"I did not send the reply to the proposal yet Miss Lin arrived here. May I ask, why?" Nianzu kept his tone polite.
"I wanted to know about the Prince whom I am supposed to marry. I had heard about you, but I thought to see myself before giving a nod to this marriage," Zhu Lin asserted. "I will marry you," Zhu Lin stated.
Nianzu passed a fake smile to her. "Marry me? How did you find out that I am suitable? You do not know anything about me," Nianzu opined.
"Your politeness, humble behavior, and down-to-earth nature are enough to tell me that you are perfect for me," replied Zhu Lin while smiling. Nianzu amusingly looked at her.
"What if I had refused this proposal? I am still in a dilemma about this arranged marriage." Nianzu wanted to be veracious with Zhu Lin. He knew that after marriage, he could not keep Zhu Lin happy and would suffer with her. He wanted Zhu Lin to step back from the marriage, but in a way that she would not get hurt. So, for the last time, he thought to try.
"Why is the Fourth Prince in a dilemma?" Zhu Lin asked.
Nianzu could not tell her the truth about his feelings for another woman, so he kept mum. "I believe the Prince could not refuse this marriage. I think that the Emperor has not informed you about his promise with my father. He promised that he will make me marry one of his sons," Zhu Lin affirmed. "This is the main reason I came here because I wanted to see the person before agreeing. The promise was I will have the right to choose the Prince for me. I refused for all the Princes earlier except you." Zhu Lin revealed the entire truth to Nianzu, who was shocked to learn about that. How could his father not tell him?
"Father did not tell me," devastated Nianzu said.
"I said in the message not to tell the Fourth Prince about this. That was a separate message from the one the Prince received," proclaimed Zhu Lin.
Nianzu felt dejected upon learning the truth. But he wondered why his father asked about his opinion when everything was already decided.
"So, you want to marry me?" Nianzu asked and waited for her answer patiently.
"Yes," Zhu Lin answered.
Nianzu curled his fingers and passed a smile to her. He did not know he was destined to marry Zhu Lin from the beginning. He stood up in the middle of the conversation, left the chamber thus, befuddling Zhu Lin.
He walked gradually while contemplating the truth that Zhu Lin told her. Why did his father ask about his opinion when he already decided his son's fate? Why did his father tell him to think about that and deliver his decision to him when his father would not have listened to him? Was it just for a show or was there something big hidden behind all this?
~~~~~
Chuntao after completing her work came to her home. She opened the lock and went inside when she saw a person in the white Hanfu Dress. She understood the person was from the Palace so she immediately bowed.
"Follow me," the person said and walked past her. He went out of the house while Chuntao followed him, forgetting that she should lock the house! The person was a few meters away from her so that no one would be suspicious of him.
Chuntao found that they were on a route which she never took and heard that it was prohibited for use. She was a little scared, but there was no other way except following the man in the white dress. She saw the Royal Carriage in front of her and her steps slowed down.
She lowered her gaze when it fell on the chauffeur. She stopped as the man told her to stop. Eunuch Jin opened the door of the carriage where the Emperor was seated.
"Your Majesty," Chuntao mumbled and got on her knees.
"Rise," Han Wenji commanded. She quickly stood up but her head was still lowered.
"Prince Nianzu brought you to the Palace. I had no objection to that until he grew romantic feelings towards you," Han Wenji pronounced. Chuntao widened her eyes and raised her head when the commander put a sword on her neck. "Lower your gaze!" He said in a threatening tone. Immediately, Chuntao lowered her eyes.
"Commander Yang, step back." Han Wenji ordered him, who bowed acknowledging the order of the Emperor.
"Romantic feelings?!" Chuntao murmured. How could it be possible?
"The confusion on your face is showing that you were not aware of his heart or he did not confess it to you," the Emperor deduced. Chuntao clutched her skirt tightly.
"Prince Nianzu is refusing to marry. I found out that today he came to meet you." Chuntao wondered how could the Emperor find out about that when the Fourth Prince was in a disguise. "May I ask why?" The Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, his highness wanted to...wanted to…" Chuntao was stuck because of the sudden question of the Emperor.
"Whatever was the reason this was your last meeting with him. You will not stay in this village anymore. You will safely be sent out of this village where you can start your new life," the Emperor announced. Chuntao widened her eyes again and right away fell on her knees.
"Your Majesty, this village is my birthplace. I have memories of my family here. Forgive me for getting close to his highness. I will never meet him again. I promise his majesty that I will never meet him," Chuntao repeated her words as the tears formed in her eyes.
"That would not suffice. The Prince might not stop himself from coming to you. It is good that you do not have any feelings for him," Han Wenji asserted. Tears poured down her eyes. She had feelings for him but she would never accept them and with the Emperor's words, she was relieved that she did well by not confessing her feelings.
"A man will be seen for you with whom you will get married after leaving this village. Many rumors have started and I do not want it to affect the reputation and image of my son. You shall repay the kindness that Prince Nianzu showed to you and this is the way," Han Wenji announced.
Chuntao felt helpless. Her fingers dug into the ground and were filled with mud. "I understand, Your Majesty. I will re-repay the kindness shown by the Fourth Prince to me," Chuntao stated. She did not know her fate would take a turn this way. Han Wenji smiled and ordered the chauffeur to start the carriage.
Commander Yang came forward and closed the door of the carriage. The rain started to pour down. Chuntao stayed in that position until the carriage left her sight. She looked up at the sky as the rain fell over her face.
"Why?" She questioned and stood up from the ground. But there was no answer. The thought of getting married was making her sick. But she could not either raise her voice against the order of the Emperor.