Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

In the evening, the dragon boat festival started. The entire Royal Family was present at the Imperial River Bridge, where the Emperor had to give a green flag to start the dragon boat race. Four boats have been prepared with ten people in each boat. The Dragon faces were carved at the front of the boats.Â

As soon as the Emperor showed the green flag, the race started and loud cheers of the people reverberated in the air. Lei Wanxi and Weng Yu predicted that boat 3rd would win.Â

The Emperor and the Princes could not stay outside for long, so soon returned to the Palace.Â

Lei Wanxi happened to buy the Zongzi Rice dumplings while returning to the Palace. He gave one stick to Weng Yu, who told Lei Wanxi about his training. "It's good to see Brother Yu becoming stronger," Lei Wanxi complimented Weng Yu.

"Brother, why don't you train with me? You will get stronger, then," Weng Yu asserted.Â

"Brother Yu, don't you know that I do not like all these things. Moreover, there are no longer any battles, so there is no use to learn all that," Lei Wanxi stated and started to eat the dumplings.Â

"Prince Yu, your brother is too lazy to do anything. He only wants to live a life full of comfort," Zhu Lin voiced, who was behind them. Both the Princes turned to look at her.Â

"How could you hear the conversation of two brothers?" Lei Wanxi complained.Â

"It was not private. The Princes were loud enough to be heard," Zhu Lin stated and passed a smile to Lei Wanxi, who put his hand on his chest. Zhu Lin noticed that and stepped forward. She stood beside Lei Wanxi and whispered in her ear, "Prince Wanxi, I will wait for your answer. Hopefully, you will consider your feelings for me."Â

Lei Wanxi tilted his head to glance at Zhu Lin, who walked away. Weng Yu looked at Lei Wanxi and asked him if he was okay. "I am not okay, Brother Yu," Lei Wanxi asserted.Â

"Brother shall visit with the Royal Physician," Weng Yu advised Lei Wanxi, who shook his head.Â

"Brother Yu, it's something you cannot understand. I am getting hungrier because of this," Lei Wanxi proclaimed and quickly took out another stick of dumplings from the envelope he had in his other hand.Â

"Brother, are you excited about the dinner? It's the first time we all brothers will dine together. The Third Brother told me that there will be entertainment too. I am still young, so I cannot drink wine. I want to grow up fast and be like my brothers, especially the Crown Prince," Weng Yu excitedly said.Â

Lei Wanxi stopped eating. "Brother Yu has lost his mind. Growing up is no fun," Lei Wanxi suddenly told him. Weng Yu got confused.Â

"Brother Wanxi used to tell me to grow up quickly to enjoy life," Weng Yu affirmed.Â

"I was wrong, Brother Yu. These days my bad luck is prevalent. I am sick of these weird feelings," Lei Wanxi murmured and walked away. Weng Yu could not understand the words of Lei Wanxi. He thought to go behind him when he recalled that he had to study a topic, so he left for his chamber.Â

Lei Wanxi finished eating the dumplings and handed the envelope to a servant. "Throw it away," Lei Wanxi told him and took out his fan. Slowly, he fanned himself while thinking about the confession of Zhu Lin.Â

'I never encountered such a bold woman! She kissed'¦ No, Wanxi, that's not considered a kiss. She pecked me on my forehead and then confessed. She has confused me more. And, why is she leaving in the early morning?' The thoughts of Lei Wanxi kept changing. 'It is good if she leaves. These feelings will end, then I can enjoy my life again. Probably my good luck will return too. But, what if the opposite happens?'Â

Lei Wanxi closed the fan and saw a pillar ahead. He rested his forehead against it. "Brother Nianzu, I need you. Please come back," Lei Wanxi mumbled.Â

~~~~~

In Xiandong, Nianzu sneezed and it worried Chuntao. "Are you getting cold?" Chuntao asked him.Â

"No. I think Wanxi is missing me," Nianzu pronounced.Â

"Really? How do you know?" Chuntao asked him.

"Whenever Brother Wanxi gets into trouble, he recalls me. I used to get sneezes- one or two. That was enough indication for me," Nianzu asserted and grasped the hand of Chuntao.Â

"Do you want to go to the River Bridge?" Nianzu asked Chuntao, who nodded her head. Huo Jin did not accompany them today as he thought to find out about the family. Although Nianzu had told him that he had talked to the Royal Inspector regarding that, Huo Jin could not stop himself from finding out about the family.Â

In the market, a few dancers were performing the Dragon dance in the Dragon's costume. Nianzu and Chuntao watched the performance for a while, before leaving for the river bridge where many people had gathered.Â

On the river bridge, many lanterns were hung to illuminate the bridge. A storyteller was narrating the story of the Dragon boat Festival.Â

"Is it true?" Chuntao asked Nianzu about the story.Â

"Hmm. It is said that a great poet of Warring States, Qu Yuan, committed suicide after jumping into a river. He was known as the most upright and honest Government official but slandered publicly by another official. Qu Yuan was then sent into exile. He wrote poems to spend his exile, but his mind was always troubled. So he jumped into the Miluo River. The people were panicked that his body might get eaten by fish, so went into the boats and retrieved his body. From then onwards, this dragon boat race is famous," Nianzu narrated the story briefly to Chuntao.Â

"Have you read the poems written by him?" Chuntao curiously asked.Â

"Yes," Nianzu answered.Â

"You also write poems, right?" Chuntao curiously asked.Â

"Hmm." "I wrote one poem for you as well. Do you want to hear?" Nianzu asked.

"I would love to," Chuntao replied. Nianzu was ready to speak when the loud drum beats started to play as the boat race was ending soon. Chuntao giggled and told Nianzu to tell her later.Â

"Chun, there is something I bought for you. I saw that the hairpin you had is broken, so it's a new one," Nianzu showed her a silver hairpin. He moved closer to her and fixed the hairpin in Chuntao's bun. "It looks good," Nianzu whispered and looked at Chuntao.Â

Chuntao tiptoed and kissed his lips.. Nianzu kissed her back and gave her a side hug.Â