The queen of Qing Qiu

Part 4

After Feng Jiu's story about the garden she decided that it was definitly time to stop drinking wine and hopefully she could stop ratting herself out to the god of war. So far that day she had let it slip that she knew he was in love with GuGu and that she walked through his garden when he was in suclusion.

"Xiao Jiu come outside and walk with me. I need some air." Bai Zhen said to her as he stood up and held his hand out to her.

"Okay, some air sounds good." She replied happy for a break from the room.

Outside they walked around the palace to the backyard where there was a small pond. It never got very dark in Nine Heaven so even though she knew it must be late the sky reminded her of twilight in QingQiu.

"Xiao Jiu do you think that high god Mo Yuan is acting a bit odd?" Bai Zhen suddenly asked.

"I don't know, he is definitely more talkative but I have never been around him when he had a lot to drink. Perhaps this is normal for him. I think I might have had a bit more than I should have." She said.

He seemed to consider her answer. "But that's part of what's odd. Zhe Yan and fifth sister have said that he doesn't drink to much. Though a lot of things seem odd to me lately so it is probably nothing."

"Little majesty." They both looked up to see Si Ming walking towards them soon followed by Lian Song and Cheng Yu.

Once the group was together she discovered that Si Ming was leaving to go home. He had an early morning and so Lian Song had decided that he was going home as well. They were hoping to meet up tomorrow though but were unsure of what time they could all be free. This of course was good for Bai Feng Jiu as she didn't need to come up with an excuse if she was unable to meet them, in the end they all said their goodnights and the gentlemen left.

"Cheng Yu, fourth uncle I think it is time that I leave as well. I am getting really tired. Cheng Yu thank you so much for inviting me over." She said giving her friend a hug.

"You know you don't have to wait for an invitation, you're always welcome here." Cheng Yu replied. "I think the other two high gods are locked in a game of Go. I'll leave them to it and probably rest soon myself. Don't worry about any formalities just feel at home." She said to Bai Zhen.

"Thank you," He replied to her with a sigh, "I had hoped to avoid this. Those two could be at it till morning. Let me walk you out Xiao Jiu."

They went around the palace to the front entrance. "Please tell me you have no intentions of going back to QingQiu tonight?"

She knew that she couldn't hide it from her uncle. "I just want to get away from Nine Heaven. I don't feel comfortable here anymore and it would be nice to sleep in my own bed."

"I understand you probably have many good reasons to not stay here but mother and father are leaving in the morning and they will be hurt if their favorite granddaughter is not here to see them off. You can always leave tomorrow afterwards, I can even go with you if it helps." He said to her.

"Wha, I thought they were staying for the whole two weeks." She said with a frown.

He shook his head, "I think father gets bored here and they are in a hurry to start traveling. They want to leave right after breakfast."

"Ughh.." She groaned. "Do you know I have spent most of the day thinking of how to go home without having to fight with anyone about why I don't want to stay in Nine Heaven and now it turns out I have to stay."

"Sorry kit," he gave her a side hug and asked, "will you be alright to walk back to your room or do you want me to walk with you?"

"I think I know my way from here. I guess I'll see you at breakfast then. Tell the old phoenix and Mo Yuan goodnight for me." She said as she stepped out the entrance onto the street. Trying her best not to let her uncle see her wobble slightly.