Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Lei Wanxi leaned closer to Zhu Lin as he drew her towards him. With his other hand, he had angled her face. Zhu Lin closed her eyes and then it happened. She felt Lei Wanxi's smooth lips on hers and tingles spread throughout her entire body. Butterflies started to dance in her stomach.

The kiss was chaste, only the movement of lips and nothing more. Zhu Lin clutched the sleeves of Lei Wanxi as she equally responded to him. After a while, they pulled away, gasping for air. Lei Wanxi wiped her lips using his thumb and then put it down.

Zhu Lin gazed at him and got shy. She rested her forehead on his chest. "Don't look at me with those eyes," she hit his shoulder.

"Why? It is rare to see that face of yours," Lei Wanxi replied.

"I will talk to my father," Lei Wanxi stated.

Zhu Lin pulled away. "About what?" She asked.

"About our marriage. Don't you want to marry me?" Lei Wanxi asked with a sheepish smile.

"I want to. But, are you not supposed to give the answers to my feelings? Are you sure you want to marry this violent woman?" Zhu Lin questioned and crossed her arms.

"I gave the answer already. This kiss I had saved for the woman, whom I would marry. Now, I have given you my kiss, so that means I want to marry you," Lei Wanxi stated. Zhu Lin brought her both palms to her face because of her shyness.

"Prince Wanxi confessed to me. It is unbelievable to me," Zhu Lin replied and then hugged him. Lei Wanxi caressed her hair and rested his right cheek over her head.

"I love you, Zhu Lin. You made my heart go crazy for a few days. I almost thought that I was suffering from some heart disease," Lei Wanxi pronounced. Zhu Lin's heart raced upon hearing those words.

"I love you too, Prince Wanxi," She reciprocated his feelings. After some time, they both withdrew and kept smiling while glancing at each other.

"Leave," Zhu Lin told Lei Wanxi.

"Sure. See you in the morning," Lei Wanxi stated and took backward steps. He waved at her and soon left her sight. Zhu Lin looked at herself in the mirror and then touched her cheeks.

"Prince Wanxi loves me!" Zhu Lin murmured with a broad smile.

Lei Wanxi came out of the chamber and extended his arms out. "So, this feeling is called love," Lei Wanxi said and he spun at his place. The Palace Maids looked at him amusingly. He put his hands down and went towards his chamber.

~~~~~

Nianzu was on the shore of the Yellow River. At a particular time, he was throwing the stones into the river. The ripples had formed on the surface of the water which soon disappeared.

He had no idea how his life was taking turns. He felt a hand on his shoulder and it was Huo Jin. "So, you are here. We were worried about you," Huo Jin stated.

"Chun is also here?" Nianzu turned his head back and saw Chuntao in front of him.

"I encountered your friends in the market, who told me that you had already left for home. However, you did not return, so Brother Huo Jin and I searched for you," Chuntao asserted and sat beside Nianzu. She saw he had not finished the lunch and it hurt her.

Huo Jin sat on the left of Nianzu on the same large rock. Nianzu had put a few pebbles on it. Huo Jin grabbed them and threw them on the ground.

"So, will you tell us what is going on with you?" Chuntao asked and found Nianzu's gaze at the sun in the horizon.

"I thought after I leave the Palace, everything will turn right. I do not need to involve myself in those fights. However, I failed to see that my Mother could do something which would make me fall in front of everyone's eyes," Nianzu stated.

"No one knows about the ill intentions of the Empress except a few," Huo Jin said.

"And those few are the ones who are precious to me. How would I meet my gaze with them?" Nianzu questioned and looked at Huo Jin.

"Why do you think it is your fault?" Nianzu turned to Chuntao, whose gaze was fixed at the flowing river water.

"Brother Huo Jin explained to me the situation. Your Mother deviated from the path of honesty not because of you but because of jealousy towards the Crown Prince. It was not your fault, Nianzu. Every human has a conscience but most of us get tempted to see power, money and influence over others.

Then, shouldn't it be my fault who separated you from your family? If I had not accepted these feelings, then you would not have to see all this."

Nianzu shook his head. Before he could speak, Chuntao said, "I blamed myself when I heard about all this. However, I recalled the words of the Crown Prince, who told me to take care of you. That means I would have made a grave mistake if I had not accepted your feelings. Nianzu, it's fine if you left the Palace. There is nothing wrong with that. You should not lie to yourself that you miss everyone. Even the Palace life can become beautiful. Help your Brother in making the Palace a Heaven. Do not run away anymore.

Yes, you were wrong. You are born to live the life of a Prince. You are born to make a difference in this Empire by becoming the right hand man of the Crown Prince. You can empathize with the people that's why you were the Royal Advisor," Chuntao made Nianzu understand.

Huo Jin agreed with the words of Chuntao. "Nianzu shall not run away anymore. Remember, what you told me when I was ready to die for Xinyue?" Huo Jin stood up and came in front of them.

"You told me that with my qualities, I shall contribute for the prosperity of the Han. I shall not hide myself," Huo Jin reminded those same words to Nianzu. "You have those qualities which hardly people possess. Put them into a good use. Don't hide. This is the only advise I can give you," Huo Jin affirmed.

Nianzu hummed and stood up. Chuntao also stood by him. "I shall go back to correct everything. I shall help Brother Sheng, whom I left in the middle," Nianzu stated with a confident tone. He put his arms around Huo Jin and Chuntao, pulling them into a side hug.

"Thank you," Nianzu stated and the three looked towards the red sky.