Plot bunny

Every author must have known this term. This is something I wrote when I want to write the third part of Huan Zhu Ge Ge because I dislike the third series and the 2011 remake. This plot bunny just stays in my laptop for a while, I don't even know when I'll finish it moreover to really write the full story, so I just let it be. Another reason is, I'm not really good in wuxia custom (or in Korea term is saeguk). Maybe I should let the plot bunny here instead just being dust in my files. For the 90s generations, you may know the series and the story. Let's just say this is the warming up before updating LAAO.

Enjoy...

 



Being summoned to The Empress Dowager’s palace suddenly left Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi both curious and nervous, especially Yong Qi. He knew his grandmother already warmed up to his wife, even tolerated his wife’s free attitude, but this time somehow caused him to worry. And his worry doubled when he also saw his father along with some officers and mostly Fang Li in the room. Xiao Yan Zi’s heart raced and unconsciously gripped her husband’s arm. The image of a similar meeting before Huang Ah Ma sentenced their punishment for making Han Xiang running away from the palace flashed in her mind, and that was making her scarier. Yong Qi glanced at his father, even Qien Long himself looked clueless. His stare shifted to his grandmother and felt his heart turned cold when he saw her look. The same look just before she accepted Xiao Yan Zi.

“I summon you here to hear confession from this man.” The Empress Dowager stared at Xiao Yan Zi. “This man is your uncle, isn’t it?”

“Yes. At least that’s what he said to me and my brother,” Xiao Yan Zhi answered in confuse tone.

Qing’er, who stood next to Lao Fo Ye, also felt fear gripping her heart.

“I know about your brother and Qing’er. It’s the reason why I want you all to hear what he has to say and also this will clear everything about your family, Xiao Yan Zi.”

The cold voice from The Empress Dowager chilled Xiao Yan Zi’s heart.

Qien Long’s mother turned to Fang Li. “Now, speak! Who are you?”

A guard shoved him hard and Xiao Yan Zi instinctively moved forward, but Yong Qi held her. “Xiao Yan Zi…” he said in low voice, but enough to make her stop. She stared at his eyes and understood her husband wanted her to be patient.

“My name is Fang Li from the Fang family. My brother…your father, Xiao Yan Zi, is…” He paused, glancing slightly to his niece and then to The Emperor. “Fang Zihang.”

The Emperor’s eyes turned wild and shook on where he stood. If only Ling Fei didn’t hold him, he would probably collapse.

“Fang Zihang? The one who wrote the poem?” Qien Long asked in surprise.

“What poem? What’s going on?” Xiao Yan Zi couldn’t resist her curiosity although in her heart she had a feeling her father’s death had anything to do with this.

Fang Li stared at Xiao Yan Zi. “Do you remember what your brother told you about our family?”

Xiao Yan Zi nodded.

“Do you also remember how your father and most of our family died?”

“Um…not really.”

“Your father wrote a poem that insults Qing Dynasty. At least that’s what most people thought. And you know what the penalty for such crime is.”

This time Xiao Yan Zi understood and she collapsed on the floor. She didn’t hear Yong Qi’s worried tone next to her or even the collective gasps in the room. Her head span. Her father…was killed by…Huang Ah Ma?

“But, Xiao Jian said the enemy is dead,” Xiao Yan Zi said in hollow voice. Even Yong Qi felt a chill ran over his body when he heard his wife’s voice.

“He said that because he didn’t want to cause a rift in your relationship with Yong Qi. He wants your happiness. And then….” Fang Li glanced to Qing’er who her face as pale as a paper. “He falls in love with his enemy’s niece. More reason for him to forget his first mission coming to Beijing.”

“Mission?” Xiao Yan Zi asked again.

“Yes. His mission is to find you and…” His face turned sorrowful. “To have revenge.”

Xiao Yan Zi gasped. ‘Oh Tian’, she thought. ‘How could this be?’

“I guess all the poems and poetry about love could change someone is true after all. He relents and forgives his enemy first because he wants you to be happy, Xiao Yan Zi, and then, he feels love for himself and understands the meaning of it.”

Xiao Yan Zi stared at her uncle and tried to place the pieces. “Are you…are you the one who tried to murder Huang Ah Ma?”

She knew the answer already and didn’t surprise when Fang Li answered, “Yes.”

“Huh, so it seems. Yong Qi, now you know the truth. Your wife is not what you expected. As your grandmother, I order you to let her go and I will choose another perfect woman for you."

Xiao Yan Zi felt her world collapsed around her. She didn’t have the strength to fight. But, Yong Qi, in the other hand, stared deeply at his grandmother. “Lao Fo Ye, since the beginning, I’ve never questioned Xiao Yan Zi’s past. Even after the truth reveals, it doesn’t change the way I feel about her. As for marry again, I refuse. I have only one heart.” Yong Qi looked over to his wife and met her misty eyes. “And it only belongs to Huan Zhu Ge Ge.”

“Huan Zhu Ge Ge…she doesn’t even fit with the title. She doesn’t even fit stand next to you.”

“Lao Fo Ye, for me, Xiao Yan Zi is everything. For me, she is perfect.” Yong Qi stared at his father. “Huang Ah Ma, you know how I feel about Xiao Yan Zi. You know that, don’t you?”

“Leave your father out of this. He can do nothing to help your wife. This order is straight from me. Guards, send Fang Li and Huan Zhu Ge Ge in prison until their punishment sentenced.”

Yong Qi instinctively stood in front of his wife. “Back off!” He told the guards. He knew he couldn’t win fighting with a lot of guards, but he would do anything to protect his wife. “Lao Fo Ye, she is my wife. At least consider that before sending her into prison.”

“If I have a lot of consideration, your father would probably already dead from revenge. Have you ever thought she came to the palace in the beginning for revenge?”

Xiao Yan Zi couldn’t take it anymore. Anyone can insult her, but not her feelings for Yong Qi. She stood up and Yong Qi again shielded her behind his back. “Lao Fo Ye, how can you think so low of me? My feelings for Yong Qi are real. If you don’t believe me even until now, at least I know one thing for sure that I love him.”

If the situation was not this tense, Yong Qi would feel elated. His wife was not the one who expressed her feelings often, but this revelation still warmed his heart. And he vowed he would do everything for her.

“Enough with this nonsense. Guards!!”

“I said back off!!” Yong Qi said again angrily. The guards hesitated. Even though The Empress Dowager gave the command, but Yong Qi was still the prince.

The Empress looked over the Xiao Yan Zi’s hollow expression and felt she had to do something. She couldn’t forget how Xiao Yan Zi helped her three years ago. “Lao Fo Ye,” The Empress said, startling all the people in the room, including Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi. “Lao Fo Ye, Wu A Ge is right. Xiao Yan Zi is his wife. She is Wu Fu Jin after all and I can tell she doesn’t know about this either. This news is a surprise not only to us, but also for Xiao Yan Zi and Wu A Ge. Besides, the event already happened years ago.”

“Huang Hou, just because Xiao Yan Zi helped you years ago, doesn’t mean she can walk free. Not to mention her family background.” The Empress Dowager looked again to the guards. “Send Huan Zhu Ge Ge to prison at any cost even if Wu A Ge tries to stop you!!”

The moment Yong Qi heard the words, he knew there was no turning back. He knocked down the first guard who came to him and it was a little bit chaos afterwards. Xiao Yan Zi only saw the scene in front of her with a daze. She saw how Yong Qi fought with all he could, fighting so many guards by himself for her. She looked around the room and saw the surprise faces. Huang Ah Ma, Ling Fei…and then she saw one of the guards moved forward and she knew her husband couldn’t see it. Instinctively, she lunged forward and knocked the guard down. Another guard quickly grabbed her while Yong Qi shouted to let her go.

“Let her go! I said, let her go!” Yong Qi said frantically while still fighting the guards.

More guards came and locked Xiao Yan Zi’s arms behind her back. Tears ran over her cheeks. “Yong Qi, please stop. Don’t hurt yourself because of me. Yong Qi…” The guards dragged her out while Yong Qi fought to go after her, but the guards were too many. Two of them finally knocked Yong Qi down and pinned him to the ground.

“Xiao Yan Zi…Xiao Yan Zi…” He shouted while watching his wife being taken away. His body slumped and the guards knew the prince already surrendered. They let him go while Yong Qi still lay on the ground.

“Yong Qi…” The Empress Dowager said.

The prince felt the hollow in his heart. Even he, as a man, couldn’t protect the most important person in his life. Yong Qi stood slowly with his back to his grandmother. And then, he slowly turned around and stared at The Empress Dowager’s eyes. The look on Yong Qi’s eyes shocked her. It was full of determination and unspoken emotions.

Yong Qi didn’t say anything, only turned around and left Empress Dowager’s Palace.


In the prison, Xiao Yan Zi curled up on the corner of her cell. She still wore her princess clothes, but with her hair down. It was not the first time for her staying in the prison. The difference was this time she was alone, not with Zi Wei or Jin Suo. She wondered if both of them knew about this. And her brother, Xiao Jian…she hoped he would be alright. Her uncle got captured, but not her brother. Xiao Yan Zi assumed her brother was escaped somehow.

Actually, she didn’t think about that much. She knew how clever her brother was. He could take care of himself. What occupied her mind was Yong Qi. What did he think about this? Would he leave her just like Lao Fo Ye order him? Xiao Yan Zi felt chill on her bones. Her tears were running again without her realizing.

And then…

“Wu A Ge Ja Do.”

Xiao Yan Zi looked up, didn’t dare to hope. After a moment, she saw the flickers of light and then, she saw him. Yong Qi’s expression was neutral and he brought blankets and mattress on his hands. Xiao Yan Zi’s heart clenched. She already thought the worst her husband came only to leave those blankets and mattress for her. She couldn’t feel anything but sad.

The guards opened the cell door and her husband ordered them to leave. The moment the guards were away, Yong Qi’s expression turned to worry and quickly approached his wife. Xiao Yan Zi blinked.

“Xiao Yan Zi…darling…are you alright?” He sat next to her and wiped her tears while Xiao Yan Zi only looked at her husband in daze.

“What are you doing in here?”  She asked in low voice.

“I bring blankets and mattress for us. I know how cold prison is.”

“Us?”

“Yes, I will stay here with you.”

“What? Yong Qi…”

“What kind of man am I to sleep in warm room while you’re here? Besides, I can’t sleep without you. Our bed feels cold.” His eyes glinted and that made Xiao Yan Zi giggled.

“You still can say that after all of this…”

Yong Qi held his wife’s hands. “You heard what I’ve said. Even after all of this, it doesn’t change the way I feel about you. You are still my Xiao Yan Zi.”

Xiao Yan Zi sighed sadly. “Xiao Yan Zi…Fang Ci…I don’t know who I am anymore.”

Yong Qi squeezed Xiao Yan Zi’s hand. He didn’t like how dejected his wife was. She was normally full of life. “Xiao Yan Zi or Fang Ci…you are my wife. The woman that I love. Even if your father is a murderer, doesn’t change the fact that I love you.” He sighed. “Truly, I don’t really care about your past. I think Tian let the event happened, so your brother can forgive Huang Ah Ma and then meet Ching’er; also to allow me to meet you.”

Xiao Yan Zi smiled softly and then she leaned her head on Yong Qi’s shoulder. “Do you think Er Kang and Zi Wei know about this? How about Ching’er?”

Yong Qi wrapped his arm on his wife’s shoulder. “Knowing Er Kang, he probably did. Remember when Xiao Jian looked so angry when you told him Lao Ye is coming to see us? He wanted to say something and forbad you to come back to Beijing and then, Er Kang stopped him? As for Ching’er, I bet she knows.”

Xiao Yan Zi remembered that moment and then, she nodded. “And knowing Er Kang, he must have told Zi Wei about this.” Xiao Yan Zi sighed. “I feel stupid. They all know while we don’t.”

“I think Er Kang’s intention is he doesn’t want to ruin our relationship although he should have known me better.”

Xiao Yan Zi shifted and stared at her husband’s loving eyes. “If Er Kang or Xiao Jian tells the truth back then, what will you do?”

Yong Qi cupped his wife’s face with his hand. “I will tell them I will still marry you.” And then, his face turned a little bit sad. “And how about you? Do you still want me?”

Xiao Yan Zi smiled softly and caressed her husband’s cheek lovingly. “Yong Qi, have you forgotten what I’ve said that the person I can’t bear to lose is you?”

Yong Qi laughed softly and pulled his wife again to his embrace. “No, I don’t forget that. If I have to say the truth, that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve heard from you. The top after all the essays you’ve made.”

Xiao Yan Zi laughed while Yong Qi hugged his wife tighter. He kissed Xiao Yan Zi’s forehead. “Go to sleep. We both tired.”

She nodded and Yong Qi released his embrace to prepare the mattress. After that, they both lay down and Yong Qi covered their bodies with thick blankets.

“I’ve never imagined I can sleep in prison with blankets,” Xiao Yan Zi murmured when she laid her head on Yong Qi’s chest.

Yong Qi only laughed softly. After a moment, they both fell asleep. A guard came to ask if the prince wanted to go out or not, but after seeing him and his wife under the blankets, the guard only smiled slightly. He left the cell and prayed silently Tian would protect the prince and his wife.


In The Empress Dowager’s Palace, the situation was not good anyway. After the shocking event plus the prince fighting the Palace guards, Qing’er now being scolded by Lao Fo Ye. She already knew about Xiao Jian’s past, it was the important thing Xiao Jian wanted to tell her before their relationship went further. Like Wu A Ge, she also didn’t care. And she also understood what the prince felt. He and Xiao Yan Zi had been through a lot together, even running away from the palace three years ago, living in outside world, and that was what made their bond stronger. Even a dark family secret couldn’t tear them apart. And Ching’er really wished she could do that for Xiao Jian.

“Yong Qi definitely won’t let his wife go and if Xiao Yan Zi decided she wants to give up her status, he would definitely follow her. I have to do something,” Ching’er heard Lao Fo Ye said.

The Princess held her head high. “Lao Fo Ye, just like you had said. Yong Qi will do everything to be with Xiao Yan Zi. Have you forgotten? They’ve been through everything. Almost executed, running away from the palace, living as commoner…if you think you can separate them, they will prefer to die together.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes turned wide. She’d never expected her lady-like Ching’er would say something like that.

“How dare you say such things? I will never give you my blessing.”

Ching’er smiled grimly. “Lao Fo Ye, you were the one who said I can choose my own happiness. And when I found it, you want to break your own promise?”

“I’m not saying I disagree, but I never expect he is the man,” The Empress Dowager said, feeling embarrassed Ching’er mentioned her promise.

“I can’t choose love, Lao Fo Ye. I want love to choose me so I can be loved by a man, just like Zi Wei and Xiao Yan Zi being loved by their husbands.”

And so Lao Fo Ye only went silent.


Yong Qi woke up before dawn. He felt the warm presence next to him and smiled when his hand met with Xiao Yan Zi’s long hair. He looked at his wife’s face who still sleeping peacefully. It was amazing how they can sleep well on the cold floor of the prison. He’d prefer to sleep here anyway rather than in their room in Yin Huang Gong. In the silence of the room and Xiao Yan Zi’s soft breathing, Yong Qi started to think what he would do next. Er Kang would definitely look for him and he had to talk to Xiao Jian. He didn’t know where his brother-in-law could be, but Liu Qing and Liu Hong must have known something. And Fang Li….Yong Qi sighed. Even though the man tried to kill his father, but he was still his family. What should he do to untangle the events without making his wife more suffered?

Yong Qi didn’t know how long he laid there and thinking until he saw the ray of sunlight from the window. Xiao Yan Zi stirred in his arm and slowly opened her big eyes which he loved so much. When their eyes met, Xiao Yan Zi blushed.

“You really stay here,” she murmured.

Yong Qi smiled watching his wife’s shyness. “I told you I would.” He glanced to the window and Xiao Yan Zi saw the dawn already broke. She realized her husband would do something outside the prison and she was going to be here all by herself. The thought alone made her sad.

Yong Qi seemed to know what was going on in his wife’s mind. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly on her lips. “I promise I will stay here again tonight. I just need to do something to clear everything,” he said in soothing voice.

Xiao Yan Zi nodded, although she felt a little bit sad. “Just don’t do anything stupid, like marry another princess,” she said in mocking tone.

Yong Qi couldn’t help but laughed. “Oh my dear Huan Zhu Ge Ge, this poor prince is yours and yours alone. I’m at your mercy.” And then his face turned serious. “Be patient, okay? I’ll talk to Er Kang. Hopefully he has good idea and I, personally, hope to have a better idea.”

His wife nodded again. “Be safe.”

Yong Qi kissed his wife’s forehead deeply. “I will, darling.” With one last lingering kiss on her lips, the prince rose from the floor and called the guards. He gave another look and a courage smile to his wife before walking out from the prison.

 

Comments

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pixie_girl
#1
Omoo...Huan Zhu Ge Ge...I remember the series when I was in middle school, Alec Su, Vicki Zhao, Ruby Lin...waaa...
I've heard about the third series with the new casts and majority of the fans hated it. As for the remake, I haven't watched it yet.
I really like this plot bunny, you are the master of playing words...some of the quotes I remember well from Huan Zhu Ge Ge 2. Reading this short part makes me want to rewatch the series, youtube, here I come... lol.
Thank you for sharing this and you indeed have amazing talent in writing.
Enjoy your weekend in Bandung...maybe someday we can meet up :)
alwayshere_sone
#2
I didnt watch the series but what i know is this is perfect!!
isabella09
#3
Ah...Huan Zhu Ge Ge...I know that series, just like you, I also dislike the third part and the 2011 remake is horrible. Reading your plot bunny, I can feel the Chiung Yao vibe. It's too bad you didn't plan to write the full story. Even from this plot bunny, I can tell the story is going to be amazing.
You're really a talented author. You really can deliver emotion among the characters. My eyes watered when Yong Qi brings mattress and blankets to the prison to sleep next to Xiao Yan Zi...that's exactly what Yong Qi would do...*sigh*
Dear author, really can't wait to read your LAAO update....*half demanding...lol*