Chapter 3 - New Family

"Jiejie, you came!"

Even though they were of the same age, the princess insisted on calling her older sister. The princess had a weak body and is smaller than children her age, so she thought that Lan Wei Qi who was bigger than her deserved to be called as such.

"It's because princess called for me, that's why I came," Lan Wei Qi answered.

Long Yuxin pouted. "Does jiejie not like me? Please call me meimei. I always wanted sister because my big brothers are all bullies."

"They bully you? Really? But you are cute? Why?" Lan Wei Qi questioned continually with a frown. Truth to be told, she was fighting the urge to squish the princess for she was just too adorable in her eyes.

"Xin'er, why is your heart so fragile? We would only tease you for a short while and now you say we are bullying you." The second prince and the third prince entered the pavilion with a smile. "Apologies, your holiness. We were not able to meet you before."

"Hmph! That's right! Grovel before my jiejie! You don't get to get close to her- Ah!"

"Why, Yin'er you have gotten very brave, haven't you?" The second prince, Long Xichen, chuckled as he pinched his little sister's cheeks.

She was aggrieved. "Wuwu! Gege, you are bullying me again! Jiejie, help me! Wuwu!"

Lan Wei Qi looked on in jealousy. She wanted to squish the princess's cheeks too.

"Wangji." The third prince, Long Xichun acknowledged him with a smile. "I can see the evident jealousy in your face. In no way might you have a sister complex, right?"

"Oh, please, what's wrong with being protective of my sister?" Lan Wangji said as he rolled his eyes.

"Hahahaha! Right!"

Truth is, unlike the first prince, the identity of the second and third prince are unknown to lower ranks of the military. Only those with positions know, like Lan Wangji and he had only known since yesterday. Both are fellow captains and they like to mess around with him. They are pretty close.

"Hey, since we are close, can we call her holiness Xiao Qi?" Long Xichen asked him.

"Why would I be the one deciding that?" Lan Wangji asked as he raised a brow.

"Aww~ Wangji, why are you so doting on your sister but very cold to us?" Long Xichun asked. "Why are you so unfair?"

"I only like my Qi'er."

"Your holiness, may we address you as Xiao Qi?" Long Xichen asked her directly.

"Hey!"

"Wangji, why are you reacting like that? Did you not say that it was up to her holiness?" Long Xichen incredulously said.

"Okay!" Lan Wei Qi happily answered.

"Then please call me second brother!"

"Me too! Call me third brother!"

The two looked as if they were children waiting for a grand price that has been long-promised. Their eyes were sparkling and they pushed at each other to gain favor.

Lan Wei Qi smiled at their childishness. "Second brother, third brother, please take care of Xiao Qi."

"Of course!"

Lan Wangji had to leave for his duties. The two princes had smug smiles on their faces while he had a grimace. It was sure to say that he will beat them up once they return.

Lan Wei Qi carefully watched as her brother left the pavilion. When he was out of sight, she jumped on her feet and started running around like wild abandoned. She was greatly fascinated with the palace. There were so many things to see. There were so many people to spook.

"Jiejie?!"

"Xiao Qi!"

It was such a wide place. It was paradise for Lan Wei Qi who loved running. She had left her shoes on the pavilion and ran barefoot through corridors and hallways. You can hear the faint voices of the two princess and one princess fading in the background.

This is fun! Lan Wei Qi thought to herself. She had gotten bored of Luo Luo and Si Cheng running after her because they had gotten used to it. These people chasing her now are royalty.

What a joy! What excitement she felt!

The seven-year-old fourth prince, Long Wu Xian, was walking peacefully when someone zoomed past him and he almost fell back. He paused and was confused. What was that wind just now?

"Wu Xian, you- why didn't you stop her?"

He saw the hilarious sight before him. His two brothers looked like a mess and Long Xichun was even carrying their sister on his back. He wanted to laugh but couldn't.

"We don't know- what happened. The minute Wangji left- she started running- around. We don't know- what got to her." Long Xichen had to take breaths in between. He was exhausted beyond compare.

They already lost her, so they embarked on a long journey to find her. Yes, long. The palace was huge and there are plenty of places to hide in. Who knows where she went?

They asked every servant and guard they saw, but the only information they could give was that they felt a strong gush of wind passing by. Evidently, that was Lan Wei Qi.

"Have you seen the imperial daughter?" Long Xichun asked one of the guards for the hundredth time.

"Your highness, I believe I saw his highness the first prince enter the kitchen with a child in his arms. I thought it was the princess, but I seem to be mistaken."

What they saw inside the kitchen was something beyond their imagination. The servants stood frozen in horror while the first prince was standing covered in flour as Lan Wei Qi ran around him. She was covering him in more flour and she looked as if she was a chef placing the final touches on her masterpiece. "There are no snow yet so first brother is the snowman!"

"Yes, yes, first brother will become anything if it's you, Xiao Qi," the first prince indulgently chuckled.

Ah... it seems that someone will soon have the entire royal family at the palm of their little hands.