Flower Viewing Festival 2

"Ah?" A certain someone clearly didn't expect the question. He looked down in confusion. "Why do Princess suddenly said so?"

"Is it so surprising? I mean, look at you, Brother Ren is the best man that almost all girls in the Beast Mainland wish to have your child." She chuckled and asked playfully. "Do you not want to marry Qing'er?"

Ren Yupei's face darkened. "Wish to have my child? From where did Princess know that?"

She replied innocently. "I read it in An Zhengnan's magazine."

The magazine was just papers filled with surveys that were done for fun and some juicy gossips. Even if it's just for entertainment, some kind of surveys written there were rated and not suitable for child.

They had those kind of dirty and kinky stuff for marketing, for example 'Which man had the best ability to last longer in bed?' or 'Which kind of tools was best to enhance intimacy?'

It sold out like hot cakes though.

Not that she had ever bought that. She just accidentally stole one from An Zhengnan and unexpectedly it was kind of interesting and ridiculous.

An Zhengnan felt the shiver down his spine at Ren Yupei's glare. "I am innocent!" He swore. "You damn brat! So my missing magazines was stolen by you!"

"An. Zheng. Nan!" Ren Yupei stressed out every word. "Didn't you remember The Lord's warning last time? Shall I remind you once again?"

"No no!" He had a horrified expression. Ouyang Xueqing looked at him in curiosity, who knew what Imperial Father threatened him with to make him look like he had just eaten poop? "Please don't! I know my fault! I know now!"

"Humph!" Ren Yupei harrumphed grumpily. He turned to Ouyang Xueqing and spoke with serious and stern look. His tone was completely different from when he talked to An Zhengnan.

"Princess, listen, a marriage is once in a lifetime, especially for us beasts. Once we decide on our soulmate, we will love them for eternity and beyond. So, you have to marry the one that you really like."

"But I like Brother Ren!"

Ren Yupei chuckled and tousled her hair. "Silly girl, it's not that kind of like."

"Not that?"

"Hm. It was the kind of like where…let me think of that." He tapped on his chin. "It was the kind of like when you are willing to do anything just to make him happy, a simple frown or sadness feel like breaking your heart, the kind when you feel that he's the only one filling your heart and no one can ever replace him."

She frowned. "Qing'er doesn't understand."

"It's okay."

They walked through the palace gates where all the guards saluted them respectfully. Their gazes lingered a second more on her face but they turned around hurriedly.

Ouyang Xueqing didn't really care, though. She had gotten used to people's shocked faces these last few months. "You will understand when you grow up."

"Did Brother Ren ever felt that kind of special liking toward someone?"

Ren Yupei froze momentarily before nodding with a faraway look. "I had. It was in the past though. The point is, you can't go around asking people to marry you ah!"

She pouted unhappily. "What's wrong with that?"

He laughed while raising his eyebrow jokingly. "Do Princess not realized that by the time you grow up, I will become old already?"

"Humph!" She crossed her arms in front of her chests. "Nonsense! We beasts have a long lifespan! We can even live up to thousands of years! Brother Ren will still be dashing and handsome when I grow up!"

"Hahaha!" He laughed in amusement. It sounded soft and smooth like chocolate. "I am flattered. But Princess, remember not to do it again okay? You have to remain chaste and pure for your future husband. You definitely can't let any stranger male touch or kiss you, they can't even linger around you!"

She contemplated for a moment before nodded obediently. "Okay! Qing'er will listen to you!"

He patted her head adoringly. "Good girl."

"Hey hey! Are you two forgetting someone here?!" An Zhengnan had a sullen look for being ignored for so long. Pity that they didn't even turned to look at him.

They walked and got into the carriage. Being the gentleman he was, Ren Yupei made sure she sat comfortably before giving a go signal to the coachman. In the end, An Zhengnan chose to sit with the coachman while sulking all the way.

***

As the name implied, flower viewing festival was a yearly event when all beasts were welcoming the beginning of spring where the flowers started blooming in full vibrant colors and vigor.

It was so beautiful that for one full week, the mainland would be painted by rainbow colored flowers with sweet smell floating through the air, making people felt refreshed, happy and relaxed.

The combination of clear blue sky and enchanting flowers was such a feast for eyes!

And to top it off, the Emperor had made the one week period into a festival celebration where the market was opening for twenty four hours full.

She didn't know when it all started, but the flower viewing festival had become an event for couples to have a night date and it was normal for ladies to receive gifts or flowers from men who admired them.

That's why, along the street Ouyang Xueqing could see how the ladies had dolled themselves up prettier than usual, with a spray of sweet perfume smell in the air and bashful giggles while waiting for men to present their gifts.

Ouyang Xueqing retracted her gaze and scrutinized her light blue dress. "Should I have dressed up too?"

Ren Yupei raised an eyebrow. "For what? Princess is beautiful like usual, there's no need to seek others' attention on you, they would automatically queued up to present you gifts."

Ouyang Xueqing snorted but the corner of her lips lifted into a smile. "Nonsense! Who was it that shooed all of my admirers away last year?"

He replied coolly: "That's because they didn't deserve to get close to you."

She pursed her lips, amused. "Do you realize that you're contradicting yourself?"

He smiled mirthlessly. "That's okay, Princess. You just have to stick to me and An Zhengnan and have fun, okay? Don't pay attention to that gifting event, you're still a child. Wait until you grow up and it will not be too late." And that depended on whether the man could get passed him.

Ouyang Xueqing didn't realize his thought at all. She felt like all of them really pampered and sheltered her.

She too wanted to try to have fun with others and gossiping about males! Especially the beautiful ones!