13 CHAPTER 13 : LITTLE PRINCESS

Arriving at the Rose garden, Li Xi Rui looked around. Even when the garden is call Rose Garden, but there are still many more species of flowers planted.Li Xi Rui used to love flowers, there was someone who said, "Your smile is as beautiful as a blooming flowers". So she frowns. She doesn't want to smile at that man.

While she didn't look at that man, that man seems rooted in his spot. Glancing at the lady beside him, he saw she frowned. 'Hasn't she always love flower? Seeing these many flower ought to make her smile. Is it because I am here?', Long Qing feels a bit frustrated.

Seeing the crown prince hasn't move from the spot, Li Xi Rui couldn't just walk in front of him. So she also stood there. If one see this scene from an outsider's view point, one ought to see a couple serenely viewing flower. No one dare to disturb the beautiful view.

"Auch!", there is a little's girl voice. Looking down, Li Xi Rui could see a little girl approximately 11 years old, rubbing her head vigorously.

Crouching down, she look at the child, "Are you okay? Forgive me for standing here", Li Xi Rui apologize. Though it is not actually her fault, and if the child hasn't been running without watching her steps, she still feel a bit guilty of standing there and daydreaming.

Slowly the child look at the beautiful lady in front of her. At first she wanted to shout as why is she standing there in the pathway! But after the lady apologized without being asked, she felt a bit ashamed. "It's okay, this princess is okay. My head is as hard as a rock. Moreover mother said I am smart so being a little bit stupid is okay!".

Feeling a bit bewildered at the child words, Li Xi Rui couldn't help but laugh. Composing herself, she said, "Oh, forgive me princess, I couldn't help but be relieved". She bow a bit to the child princess.

As the little princess watched the lady in front of her laughed, she is shocked. The beautiful lady become even more beautiful when she laugh. Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, she blushed. "No... it's go..od to laugh", she stammered. She is looking everywhere but at Li Xi Rui.

*cough* "Yun-er, a princess shouldn't run around", Long Qing reprimand his little cousin.

Finally realized that her cousin is here, she looked up at that handsome face, "Forgive Yun-er, Qing gege". Then, turned to the beautiful lady, she asked, "I'm Princess Lan Yun Yue, nice to meet you!". She courtesy.

Smiling, Li Xi Rui courtesy and introduce herself, "Princess Lan, I am Li Xi Rui, princess Anping. It's nice to meet you too". In front of those above her, she had to introduce her title even if it humiliated her every time she said it.

"Can I call you Jie Jie? It is if.... and only... if you don't mind", her voice get smaller with each word.

"Yue-er it is not proper!", Long Qing reprimand her again. This child usually wouldn't warm up to someone she's just met. Then why it is different for Li Xi Rui?

Feeling a bit mad at the crown prince, Li Xi Rui smile at the little princess. 'Humph! What is so wrong of this child to call her jie jie? It's only a title. No need him to reprimand the little princess. See, the little princess looks like she wanted to cry'. So ignoring the crown prince, she replied, "It would be an honor to be call jie jie by princess Lan. So, can jie jie call you little princess?".

Before her tears dropped onto her cheek, the beautiful lady's word stops her. Usually her cousin gege doted on her and wouldn't reprimand her. So when he scold her, she is shocked. Looking at Li Xi Rui's smiling face, she turns red. She put her hand in Li Xi Rui's extended one. Side by side, they walked to the stone pagoda and sit closely.

Li Xi Rui had wanted to get away from the crown prince earlier. So, when the opportunity to get away come, she grabbed that chance. 'When an opportunity arises, grab it with both hands!'.

As the 2 females leave him standing there, the Long Qing watched their backs. He remembers that smile. 'Has it been that long since she laugh like that in front of him?'. As he walks to the stone pagoda, the 2 females didn't even glance up at him. So he just watch them as he sit there. Asking for tea to be serve, he watches as Xiao Xi serve Li Xi Rui and his little cousin.

"Jie jie, this tea is so pretty. What is it called?", ask the little princess.

"This is chrysanthemum tea. It's my favourite. Talking about this tea, her highness Princess Long also likes this tea", Li Xi Rui replied.

"Oh! So mother had drink something delicious like this before without me", the little princess puffed her cheeks.

Chuckling, Li Xi Rui pinched that chubby cheeks. They're immersed with their chit chat and didn't even notice from across that stone table, the crown prince is observing them. From afar, the little princess' giggles can be heard and reached a certain prince's and princess' ears.

***

"It's rare to hear you laughed, Yun-er".

"Mother!", Liu Yan Yue startled. Standing up, Li Xi Rui courtesy.

"Li Xi Rui greets your highness Princess Long". Beside her, Liu Yan Yue followed.

"Imperial aunt!", Long Qing greeted.

As Princess Long chatted with her daughter, Li Xi Rui saw someone behind her. The man behind princess Long is also looking at her. Staring at each other silently, it's like they are in their own world. But their thoughts couldn't be anymore different.

'What is Long Jie doing here? Isn't he supposed to be away at this time?', she thought. In her last lifetime, Long Jie is not in the capital. She heard Long Jie is acting as a bodyguard of the heroine during her visit to her mother hometown. Since Long Qing is a crown prince, he couldn't be away for long. As to what Long Jie and Mu Jiu Jiu doing outside the capital, she didn't care. That time, as long as Mu jiu jiu and Long Qing separated, she would be happy albeit it's only for a short while.

As for Long Jie, "I have never seen her laughing like that. Is it because she is in front of the person she likes?".

*Cough* "Miss Li?", called Princess Long. When Li Xi Rui look at Princess Long with a confused look, Princess Long couldn't help but chuckles.

"It seems like, the flower over there is too pretty till one couldn't help but admire them", she just insinuated that Long Jie is too attractive, it distracted Li Xi Rui.

*cough* Long Jie try to control his expression

"Forgive this miss your highness, it is indeed, the Rose Garden holds up it's reputation", Li Xi Rui try to deflect the meaning in Princess Long's word.

Holding her hands, Princess Long said, "There is no need to be too formal here Xi Rui. It's only close friend and family here. After all, Yun-er call you jie jie, so we're already as close as family".

She didn't expect having Lan Yun Yue calling her jie jie lead her to have close relation with the royal family. 'This is bad', she thought. Looking down at the little princess, the little princess is beaming at her. 'That smile is too blinding princess!', she had the urge to blindly saying yes at everything the little princess wanted. Trying to compose herself, "This miss didn't dare Princess". She didn't dare to meet eye to eye with Princess Long. This mother and daughter pair have a talent in persuading anyone with just their looks.

"Miss Li didn't have to mind, imperial aunt is not fond of formalities", the crown prince interjected.

'Now what is this heartless guy want to do?', she controlled her suspicious eyes from being exposed. "Then, Li Xi Rui can only concede. It is a great honor to be an acquaintance with princess", she have to give up being stubborn as to not get in the princess' bad side.

"Then, just call this princess, auntie~", she smile.

'This princess look so young', Li Xi Rui just want to get over the topic quickly, so she just agree, "Li Xi Rui greet Auntie Long". 'Isn't this just too informal?

Pleased with herself, Princess Long shot Long Jie a wink. "Then Aunt will call you Xi Rui". Li Xi Rui blushed. Her cheeks red. Princess Long watched Long Jie stunned expression, it looks like, her nephew just fall in love. She thought this cold faced nephew of hers will lead a lonely life but as she observed the lady in front of her and her nephew, she just think they will make a beautiful pair.

Dragging Li Xi Rui and her daughterto sit at the stone chair, "Come sit!". Both the princes excuse themselves. As they walk side by side, Long Qing ask his younger brother, "Jiu Jiu is heading to the northwest border today, why hadn't you escort her?".

"Forgive me brother, but it is not proper for me to guard her. After all there are still many people can protect her", along jie refute.

"But I believe you the most. So of course you need to go", Long Qing persuade him.

"Sorry brother but I'm not going anywhere. If I specially escorted her, I'm afraid my future marriage will be full of conflicts", he try to reasons with his brother. 'Now what is this man want to do? He is not going anywhere, if something or someone wanted to pester his future wife, he couldn't chase them away. So it's better to stay close'.

Bewildered, Long Qing look at his brother. He had never say anything about he wanting to marry anyone. 'Maybe it is not a good thing for Long Jie to escort a lady if one day he wanted to marry'. So reluctantly he agree for another general to do the honor. If it's up to him, he will definitely follow his sweetheart but they haven't officially engaged yet and he still have responsibilities in the palace.

'Sorry brother, but this prince is not going anywhere!', Long Jie smile in triumph.