1 Chu Xiao Qiao
-Mid-Autumn Festival- State of Zhao
Chu Xiao Qiao was born on the day of Mid-Autumn Festival. The day when family members gather together to celebrate the coming of the Fall. Chu Xiao Qiao was known to be lively and talkative ever since she was a child. She was very beautiful and tall that all of the men around her wanted to marry her as their wife. She just smiled and continued walking along the street with one of her trusted maid, Chun Er.
"I should've kicked all of them for you, Xiao Qiao. They look at you with such perverted eyes." Chun Er shivered at the fact of them marrying her close friend. Xiao Qiao and Chun Er were childhood friend who practiced martial arts together.
"Don't be so mean. Not all men think like that." Xiao Qiao gently hit Chun Er on the elbow. Chun Er pouted and ignored her. Xiao Qiao saw someone selling candied hawthorn and poked Chun Er.
"I'll buy one for you. Don't be angry." Chun Er slightly smiled and grabbed Xiao Qiao's hand, "You said it. Let's go." Candied hawthorns were very popular during these times. Every kids and even young adults loved to eat them.
They were walking on the bridge when suddenly a group of soldiers from the palace started to walk towards them. Xiao Qiao was curious to see who was on the palanquin. The palanquin used in the palace were so highly decorated compared to what they've seen. She heard people whispering ithat the person on the palanquin was Emperor of Zhao.
As the palanquin got closer, Xiao Qiao got a small glimpse at the young emperor. He was quite handsome. She saw the emperor several times in the palace since her father worked there but she never talked to him (Emperor) before. She bowed respectfully along with many others as the Emperor approaches.
"Stop."
The Emperor signalled and they stopped. He got down from the palanquin and walked towards Xiao Qiao. She was wearing her long red dress with long sleeves. Xiao Qiao was a bit nervous but she was excited. She hasn't seen the Emperor for quite some time.
"Please come with me, Xiao Qiao. Your father told me to come and get you." Emperor of Zhao looked at Xiao Qiao with his warm eyes. He was known to be cold towards other people but he warms up whenever he sees Xiao Qiao.
"Xiao Qiao, you can go. I'll head back myself." Chun Er nudged Xiao Qiao but Xiao Qiao stopped her, "Your Majesty, is it alright to bring my maid along?" Emperor of Zhao nodded.
Chun Er and Xiao Qiao never rode on the palanquin before so tonight was their first experience.
"Xiao Qiao, from now on, call me Zhao Long. Your parents and my mother agreed on letting us get married." Zhao Long was happy because Xiao Qiao's his first love. Their first encounter at the palace felt magical. They were still young at the time and the young Zhao Long couldn't take his eyes off of Xiao Qiao's beautiful eyes. He usually watched her from afar without letting her know. Right now, he's the Emperor of Zhao with enough power to protect the one he loves.
"Calling you, Zhao Long, might not be appropriate now..." She was hesitant to call him that. Zhao Long smiled, "It's okay. You'll have to get used to it because you'll be my wife soon."
