By: Kia Lam

*****

Out side, the children were learning their daily lesson in kung fu taught by a wizened woman. Well into her nineties, she held the name of Hua Nai Nai, the same one who brought everyone into action when Xiao Yian Zi was found unconscious. Age has not hindered her though, for she moved with agility and strength, displaying all the various stances and moves to the children slowly but accurately.
Er Kang found himself taking a morning stroll around the commoner’s courtyard, and as he walked, various recollections sprung up. He reminisced that one time when Zi Wei had left him, she had thought that her status was not fit for him, and she had left him, leaving only a piece of paper with ink on it. He had searched high and low for her; he came here, with immediate hopes that Lieu Qing and Lieu Hong knew where she was. But alas they refused to tell him! He really thought he was going to go crazy then, the fact that someone knew where Zi Wei was and he didn’t was an unbearable sin to him. At that thought, Er Kang smiled ruefully. Lieu Qing was his ultimate obstacle in winning Zi Wei’s heart. Lieu Qing fell for Zi Wei, although she didn’t know it. But now, things are dramatically different. Lieu Qing has found his true happiness with Jin Suoa, and he with Zi Wei.
As Er Kang came around the bend, he stopped in his tracks, watching the children dutifully learning their kung fu. He grinned at their adorable antics and wondered who the instructor was, for he must have a lot on his hands. Surprised that it was a woman instructor, and she was of such frail years, Er Kang was surprised at how agile and strong she still was. He watched her and the children and something caught his attention. The children were not "dutifully" learning their kung fu; they seemed uninterested and lacking motivation to learn it. Shaking his head, he decided to intervene. He flew and somersaulted in front of the children. He then turned and bowed at the woman.
"I go by the name of Fu Er Kang, may I have the honor of knowing Shi Mu’s (female for Shi Fu) name?" he asked her reverently.
"I am no Shi Mu, but I go by Hua Nai Nai." Replied the old woman.
"Then may I ask Hua Nai Nai to a short duel in skill?" he asked her, with a sidelong glance at the children.
Catching his glance, Hua Nai Nai nodded and smiled.
"Good. The one who shows the better skills and wins the approval of the children is then the winner." He said, motioning Hua Nai Nai to go first.
Upon hearing the hearty cheers of the children outside, Yong Qi decided to see what was happening. As he saw Er Kang displaying the various forms of kung fu, Yong Qi decided to join the fun. He flew in, just as Er Kang had stopped.
"May I join this competition?" he asked, smiling.
"Yea Yea!!!" cried the children, jumping up and down.
Laughing, Yong Qi drew his sword (which he wore as a belt) and proceeded to show off his skills.
Just then, Zi Wei and Xiao Yian Zi, along with Qianlong and everyone else came to see what all the noise was about.
Elated, Xiao Yian Zi flew into the scene.
The children cheered wildly as Hua Nai Nai, Er Kang, Yong Qi and Xiao Yian Zi decided to have a four-person duel. Their movements made the air swirl and swish, while Yong Qi’s sword cut through the air like a whistle. Finally, they stopped. The children roared in approval and clapped wildly. Smiling broadly, Er Kang asked, "Now, who do you think was the best?"
"…EVERYONE!!!" the children wildly screamed.
This evoked laughter from everyone that was about.
"So, will you now have the heart to learn your kung fu so that you can be as good, or even better than us, as well as use them to help others in need?" asked Er Kang again.
"YES!!!"
Laughing, the onlookers finally understood what Er Kang was up to.
"Excellent then! Maybe one of these days some of you would make it to serve the imperial army or protect the emperor himself!" Qianlong told them, with a wide grin on his face.
"Alright, if you four are done playing, I think it’s time we had a family talk." He said, looking straight at Yong Qi, Xiao Yian Zi, Er Kang, and Zi Wei.

*****

"This is the second time Xiao Yian Zi has fled the palace, and with much more dangerous consequences." Began Qianlong, eyeing the four. "What is wrong here?"
"A Ma, please don’t get blame Xiao Yian Zi, it was my fault. I caused this, Zi Wei and Er Kang didn’t know about this until I went to find them." Explained Yong Qi.
Looking sternly at his son, Qianlong shook his head. "A matter over Xiao Jian has caused Xiao Yian Zi to run away? That is most absurd!" He told them. "Er Kang told me what happened between you two, and what Yong Qi did was right, Xiao Yian Zi. You are not to reprimand the Tai Ho, even I do not dare to. But Yong Qi did a right thing in the wrong way, "one does not use the same method for argument to try and reach a solution." Do you understand what I’m saying, Yong Qi?"
Nodding, Yong Qi replied, "Yes, A Ma."
"As for Xiao Yian Zi, one does not run away from a problem, one should face it." Qianlong said, looking straight at Xiao Yian Zi. "If you run away, it causes more problems, most of all, it upsets everyone." He told her again, softly.
"I know, Lao Ye, I already promised Yong Qi that if we have another fight like this, I would box his ears instead of running away." Xiao Yian Zi told Qianlong matter-of-factly. "Soooo, Lao Ye can relax now!" she piped, winking at him.
"Hoho! I can, can I?"
"Something just occurred to me, where has Xiao Jian been all this time? I haven’t seen him here, Huei Bing Lieu is closed, did Lao Fu Yai not release him?" asked Zi Wei, puzzled and worried.
"Lao Fu Yai’s word is irreversible, I-" said Qianlong before Xiao Yian Zi interrupted alarmingly, "What? Where is he?!"
"Right behind you."
Turning around, everyone’s face lit up as they saw Xiao Jian, healthy and unhurt.
He smiled apologetically at them. Giving a cheer of joy, Xiao Yian Zi ran towards Xiao Jian and hugged him.
"XIAO JIAN! I’m so happy you’re all right! I’m so happy to see you!" she told him, her voice welling up. Drawing away, Xiao Yian Zi noticed something different on Xiao Jian’s face.
"Hey! You haven’t shaved in a while have you? I can see a beard stubble growing on your face!" she told him.
Rubbing his jaw, Xiao Jian grinned and asked, "Yes, I haven’t. Do you think I look better with a beard?"
"Ah? I don’t know, but you’ll always look nice!" she told him cheekily.
Laughing Xiao Jian shook his head. "You’re the best sister I could want, Xiao Yian Zi!"
"Hehehe! You’re the best brother I ever wanted!"
Laughter broke out from everyone in the room.
"Ey, wait. Xiao Jian, why has it taken you so long to return here? Lao Fu Yai released you, how come it took you four days to get back here?" asked Er Kang.
"What’s more, Xiao Yian Zi was in a grave state of life and death during those four days." Added Zi Wei.
Looking concernedly at Xiao Yian Zi, Xiao Jian asked, "Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I can go fetch a doctor and gather some her-"
"I’m fine!" she interrupted him.
His face relaxed, and he looked around the room for the first time. Surprised that Qianlong was there as well, Xiao Jian became more ashamed.
"I haven’t returned here because I felt ashamed of myself. To have the emperor, an A Ge, and a Ge Ge to plead for my life seemed to degrade them in the eyes of others. What I did was wrong, I deserved a just punishment." He told everyone soberly.
"Well, Qing Er asked us to help you out. We owed you more than we could ever repay, and Qing Er is our dear friend. Just think of this as a favor returned." Replied Yong Qi, smiling.
"Exactly." Added Qianlong.
"Thank you." Xiao Jian told everyone.
Nodding, Qianlong smiled. Suddenly, his face lit up and he looked about him, grinning.
Zi Wei, noticing, asked, "Lao Ye, what is the good news that you’re trying to hide from us?"
Laughing, Qianlong wagged his finger at Zi Wei. "Why, my daughter has become much more nosey and observant than usual!" he teased her. "The thing is, I am going on a Wei Fu Chu Xuin in another month or so. I want you four to come, as well." He told the group.
"Can Xiao Jian and Qing Er come?" asked Xiao Yian Zi impulsively.
"Xiao Jian is welcome to join us, I do not know about Qing Er. Lao Fu Yai decides that." Qianlong replied.
Just then, an imperial messenger entered. He walked up to Qianlong and kow-towed.
"Huang Shang Ji Xiang. News of the Portuguese advance and unrest in the Funan province needs your highness’s survey back at the palace." He said.
At once, Qianlong’s brows furrowed. He got up and addressed the crowd. "I must get back to the palace at once. We shall talk more about the Wei Fu Chu Xuin later."
Er Kang, Yong Qi, Zi Wei, Xiao Yian Zi, and Xiao Jian expressed their thanks and accompanied Qianlong to an awaiting cart. They bid him goodbye and watched until the cart had disappeared into the horizon.
Suddenly, Xiao Yian Zi swirled and faced Xiao Jian.
"Tell me Xiao Jian. Do you like Qing Er?" she asked him with wide interested eyes.
Surprised and embarrassed, Xiao Jian looked away. He was met by the eager and questioning faces of the others.
"Do you?" repeated Zi Wei.
"I…I do find Qing Er to be exceptionally smart, graceful, and gentle." He began, stammering. "But I do not think she finds me that way." He told them, his eyes lowered.
"I would hope she wouldn’t! You’re not graceful or gentle at all! That’s too feminine!" exclaimed the indignant Xiao Yian Zi.
Laughing, the group shook their heads.
"Xiao Jian means that Qing Er does not feel the same way, that she doesn’t like him." Explained Zi Wei, chuckling.
"Oh, well I don’t believe it! Zi Wei! You and I are going to have to ask Qing Er ourselves!" Xiao Yian Zi told Zi Wei excitedly. "You haven’t been at the palace for the longest time! Huang A Ma and Lao Fu Yai would be ‘as happy as mice!’ Oh say you will stay at the palace for a while?"
"Yes, it would be fun to eat, drink, and talk together like old times again. Plus, Zi Wei keeps on talking about how she misses Xiao Yian Zi." Er Kang said, smiling.
"You have no idea how much Xiao Yian Zi thinks about you Zi Wei, every night she always says, ‘I want to see Zi Wei sometime soon!’" added Yong Qi.

Smiling warmly at Xiao Yian Zi, Zi Wei hugged her, "Okay! Let’s stay at the palace for a while!" she told Xiao Yian Zi happily.

*****End of Book 9*****