Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Sheng Li dipped the brush in the ink and started to write the letter for Ying Lili. He let the ink dry and then rolled it. He tied a thread around it and handed it to Xiao Zhan.

"This is for Lili," Sheng Li asserted while he wrote the second letter for the Third Prince as he was the eldest Prince present in the Palace.

After handing the second one, Sheng Li stood up from the chair. Xiao Zhan bowed and left the room. Commander Yang came forward and informed the Emperor about Lord Lian's recent presence near Changying's border.

"This was retrieved from a young man in the city," Commander Yang showed the poster to Sheng Li. Jian Guozhi came forward to look at what was in the poster.

"It was found near the Eastern Gate of Changying," Commander Yang informed Sheng Li and Jian Guozhi.

"Is he challenging us?" Sheng Li asked him.

"Probably, Brother Sheng," Commander Wang answered.

"Your Majesty, Lian Zoumu is still unaware of the fact that we are here. This message seems to be directed towards the Governor. However, before it could reach him, a commoner had his hands on this poster, who was sweeping the area outside the gate," Commander Yang clarified to them.

"Brother Sheng, Lian Zoumu is confident about his actions. Such posters and messages are clear to show it. His men are spread all around the town. Every second day, we receive a new message. We need to filter out them, first before going to the other city. Changying is an important trading center for us," Jian Guozhi advised Sheng Li, who contemplated for some time.

"The First Brother is right. We need to catch his men to know more about the enemy," Sheng Li pronounced and rested his palms on the table. He leaned a little forward and looked at words written on the poster.

"Find Zhe Yan. He can be of help since he already knows many things. It will save our time," Sheng Li ordered.

"Brother Sheng, I will go out to search for him. I will bring him here," Jian Guozhi volunteered himself.

"Take Commander Yang with you," Sheng Lu suggested to him, who nodded his head. Jian Guozhi went to the second table and picked the dagger. He put it inside his robe's pocket and left with Commander Yang.

Sheng Li thought to go and meet the Governor of the Eastern Province. He put on the disguise and tied the conical hat's straps under his chin.

Sheng Li went out of the room when Commander Yao followed him.

"Where is His Majesty heading to?" He asked in a low tone.

"To the Governor's residence," Sheng Li replied. "Stay here. I will be back before the evening," he answered. Commander Yao stopped at his place and let the Emperor go ahead.

~~~~~~

Nianzu after resting for an hour, went to the Northern Palace to meet the Empress.

"Eunuch Chung, tell Chuntao to wait for a little longer. It might take me some time in the Northern Palace. I need to discuss a few matters with Her Majesty," Nianzu told Chung politely. "Deliver the same message to my Mother," he added.

Eunuch Chung bowed and turned to leave for Princess Chuntao's chamber.

Nianzu encountered Lei Wanxi and Zhu Lin while ascending the stairs to reach the chief building in the Northern Palace.

"Brother Nianzu, you here!" Lei Wanxi was astonished to see him and quickly walked to him to hug him.

Nianzu patted his back as they both pulled away. Zhu Lin bowed before Nianzu, who did the same.

"Brother Sheng told me to return since the Palace needs me more," Nianzu answered and looked at the scroll in Lei Wanxi's hand.

"What is it?" Nianzu asked out of curiosity.

"It is a petition to punish Liang Wu and his fellows for harassing Sister Yin Na. I need to discuss it with Sister Lili," Lei Wanxi replied.

"Again?" Nianzu was perplexed to hear it. "Was His Majesty's command not enough?" He chuckled and asked Lei Wanxi to hand it to him.

"May I ask why, Brother Nianzu?" Lei Wanxi asked.

"Brother Zemin and I will solve this matter. No need to trouble Sister Lili at the moment," Nianzu affirmed. Lei Wanxi promptly handed it to Nianzu.

"We didn't think about it. We both are so naïve," Lei Wanxi said and looked at Zhu Lin.

"I had told Prince Wanxi to not trouble Sister Lili and let it get solved with the Prime Minister along with other Court Ministers," Zhu Lin asserted.

"But you didn't explain me well, Zhu Lin," Lei Wanxi retorted.

Nianzu smiled upon hearing him and then said, "I will converse with Brother Wanxi later."

"We will also accompany the Fourth Prince. The Empress will be glad to see us," Zhu Lin opined.

"Why doesn't Princess Zhu Lin meet the Empress later? I have a few important things to discuss with her," Nianzu suggested to her. Zhu Lin understood him and apologized for taking his time.

"No worries," Nianzu passed her a tiny smile and walked ahead.

Zhu Lin peered at Lei Wanxi, who had grasped her hand. "Brother Nianzu must be telling Sister Lili about the situation in Changying. Being the Empress is tough. She might have to make some decisions in the absence of the Emperor," Lei Wanxi told her as he found Zhu Lin had turned upset.

"The Fourth Prince could have let us accompanied him. I think he doesn't like my presence around him," Zhu Lin assumed.

"No. Brother Nianzu must have taken as kids. Also, walls have ears too. What if Brother Sheng has told Brother Nianzu to talk to Sister Lili in the absence of the others?" Lei Wanxi showed her the other side of the coin.

"I do not like Prince Nianzu," Zhu Lin said and yanked Lei Wanxi's hand away, who understood her annoyance.

Zhu Lin walked ahead while Lei Wanxi followed her.

"Don't tell me it was because he rejected your feelings," Lei Wanxi said and immediately, Zhu Lin halted at her place.

She gaped at Lei Wanxi. "The Fourth Prince thinks he is perfect," she stated.

"He never thought that," Lei Wanxi replied with a smile on his lips.

"Does Prince Wanxi loves his Brother or me? Why is he—" Zhu Lin paused as she realized that she was indeed irritated by Nianzu because of his past behavior with her. Though months had passed for it, she could not help but get annoyed at him.

Lei Wanxi held her wrist and drew her close to him. He hugged her and said, "Of course, I love my Fourth Brother, but I love you too. Both are important to me. Forgive him for his past behavior with you."

"Prince Wanxi, I have forgiven him but sometimes his smile makes me recall the way he lied to me and without giving any explanation to me left. Never any man did this to me," Zhu Lin stated.

Lei Wanxi moved back, and the two looked into each other's eyes.

"Prince Nianzu was frustrated that time," Lei Wanxi told her. He put his palm over her eyes and told her to close her eyes.

"Why?"

"I will do a magic trick to make you forget that," Lei Wanxi pronounced, and he slowly moved his hand down.

"How?" Zhu Lin kept her eyes shut when she felt Lei Wanxi's breath over her lips.

The next second, Lei Wanxi kissed her softly and gripped her chin to keep her face at the appropriate angle. She smiled and kissed him back.

Lei Wanxi withdrew from the kiss while Zhu Lin opened her eyes. They looked into each other's eyes once again.

"Are you happy, now?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

Zhu Lin hummed as the smile returned on her lips.

Lei Wanxi forwarded his hand and gestured to Zhu Lin to put her hand over hers. She did so and they walked away.

Weng Yu, who had hidden behind the tree ended up seeing them. He put his palm over his mouth and then slapped his cheeks lightly.

"How could Brother Wanxi do this in front of me?" Weng Yu murmured and was still in shock. He could not comprehend this when heard a voice.

"Your Highness, what happened?" Eunuch Xing-Fu asked.

Weng Yu turned to look and bowed before him since Eunuch Xing-Fu's rank was higher than him.

"Nothing, Eunuch Xing-Fu," Weng Yu did not seem appropriate to answer him. He saw a tray in Xing-Fu's hand and asked about it.

"It is a special tonic for Her Majesty," Xing-Fu answered. Weng Yu accompanied him and asked him if the Emperor send any message.

"By the evening the message will arrive, Prince Yu," Xing-Fu answered.

They soon reached outside the chamber when the maidservant informed them that the Empress and the Fourth Prince were having an important conversation.

Inside the chamber, Ying Lili looked happy as she heard from Nianzu about Sheng Li.

"However, the situation is not healthy in Changying. Sister Lili, it may take at least a month for Brother Sheng and the others to end this unknown source of rebellion," Nianzu informed her beforehand so that she would prepare her mind and keep herself strong.