A/N: I had writers block, and it's really annoying lol So I have decided to skip a few days because I really couldn't be bothered to write 5 more chapters. Fact: I live in the UK. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 11

It has now been 5 days of wedding planning. There were 2 days left til the actual wedding. Each day, QE would secretly leave and accompany EK, ZW and the others at the Inn. She left XJ with daddy duty!

The whole house was now covered in red cloth, dangling from the ceiling. XYZ started to feel nervous, not because of the actual wedding, but what you have to do after it. She wasn't actually very sure, but she knew it was something to do with 'Ren Fang' (not sure I got the pin ying right, but it means consummate to complete the marriage). She remembered YQ telling her about this, but she can't exactly remember what he said, he said something about babies.

She sighed rested her head on the table. She hated traditions. YQ saw her on the table and smiled to himself. He walked over and gently tapped her shoulder. She jumped, but put her head back on the table when she saw it was YQ.

XYZ: "YQ…"

YQ: "Yes? Is there something troubling you?"

XYZ: "Ye- I mean no. I need to ask you a question"

YQ frowned; she wasn't normally the one to ask questions.

YQ: "Go on, ask me"

XYZ hesitated. She was about to ask him about the 'Ren Fang', but decided it was too embarrassing, so she quickly thought up another question.

XYZ: "Well, you see… um… I move a lot…"

YQ: "I know that all too well"

XYZ: "Let me finish! I move a lot in my… sleep, and it's not just twisting and turning. I tend to throw punches at whoever is near me. I don't always do it, I only do it if I have a nightmare"

YQ laughed and pinched her nose. XYZ frowned.

XYZ: "It's not funny! What if I hurt you?"

YQ: "I think I have been punched enough to last me a lifetime. I can handle a few measly punches from you"

XYZ: "Huh! Measly? What do you take me as? Ha! You watch, I will punch you black and blue!"

YQ: "Really? I guess I will just sleep in the study then!"

XYZ laughed and punched YQ on the shoulder.

XJ was standing behind them in all of this and smiled to himself. His sister had finally found the person she loved. Despite having discussed matters with YQ, he could not help but feel reluctant to let his little sister go. Although the mattered had been cleared about what happened to his parents, he still had a very small lingering feeling of hate inside him. It's a feeling he had been holding on to for so long, that it is permanently etched into his heart. 'YQ is a good man, he'll look after her well', he thought to himself. He was about to approach them when he heard a cry come from behind him. It was XTY. He didn't realise it before, but being a daddy is very stressful!

YQ and XYZ were practicing martial arts together, when they heard a commotion outside. XYZ called XJ over.

XYZ: "Ge! Can I go outside and see what is going on?"

XJ: "Hmm... seems quite crowded. Alright, but take YQ with you, I've got to stay with XTY"

YQ: "Come on"

He grabbed XYZ's hand and they walked out.

XYZ twisted her head round, "Thanks, ge!"

XJ smiled, but something in his heart told him that there was more to just a commotion outside.

YQ held XYZ's hand tightly. They were entering the town's centre. People were rushing around.

XYZ: "Why's everybody like this? It's normally so peaceful"

YQ tapped the shoulder of a passer-by, "Excuse me? What is the matter here?"

"They're here! They've come to check on us , they do this annually. It's to check our products, population and livestock, they'll be gone by tomorrow", the passerby said.

"Who is 'they'?" YQ asked.

But he didn't need an answer because that's when he saw the guards walking around. The guards from the palace. YQ immediately shoved XYZ behind him and hid behind a stack of vegetables.

XYZ looked up at YQ in concern, "What is it?"

YQ: "I- it's the guards"

XYZ: "What guards?"

YQ: "Palace"

XYZ clung onto his arm.

YQ: "We've got to get back"

He grabbed two cloths from a nearby fabric stall. He tied it across his face and XYZ's.

They were about 2 minutes from their home when a guard approached them.

Guard: "Oi! You there!" His voice was deep, gruff and slurred, the guard was drunk.

YQ stiffened.

YQ deepened his voice, "Yes?"

Guard: "Where is the toilet?"

Relief flooded YQ.

YQ: "To the left, sir"

He quickly turned around and dragged XYZ with him, who had her mouth open, gaping at the guard. As they were about to leave, the guard called them again.

Guard: "You look very familiar, you look like a friend I know…"

YQ: "I get that a lot"

He once again turned round and left.

XYZ: "Will he recognise our faces and report back to HAM?"

YQ: "I doubt it; he was drunk so I don't think he'd remember us"

XYZ: "This thing won't get in the way of our wedding, right?"

YQ: "I hope not, but they are leaving by tomorrow…"

XYZ: "We've got to tell XJ!"

The Inn

ZW and QE were in her room, QE was helping ZW prepare for the day.

ZW: "QE?"

QE: "Yes?"

ZW: "I've been thinking… would it be okay if we go to your house today?"

QE: "Why is that?"

ZW: "Knowing XYZ, she would be very frantic and nervous about the traditional side of marriage. She wouldn't really know what to do"

QE: "But I could tell her"

ZW: "You had gotten married in Dali, and you and XJ never really thought of the traditions of a Manchu marriage because you guys had opted for a Dali marriage. My brother has not been stripped of his Prince status yet, so even if he isn't in the palace or in front of HAM, he'd still have to perform the given ritual"

QE nodded.

ZW carried on, "Also, XYZ would need re-assuring. I think she'd feel calmer if it came for me as I am her sister and has gone through it before"

QE: "But what if she doesn't want it to be traditional?"

ZW: "Well… XYZ would probably choose the Manchu one because of YQ. She still respects him to a certain extent. I am sure she is still aware that YQ is still a Prince and is only going to be stripped of his title after 3 years, if he does not return to Beijing"

QE knew ZW had logic in her explanation.

QE: "Okay then, we'll meet together this evening, right before dinner"

ZW smiled and thanked QE.

ZW sat down in front of the dressing table. Her hair was still not tied up yet.

She was about to ask QE to help, when EK stepped into the room.

EK: "Here is some ginger soup for my wife and QE"

QE took the soup and thanked him. EK set the tray down and picked up the bowl to feed ZW.

ZW: "I'm pregnant, not ill" She laughed.

EK: "Anything for my wife!"

ZW: "If you would to do anything for me, would you mind getting JS here, I need help with my hair"

EK nodded and pecked ZW on the cheek.

A few minutes later, JS walked in.

JS: "Your hair again?"

ZW smiled, "Yes"

JS went to wash her hand, and after she returned, she started plaiting and brushing ZW's hair. ZW no longer had a fringe as she was now a married woman. Her forehead was now exposed. JS, with her expert hands, carefully created beautiful patterns in ZW's hair.

JS put the finishing touches to ZW's hair, before returning to her room. EK came in and beamed, he had always thought his wife looked so much fresher without the headdress on.

QE walked out to gather everybody else, to tell them about the news on how they were returning to her house today.

They had all gathered and QE broke the news. They were all elated! So after they'd spoken, all of them returned to their rooms, except from QE, who went to the market.

Er Kang and Zi Wei's room

ZW: "I have been waiting for this moment for so long. Two years, I have waited. Two years"

EK: "But the wait was worth it"

ZW smiled. Suddenly, ZW's face scrunched up.

EK: "What's wrong?"

She sat down, then looked up at him, grinning.

ZW: "The baby…baby"

EK: "Is it alright?"

ZW started crying.

ZW: "I felt it kick, it kicked!"

EK tenderly kissed her on the forehead.

EK: "It won't be long now"

ZW: "And it also won't be long until we meet our family again"

They hugged each other and prepared themselves for the visit.

The Bird Household: Dinner

XJ set all the dishes down and listened intently at what happened at the town hall today.

XJ: "Since they're leaving tomorrow, it won't disturb our plans"

The 4 of them chatted and had nearly finished.

XYZ: "QE has been acting weird lately; she's always goes out in the afternoon and doesn't return til late at night…"

YQ: "Yeah, I have noticed that too!"

XJ was about to defend QE when the door flung open.

QE, EK, ZW, LQ, LH and JS's p.o.v

The gang were aware of the situation outside and none of them came out until they were sure the guards had settled down somewhere to rest.

After the coast was clear, the 6 of them made their way to QE's house.

ZW was very nervous as she was scared it'd be awkward with XYZ.

Few minutes later, they were if in front of QE's house. ZW took a deep breath and swung the door open.

A/N: Ugh, took me so long to write! Longest chapter so far! I am so tired lol Anyways, I actually forgot to write a whole chunk of the story and had to go back and find a place to fit it in :D If you have any ideas, please say and I will try my best to fit them in and please don't forget to review so my writing would be better! In case you were wondering, my inspirations are Ruan Chun Xian and snowberryrose, you might find I have elements of both of them, don't forget to check them out! Their stories are fab! Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!

p.s: I hope there are no spelling errors in this lol

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