Nianzu came to his chamber and ordered Eunuch Chung not to let anyone enter. Eunuch Chung, for the first time, found Nianzu in such anger. Nianzu poured the water into a glass and gulped it. Putting it on the table, he sat around the floor desk and picked the brush. He spread a white sheet on the desk and dipped the brush into the ink.
He stopped as he gazed into the paper. Then, he applied the first stroke and wrote something on the sheet. He formally wanted to give the resignation from the position of Advisor, so wrote a letter for that. Suddenly, he heard the footsteps of someone and lifted his eyes. To his surprise, his mother had come to his chamber.
Nianzu put the brush down and stood up from his seat. "Mother, I am not in a mood to converse with anyone," Nianzu stated. "Please leave," he said. Deng Hui saw the sheet and picked it up.
"Mother," Nianzu reached out his hand when Deng Hui called Eunuch Chung inside. Eunuch Chung dashed inside the room and bowed.
"Read it," Deng Hui ordered him as she forwarded him the sheet.
"Mother, I urge you not to intervene in my life," Nianzu stated.
"Eunuch Chung, read," said Deng Hui loudly, who got terrified and started to read. Deng Hui widened her eyes as she heard the words that Nianzu wanted to leave the position of Advisor. She took the sheet from Eunuch Chung and tore it into pieces.
"Mother," Nianzu went near her to stop her but by then Deng Hui had torn the sheet completely. "You will not do this, nor will you leave the Palace. You will not marry a commoner," asserted Deng Hui as she grabbed both of her son's arms. "Prince, did you understand?"
"Mother, why shall I understand every time? I also want to enjoy my life. First, I was unable to do anything because Empress Wei restricted me and now my father!" He let go of her mother's hands from his arm and stepped back. "How could he say that he will harm the woman I love? I am not made for this place. I tried hard, but it's not working, Mother," Nianzu asserted.
"I request you to support my decision. I want to l-leave this Palace," Nianzu asserted. Eunuch Chung got disheartened upon hearing the words of his master. Though, if leaving the Palace made his master happy, then he would willingly support him. Chung thought to himself.
"Prince, there are better girls than Chuntao for you. Princess Zhu Lin is the best one for you. She has come to marry you, and her father saved your father's life numerous times. You shall marry her," Deng Hui asserted.
"Mother, I will not marry Zhu Lin. I know her father saved the life of my father. However, she is not the woman who can understand me, nor will I understand her. I love Chuntao and will marry her only," Nianzu again repeated himself.
"Prince, you will not agree like this, right?" Nianzu knitted his brows and confusedly looked at his mother. "I will die if you step out of this Palace and marry that girl. Now, you will choose yourself. Is your mother's life bigger than the life of that girl or is my life never mattered to you?" Deng Hui put forward a condition in front of Nianzu.
"Mother, how can you say something like this? Does my happiness not matter to you?" Nianzu's eyes again turned watery. "I have lost my words. My own mother is not understanding me," Nianzu placed his hand on his chest.
Zhu Lin, who had also come after the Empress heard their entire conversation. She found the state of Nianzu miserable. 'How can his family force him with me?' she thought and walked out of the second door, without getting into their notice.
Nianzu walked past his mother and left the chamber. "Eunuch Chung, do not let Prince Nianzu leave the Palace today. You will get punished if you do so," Deng Hui warned him. Eunuch Chung bowed while Deng Hui walked out of the chamber.
Eunuch Chung went behind his master to check on him.
Nianzu with a heavy heart towards the Eastern Pavilion when he encountered Zhu Lin. He averted his gaze from him and walked past her when Zhu Lin stopped him. "You are looking like a coward and pitiful," Zhu Lin remarked. Nianzu halted and turned to look at her. At the same time, Zhu Lin turned.
They both looked at each other. "If you love someone else, at least you should have told me, shouldn't you?" Zhu Lin questioned him.
"Forgive me," Nianzu lowered his eyes. "I disappointed you," he said.
"Pardon?" Zhu Lin chuckled. Nianzu lifted his eyes to meet her gaze. "What did you even do for me that would disappoint me?" She heaved a sigh. "Though you disappointed me. I thought you were a brainy Prince, but sadly you are not… not in my eyes, at least. You should have told me first instead of creating a scene in the Hall of Greetings," affirmed Zhu Lin.
"Princess Zhu Lin, you cannot understand my matter," Nianzu proclaimed.
"I cannot understand you, however, I can surely understand it hurts when you do not get together with your lover," Zhu Lin asserted. Nianzu found that Zhu Lin heard his conversation with his mother.
"Please do not sneak in my matter. I apologize to you sincerely for bringing pain to you as well," Nianzu stated and again bowed.
"Why would you bring me pain when I never loved you. Do not stare at me. I only liked you, but that likeness today disappeared," Zhu Lin cleared his misunderstanding.
"I am glad that you do not like me anymore," stated Nianzu.
"You shall feel lucky that the Emperor did not pass the order to kill your lover." Suddenly a comment came from Zhu Lin, which sounded unpleasant to Nianzu. "It's the truth, the great Advisor Nianzu. Do not give me that look. Ask yourself. Isn't this foolishness? Love makes you blind and foolish– this I have heard from a few of my friends. You proved that proverb right today. His majesty is patient with you. The Emperor is humble and is bound by his duty. He cannot let you marry a commoner because it's prohibited, and at the same time, he does not want to lose his son. If the Ministers found out that you raised your voice against the Emperor, your lover will fall into the danger before you," Zhu Lin asserted.
Nianzu had calmed down by now. He realized that he did wrong by rushing things this way.
"You should have first communicated with me, and then I would have canceled the marriage proposal from my side. If you had followed such simple steps then, things would not have reached this level," Zhu Lin explained to Nianzu, who finally understood his mistake.
"I will help you and will unite you with your love. So, do you want my help, or will your ego overpower you?" Zhu Lin questioned him.
Nianzu kept gazing into her eyes before answering her. "I will be glad if Princess Zhu Lin helps me," Nianzu admitted.. Zhu Lin smiled and passed him a smile full of assurance.