Stories Inspired from HZGG

Qian Long were so occupied with the rebellious of the Red Lotus Society that he spent less time with his children making them feel a wee bit neglected. Yet, Xiao Yanzi was the only one complaining. ' No matter how busy he is, he should make time for us in his busy schedule,' whined Xiao Yanzi. Zi Wei tenderly comforted Xiao Yanzi with her diplomatic explanations, ' You know Xiao Yanzi, besides being father, he is also the emperor. As an emperor, he has the responsibility to ensure peace and prosperity in the kingdom.'

Xiao Yanzi sighed in frustration. She pouted and moped around. She thought of going to Jing Yang Gong to see Yongqi but she remembered in time that Yongqi and Er Kang were with Qian Long and only will be back after its dark. By that time, Yongqi would be so exhausted he wouldn't have the patience to entertain Xiao Yanzi's rantings. 'Last time, they are busy with those foreigners. Now, with rebels. Why can't these people leave them alone for once,' she unhappily said to herself. Zi Wei and Jin Suo were amused to see Xiao Yanzi deep in thought. ' If I know no better, I think she's heading for trouble soon enough,' Jin Suo confided to Zi Wei. Zi Wei smiled gently but nevertheless, she defended Xiao Yanzi. ' Xiao Yanzi is getting smart enough to avoid trouble these days and I must add, she can be really resourceful sometimes.' Jin Suo teasingly asked, ' When is this sometimes? I certainly could not remember.' Both of them giggled. Xiao Yanzi, who listened to the whole exchange, pretended as if she did not hear them. Instead, she concentrate on her forthcoming plans. She dare not paint ever since the last incident. Xiao Yanzi wondered if Ling Fei is free or not. Perhaps Ling Fei needed some company, then again there's not much to do at Ling Fei's. Its more fun here at Shu Fan Zai and who knows if Yongqi and Er Kang might come calling. Xiao Yanzi contemplated whether to go out but she dare not go out alone. Er Kang and Yongqi specifically said that Xiao Yanzi and Zi Wei were forbidden to walk past the gates without the guys. But then again, no walls or gates could confined her, the elusive Xiao Yanzi.
' I'm going out. I'm going to see Liu Qing and Liu Hong.'

Zi Wei cried in alarm. ' You shouldn't bother them at times like this. Liu Qing and Liu Hong is also busy planning for their restaurant. Last thing I heard, they're out scouting the city for building materials.'

' That's why I'm going. They needed all the help they can get,' said the excited Xiao Yanzi. Besides seeing Liu Qing and Liu Hong, she could always go sightseeing at the streets of Beijing. It has been a long time and she dreadfully missed eating at the hawker's stalls or watching the bustling crowd.

Suddenly, Jin Suo hit upon an idea. She calmly suggested that since they all can't go out of the palace, maybe they should do something inside the palace. ' His majesty have been very worried these days. Maybe we could organize a surprise party for him to help him unwind.'
Xiao Yanzi pounced at the idea. ' Brilliant, Jin Suo. Come to think of it, I have everything laid out. Zi Wei could play the lute and maybe you and I could sing along.Oh, maybe the other geges and ah ges as well. I'm sure they all be happy to join us. We could also ask Ling Fei's help as well. '
Zi Wei protested, ' But Huang Ah Ma are really busy. When will you find time to conduct this party of yours?'
Xiao Yanzi casually declared with an impish grin, ' I'll think of something.'

To everybody's surprise, the plan went very smoothly. Yongqi and Er Kang were very skeptical of Xiao Yanzi's schemes but admitted that she did a great job organizing the party. She personally set the menu, single-handedly instructed the servants on the night's arrangement and sent out invitations to everybody even to the Empress although Xiao Yanzi were reluctant to do so. ' Zi Wei made me do it, ' she furiously replied if anyone asked her about it.

Three days before the party, there was a sudden attack of flu which infected half of the royal children including Zi Wei. Xiao Yanzi panicked as they all could not possibly sing with their sore throats. In a nervous frenzy, he asked Yongqi whether there's any travelling performers in the city. Unfortunate for her, there was none. But the ingenious Yongqi got another idea. He heard that there's a magician in town. Xiao Yanzi implored Yongqi to invite the magician but Yongqi were unsure since no one knew about his background.

' We cannot take chances especially with recent rumors about the Red Lotus Society. I need time to check them up. After all, who knows if this magician is an evil sorcerer out to kill Huang Ah Ma,' he carefully explained. Xiao Yanzi fumed at him and practically screamed right in front of his face.

' Do you think I'm stupid, Yongqi? There's no such thing like magic and these hocus pocus were only trickery and illusion. Even Huang Ah Ma doesn't believe in those things. He thinks that it was a bunch of crap. In three days time, the magician will perform at the palace. Don't you worry. everything will be fine. After all, no one can beat the Imperial guards with Er Kang as the head of security.' A worried Yongqi heavily objected. But Xiao Yanzi was adamant and insisted on her original plan. Defeated by Xiao Yanzi's persistent clamoring, Yongqi called the magician and arranged for him to perform at the palace.

On that night, Er Kang and Yongqi were very nervous. They stationed twice as many imperial guards around the palace and the best ones at the party much to Xiao Yanzi's disapproval. When the Emperor arrived, he was so pleasantly surprised by the party that he showered heaps of praise upon our ecstatic Xiao Yanzi. The food prepared was delicious and when the magician start strutting his stuff, everybody were having a great time. Even Yongqi and Er Kang relaxed enough to enjoy the show. The young ah ges and geges screamed in delight as the magician produced white doves and multi-colored scarves out of thin air. The magician also conjured up a few card tricks that amazed even the Emperor. Xiao Yanzi were so delighted to see the party going on smoothly that she too start jumping up and down clapping her hands.

The Empress became more and more disgusted as she watched Xiao Yanzi having the most attention. With Rong Ma Ma viciously snarling the two favored geges beside her, she could never find peace. She wished that something dreadful would happen and land Qian Long's precious geges in deep trouble. Unfortunately for the geges, the Empress got her wish.

' Now, for my last act, I like to ask one of the gege as my assistant,' announced the magician as he carefully scanned the room. Xiao Yanzi started waving her hand and shouting, ' Me, me!!' along with the young geges and ah ges. The magician saw our beautiful Zi Wei sitting quietly beside Qian Long. ' Meng Zhu Ge Ge, I like to have the honor of having you to assist my next act,' said the magician. Zi Wei politely declined but Qian Long coaxed her to follow the magician. ' It'll be all right, ' said Qian Long. At her father's cajoling, Zi Wei gladly went towards the magician. The magician asked her to sit inside a huge wooden box. Zi Wei obliged. Then, the magician covered the box with his black satin cape. He tapped his staff on the box three times while chanting some words.

' Abracadabra...' he chanted and swiftly he yanked the cape away revealing the wooden with no Zi Wei in it. Everybody was stunned. Qian Long laughed and applauded the magician. The magician bowed. ' Now, you have to make her appear again!' said Xiao Yanzi excitedly. The magician did not reply. Er Kang was alarmed by his action commanded that he bring back Zi Wei. The magician laughed. Then, he produced a little black ball and dropped it to the floor. The room was filled with heavy smoke in an instant. The young royal children began to cry in fear of Zi Wei and their own safety. Xiao Yanzi charged towards what she thought to be the magician but it turned out to be Yongqi. They collided headfirst and both of them fell unconscious to the floor. Er Kang frantically ordered his men to capture the magician but they could not chase him as the smoke were too thick and they could not see a thing. He heard the Emperor furiously giving commands to his personal guards to follow the magician and bring him back dead or alive. ' And find her. If she gets killed or injured, it'll be your heads.'

Er Kang and his men managed to get out of the smoke-filled room. Outside, there was a huge fight between the Imperial Guards and a group of masked men. Only five of them but their martial art skills were quite good. It was obvious that the magician have planned this from the very beginning. The magician and the masked men, who protected him from the Imperial Guards, ran for the gates. Er Kang saw that the magician had Zi Wei on his back running across the courtyard. Er Kang chased after them shouting Zi Wei's name. He could hear she screamed for him. ' I'm coming!!!' shouted Er Kang back.

Back at the palace, the smoke have rapidly dispersed. Ling Fei immediately gathered the young children and sent them to their beds while the Empress retired to her chamber wearing a smug look. The Emperor fussed over Yongqi and Xiao Yanzi who were still unconscious. Ling Fei returned with Mingyue and Caixia bringing some cold water. She soaked a cotton cloth and gently dabbed it on Yongqi's forehead. He quickly sat up. ' Have they found Zi Wei?' he hurriedly asked.

' Er Kang is outside chasing them,' Qian Long explained.
' I must help him,' said the determined Yongqi as he stood up and ran outside. Ling Fei tried to stop him but Qian Long restrained her. ' Let him.'
Ling Fei turned towards Xiao Yanzi but Qian Long asked her not to wake her up. ' If she's awake, she's going to risk herself fighting with those men. I'm not going to endanger another of my daughters.'
' Poor Xiao Yanzi. She's going to be stricken by guilt if Zi Wei doesn't return soon,' cried Ling Fei as she stroke Xiao Yanzi's face. She huddled towards Qian Long who lovingly whispered to her, ' No, it's my fault. I shouldn't let her near that man.'
' But you didn't know.. I'm sure Er Kang have saved her by now.' Qian Long sighed.' I do hope so.'

They, they heard some commotion. There was shouting and anguished cries. Then, Yongqi returned with an injured Er Kang in his arms. Qian Long stood up in alarm. ' Did you get them?' Yongqi shook his head. ' Er Kang managed to catch up with them at the gates but just past the walls, he was shot by an arrow. I fear that it was poisoned.' Qian Long quickly summoned up the Imperial Physician and sent a messenger to tell Er Kang's parents about the incident.

They brought Er Kang and Xiao Yanzi to Shu Fan Zai where the Imperial Physician carefully examined them. The Taiyi confirmed that Huan Zhu Ge Ge was all right and sleeping peacefully. But it doesn't looked good for Er Kang. Er Kang were still unconscious and kept saying Zi Wei's name. Blood kept pouring out of the wound. Yongqi didn't like the way Taiyi's face changed after he examined Er Kang. Just then, Fu Lun and Fu Jing arrived.
' Taiyi, will he be all right?' Fu Jing asked, she nervously held her husband's hands. The physician took a deep breath and finally said,' I'm sorry to say this but Wu Ah Ge's suspicion is right. Er Kang have been poisoned but I think I can save him.'
Everybody especially Yongqi were relieved. But Taiyi has not finished his explanation yet. ' Er Kang is down with fever and it's really bad. I don't think the poison would kill him but this fever will. You have to keep his temperature down and get him to sleep well. Most important of all, try not to stress him.'
' But as long as Zi Wei at the hands of the kidnappers, I don't think this is possible,' replied Yongqi. " Then, there's nothing else I could do. I'll write out some prescription for some medicinal herbs to lessen his pain and help him sleep. I'll come back tomorrow with the antidote for the poison. But it will take days before the medicine works. That also depends on Er Kang's will to live.' Yongqi banged his fist onto the bedpost real hard. He was at his wits end. His half sister was at the hands of the enemy, his best friend had been shot and his fiancée... ' Thank God. At least she's all right for once,' he silently thought to himself.

Fu Jing asked whether they could bring Er Kang home. The Taiyi thought it is wiser to keep him at the palace where the Taiyi could keep his eye on him. Yongqi agreed and requested that both of them stay in the palace too. Fu Lun wanted to talk to Yongqi alone. Yongqi suggested they went outside. Just then, Qian Long and Ling Fei arrived. They expressed their sincere regrets to Fu Jing and Fu Lun. ' Huang Shang, Er Kang is the head of the palace guards. This is a risk he has to take and we completely understood, ' said Fu Lun.
' But I've always thought of him like my own son. After all, he is my future son in law,' replied Qian Long. He inquired about Xiao Yanzi's situation and were relieved to find out that she was all right. Ling Fei excused herself to help Fu Jing with the medicine. Then, they all started to discuss the attack. ' Yongqi, what do you know of this man? I was told you were the one who sought him out.'

' I don't know much about him. I found his address from an officer who once saw his show and went to this inn where he was performing. I met him and questioned about his background but he didn't reveal much. His name was Daiyung and said that he was born in Beijing an orphan. He was raised by an older magician who taught his the art of illusion. He had been performing since he was ten years old with the old man. After the old man died, Daiyung traveled alone. He has no family or friends.'
' Why did you let him into the palace?' asked Fu Lun, full of doubts. It was unlike Yongqi to admit a person with unknown background into the palace and near the Emperor too.
' I didn't. Xiao Yanzi wanted the man performed very much and I did not want to disappoint her so...' Qian Long motioned him to stop. ' You don't have to say it. I think I knew what happened. Xiao Yanzi forced you, didn't she,' Qian Long arched his left eyebrow questioning Yongqi's story. Yongqi said yes but not before launching into full scale defensive mode justifying Xiao Yanzi's actions. ' She only wanted to make you happy, Huang Ah Ma.'
' I know. It wasn't her fault. Or anybody's fault. The important thing now is to save Zi Wei. Fu Lun, do you think it was the Red Lotus Society? Did they want to assassinate me? '

Fu Lun thought for a while before finally answered, ' I'm not sure about the rebels, Your Majesty. I've sent my officers to investigate and we will find out if there's a connection. I don't think it was you they after. If they wanted to kill you, they could but I don't think that was their objective as they obviously went for Meng Zhu Ge Ge.'
' Why Zi Wei? Out of all my children, why her?'
' I'm sorry, Your Highness. I haven't got a clue.'

The next morning, Xiao Yanzi woke up with a huge headache. She called out for Jin Suo but no one answered her. Mingyue and Caixia were not to be seen. ' That's strange. Where is everybody?' She tried to stood up but her head felt so heavy that she just had to go back to sleep. Just then, she remembered.

Fu Jing were at the next room tending on Er Kang's wounds when she heard Xiao Yanzi screamed. Then, Xiao Yanzi burst through the door hurling her sword towards all direction and missed Fu Jing just about an inch. She began to exclaimed, ' Where are you, you evil sorcerer? How dare you take Zi Wei away? I, Xiao Yanzi won't allow it. Haiyah!' Fu Jing tried to calm her but she won't listen. Just then, Jin Suo returned with Ming Yue and Cai Xia. They went to pick up Er Kang's medicine. When Jin Suo saw Xiao Yanzi and Fu Jing struggling with the sword, she was so stunned she dropped the herbs and rushed towards them. The sword flew out of control towards Jin Suo's direction but luckily for her, she dived towards the floor in the nick of time. Mingyue and Caixia, who was right behind Jin Suo, ran out of the room when they saw the sword flying towards them. But Caixia panicked and ran towards the other direction straight to the wall. She rammed into the wall real hard and fainted. The sword finally hit a porcelain vase smashing it into million pieces. Xiao Yanzi, finally realizing what she has done, rushed towards Caixia apologizing profusely. She almost burst to tears when Caixia opened her eyes and asked whether she's in heaven.

Jin Suo finally told Xiao Yanzi about Er Kang's injury and Zi Wei's situation. ' They heard nothing yet but we heard on our way back that a messenger has arrived and brought news from the kidnappers.'
' I hope it's good news. Jin Suo, do you think Huang Ah Ma mad at me? After all, it was my idea to have that magician and I was the one who talked Yongqi into this. If I listened to him, none of this would happen.'
' Don't blame yourself. Wu Ah Ge told me that they are doing all they can to save Zi Wei,' said Jin Suo while heating the herbs inside a huge earthen pot. Xiao Yanzi eyed her carefully. Why is Jin Suo talking so fast? Xiao Yanzi also noticed that Jin Suo's hand trembled as she tried to lit the coal stove.
' Jin Suo, are you all right?'
' No, I'm fine,' she said dejectedly. Xiao Yanzi quickly grabbed her hand and and turned Jin Suo towards her.
' No, I could see you are hiding something from me. What is it?' Jin Suo's eyes were puffy and red. She burst to tears as she hugged Xiao Yanzi close. ' Xiao Yanzi, I'm so scared. Zi Wei was ill and now, in the hands of these rebels. I wished they have taken me instead.' Xiao Yanzi too began to cry as she held Jin Suo tighter. ' I know. I felt it too.' Fu Jing and the servants were overcome by Xiao Yanzi's and Jin Suo's grief that they too sobbed uncontrollably. Then, Xiao Yanzi exclaimed that she's going to see Yongqi and Huang Ah Ma immediately.