Author's Note: I am soooo sorry for my late update. It seems that my country is blocking any access to , so i cannot log in to the site. After a while, the story was fogotten. LAst month, i altered my laptop with new program and suddenly this site unblock itself, THank GOD! so here it is... Enjoy, and i'm begging for comments. ^^


The Mongolian Prince

They depart as soon ad the carriage ready. Children are inside the carriage with their mother while their father riding horses. Xiao Yan Zi sat side by side with Yong Qi, driving the carriage gleefully. "How i miss a long journey like this for a long time. It feels like forever since the last time." Xiao Yan Zi said. She took a deep breath and exhaled it with her hands spread open. "I was too busy properly raised those mini me to even remember how it feels like to be out on a journey again."

Yong Qi chuckled after hearing what Xiao Yan Zi said. His wife indeed has a very wide selection of words. From the carriage he heard a groan. "Er Niang, we are not little version of yourself." said Mian Yi, loudly. "Besides, you love us too much to leave us for a journey. And we are naughty enough, that everytime you spent with us would feels like you are having an adventure." he continued cheerfully, hugged his mother and father from behind.

Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi laughed with the others. "True enough, young man." she said and patted his chubby cheek gently. "Raising you is an adventure of our own." Xiao Yan Zi push Mian Yi's head back into the carriage. "Now back inside with your sister." she said and let out another laugh after saw Mian Yi's pouting face.

The Mongolian Prince

"Smart one, indeed." said Er Kang from his horse. It still facinated him how Xiao Yan Zi managed to teach her kids so well, remembering how illiterate Xiao Yan Zi was.

Yong Qi laughed again, rolled his bright eyes. "All credit goes to my beautiful wife." he said and glanced gleefully to Xiao Yan Zi.

Xiao Yan Zi groaned. "Yes, yes... Worship me people." she muttered grimly.

They reached the nearest city in five hours. They marched straight to the inn. They all pretended to be commoners from other country. Unlike Dali which full of greenery everywhere, Tibet is quiet dry. It grows wheat and corn, crops that suitable for dry humidity, and instead of green field, they had mountains and sand. But it is beautiful nonetheles.

They spent the rest of the day for resting leisurely. Then the next morning, the first day of harvest season festival was begin. They followed villagers to one and only temple in the village to pray, to thank Gods for bringing them a good harvest. That night they planned to go around the city and have a drink together. But with their kids there, Xiao Yan Zi decided to stay and accompany them.

Yong Qi worriedly look at his beautiful wife. "Are you sure that you are going to be okay?" he asked. He truly felt uneasy to leave his pregnant wife behind.

Xiao Yan Zi slapped his shoulder gently. "What are you talking about? Of course I am going to be okay. The children are already asleep, so I can relax for a while now." she said, giving her husband a reasuring smile.

Yong Qi looked at her sternly. "Do not wander around, okay? It's dark already." he said, still unable to go.

Xiao Yan Zi groaned and turned her face to Zi Wei. "Zi Wei, please get him out of here, will you? I am only pregnant, not dying." she said begging. Yong Qi always worry about everything when it come to family. And she hates people nagging around her.

He sighed. "Alright, alright. We go now." Yong Qi smiled and touched her cheek gently. "You, rest."

Xiao Yan Zi laughed. "Go already." she said, pointed her finger to each and everyone of them. "All of you, just go." She walked them to the front door then waved to them. Xiao Yan Zi sighed again. Whatever happen to 'i can take care of myself' phrase.

Xiao Yan Zi sat by the window of her room. She opened it widely, then freely gazed upon the stars. The silence of the inn reminded her of their home in Dali. She suddenly fell asleep while watching the stars.

Xiao Yan Zi slowly opened her eyes when she heard people talking around her. Yong Qi and the others had finally came home. She opened her eyes widely just to realized that she wasn't in her room, with some strangers. She screamed, but one of them was fast enough to cover he mouth before she even made the sound. "Be quiet, lady." he said, whispering in her ear. Xiao Yan Zi nodded. She looked around, and noticed that they had different clothes from every men in that village.

They continue talking, as if she wasn't there. They didn't bound her hands. It was pretty easy to knock them down in no time. "Hey, you!" she called them, threw a vase towards one of them. Hit a man straight on his head.

The first man screamed in pain and fell on the floor, unconscius. The others are ready to fight. She hit one gracefully while holding her skirt, pull another and hit, until all of them laid on the floor. "That's what you get for kidnapping me." she said, clapped her hands once and sat back on the bed, patted her clothes a bit.

Then the door was open and two guys came in. One with almost identical with those those people she defeated. The other looks neat and calm, like he is the boss. She gave them a sceptic look. And their eyes swept the room with shock. "Well, well. Looks like you've got the wrong person to messed with. And a lady warrior, no less." said the neat one. Then he looked at his friend, or rather his eunuch. "I don't know whether to scold you or to praise you for this." The other one could hardly closed his mouth on the scene.

Xiao Yan Zi grinned. "Yes, i am not some lousy princess waiting to be rescued. Indeed not a damsel in distress type." she said cooly. "Why am i here, anyway?" she asked. Xiao Yan Zi thought about the Lotus, a bunch of resistant that rebel towards the dynasty. But they don't know who she is.

The man sat on a round chair near the table in front of the bed where she sat. He grinned. "Answer me first, please." he said. "Why are you there?"

Obviously, this gentleman wanted to kidnap someone else who supposedly stay on her room. She sighed in relief. "Well, my in laws made the reservation. They come here often." she answered, still trying to figure out who is his intended victim. "And since i am not the one you are looking for, could you take me back?"

He looked at her beautiful face, measuring if she worth the courting from him, such an active yet beautiful lady with good atitude and bravery is hard to find, even in his country. "Certainly, lady." he said. He helped Xiao Yan Zi to stand and guided her to the door. "What is your name?" he asked and turned his face to her, only to find that she raised an eyebrow on him. "Oh, do forgive me. Where is my manner?" he smiled apologetically. "I am Yuan Yu, prince of Mongolia. After what my men did to you, i guess you deserve to know."

Xiao Yan Zi looked at him, amazed and annoyed. What a crazy country! The prince himself kidnaping people in Saiya's country. Does he really thinks that his title would justifed his action, as simple as that? Wait, could that be...? "I am somebody else's wife." she said. It would be better to state her status now before some crazy prince asks her hand in marriage, creepy. "My name is Xiao Yan Zi. And if you are not hurry, my entire family will have your head for taking me, prince or not." she added and smiled grimly toward him.

Meanwhile, in the inn, after Yong Qi and the others got back, they found an empty room with Mei Ling crying, Mian Yi trying to calm her, and the other still sleeping. Furious, Yong Qi holding Mei Ling and wishpered to her, calming her. "Where is your er niang, Mian Yi?" he asked his son.

Mian Yi looked at his father. "I can't find her, Ah Ma. I looked for Er Niang around this inn because Mei Ling wanted her, but I can't find her." he said.

Yong Qi turned to the men, while the women already tended to their kids. "We need to find her." he said, grimly. Er Kang, Er Tai, and Xiao Jian nodded and ran outside their room to begin searching. Yong Qi stayed behind to watched the women and children. "Tell me everything, Mian Yi." he said, after put Mei Ling to her bed.

Mian Yi shook his head. "I heard nothing, Ah Ma. When I woke up because of Mei Ling crying sound, Er Niang already gone. I've searched for her around this inn which is not so big, but i can't find her." he said with a sad face. "Is she gonna be alright, Ah Ma?"

Yong Qi grabbed his son's soulder and hugged him. "Don't worry, son. You know your Er Niang can take care of herself. She is a fighter, remember?" he said, giving his son a reassuring smile.

It takes hours before Er Tai, Er Kang, and Xiao Jian came back. They couldn't find Xiao Yan Zi anywhere around the village. Yong Qi started to panic. With the women asking 'what do we do' all the time, Yong Qi sighed. "Rest, all of you. We will search again in the morning. I am sure Xiao Yan Zi will be okay." he said, trying his best to sound calm.

Zi Wei walked to his brother and put her arms around his shoulder. "Wake me up when she come home tonight, Yong Qi." she said. Zi Wei worried that something happened with Xiao Yan Zi. If it was eight years ago, she wouldn't bother to search for her because her sworn sister must be forget to come home afte watching a parade or something. But now, after seeing how mature she became, it's not like her to just disappeared like that. Yet she took Er Kang's hand and take him to their room.

Er Tai, Saiya and Qing'er do the same. Only Yong Qi, Xiao Jian and the stubborn Mian Yi who stay in the tea room. Yong Qi walked back and forth around the room, Xiao Jian massaging his head in worry. And little Mian Yi sat in front of the window.

The window offered him a scenery of the inn's front gate. There is this river in front of the road, which reflects the moon in its water. It was beautifull, and the stars just as bright as ever. Mian Yi put his hands on the windowsill, watching the silent night. But suddenly he heard the sound of horses, coming near and near. He straighten his back and watching where the horses are.

There is a carriage with two horses stop in front of the inn. Mian Yi stood to see who the carriage belongs to. Curious wasn't it, a carriage at this hour? An eunuch jumped from the front seat. He then opened the front door of the carriage, a man jumped down. The he helped a woman down the carriage. Mian Yi smiled happily. "Er Niang!" he yelled from the window and jumped.

They arrived at the inn where her entire family stay. Yuan Yu jumped down first and then offered her his hand. Xiao Yan Zi gladly took his hand and jumped down the carriage. She just poked her skirt when she heard a boy calling from upstair. Xiao Yan Zi looked up only to find a boy jumped from the window and landed in front of her. Her eyes went wide, she put her hands on her waist. "Ai Mian Yi! What do you think you are doing? Jumping off like that. It was dangerous and you know better than that!" she said angrily toward his son.

Mian Yi grinned boyishly and hugged Xiao Yan Zi's waist tight. "Er Niang, where have you been? We've been looking for you around the village. I am worried, you know. And Ah Ma was furious." he said, gave her a sad face.

Xiao Yan Zi patted his head gently and smiled. "I am fine. You don't have to worry. Now go tell Ah Ma that I am home." she said. She turned her face to the front door of the inn, and saw Yong Qi and her brother come running towards her. "Scratch that. Here comes your father." she sighed. Then turned to Yuan Yu. "Be prepared."

Yong Qi came, running towards her. He then grabbed Xiao Yan Zi's arm and pukked her, so she'd be behind him. Xiao Jian, with good reflex cought Xiao Yan Zi. "Who are you and what have you done to my wife." he asked, looked calm outside but he was furious inside. And Xiao Yan Zi and even Mian Yi noticed that.

Xiao Jian opened his mouth, ready to spilled his anger, but Xiao Yan Zi poked his hand and shook her head. On her younger years, she would be furious over Yong Qi chivalrious act like this. But after spending the last seven years as his wife, she finaly able to let her husband handling things like this. And now Yong Qi even better at maintaining his emotion. He didn't even pull his sword out, eventhough he's been gripping it hard from the start. Xiao Yan Zi smiled proudly.

Yuan Yu, who was startled, took a step back. He put hid hand in front of his chest, trying to calm Yong Qi with his motion. "Whoa, wait. I can explain." he said nervously. This family really have a strong, scary aura that pushed him back.

"Yes, do explain Wang Ge, why did you kidnap my sister in law?" asked Saiya who walked slowly towards them with Zi Wei, Er Tai and Er Kang behind her. Really, this cousin of hers would get himself killed someday, if he keeps his kidnaping habbit.

Yong Qi turned his head around and looked at Saiya. He raised his eyebrow. "Wang Ge? Seriously, Saiya?" he asked. The kidnapper is a royal? Tian Ah, what happened with princes nowadays.

"Ah yes, Saiya, I really can explain." he said nervously. Yuan Yu eyeing Xiao Yan Zi, begging with his eyes for help.

Xiao Yan Zi caught Yuan Yu's glances. She sighed and freed herself from Xiao Jian's grip. "Alright, everyone, calm down." she said. She walked slowly and placed herself between Yong Qi and Yuan Yu. "He is Yuan Yu, Prince of Mongolia, Saiya's cousin." she said. Xiao Jian dropped his jaw. What a crazy prince! "And him kidnapping me was a mistake." she said, eyeing Yuan Yu, who gave her a thank you smile. "He actually intended to kidnap Saiya, but his eunuches mistaken me for her." she laughed after heared Yuan Yu groaned behind her.

"Well, so it is between you and me, right, Wang Zi." said Er Tai approachimg him fast. He stood right in front of him, beside Xiao Yan Zi. "What the hell were you thinking?"he asked furious. It was okay with him as long as Yuan Yu keeps his joke private, but involving his in laws is out of the question for sure. "She is pregnant, for God's sake."

Yuan Yu's face became white. "I didn't know. I swear." he said looking towards Yong Qi. "My men mistakenly took her instead of Saiya. And she knocked all of them down." he said appologetically. "She was one hell of a woman."

"She doing what?!" Yong Qi furiously asked. Xiao Yan Zi groaned.

"What do you expect me to do, dear husband? I was kidnaped by some men. Do you want me to sit around and do nothing? I am only pregnant, not invalid." she said, annoyed.

"Right..." Yong Qi chuckled. "Let's continue this inside. We all really need some rest." he added and took Xiao Yan Zi's shoulder, guided her inside. Little Mian Yi ran beside them, happily. While the other followed behind with their own talks.