Zhu Lin was a meter away from Lei Wanxi, who was fanning himself. "This is the grand library of the Imperial Palace," Lei Wanxi said, looking at the board hanging above the large door. "Although these three Princes have made their personal libraries in their respective living places." He turned and looked at her.
She was glaring at him. "You love to get in between two people. Correct me If I am wrong," Zhu Lin sharply gazed at him.
"No. I never do that. But with you it's an exception," Lei Wanxi replied and smirked. Zhu Lin skeptically looked at him. "I will not let you marry the Fourth Brother. I am the one who was most excited about his marriage, but since the day I have seen you, I have pledged that this woman is not right for my brother," Lei Wanxi stated.
Zhu Lin gave a wry laugh and walked inside the library. Lei Wanxi also entered the library. He kept walking behind her when she halted and turned to him.
"Stop following me!" Zhu Lin raised her finger. Lei Wanxi stepped towards her and put her finger down with the fan in his hand.
"I am afraid, but I cannot do this. I do not like to defy my elder brother," Nianzu opined. Zhu Lin rolled her eyes and resumed walking. She looked into the shelves and found many books on Governing Laws of the Han Empire.
Lei Wanxi raised his hand with which he was holding the fan to hit Zhu Lin when she turned back. Right away, Lei Wanxi opened his fan and fanned himself. "What were you doing?" Zhu Lin asked him.
"Can't you see?" "Since you have taken a look, then shall we head out? I do not have time to waste on you," Lei Wanxi remarked.
Zhu Lin scoffed and retorted, "You always waste your entire day. I think this is your first time doing something useful."
"Correct your words. I am wasting my time on you but I cannot leave you either. Otherwise, I have to again get the punishment with you which I do not want," Lei Wanxi proclaimed.
"The Crown Princess had toured all the regions of this Imperial Palace to me except Eastern Palace. I want to go there," Zhu Lin told him, who shook his head.
"That Palace is for the Princes and their wives if married. I cannot take you there," Lei Wanxi pronounced.
"Why?"
"Because you will not marry Brother Nianzu. If your marriage was confirmed with my brother then, I would have taken you there, but since it's not confirmed so, you will not go there," Lei Wanxi answered and turned to go when he heard her mumbling.
"It's good. Now, I can go out," Zhu Lin mumbled and walked past Lei Wanxi, who grabbed her arm, thus pulling her back.
She looked at her arm and then at Lei Wanxi, who swiftly pinned her to the shelf. Tracing her face with the fan in his hand, he said, "I forgot that there is one more place to see."
Zhu Lin pushed him away and told him to be within his limits. "I am within my limits, Huan Zhu Lin. You are the one who is defying Brother Nianzu's orders," He was smirking again. Zhu Lin had understood that Lei Wanxi would not let her go today.
~~~~
The chauffeur pulled the carriage in front of the repair shop. He quickly opened the door for the Fourth Prince, who stepped out, holding the zither on his back. "Your highness, shall I carry the zither?" The chauffeur humbly asked.
"No," Nianzu replied and walked inside the shop. Seeing the Fourth Prince, the owner of the shop stopped his work and came towards him. The workers also stopped their work and bowed before him.
"Your highness, why are you carrying this zither? Let me help you." The owner lifted his hands to take the zither off the Fourth Prince's shoulder, who showed him his hand. "I will do it," Nianzu politely replied. The owner gestured to one of the workers to bring a chair for the Fourth Prince.
Nianzu had removed the zither from his back and put it on the table there.
"Your highness, please have a seat," the owner, after wiping the wooden chair once again, offered. Nianzu smiled and sat on the chair. "Bring the fan," the owner shouted.
"It's not needed." Nianzu stopped the worker from bringing a fan.
"Your highness, you could have sent an order. I would have come to the Palace," the owner humbly replied, while his head was lowered.
"I have some work, so I thought to bring it on my own," Nianzu replied and looked at the workers. "Please continue your work. I am not someone special," Nianzu asserted.
"What are you saying, your highness? You are the Royal Prince," the owner stated and asked, "Would his highness like to take water?"
"No. Please be comfortable around me," Nianzu said humbly and then looked at his zither. "Will you repair this zither? Two of its strings are broken." Nianzu waited for the reply of the owner.
The owner went towards the table and opened the knot of the cover, which was wrapped around the zither. He examined the strings and then turned to Nianzu. "It will take a few hours, your highness, probably 4-5 hours," the owner replied. "I will bring it to the Palace as soon as it is repaired," he added.
"No need. I will come after five hours to take it," Nianzu stated and stood up from the chair. He put his hand in the pocket and took out a pouch full of coins. "How much will it take?" Nianzu looked at the owner, who refused to make money.
"Why? Don't you have to run your house with this business? Also, you need to pay your workers," Nianzu stated while smiling. He opened the pouch and asked him again.
"How can I take the money from royalty, your highness?" The owner was still hesitant to take payment from the Fourth Prince.
"Why can't you? It's your work, so you should make the payment. Giving the service to royalty is not good. Provide free service to those who are in dire need of it," asserted Nianzu while smiling. "Tell me the payment. I need to leave urgently," Nianzu stated.
"It is 50 cents, your highness," replied the owner. Nianzu nodded and asked him if he told the true price.
"Yes, your highness."
Nianzu took out a silver coin and handed it to him. "It is equivalent to 50 cents," replied Nianzu and put it in the hands of the owner. "I shall leave. I will be back after five hours," Nianzu stated while they all bowed. He walked out of the shop and told the chauffeur to wait for him there.
"Have your lunch. Here's the money to buy your meal." Nianzu handed one silver coin to the chauffeur before leaving for Shanxi village. He crossed a shop that was selling bamboo hats. He bought one for him and wore it. Since he had worn a rare silk overcoat, he decided to change that. Going to a shop, he changed into a commoner's dress. He covered his head from the bamboo hat and left for Shanxi village to see Chuntao.