544: A Bad Dream

A Bad Dream

Nianzu was standing on the porch of his house. He put his hand out and the rainwater collected in his hand. Chuntao stood beside him and extended her hand out. "It was unexpected rain," she said as her palm got wet. They both retracted their hands back and turned to each other.  1

"You should've taken more rest," Nianzu told Chuntao.

"I am good now. You need to go to Master Fei's house today. Master Fei postponed the party at his house because you got sick," Chuntao replied. 

"Ahh, that kid! When did he inform you?" Nianzu asked. 

"In the morning, Master Fei had come," Chuntao replied. "You look annoyed. I think Master Fei is a good person. He even helped us the other day when you were burning with fever," stated Chuntao.

"I am not annoyed at him," Nianzu stated. 

"Then?" Chuntao's brows arched up. 

"He thinks I am the banished Fourth Prince. He has suspicions about me. That's why I avoid him," Nianzu asserted. Chuntao brought her hand to her lips. 

"Now, I think if I do not go, then his suspicion will grow more," Nianzu said. 

"So, will you go?" Chuntao asked. 

"Yes. I need to go, otherwise, he will trouble me more," Nianzu answered. Nianzu put her arm around Chuntao's shoulder and drew her closer to him. 

"Soon, we will return to Luoyang. I will not run anymore. I will protect you and also will support the Crown Prince," Nianzu proclaimed, keeping a tiny smile on his lips. 

"When will the result come out?" Chuntao asked. 

"Soon." "Brother Wanxi used to play in the rain when we were kids. He always used to grab my hand and take me to the ground. He hates to go in the river bodies but loves to dance in the rain while Brother Sheng is totally opposite to him. He hates rain," Nianzu told Chuntao and smiled, recalling the past. 

"Brother Wanxi enjoys his life fully. It is good, and he is pure by heart," Chuntao stated. "The Crown Prince is usually serious. I have observed that the Crown Prince does not talk much with women except the Crown Princess. I mean, he has that coldness around him that used to scare me," Chuntao explained to Nianzu. 

"The Crown Prince is cold to everyone except a few people. His true self is difficult to see. Only the Crown Princess is able to see his true self. There was no woman who wanted to marry the Crown Prince, but luckily the proposal from Juyan came for the Crown Prince. It was tough to handle the Crown Prince, but the Crown Princess did that well," Nianzu stated and took her inside the room. 

As they entered the room, Chuntao said, "So, it means that the Crown Prince covers his true self through that cold personality." Nianzu closed the door and hummed. They both sat on the mattress. 

"The Crown Prince wants people to fear him. He thinks that way he will be respected, and none will raise his voice against him. But it was reduced after the Crown Princess came into his life. He started to see things from the other perspective as well. If he had not been with the Crown Princess, then he would not have even cared about my feelings and would not have helped us," Nianzu proclaimed. 

"So, the Crown Prince has shut his heart?" 

"Hmm. After the demise of his mother, he turned that way. He survived in the harshest possible environment. Father gave extra care to him because his mother was not there to hold him. And the other wives of the Emperor never showered enough motherly love to him. My mother's movements were restricted too at that time but she used to give him care at that time," Nianzu said. 

"However, a few Princes think that the Emperor does favoritism. He favors the Crown Prince," Chuntao stated. 

Nianzu was startled to hear that. He had not expected that Chuntao would notice that. 

"That was never favoritism. It was the care that our father provided him so that he would never feel the absence of his mother. However, with time jealousy grew up… because every wife of the father wanted their sons to be on the good side of the Emperor except Consort Jinlong, who never bothered about that. But since Brother Sheng is good at warfare, he surpassed the other Elder Princes," Nianzu explained to her. 

"Hmm. I hope there will no longer be enmity among the brothers," Chuntao prayed. 

"I do not think there is any enmity left. But I still have doubts about the Second Prince," Nianzu said and knitted his brows. 

"Oh, the Second Prince! Why?" Chuntao asked him. 

"I will tell you some other day. I still need to transcribe the books," Nianzu caressed the head of Chuntao and went towards the desk. Chuntao hummed and started to grind the ink stick on the inkstone. Nianzu thanked her and started working on the books. 

~~~~~~

Sheng Li's sleep broke abruptly because of a bad dream he just had. In his dream, Yongzheng's face was covered in blood, and was laughing loudly. 

'I will make sure that the Crown Princess leaves your side.' Sheng Li recalled Yongzheng's words when he met him before he was beheaded. 

He looked at Ying Lili, who was sleeping soundly. He tucked the lock of her hair behind her ear and kissed on the top of her forehead. He got down from the bed and left the chamber. 

As the door opened and the Crown Prince came out of the chamber, Xing-fu bowed and informed him about the Emperor's message. 

"Hmm. Let the Crown Princess sleep and do not let her sleep disturb in any way," Sheng Li ordered Xing-Fu, who acknowledged the orders. Sheng Li left for the Emperor's manor. After such a big incident, the Emperor might be shaken, he thought. 

'I need to keep an eye on Eunuch Jin as well. The threat of Yongzheng, I cannot ignore that,' Sheng Li thought. 

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