Chuntao stood up from the mattress on the floor as she heard from the maidservant that Prince Nianzu had called for her. She followed her and came to the Eastern side of the Palace. A tiny smile formed on her lips as she saw the magnificent residence of the princes. "It is like a dream," she murmured.
They reached outside the chamber of Prince Nianzu. Chuntao greeted Eunuch Chung. "Miss, please go in," he humbly said. Chuntao nodded and walked inside.
She saw the room was painted in white and had white and sky blue curtains hanging on the second door and the windows there. She stopped near the second door and saw that the Fourth Prince was seated around a round floor table. He was reading the scrolls and was dissolved in his work.
"Your highness, you called for me," Chuntao softly said while her eyes were lowered.
A smile carved on Nianzu's lips, and he put the scroll in his hand on the table. "Yes, Miss Chuntao. Please take a seat," Nianzu stated. Chuntao came forward and sat down around the floor table, facing Prince Nianzu.
"Forgive me for yesterday. I could not visit you. The Palace is new for you and I hope you are enjoying your stay here," Nianzu proclaimed.
"Yes, your highness. A commoner like me has never seen such things in her life so this is all enjoyable but I am afraid because it has somewhat restricted my freedom. I might sound rude but your highness, I have to think so much before doing anything," Chuntao asserted. "But then I felt comfortable when the Sixth Prince visited me," she added.
"Glad to hear that you are now getting comfortable here. The room you have been allotted does not come in the Inner Palace so, you do not need to worry about anything, Miss Chuntao," Nianzu affirmed.
"I have called you here for a reason. There is some work you need to do for me. Are you ready for your first task, Miss Chuntao?" Nianzu queried her.
Chuntao looked at the scrolls on the table and knitted her brows. "Your highness, but I do not know how to read. I do not think that I will be of help," proclaimed Chuntao, keeping her eyes low.
Nianzu smiled upon hearing the words of Chuntao. "Miss, I am not going to ask you to read this. I want you to tell me everything about your village. How does the system work there? I want to know about that. Last time you told me that the tax inspectors take more than mentioned which many of you are unable to pay.
Since the Crown Prince is not in Luoyang, there will be a delay in the execution of these things but before his return, I need to check those areas so that the system can work effectively and efficiently," Nianzu pronounced.
Chuntao nodded, as she had understood what Nianzu meant by that. Nianzu took out a paper and prepared the ink for him on the inkstone. Chuntao looked at the inkstone keenly and found out how the ink was being prepared. Nianzu dipped the brush in the ink and peered at Chuntao. "Miss, please start."
Chuntao nodded, and she told the Fourth Prince about those areas which needed investigation. It took almost two hours to finish them. Nianzu was impressed by Chuntao's keen eyes. Not only the taxation and its distribution was affecting the life of the commoners but also each bureaucrats treating them.
Before Nianzu could compliment Chuntao, Eunuch Chung interrupted them. "Your highness, the Emperor has called for his presence in the Chamber of Virtue," Chung informed Nianzu who nodded and placed the brush near the inkstone.
"Miss, I will come in a while," Nianzu told Chuntao. He stood up and left from there. Chung looked at the table and started cleaning it.
"Master, please tell me how to do that? I will clean the brush," Chuntao expressed her desire to work.
"Do not call me master, young lady. Just call me Eunuch Chung. Ahh, you just need to clean the brush in the water and then wipe it from the cotton cloth. After that put them inside the brush stand," Chung explained to Chuntao who nodded her head.
"How to prepare the ink, Eunuch Chung?" Chuntao asked who showed her the ink stick.
"Miss, you need to pour a little water in this inkstone well and at the same time rub the ink stick until the water becomes dark and can be used as ink," Eunuch Chung replied. Chuntao thanked him and helped Eunuch Chung in cleaning the table.
"Prince Nianzu is the humblest among all the seven princes. This is the first time, Prince had brought someone to the Palace against the rules of the Palace," stated Chung. Chuntao frowned upon hearing that.
She folded the scroll and put it aside with the other scrolls. "Against the Palace Rules?" Chuntao questioned.
Chung nodded. "So, Miss Chuntao, do not do something which can blame my master. I am not saying you would do something wrong instead, I am trying to say that you need to be careful in the Palace," Chung politely said as he folded the papers on which Nianzu had jotted down whatever Chuntao told him.
"Okay, Eunuch Chung," Chuntao replied.
In the Chamber of Virtue, the Emperor could be seen pacing around. Nianzu reached there and greeted his father. Han Wenji went to his seat and gestured to Nianzu to take his seat.
"How is the Fourth Prince doing?" Han Wenji asked Nianzu.
"I am doing well, father," Nianzu replied. "Is there something urgent that my father needs to discuss with me?" Nianzu then asked.
Han Wenji shook his head in refusal. "Can't a father converse with his son?" Han Wenji questioned.
Nianzu was surprised to hear that, but he felt good. "Father can," Nianzu answered.
"What happened yesterday? Why did my son seem angry to me?" Han Wenji asked.
"Nothing, father." Nianzu did not want to tell his father anything related to that matter.
"Why is the Fourth Prince lying to me? You can share with your father. I know while managing this Empire, I sometimes forget to look at what is happening internally, but it does not mean that I am easily fooled. I am an Emperor for a reason," Han Wenji pronounced. "Did the Empress say anything?" he then asked.
Nianzu clutched his dress. "I brought a village girl to the Palace without thinking about the Palace rules. Her majesty was making me understand, but I lost my temper. Father does not need to know about that as it was between a mother and his son." Nianzu hid the truth from Han Wenji. He feared the consequences his mother could get if he told the truth to the Emperor.
Han Wenji was dejected to learn that his son was lying to him. "You have full rights as the Emperor's son. Your mother may be the Concubine but for me, she is not less than the others. Never talk about leaving the Palace. I do not allow you to do that." Nianzu widened his eyes slightly upon hearing those statements of his father.
'Father heard everything? Then why is he not doing anything?' Nianzu wondered. "No one has the right to take away your rights as my son. Until my last breath, all my sons and a daughter are equal for me," Han Wenji affirmed. Nianzu noticed that the Emperor definitely knew things, but he never let it show.
"You may leave," said Han Wenji. Nianzu stood up from the seat but before leaving he said, "Father, forgive me for the other day. I am curious about something."
"Speak," Han Wenji permitted his son.
"Father, do you know that the Empress does not look the way she portrays herself? I might be rude but I think that father knows about this but he is silent because of a reason," Nianzu proclaimed.
"When the time comes, I will definitely answer your query, Prince Nianzu," Han Wenji menacingly said. Nianzu nodded and thanked his father for that conversation before leaving.
Nianzu came back to his chamber and saw Chuntao was staring at the sheet. "Miss Chuntao, what are you looking at?" Nianzu asked curiously.
Chuntao upon hearing the voice of the Fourth Prince immediately put down the sheet on the table and stood up. "I cleaned the table, your highness. Your highness, I want to go home. Last time I could not bring my things here," Chuntao asserted, lowering her eyes.
Nianzu gave the permission to her. "I will come with you as well. I have some work in the house of Village Headman," Nianzu proclaimed. Chuntao thanked him but was still hesitant to go with him.
"It will not be considered good if his highness will go with me," Chuntao anxiously said. Nianzu understood that but he did not want Chuntao to go alone to the village when now everyone knew there she had gone to the Palace.
"Miss Chuntao, no one will think the other way. Follow me. We are leaving for your place," said Nianzu when his eyes fell on Lei Wanxi who was watching them.
Lei Wanxi came forward. "Forgive me for hearing your conversations. Miss, you are like an assistant to Brother Nianzu so do not think too much. No one has enough guts to say anything to you when you have received the protection of my brother," Lei Wanxi affirmed and turned his gaze to Nianzu who gave him a tiny smile.
'Sixth Brother always likes to tease. First the Crown Prince and now me." Nianzu walked out from there while smiling.