14- Wo de Huang Li Niao

*my oriole bird- in Chinese history symbolises lover who meet again/ reunion. Oriole bird always pictured as a pair.

*Niao Niao is empress's nick name

"This emperor is bored, do you know how to play chess?"

The concubine is hesitant.

"You don't want to accompany me?"

"Nubi, doesn't dare."

They sit together at a pavilion, facing each other. The concubine is busy preparing the chess, or in this case pretending to be busy.

"Should this emperor calls you Niao Niao?" He starts a conversation.

__

At the Phoenix Palace

"Mumu, prepare my clothes."

"Is your majesty going to the harem house again tonight?" Mumu understands that the empress is not feeling happy because Consort Hua just born a child. A girl can get jealous too, even if she's the empress.

"Mumu, I have to finish my project."

What project? The one that her majesty make so she could go away from her title? The one that she does when she's upset?

But Mumu can only pity her. The empress said numerous times that she will forget the emperor but Mumu knows deep inside she her heart remains for him.

The empress goes to the harem house in order to make a report about concubine's life. At night there's not many concubines playing outside, but she sees a group of concubines chatting not far from harem hall.

She hides behind a bush and start writing. The empress smiles, because they look so happy. She writes everything she sees. Even take a note to herself that no matter what situation you are in, You can always be positive and happy.

At this moment a guy suddenly come and scare her. The empress lost her balance and fall to his feet.

"What are you doing?" He says.

Wait, this voice.. is the emperor's. oh no! What should she does?

She fake her voice and apologises to the emperor, hoping that he will let her go. If not, this is a dead end.

"This emperor is bored, do you know how to play chess?"

And yeah, they finally play chess together.

"Should this emperor calls you Niao Niao?" He starts a conversation.

The empress lifts her head, and she finds his eyes is starring at her.

Niao Niao? It's way too casual. Emperor usually only addresses his concubines with their family name. Like, concubine Huang.

"..that will be my pleasure." She answers.

"Okay Niao Niao should we start?"

The empress tries her best to lose. But she couldn't make it too obvious or the emperor will notice.

"You are a good player." The emperor compliments. And he.. he's smiling.

"This empr- concubine is just a piece of dust compared to your majesty." Her heart beats faster, she's afraid the emperor might hear her word.

But the emperor is only smiling.

"Niao Niao do you know there's a secret place in this harem house?"

"I'm sorry for my limited knowledge, but I haven't heard of that."

__

It is the empress.

Even if she tried to lose in the chess game, what concubine could have the idea of blocking the emperor's horse with only 1 move?

The emperor is only smiling at her. What is his empress doing in the harem house?

They walk together side to side in the dark of night.

"Let's sit here." The emperor points at a cherry blossom field.

"Where?" She asks. The empress doesn't see any seats nor pavilion.

He held Niao Niao's hand and take her further to the garden. Niao Niao shocked a little bit when his hand holds hers. But his warmth feels so nice.

The emperor could see that this is the first time Niao Niao been here, in the peach blossom garden. Her eyes are full of wonder, she even take a deep breath. She is sure enjoying this. The emperor feels relieved when he sees her face at least he knows Niao Niao is happy.

"We are arrived!" The emperor stated.

"Arrived where?" Niao Niao couldn't resist to ask because they are in the middle of the garden.

He doesn't answer. The emperor sits on the ground, making Niao Niao taken aback.

"Your majesty what are you doing?" Niao Niao frowns at him. An emperor shouldn't sit on the ground! It is wrong in so many levels!

"I'm sitting down, and why aren't you?" The emperor answers casually. He taps the ground next to him, signaling her to sit.

Niao Niao doesn't move. All her life she never once violate fundamental rules. But she finally does.

She sits awkwardly next to the emperor.

"You don't talk much.." the emperor comments

"Nubi doesn't have any fun story to tell." And, because it's hard to fake her voice all the time.

"Hmm.. the stars look pretty tonight.." the emperor stretches his back, getting ready to lay down.

Niao Niao quickly put her hands under the emperor's head, preventing it from touch the ground. Her reflect reaction makes they face each other so suddenly. There's only an inch between their faces.

The emperor could see her gulping. But Niao Niao isn't moving. He gives Niao Niao a questionable look, asking her motive.

"The emperor head should not touch the ground." She says, closing her eyes. Her heart beats too fast because they are too close.

"How do you know? How do you know my head shouldn't touch the ground?" The emperor brushes her hair away from her face.

Niao niao's eyes grew bigger as she realised her mistake. She shouldn't  say anything in the first place!

"Nubi..."

"If you know that rule, you must know already that touching dragon head is a crime." *for concubine it is, but not for Consorts and empress.

Niao Niao cursed at herself. She must make an alibi-

The emperor pinched her cheek playfully, "don't be too serious.. come here." He lifts his head so Niao Niao could take her hand. He then offer his hand for her to sleep on as a pillow.

"Thank you."

The emperor only laughs.

Niao Niao sleeps comfortably on his hand. Starring at the beautiful night sky. This is the first time she feels so relaxed.

"Your majesty, there's so many stars in the universe. And we happened to live here."

"That's right. If I was born in different star, I would be too old when I meet you here."

"Your majesty don't need to do that." Niao Niao smiles shyly.

"I insists."

"Then nubi will wait for your majesty all her life." Her cheeks is as red as apple, Niao Niao couldn't hide her happiness.

"Niao Niao, if I wasn't the emperor. Would you still be my wife?" The atmosphere turn serious because of the emperor's question. "Would you still want to marry me?"

He looks deeply into her eyes.

"..."

"If your majesty is not the emperor, I won't be living in the palace as well. If your majesty is not a prince, I won't be the lady of the mansion. If your majesty is a farmer, then I would be a farmer's wife."

"Then let's be together, don't ever think of leaving me." The emperor cupped her cheek, starring straight to her eyes.

"Nubi wouldn't dare.." she won't ever think of it again..

"The night is going to be darker, it's time for you to go to sleep." He said admiring her beautiful features. "Go back to your room."

The way he say it makes her heart flutter. Is it because his tone? Or she has fallen for him all over again?

"I'll send you back." The emperor stands. He offers to help Niao Niao stand, and she receives it happily.

"You don't need to send me back.."

"What if I insist?" The emperor raises his brows.

At the end, the emperor still walk her to the house, even though it's not her bedroom. Just an alibi to hold her hand longer.

"I'll come to see you tomorrow." He kisses her forehead.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Niao Niao sees his figure walking away. she couldn't wait for tomorrow.

Hey guys.. I'm traveling away from home right now, and there's time difference. But I'm still posting!

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