CH. 3 ~ A Peaceful Time

"Hey, look! There's so many water floating candles down the river! It's so beautiful! Don't you think?" A little girl spoke looking at a boy who looks about 11 or 12 years old, who was crossing his arms.

"What are you looking at? You mean those floats? They're alright, nothing much."

"What do you mean? They are beautiful, one day, I'd want my beloved one to make me a river-full of them! Anyways, you're just being grouchy like always."

"You stupid girl. Let's head back before we get found out." As the boy finished speaking he turned around and started leaving walking step by step away from the little girl.

"Hey, wait for me! You're so hateful you know that!? I said wait for me! Brother..." As the little girl continued to speak the scene starts to fade out and so does the boy.

"Brother..brother...brother!" The little girl screamed at the boys back until Lou Qi Ran awoken abruptly as her heart jumped when she did. She looked around and found that she wasn't at a river or with a boy. She was instead in her own room, and she had just woken up.

{So it was only just a dream..}

When Lou Qi Ran looked around she found that Xiao Li was already waiting beside her bed to help her get ready.

"Young Miss, are you alright? Did you have a bad dream?" Xiao Li asked with a face of concern.

Lou Qi Ran looked at Xiao Li and slightly nodded her head, before pulling the covers away and stood up. A couple of days had already passed since her mother came to tell her about the banquet being held for the Crown Prince of the Hua Country.

"Xiao Li, is all of my stuff ready yet?" Lou Qi Ran asked as she sat in front of her mirror for Xiao Li to help her get ready.

"Young Miss, everything is all ready, we're just waiting for the Emperor, the Empress, and you to be all ready for us to set out." Xiao Li answered calmly, while combing through Lou Qi Ran's smooth, and straight black hair.

"All right, let's hurry so we can go greet mother, father and elder brother. We can't be late." Lou Qi Ran answered as she looked at Xiao Li through the mirror.

After getting her Young Miss ready, Xiao Li looked at her and sighed in content. Her Young Miss was wearing a hanfu outfit that had a light pink long-sleeve top that had white laces near the shoulder straps, which was paired with a white skirt that had pink see through lace flowers on top. The jacket was pink on the inside but the outside was made of a white see through cloth that reached the floor.

The last piece to put it all together was the pink-colored pibo[1] that was wrapped around one arm to the back and around the other arm. Xiao Li then turned to look at Young Miss's hair. She had styled it half-up half-down with a bun like part held up with some simple flower designs colored white around the bun.

Xiao Li was really proud to be able to appreciate Young Miss's beauty everyday, and she felt very lucky to be a part of why Young Miss is so beautiful. It's because she herself, who is confident in her style, helps Young Miss dress up everyday that's why Young Miss's beauty could be more enhanced. Well, no matter Young Miss would always be beautiful with/without being adorned in her eyes.

As Xiao Li fixed the last wrinkle on the skirt they headed out of Lou Qi Ran's courtyard towards the main hall, where her parents were waiting. Lou Qi Ran walked with firm but gentle steps towards the building, and inside she saw her older brother sitting together with her parents.

Lou Qi Ran quickly reached the hall and paid her respects towards her parents. "Imperial father and Imperial mother Qi Ran pays respect, and is apologizing for being late to wake up."

"No worries, no worries. There's really no rush, we were just talking about matters concerning your Imperial brothers stay here while we're away. Now, get up and come sit down after you greet your Imperial brother." Her mother answered with a smile.

Lou Qi Ran turned and greeted her her older brother. "Good to see you, Imperial brother. I'm sorry for the delay."

Her Imperial brother looked at her and waved his hands. "No matter, and like Imperial mother stated, there wasn't anything urgent. Now go sit so we can chat before you guys head out. Anyways, you guys will be going on a long journey taking a day or two to be able to reach Hua Country."

Lou Qi Ran then sat down at her place across from her older brother, to eat some things placed onto the table but also to chat with her brother before they officially leave.

"Imperial brother, have you already arranged for things to be properly managed?" Lou Qi Ran asked as she sipped her tea.

Her Imperial brother, Lou Song Hao smiled at her then talked. "Everything is already being handled. There is nothing to worry about, but even if there happens to be some mishaps then I shall handle it."

Lou Qi Ran looked at her older brother and smiled nodding her head in the process. "Then, hopefully you take care of yourself well, Imperial brother. Hopefully, we won't be gone for so long." But it felt as if this would be one of the last moments she would be able to leisurely spend time to talk to her family. Although, she doesn't understand why.

Lou Qi Ran looked at her brother who was busy smiling as he was looking at their parents. She slightly smiled at this peaceful time that she can spend with her family.

{Older brother, hopefully you remain safe here until we return..please take care of yourself. I don't know why but something seems off, so I can only hope that you're safe once we return.}