Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Bai Yaling rested her hands over zither after she was done practicing it. Court Lady Xu told the two maidservants to take the zither away. Court Lady Xu put the tray on the table. She picked the teapot and poured the tea into a teacup.

"Court Lady Xu, yesterday the Emperor called me. His Majesty has put forward an offer for me. He wants me to remarry," Bai Yaling stated.

Court Lady Xu was glad to hear that. "It is a good offer, Princess Bai. This is the first time the Empire is going for a widow remarriage. It is great, Princess Bai. With Prince Yongzheng you could not feel the happiness of married life," affirmed Court Lady Xu.

"Won't people raise the question on my chastity and my loyalty towards my late husband? Court Lady Xu also knows what exactly our society is! Even if my late husband did not treat me well, I need to follow my duty towards him. That's what I was taught," Bai Yaling skeptically said.

"Princess Bai, if your late husband has respected you even for a day, then you could have thought about him. His Majesty has given such an offer to you, so you should not deny it. It is about your life. You should go forward with it and then with your new husband you can start your own family," stated Court Lady Xu. Bai Yaling lowered her eyes and fidgeted with her fingers.

"Will there be any man who wants to marry me? I have so many insecurities, Court Lady Xu," Bai Yaling replied.

"If His Majesty had offered this, then he might have thought something of this. Please do not let this opportunity go," Court Lady Xu advised her.

"I have two days to think about this. I will talk to the Crown Princess regarding this," Bai Yaling stated. Court Lady Xu nodded her head and gave the teacup to her.

Bai Yaling took it and sipped it. She put it down on the table.

"The Crown Princess is in her private residence with the Crown Prince for two days," Court Lady Xu informed her.

"Oh! I wanted better advice on this, Court Lady Xu. I am confused," Bai Yaling replied.

Court Lady Xu smiled. "Prince Nianzu is the best advisor in this case. Why doesn't Princess Bai ask him? Princess Xue used to be cunning before you arrived in this Palace. Prince Nianzu once talked to her and advised her. Now, she is no longer on that path," she suggested to Bai Yaling.

"What was she like? Would Court Lady Bai like to tell me?" Bai Yaling queried. "I have heard that the Wei Family was behind the death of the Crown Prince's mother. Is it true? I never asked Prince Yongzheng about this," She asked.

"Yes. The Former Empress was poisoned by the half-brother of Empress Weng Wei. Luckily, the Crown Prince survived but the Empress died after four years. She was the beloved wife of His Majesty," Court Lady Xu replied. "The First Prince and Princess Xue also wanted to harm the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. But that was under the influence of their upbringings," she asserted.

"The Crown Prince suffered a lot then. Now, it tells about his highness's cold personality towards people other than the Crown Princess," Bai Yaling stated.

"Yes, Princess Bai. But he has turned gentle after the arrival of the Crown Princess in his life," she said and smiled. Bai Yaling sipped the remaining tea from the teacup and put it on the table.

"Their love is so pure," Bai Yaling said and the smile from her lips slowly vanished.

"Princess Bai, who knows you also get a life full of love if you go for the remarriage. Don't close the doors for it. You have the right to be happy," Court Lady Xu made her understand.

"Hmm." Bai Yaling contemplated for a while before asking her if she could meet the Fourth Prince.

"Princess Bai can! Prince Nianzu must be in his chamber at this time. You shall meet him now before he gets busy with work," Court Lady Xu suggested to her. Bai Yaling agreed to her and stood up from the mattress with Court Lady Xu.

They both left to meet Nianzu in his chamber.

~~~~~

Nianzu checked the books on the shelf and took out one. "Chun will like this book," He murmured when Eunuch Chung interrupted him.

"Your Highness, Princess Bai wants to converse with you," Eunuch Chung informed him.

"Bring Princess Bai to the chamber adjacent to it," Nianzu ordered him. Eunuch Chung bowed and left the chamber. Nianzu put the book back on the shelf and went towards the other chamber.

Princess Bai bowed as Prince Nianzu entered the chamber, who also greeted him by bowing. "Please take the seat," Nianzu said with a smile.

Bai Yaling nodded her head and sat on the chaise. Prince Nianzu sat on the other, facing Bai Yaling.

"Is Princess Bai doing good?" Nianzu asked out of concern.

"Yes, Prince Nianzu. Thank you for asking," replied Bai Yaling.

"I heard that Princess Bai tried to take her life," Nianzu said. Bai Yaling gazed at him and then lowered her eyes.

"I thought that would be best to escape my situation," Bai Yaling said in a low voice.

"Why does Princess Bai want to meet me?" Nianzu asked.

"Because I want the advice of Prince Nianzu over a matter. Court Lady Xu told me that Prince Nianzu gives the best advice," Bai Yaling stated.

"That's great. I am glad that Princess Bai considered coming to see me. Although I wanted to meet Princess Bai, but could not come because of a few things," Nianzu replied. "Please tell me the matter regarding which you need the advice," he urged.

Bai Yaling told Prince Nianzu about the offer of remarriage that the Emperor had given to her. She also truthfully told him about her insecurities and doubts about the remarriage.

"Father indeed did great by offering this. I believe that Princess Bai shall go forward with it. I also believe that somewhere in her heart she wants to start a fresh life.. That's why she thought to take advice regarding this," Nianzu stated and glanced at her.