No body had ever dared to say those words toward me. You’re the first one."

"Well, I have my rule there, you have any?"

"I don’t have any rule now. But I might have some rule later on. And I will tell you. Deal?"

"Deal."

"So where you live?"

"Um, well…" thinking as she the only one live in the forest, "where you live?"

"I ask you first."

"Yes. I did ask you second but I’m a lady. Lady first." Cross her arm

"But I ask you first and I’m a king. King first."

"Ha ha ha. I’d never heard about it! King first? Ha ha ha. Sure! You can go first but not unless you’re a lady. If you’re not a lady you can always say that you’re a lady, you know?"

"I don’t care about it! I said first!"

"Lady first!"

"King first!"

"Lady first!"

"King first!"

***********

I think if I add some auguring between them would be fun. I don’t like things go too perfect.