19- Go Out with Me

Niao Niao bit her bottom lip. She's not dreaming right? They are still riding the horse together, going to small alleys with high speed.

"Your majesty where are we going?"

"There's a lantern festival in the capital.. we are going there."

Can the destination be a little further? Niao Niao secretly enjoy his hug, and the cold wind on her face.

"I don't remember how the capital looks like." Niao Niao is so excited, she holds the emperor's hand tightly.

"I know.. that's why I bring you here." The emperor smiles to himself. He should take her out sooner if he knows she would be this happy.

The capital is so crowded, many couples going to the festival. Colourful lights makes the atmosphere more lively. Sellers shouting to promote their products, kids running around, well, so not classy. But somehow they enjoy being there.

"Niao niao, here!" The emperor handed her Bing Tang Hu Lu. "As I promised.."

"Your majesty, lest go there!" She points at a crowded place.

"Wait Niao Niao, we need to get you hairpin first" the emperor reminds her.

"Oh! Right! I almost forgot.." she touches her untied hair.

"Come! Come! See these beautiful hairpins! Young master, give your wife hairpins to prove your love!" The seller shouted.

They walk closer to the shop to see the hairpin. Of course it was far from her usual gold hairpins. But if it's the emperor who buys it for her, it is better than any hairpins.

"Oh my god! Lady, you are so pretty! Here! Have this one!" The seller gives her flowery hairpin. "Master, you are so lucky, your wife is so pretty.. but young lady, don't go out too often." The seller hands her the hairpin.

"Why is that ma'am?"

"You know, if the emperor sees you His Majesty might force you to become his concubine. I heard that he is a womaniser!" The seller whispers.

"What?! Who tells you that?!!!" The emperor could not believe it. Where do they get that information? WHO GOSSIPS ABOUT THE EMPEROR?! "That's not true! I can guarantee that it is a false information!" The emperor still argues.

"Okay..okay.." Niao Niao laughs naughtily, pulling the emperor away from the seller.

After awhile, Niao Niao still laughs at the funny comment.

"Let's go there now!" The emperor pulls Niao Niao closer, because a fat drunk man is about to crash to her.

"Huh?"

"What is this? Why is it so crowded." The emperor tip toe to see. "It's an archery competition.."

"Wow! Let's see." They walks closer to see clearer.

"Came on! Is that everyone? Show your skills! If you win against my young master, he will give you golds!"

"Your majesty, why don't you join this competition?"

"His young master is not even a good archer. His name is Bai Tao Hu, the second child of Officer Bai in northern province. I think even you could win against him!"

"Really?"

"Yes, do you want to bet?"

"Let's go then!" Niao Niao steps forward and raised her hand.

"Wow! Young miss you have some guts! Give her a hand!" The announcer lights up the mood.

"You have five arrows, the winner is whoever gets the most points! Ready?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!" The young master stare at this brave lady next to him. "Show me what you got!" He says as he got 10 points

10-9-10-9-10

10-9-9-10-

This is now the empress's turn. But there's no more space inside the 10 circle. Knowing this, Bai Tao Hu laughs at her, knowing that he beats her.

"You are sure a good archer, but you won't win against me!"

But she smiles back.

"If I can make your arrow falls, that won't count right?"

She steps forward, getting ready and

"10! It's a ten! All hail the young miss!"

"H-how do you do that?" Bai Tao Hu couldn't believe it. He quickly goes away to save his face.

"Wait!" Niao Niao stops him

"What?!" He is so annoyed

"Where's my gold?" Niao Niao won't let that slip away.

"Take this!" He throws it at her.

Niao Niao retreats happily. She raised the money bag so the emperor could see.

"You don't need to take the money too.. that poor guy." The emperor laughs at her.

"I am so talented!"

"You sure are!" The emperor hugs her. "Do you want to make a wish on a lantern?"

"Yes!"

The lantern is shaped as a lotus, they will write their wishes on a piece of paper and put it inside the lantern. After that they will put it in the river.

"Here!" The emperor handed her a white lotus lantern. He doesn't even even need to ask what colour does she want, because he already knows.

Niao Niao puts the lantern with a lot of effort, the water is.. is it still polluted? She smells the water, and yes it is still polluted. How could they be so evil? A war should be ended with honour not like this..

And why is the water so shallow? Wait!

"Your majesty, lets go to the hill!" She demands

"Why?"

"I- I want to see the scenery from up there."

"Okay.."

"What is your wi-"

The empress doesn't hear the rest. She observe the situation from the hill. There must be something happening. The river should be full of water when the lantern festivals is going, but it is so shallow. The only explanation is because.. because more people using the water. And it won't be people from the great Zhang, since the water is polluted. So it must be people of  Lian Kingdom.

They used the water first and then poisoned it. She tries to look further north, where the Lian Kingdom is. About 50 miles from border, she sees fire. The Lian soldiers.. they camped 50 miles from the border. What exactly is their plan?

So the crown prince must show himself intentionally. He even left his sword.. to be an evidence. But why? She doesn't get it. Why is the crown prince wants her to tell the emperor?

If that's so, she couldn't tell the emperor. Or it will goes just as Lian Kingdom planned.

Should Niao Niao tell the emperor or nah?

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