The Last Queen of Peacelava

CHAPTER 10

"Zhang Pei, tell me! How can the frog demon be with you?"

"You want me to tell you the truth?"

"really. I want you to be honest."

"Actually I saw the frog in front of my window. I didn't want anyone else to know about this, so I took him away. Princess, don't kill this frog demon. Although he's a demon, but he also has feelings." Zhang Pei explained.

"Xin Qian, I'm sorry. You've given me a second chance, but I didn't listen to you. Please forgive me!" said the frog demon.

"What opportunity? What are you talking about?"

"I'll show you something." Xin Qian pulled Zhang Pei's hand and disappeared.

Xin Qian invites Zhang Pei to enter the demon country he has created to protect the demons he became friends with.

"What is this place?"

"Zhang Pei, I actually hid some demons inside the palace. They're all good demons and they're my friends."

"So, this frog demon?"

"This frog's smile is my friend."

"Zhang Pei, you already know this. I beg you not to tell anyone, for I fear that if others find out they will do bad things to these demons."

"Did Ji Nian also know this?"

"No. Only you can understand the demons' feelings, that's why I'm just telling you this."

"Daughter, I promise you. I'll keep this a secret for you."

"Zhang Pei, thank you."

"Don't thank me too often."

"Xin Qian, are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you, I'm just a little upset. You won't listen to me at all, whatever I do is for your safety."

"Xin Qian, I promise I won't repeat my mistake. You can keep my promise and if I renege on it again you can reabsorb my pure energy and throw me away."

"You see? I'm smiling at you now. That means I'm not upset with you."

"You're so nice to me, thank you."

"Xin Qian, why did you bring humans here?" ask the female hedgehog demon.

"He's not human, he's a demon," retorted the male hedgehog demon.

"But I smell human blood on his body."

"I also smell the blood of the demon inside his body."

"Friends, he is Zhang Pei from Longyou country. He is a half-stealthy human," Xin Qian said.

"So, those half-demonic humans actually exist?"

"Yes." Yeah."

The two hedgehogs leaped towards Zhang Pei and sniffed around for the scent of human blood and demons mixed within.

"You're right. He is a half-demon. But Xin Qian said that you were from Longyou. That means you're the king of the demons in Longyou."

"No. I'm not a king, I'm a master."

"He is a very handsome Master. You're a perfect match for Xin Qian's daughter" said the elephant demon.

Xin Qian and Zhang Pei looked at each other and smiled shyly. The demons invited Zhang Pei to stay at their place that night. Zhang Pei asked Xin Qian for permission and the demons persuaded Xin Qian to agree with Zhang Pei.

Xin Qian agreed with Zhang Pei and that night they all held a dinner party together. Zhang Pei felt very happy that he was going to spend the night with Xin Qian and his friends.

Xin Qian helped Zhulong and the turtle demon to cook food, while Zhang Pei and the other demons adorned the place very beautifully. After dinner together, the demons fell asleep. Xin Qian walked over to Zhang Pei who was sitting on the edge of the river.

"You still haven't slept?" Xin Qian sat down beside Zhang Pei.

"I just want to spend some time looking at the moon from here, because it's also my first and last night here."

"I really like this place. How can you make a place this beautiful?"

"I only pored over my thoughts as I made this place."

"You're so great, Princess."

"You too."

"Me?"

"Yes. You decorated this place so beautifully, Zhang Pei."

"I'm just a little help."

"Zhang Pei!"

"Yes?"

"You can come back here if you want."

"Really?"

"But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone else about this place."

"I'll think about it."

"Zhang Pei ...."

"I'm just kidding."

They both smiled and looked at the moon in the sky.

*****

Bending his day in the throne room, king Arlo orders a Dayang to call princess Xin Qian in his room. But the lady-in-waiting told the king that princess Xin Qian was not in his room. The King ordered some soldiers to search for Xin Qian inside and outside the palace as well.

Ji Nian saw the soldiers running from the throne room, then he faced the king and asked what was going on. Ji Nian who found out if Xin Qian's daughter was not inside the palace, she immediately helped the soldiers to search for Xin Qian's daughter.

"Soldiers, have you found Xin Qian's daughter" Ji Nian asked worriedly.

"Not yet, Chief," replied one of the Soldiers.

"Daughter, where are you?" Ji Nian held onto her forehead in confusion.

"Zhang Pei? I haven't seen him since either. She must have taken princess Xin Qian away. I must say this to the king's majesty" he murmured.

Xin Qian woke up from her sleep and saw Zhang Pei who was still sound asleep. He made green tea and let Zhang Pei sleep because he could not bear to wake him up.

"You make green tea?" Zhang Pei woke up from smelling the fragrant aroma of the tea.

"You awake?" Xin Qian was surprised by Zhang Pei who suddenly spoke to him.

"The aroma of tea you made is so fragrant, that it woke me up" Zhang Pei replied teasing Xin Qian.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm kidding, Princess. You made it for me, didn't you?" Zhang Pei pulled the cup in Xin Qian's right hand and drank it.

"I'm sorry if it doesn't taste so good, I just learned to make green tea."

"It's very tasty. You're not like the guy who's learning to make tea."

"Don't praise me like that."

"I'm just saying the right thing. I don't praise you."

"Zhang Pei, I just remembered. Every morning I would have breakfast together at the dinner table with Father and also the masters. What if Daddy's looking for me in the room, and I'm not there?"

"Then, we'd better get back to the palace."

"true."

"Come, Princess."