A/N: Here is my second chapter. Thanks for any/all reviews. Opinions, suggestions, anything accepted. But most of all. Enjoy!
By the way, this is what I imagine my cast to be if anyone's interested. Xiao Jian-Huo Jian Hua. Qing Er-Bai Bing. Xiao Yan Zi-An Yi Xuan. Yong Qi-Qiao Zhen Yu. Zi Wei-Liu Shi Shi. Er Kang-TAE. Er Tai-Chen Kun. Jin Suo-Li Man. Liu Qing-Nie Yuan. Liu Hong-Han Xue. Meng Dan-Hu Jun. Han Xiang-Liu Yi Fei. Emperor-Wei Zi. Lao Fo Ye-Chen Sha Li.
It wasn't hard for Xiao Jian to follow Er Kang and the two girls back to Xue Shi Fu. However, he had some trouble getting in. The wall was pretty high, and he walked around until he found a tree he could climb and then jump down from. There was no one in this particular courtyard. He walked until he came to a corner and there he saw a servant get water from the well, and there were bandages next to her. They had to be for the injured girls. He waited until the servant had disappeared from view before following her again. However, he saw an older couple coming and he hid himself under the rafters. The man left again within minutes.
Hearing all the conversation, he knew the two girls were being cleaned up but they weren't going to elaborate on their story yet. He should go find out where Er Kang was and soon found him talking to his brother, and he hid again. Maybe he could learn something about the princess instead.
Meanwhile, back at the palace.
Xiao Yan Zi was yapping and jumping around her room.
"Wow, being a princess is soo cool! Did you look at all the people who came to see me? I can't believe it! Am I that special? Did that actually happen?" She jumped onto a seat and yelped. "This seat is so hard!" she complained.
Yong Qi shook his head. "You sat down too hard! Take it easy for a moment. Let's not get carried away."
The Emperor shook his head as well. "Same old, same old. " He laughed merrily.
Xiao Yan Zi then paused for a moment. "Why are you the only ones here? Where are Er Kang and Er Tai?"
"Uh," the emperor answered. Then he looked to Yong Qi.
"Well, there was a commotion on the street, they went to take care of it."
Xiao Yan Zi was indignant, "We had a happy celebration! I am a Princess! How dare someone make trouble!" She paused again, "Would it be the Queen? She didn't even like me from the start and always wanted me out of here!"
The Emperor was furious. "Don't talk that way about her! She stayed in the palace all along, and she wouldn't cause trouble out there. It's probably just some common people. We've dealt with those before. Now, since you're officially my daughter and the princess, let's not get on the Queen's bad side. Learn your rules properly and act like an obedient princess. You're already lucky my mother, Lao Fo Ye is away. When she gets back you'll have to be on your best behaviour as she's very strict about the rules."
"What?" Xiao Yan Zi cried! "I don't want to learn..."
Yong Qi sighed. "Father, it would take some time, pressuring her would do no good. I promise you, she'll behave like a good princess by the time she gets back."
"I hope so. That reminds me, I have to write her a letter telling her of this news." He called his servant over. "Back to my study!" After final and parting words, he left.
Xiao Yan Zi looked at Yong Qi. "So what do you know about the people who caused trouble out there? And what kind of a name is Lao Fo Ye? So grandma is old that's why she's called Lao? Why don't I just call her Nai Nai!
Yong Qi sighed again. "Alright first things first. All I know about the commotion on the street was there was a fight between some common girls and the soldiers, then Er Kang took them away. He'll get back to me later. You shouldn't have to worry about trouble, safety measures are strict. Also, Lao Fo Ye is not her name. It's a title. And you can't call her Nai Nai! It's Lao Fo Ye! I don't know when she'll be back, but it's inevitable. And she is very strict. If you misbehave, she'll lock you in a room."
Xiao Yan Zi got slightly scared, "I, I'll learn. Wait, it was girls who made trouble? Who are they? What if they're my friends," she yelled out.
Yong Qi was taken aback and rather surprised. "Your friends?"
Xiao Yan Zi responded. "I told you I had friends outside I wanted to see! But no one would let me see them! Where are they? Xue Shi Fu? Can you take me there?"
"Uh, I don't know. And no, you can't leave. How about I go over to Xue Shi Fu right now and see what's going on. If they are your friends maybe we can arrange something. What are your friends names?"
"I have four friends out there. My sworn sister Zi Wei, her friend and servant Jin Suo. Then my friends I grew up with, Liu Qing and Liu Hong. Why wouldn't anyone let me go see them? Why else would I want to climb your walls to get out? Now, if they're the ones who made trouble out there, please let me go see them. Please!"
"Alright, calm down again. You're very agitated. I'll go see what happened but there's absolutely no guarantee that they're your friends, okay."
Xiao Yan Zi calmed down just a moment. "Okay, but please. Go and see what's going on. I'll be okay here. I'll.. I'll go learn the rules."
He arrived at Xue Shi Fu as fast as he could and asked a servant, "Did Er Kang bring any guests here today?"
The servant replied, "Yes, the two girls who caused trouble out there. They are still here."
He walked over to the room where everyone was and knocked. Er Kang opened the door, but wasn't very surprised to see his guest. Yong Qi could see Er Tai, their parents and two girls in the room. Er Kang closed the door and led Yong Qi to a different room.
Er Kang started, "Well. We've heard a very interesting story back there. I'm not sure yet what to do."
"Who were those girls? Xiao Yan Zi thought they were her friends and that's why I'm here."
Er Kang perked up, "Really? Who did she say her friends were?"
He gave the names of the friends and Er Kang's eyes went doubly wide. "Oh my..."
"So, they are her friends?" Yong Qi asked.
"Well those two girls did give the names Zi Wei and Jin Suo. And they talked about the other two. But," He hesitated, wondering about the story.
"What is it? There's something you're not telling about them."
Er Kang hesitated again. "Perhaps we go back to the palace and tell Xiao Yan Zi that her two friends are here. Then see what she has to say. Let me talk this over with them first."
They were fine with the plan, but as they were leaving they heard and noise from above and saw a man hiding up there.
The two yelled out simultaneously, "Who are you?"
Xiao Jian was surprised and jumped down, trying to get out of there while being chased. He didn't get far and was soon engaged in a fight. He was clearly the superior of the two, even when Er Tai and a couple of guards joined in. It was also becoming clear to everyone else that he wasn't attacking and simply defending himself. He was also fighting with a flute as well.
"Who are you and what are you doing over here spying? Do you have any connection to those girls?" Er Kang yelled.
Xiao Jian lashed one last powerful stroke that sent everyone reeling backwards to the ground and jumped onto a rooftop and was soon out of sight.
As soon as everyone picked themselves off the ground, they were wondering among themselves.
"This is getting weird. By any chance could that man be Liu Qing? Don't know how long he's been up there but if he heard the entire story he would know we weren't out to get him and are trying to verify the story. Why would he run away and act more suspicious? I'm guessing it must be someone new."
"Who knows. Zi Wei and Jin Suo are right there looking at us. Let's see what they say." Er Kang said.
When the girls had confirmed that the intruder was not Liu Qing nor anyone they knew, everyone was utterly confused at who it could have been was.
"Well, whoever that was, he's definitely not some random person. He really excelled at martial arts. We must get the guards on lookout for him." Er Kang decided. He then looked at Yong Qi. "So, are we going to the palace now?"
"Why not? We've just had a delay."
Er Tai then spoke up. "I have an idea. What if while you do that, I go find Liu Qing and Liu Hong and see what they have to say about everything."
Yong Qi pondered then said, "That's a good idea. I still don't know what story they told but if theirs match then bring them over here. After we talk to Xiao Yan Zi we'll decide on what to do next."
"Alright, that's good." Then they made their way to their destinations.
Back in the room, Zi Wei and Jin Suo were alone.
"Do you think they believe us?" Zi Wei asked.
"Don't be so glum, we didn't get locked up, did we. They at least trust us that much." Jin Suo replied. But then she was rather agitated. "What do you think of that eavesdropper? I've never seem him before!"
"Well, maybe he has nothing to do with our situation. They must have a lot of enemies. But they put more guards out there so he shouldn't get in any time soon. Maybe he got scared off, hopefully."
"I hope so. All we can do now is just wait for news. They went back to the palace. I hope we can clear up the trouble and figure out why Xiao Yan Zi had become the princess. I thought we could trust her. Why would she do this to you?" Jin Suo started sobbing.
"Hey, listen. It might all just be a misunderstanding. We don't know exactly what happened but I'm sure Xiao Yan Zi would never betray me. We should find out the truth of what happened before pointing fingers."
"Sorry, I mean, she's my friend too. But I don't want anyone to take advantage of you."
"I'm glad to hear that. Come on, let's talk about happy times. We'll find out what's going on soon."
They then smiled and continued.