The Dragon Heroes and the Princess

Jing Hua’s Hut

   “I don't really remember…” 

   Lan Qi clutched her dumplings tightly. Her throat suddenly turned hoarse as the flames that burned the curtains in the palace hall came to life in her image again. As the muggers raised their small bodies, shouting that they would kill her, all of them suppressed Lan Qi's lips that were ready to explain.

   Miss Jing's gaze turned gentle. 

   "I don't think he's a dangerous person."

   Lan Qi again unwrapped the ice knife. The question is, why did the blue bowman leave this knife with her and didn't even take it with him? Lan Qi's only wish was to thank the man for saving her life twice. She doesn't know where he is now, without this knife too—can this man survive the robbers' pursuit?

   Lan Qi took a deep breath. “He saved me from the robbers. That night, on my birthday… they robbed our residence and destroyed part of the house. I could have died if he didn't come…” Lan Qi's voice turned to a whisper as she recalled the chaos to a halt in her heart. What made her not willing until now was, she witnessed it all, but she couldn't do anything and instead trembled with fear.

   If only Lan Qi could be bolder, if only she could control things more, she could save her mother. Right?

   Miss Jing's hand touched her gently. Miss Jing's eyes seemed to understand all the hurt that Lan Qi couldn't put into words. And that's enough to calm her down. It was as if there was a second mother by her side.

   “If I take you to your residence now, will it be safe? When was the last time you saw the robbers? In that forest?”

   Lan Qi nodded while wiping away the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. “Me and that guy were surrounded by them. But when I was almost taken away by one of the robbers, I fainted and all was dark. I didn't know anything after finally waking up here.”

   “He must have sacrificed his life. Do you see? The robbers were one of the groups that fought against the palace. They are so evil that they are willing to do anything to bring down the palace. Several times my grandfather said that the robbers could be anyone. Even inside the palace, there could be an intruder. But they often act physically rather than pitting officials against one another. I don't know exactly what kind of grudge they have against the Emperor but your parents… must be someone important to the Emperor that your father—”

   Lan Qi burst into tears. Miss Jing pulled her into a hug again. She didn't know how hard she had to endure all this insincereness. In all her life, Lan Qi lived in the palace never once did she imagine that the Emperor—her most esteemed and most respected father should fall under the arrow of one of those robbers. If she could avenge the Emperor, would this makeup for all this stress?

   She must return to the palace.

   She had to get up and find out everything.

   Even though she was only fifteen years old and to Lan Qi, it didn't matter if she really wanted to find out.

**

At night, before Lan Qi and Miss Jing went to sleep, the silence around the forest brought the girl's thoughts to tomorrow. She and Miss Jing had planned to go to the market early in the morning. So now she must sleep early. Back when she was still in the palace, Lan Qi would often sleep late because she would frequently go to the kitchen for fun to find her favorite cherry tea maker.

Sneaking into the kitchen for a cup of cherry tea was not an offense for a princess. But she just didn't want to be mentioned wandering around at night by the maids. Lan Qi's activities during the day were quite hectic. She didn't have time to find out about the uniqueness and how to make her favorite cherry tea, so every time she went to sleep, she always enjoyed a glass of cherry tea with Miss Teamaker in the palace.

It's just that, lying down staring at the sky of stars under the lush forest trees from behind the hut window is enough to make her miss Miss Tea Maker.

“Miss Jing, does it feel lonely living in the forest?”

A lantern with a dim light flickered around the hut. Jing Hua hasn't slept yet. She had just spread a thin mattress and a small pillow from under the bed. She had removed the cooking cloth and her hair had been pulled back. Her face was also not as oily and dull as when she was cooking earlier.

If Lan Qi would say, Miss Jing looks like one of the Chief Guards in the palace.

"It's not that lonely," said Jing Hua as she lay down and pulled the blanket up to her chest, "if you listen more closely, there are lots of animals singing in the middle of the night."

Lan Qi did what Miss Jing said and fell silent. Outside, crickets sounded quite loud. Amidst the cold air and low-hanging leaves, also the sound of owls. Or sometimes a trampled dry leaf. The loud sound of frogs, the sounds of other animals and it turns out… this forest sounds so crowded!

"You're right! But… they can't be talked to.”

Miss Jing was silent for a moment. "Do you live alone in the palace?"

The first thing about that, Lan Qi felt blessed that Miss Jing did not refer to her as a Princess. Miss Jing only guessed that she is an official in the palace. “Hmm. I'm an only child. And very pampered.” Lan Qi said. This made Jing Hua chuckle softly.

“You are not pampered. They lavished all their love on you since you were little. And because they love you of course.”

Lan Qi's heart warmed for a moment.

"Aren't you afraid of being lonely in this forest?"

Miss Jing changed her position on her side to face Lan Qi. "No. I'm tired enough to work in the market when it's full of buyers all day. So sometimes I need some peace here. So I don't feel lonely."

“Even when your grandfather died?” Lan Qi asked softly.

This time Jing Hua was silent for a moment. The smile on her lips seemed to loosen a little, but her eyes showed deep sincerity. Making the observing Lan Qi slightly moved. Like her mother, who was always strong every time she heard news about the robbers who killed hundreds of people for their satisfaction and revenge. Although later, Lan Qi believed, the Empress was also overwhelmed and leaned on the Emperor.

"Yes." Jing Hua changed her position facing the hut ceiling. “Actually, I wasn't that close to my grandfather. He's just the good person I always thought of. A few days later I go to his residence. But that's when grandpa isn't busy. He's an official, so I can't sue for anything.”

“Officials sure are busy,” Lan Qi replied, remembering her father rarely had time for her if Lan Qi didn't come first. 

“But…” Jing Hua stood on one elbow and looked at Lan Qi with a thin frown, “I don't dare to ask the time because you look like you're smitten. About you from the palace, are you… a princess…?”

Instantly Lan Qi blinked awkwardly and shook her head quickly. For some reason she shook her head but the reality of uncovering her identity was still too heavy. She didn't want everyone—even Miss Jing to know that the Emperor had died from an arrow. Even Lan Qi himself wasn't sure that the Emperor was really dead.

“I… am not a princess,” Lan Qi answered dryly. She turned sideways, avoiding Miss Jing's gaze.

Despite the reaction, Miss Jing instead let out a soft sigh. “That's great. If you really are a princess, that means the stories your parents told you about your father being killed—would be more horrific. I can't imagine how the Emperor… ah no-no. I don't even want to imagine it.”

Under the thin and slightly musty blanket, Lan Qi pressed her lips together. Back to swallowing the bitter gurgling that filled her with fear and depression. 

“Lan Qi, you're already asleep?” whispered Miss Jing. 

Lan Qi immediately closed her eyes. Soothe the tears that almost fell from the corner of the eye. 

From beside Lan Qi, Miss Jing moved, seemingly peeking at her. 

“Good night. Tomorrow we will do many activities. And the next day, I will accompany you to the palace.”

***