Xiao Yanzi and Zi Wei have been searching for Qian Long all day. When they finally found him, he was in the garden with a brush in one hand and an easel right in front of him.¹ Ling Fei is sitting two meters from him under an umbrella. A couple of palace eunuchs were busy bringing preparing paint solutions and cleaning brushes. One was busy fanning his majesty and wiping his forehead. Seeing the commotion, Xiao Yanzi decided to make their presence known much to Zi Wei's protest.

' Huang Ah Ma, jixiang. Ling Fei, jixiang.' Qian Long smiled at them both.

' We hope we're not disturbing you, Huang Ah Ma.'

' No. I was just thinking to get you here too. What do you think of this?' Qian Long stepped aside revealing an unfinished painting of Ling Fei. Xiao Yanzi excitedly said,' Huang Ah Ma, it's beautiful. Maybe you would paint me next.' Qian Long laughed.

' I don't think you can stay still long enough.'

'Well, Zi Wei knows how to paint. Maybe she could paint me.' Zi Wei shook her head.

' Oh, no. I agree with Huang Ah Ma. You cannot stand still for anyone to paint your picture.'

Xiao Yanzi pouted sulkily. But only for a moment. She smiled and thought to herself, ' If no one wants to paint me, then I'll paint myself.'

Then, she noticed that there's a speak of dirt on the painting. Immediately, she tried to brush it off. As she did that, she accidentally pushes the painting to the ground.

' Xiao Yanzi!!' shrieked the horrified Zi Wei . Qian Long too cried in horror as he watches his prized painting tumbled onto the ground. ' Xiao Yanzi,' cried Qian Long angrily. He looked at Xiao Yanzi in disbelief. All she said is..' Oops.'

' Don't get mad at Xiao Yanzi, your Majesty. She didn't mean too. And the painting is not ruined. Forgive her.' said Ling Fei soothing Qian Long's anger.

' Huang Ah Ma, like Ling Fei said. I really didn't mean to ruin your painting. There was a dirt on the painting and I wanted to get it off...'

' All right.. all right... I know you did not mean it but next time, do be careful.'

' Yes, Huang Ah Ma.' said Xiao Yanzi beaming with relief as she helped the servants picked up the painting.

At Shu Fan Zai. Zi Wei and Jin Shuo was out helping Ling Fei with some errands. For Xiao Yanzi, it's time to get into action. She quickly told Xiao Dengzi and Xiao Zhuozi to collect some art materials like brushes, jars of paint etc. When they came back to Shu Fan Zai, they found Xiao Yanzi surrounded with mirrors in all shapes and sizes.

' Ge Ge, I don't think this is a good idea.'

' Of course it is. Now give the paper and the brushes. You two stand guard and warn me if whoever arrive. Other that that, don't disturb me. I need to concentrate on my painting.'

An hour later. Yongqi and Er Kang arrive at Shu Fan Zai. They were surprised to see no one at Shu Fan Zai. Then, they saw Xiao Dengzi came running towards them.

' Wu Ah Ge, Fu Taiyi, Ming Zhu Ge Ge and Jin Shuo went to help Ling Fei. Huan Zhu Ge Ge...'

' Where is she?'

' She's here but she instructs us not to disturb her.' Yongqi became worried and asked,' Is she sick? You should have called Taiyi.'

' No.. she...' Xiao Dengzi could not finish his explanation as both Er Kang and Yongqi rushed in and knocked the door vigorously.

' Xiao Yanzi, are you in there?'

' Don't come in!!!!!' shouted Xiao Yanzi. Yongqi sighed in relief. She sounded healthy enough. But it was the opposite for Er Kang. He became increasingly worried. He has a nagging feeling that something is very wrong. ' Open the door, Xiao Yanzi.'

'No!!'

' Then, we will smash it open,' said Er Kang promptly pushing the door open. Boy, they were really surprised.

Xiao Yanzi was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by mirrors. Her dress and face stained with huge blobs of paint. Behind her was her painting she tried desperately to hide. ' There's nothing to see really,' she said sheepishly.

' What were you doing?' said Yongqi as he carefully picked up the mirrors standing in his way.

' Nothing!' said Xiao Yanzi increasingly agitated.

' Then, why are you hiding something?'

' Hiding? No... It's.. It's a surprise...'

' You've surprised us enough. So let me see what were you doing.' Er Kang pulled Xiao Yanzi aside and carefully tried not to knock any mirrors (a very tough task I might add). Yongqi started to laugh uncontrollably when he saw Xiao Yanzi's painting. He hardly could make out the matchstick person in the midst of splotches of paint. ' Is it you?' Er Kang reacted just about the same. Xiao Yanzi became upset. She angrily hit Yongqi with her brush and ran to her room. ' Not again,' Yongqi sighed as he quickly chased her while apologizing profusely. Er Kang shook his head. ' Sometimes I don't understand those two.'

In Xiao Yanzi's room

' Oh, you two could not appreciate art.'

' I've already said that I'm sorry,' replied Yongqi with an impish grin. Xiao Yanzi glared at him.

' It's bad enough that you laughed at my poetry and chengyu.'

' I'm not laughing at you. I laughed at the painting. You should know it is impossible for anyone to paint themselves. And seeing that you managed to complete it speak volumes of your talents and intelligence. But why are you trying to paint yourself at the first place?' asked Yongqi as he try to piece together what's the cause of Xiao Yanzi's sudden fascination with paintings.

' Since no one wants to paint me, I'll do it myself. Huang Ah Ma and Zi Wei said so no one would dare to paint me. I cannot stand still long enough.'

' Well, I do.' said Yongqi smiling. She looked at him puzzled by his answer. He quickly led Xiao Yanzi out of the room. ' Xiao Zhouzi, get me a paper and a writing brush.' Er Kang surprised by the request asked Yongqi what is he doing. Yongqi only grinned impishly. ' Wu Ah Ge, it's on the table.'

Yongqi sat on the table and deftly drew something. He didn't even glanced towards Xiao Yanzi. Ten minutes later, he showed the small drawing to her. It was a small caricature of Xiao Yanzi. Her big lively eyes gleamed as she exclaimed, 'It's so cute, Yongqi. Can I keep it?'

' Of course.'

' I didn't know that you can draw.' said Er Kang.

' Well, like father like son.'

' How come you could draw me without even looking at me?'

' This drawing is a picture of you in my mind. I only need to close my eyes to see it.' ²

At that moment, Zi Wei , Jin Shuo, Qian Long and Ling Fei arrived. They were shocked to see Shu Fan Zai in a mess. ' I should know better than leaving Xiao Yanzi alone.' said Zi Wei in disbelief after Yongqi told them the whole story. Qian Long, who was amused by the incident, called Xiao Yanzi to come to him.

' I have a gift for you.' He asked Ling Fei, who was holding the gift, to give it to Xiao Yanzi. Xiao Yanzi's face lit up immediately as she unfolded her gift. It was a painting of a small swallow flying free in the sky. Underneath the painting, Qian Long wrote something. Xiao Yanzi read it aloud.

' Especially for my beloved daughter, Xiao Yanzi. From your father, Qian Long. Huang Ah Ma, thank you so much. I'll treasure this always.' Qian Long nodded as she hugged him close.

' Maybe, I'll try paint you next.' said Xiao Yanzi. Everybody cried in unison, ' Not again!' Xiao Yanzi hesitated before joyfully exclaimed, ' Just kidding.'

The End

Footnote:

1. I read it somewhere that Qian Long is a quite accomplished artist. Hence the story. By now if you have noticed I kept writing things about the scraps Xiao Yanzi gets herself into and Yongqi successfully rescuing her... giggled ... to Zi Wei fans... keep in mind that it's quite hard to get through to Zi Wei's way of thinking but Zi Wei's story is coming up next... I promise!!

2. I love it when Yongqi gives his little speeches. So sweet…