Chapter 98 - After Marriage

Han Nianzu was playing the flute when he heard footsteps. He stopped and turned to look. "Lei Wanxi, you here?" Nianzu asked and put his hands down.

Lei Wanxi came closer to Nianzu and sat on the broad wooden railing of the pavilion beside Nianzu. "Wu Qinyang is on our side. She came here to harm the Crown Prince, but then stopped herself from doing so. I have sent her to Juyan to find out about the family of the Crown Princess," Lei Wanxi asserted.

"Is she trustworthy? The Crown Prince killed her brothers so she might betray us later," Nianzu affirmed.

"She will not betray us. I spared her because the Crown Prince is making more enemies than friends. Moreover, she realized that taking revenge is not the solution. I had a nice conversation with her," Lei Wanxi asserted. Nianzu nodded and looked at his flute.

"The Empress is behind all this, and removing her is not going to be easy. The Crown Prince might lose people while fighting with her," Nianzu proclaimed.

"Why are you saying so, dear fourth brother?" Lei Wanxi worriedly asked.

Nianzu lifted his eyes to look at Lei Wanxi. "Don't you know that Power and Status are everything for the Empress? She did not even spare the mother of the Crown Prince for her power and the mysterious death of the former Advisor of his majesty is no joke. If she sees someone as a threat to her Power then that person will not live. Palace life is sickening," Nianzu proclaimed. "I wish my mother would not be a concubine," Nianzu stated.

Lei Wanxi noticed that Nianzu was disturbed because of some reason. "What happened, brother? You seem disturbed. Is everything alright?" Lei Wanxi politely asked. He knew that Prince Nianzu had the lowest status among all the Princes because he was the son of a Concubine, but the Emperor never treated him unequally.

"The Empress punished my mother as she spent some time with the Emperor," Nianzu told Lei Wanxi. "I have enough power to take my mother away from this Palace but I am afraid that she will never leave with me," Nianzu was outraged.

"Brother, the Palace is beautiful too. Mother Qian will not go because it is where her world belongs. Indeed, there are weeds in the Palace but now brother Sheng has returned then everything will turn right. Do not feel low," Lei Wanxi consoled Nianzu.

"Wanxi, this Palace was never beautiful to me nor will it be in the future. I do not desire power, status, and money. I want a commoner life where I can enjoy things without any restrictions. Bloodshed is there for the throne and I hate that. When I go to the market, I see the joy on the faces of the people and then I look at myself," Nianzu stated and took a deep sigh. He averted his gaze from Lei Wanxi as he looked at the clear sky.

~~~~~~

"Your highness, are you doing good?" Wang Hao worriedly asked, looking at the left arm of Sheng Li.

"I am good. It was just a minor injury," replied Sheng Li. "Have you started the preparation for our journey to the Southern Province?" Sheng Li questioned him. The two were coming out of the Ammunition House.

"Yes, your highness. We will take the short route while going to the Southern Province as it will be safer but the journey will not be comfortable as the route is mostly through hilly terrain," Wang Hao informed the Crown Prince.

Something clicked Sheng Li's mind, so he asked, "Wang Hao, why is the Lantern Festival popular? I used to think that it is celebrated to advocate Buddhism. Is there any other meaning for that festival?"

"Your highness, it is celebrated to advocate Buddhism. That's why it is popular. Why is his highness asking? Is there any other reason to celebrate this festival?" Wang Hao queried the Crown Prince.

"Lili said that people celebrate it to find Love," Sheng Li replied to Wang Hao who was startled to hear that.

"Is it so? Your highness, maybe it is popular among the commoners. Shall I look into that?" Wang Hao looked for an answer.

Sheng Li halted at his place and tilted his head to look at Wang Hao. "I think she was playing with me. How can someone find 'Love' in a mere festival?" Sheng Li complained. Xiao Zhan who happened to come there heard their conversation.

"Your highness, it is a belief popular among the people. It symbolizes 'Reunion' or 'a new person entering your life. So, people associate with Love which one can find at this Festival," Xiao Zhan pronounced. Both Sheng Li and Wang Hao looked at him amusingly.

"How come do you know about this?" Sheng Li queried him. "Did you find your love too in the Lantern Festival? But how could you when you were with me for six years!?" Sheng Li astonishingly questioned Xiao Zhan.

"Your highness, I did not find anyone. During our campaigns, I heard it from a local group of people. But I am wondering why is his highness searching for this?" Xiao Zhan confusedly asked.

"Her highness told the Crown Prince," replied Wang Hao. "Xiao, does it mean that the Crown Princess also wants to find Love? But how can she when she is already married?" Wang Hao asked Xiao Zhan.

"What do you want to say? Why would she search for Love after marriage? You two ruined my mood. Such a Baseless Rumor people have spread!!" Sheng Li muttered and walked away from there.

"Wang Hao, why did you say that? Can't you use common sense?" Xiao Zhan scolded Wang Hao.

"I am not getting you, Xiao," Wang Hao asserted.

"Wang Hao, the Crown Princess wants to celebrate the festival with the Crown Prince. Maybe she wants to say that she wants to find the Love with the Crown Prince," Xiao Zhan explained to Wang Hao.

"It means that the Crown Princess wants the Crown Prince to take her out on that day. I pray that they two find love for each other at this festival," Wang Hao stated, passing a tiny smile to Xiao Zhan.

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