Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Sheng Li came to his chamber. Huo Jin bowed as soon as he saw the Crown Prince. "Take a seat," Sheng Li told him after sitting around the floor mattress.

Huo Jin sat down on the floor chair. "I went to Minister Gu Zhenya's residence last night," He informed the Crown Prince.

"And?" Sheng Li was curious to know.

"Minister Gu has been searching for Prince Nianzu," Huo Jin answered. Sheng Li raised his brow in bewilderment.

"Why? Did you find something more?" Sheng Li questioned him.

"Yes, your highness," replied Huo Jin and continued, "Minister Gu met with other important ministers of the Court last night.. They had a meet where ministers talked about you."

"Me?!" Sheng Li got befuddled to hear that. But it was not shocking as the Ministers usually talked about him, behind his back, for a very long time.

"Your Highness, they are not happy that you are the Crown Prince," Huo Jin stated.

"Yes, they were never happy about me being the Crown Prince as I am the Fifth Prince. It is nothing new," Sheng Li affirmed and scoffed. Huo Jin found out how people were after the life of the Crown Prince. Even, he once worked for enemies and plotted to kill Sheng Li. He was glad though that he never did that.

"Your highness, you shall remove Minister Gu before he does anything inappropriate," Huo Jin asserted.

"I cannot remove any Minister. Only if I found something serious against him then, he can get removed," Sheng Li briefed Huo Jin.

"I will bring the evidence against him. If he is behind the Fourth Prince, then he might have planned something big against you," Huo Jin asserted.

Sheng Li drew his brows together. "What exactly was he talking to the Ministers? Tell me about the Ministers who were present there," Sheng Li demanded the answers from Huo Jin, who lowered his eyes.

"They want the Fourth Prince to be the Crown Prince. Minister of Personnel, Minister of Rites, Ministers of Finance, and other few, whom I could not recognize were present in that meeting. They are not happy that the Emperor sent the Fourth Prince away. They think that it is because the Fourth Prince could have been a threat to your position," Huo Jin explained to Sheng Li. "Your highness, luckily I went there yesterday else all these things could not be found."

Sheng Li hummed and called Xing-Fu inside. Xing-Fu came inside and bowed. "Call Wang Hao. Tell him it's urgent," Sheng Li ordered him. Xing-Fu left the chamber to bring General Wang while Sheng Li continued his conversation with Huo Jin.

"The Crown Princess Birthday is near. Can you keep a close eye on Gu Zhenya? I do not want any trouble, and after all these things from you, it seems Gu Zhenya might formulate a plan against us," Sheng Li asserted.

"I will do it, your highness," Huo Jin accepted the order. "I will be glad to help his highness in every possible way," affirmed Huo Jin.

"Fine. Report me about his activities," Sheng Li stated. Huo Jin nodded and then lifted his head to peer at Sheng Li.

"Your Highness, may I ask something?" Huo Jin queried him.

"Hmm."

"Did you ever get scared? Pardon me. I asked because… because during all this time, I found many people are against you, not the commoners but the upper classes and royalty. I believe you are powerful enough to shut the mouths of these Ministers around you, but it seems you have turned quieter. I am curious to know," Huo Jin raised a few questions.

"That way, my enemies will increase more. I already lost people closer to me because of my pride. I killed mercilessly without thinking about what it could bring in the future. When the Crown Princess came into my life, I started to see the world differently. Hu Jingguo also gave a new perspective to my life. But it is not that I left my heartless side. I still am to those who are evil and only want power," Sheng Li pronounced.

"I think I changed a lot after losing Hu Jingguo. His death pains me. That General of Tan Gengxin wanted to make me feel the pain after losing someone close, and I am in that hell once again," he lowered his eyes as guilt overpowered him. "I cannot bring him back. However, I can change the things because of which I ended up losing him and also Wan Ju." He chuckled and said, "I usually do not share my things. Keep it to yourself," Sheng Li requested him.

"Yes, Your Highness," Huo Jin nodded.

Wang Hao by then reached the Crown Prince's chamber. He bowed before sitting down around the table. "His Highness called me! What's the urgent matter?" Wang Hao asked.

"Gu Zhenya has been searching for Brother Nianzu. Go to their place and check them if they are safe," Sheng Li stated. "Deploy a few spies there so that they keep an eye on the suspicious activities around," Sheng Li ordered Wang Hao.

"Yes, your highness," Wang Hao acknowledged the order. "But how did his highness find out about all this?"

"Huo Jin found out. Gu Zhenya's activities were suspicious, so I asked Huo Jin to find out," Sheng Li replied. Wang Hao nodded and told Sheng Li that he would inform him by night.

"Hmm." "You two may leave," Sheng Li ordered them. Wang Hao and Huo Jin stood up, gave a palm and fist bow before leaving the chamber.

~~~~~

Here, in the Dye House, after heating the water Lei Wanxi and Zhu Lin mixed the fine powder into the hot water. After that, the hot water was passed through a sieve into a container to remove the chunks of dry flowers.

Chui Chang had brought the white silk fabric. Zhu Lin grabbed its one end and asked Lei Wanxi to slowly put it into the hot water who hummed. He did that, and the color started to appear in the fabric. Zhu Lin pushed the fabric deep into the container with a stick. Cui Chang walked out of the room to check the shelter where the dyed fabric had to hang.

"It's over finally," Lei Wanxi stated and stepped back to leave when his shoe slipped because of the water that was spread on the floor. "Ahh," he screamed. He almost fell into the hot water when Zhu Lin grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her.

Because of the fear, he hugged her tightly. His breathing was heavy and, his heartbeat shot up. For a moment, he thought he would fall into the hot water. "It's alright," Zhu Lin caressed his back. "Be careful next time," she said and kept caressing his back.

Lei Wanxi closed his eyes because of the fear and tightly wrapped his hands around her. "I could have burned," he murmured. A few moments later, he realized what he was doing. He pulled away and stepped back.

There was an awkward silence between the two. "I was scared, that's why I did that. Do not take any wrong meaning," muttered Lei Wanxi.

"It's fine. You shall be careful. Our work has been completed. We just need to hang this colored fabric outside in the shelter," Zhu Lin told him. Lei Wanxi nodded and told her to take the fabric out from the hot water into a basket.

"Ahh, the color has not distributed evenly," Zhu Lin informed Lei Wanxi.

"It's our first time doing this. We are not Dexter," Lei Wanxi was annoyed. "My full body is aching," he complained.

"Come, carry this basket with another end. Let's take it outside," Zhu Lin asked for his help. Lei Wanxi nodded, and the two took the basket outside.