"Princess Lin, the Sixth Prince is here to meet you," informed a maidservant to Zhu Lin, who had just finished her lunch.
"Let the Prince in," Zhu Lin told the maidservant, who bowed and walked out. Zhu Lin stood up from the chair and waited for the Sixth Prince. Lei Wanxi came inside and asked her if she was free.
"I am free. What does the Prince want to talk about?" Zhu Lin queried.
"Won't you ask me to sit?" Lei Wanxi looked at the chaise. He quickly sat on that and told Zhu Lin to comfortably sit first.
"I am comfortable this way," Zhu Lin stated.
"Are you not tired after doing that much physical work?" Zhu Lin crossed her arms and skeptically peered at him.. "Why are you looking at me that way?" Lei Wanxi questioned and touched his face.
"It is strange to see that you are humble with me," Zhu Lin affirmed. "What is the matter?" She then asked. Lei Wanxi stood up from the chaise and grabbed her arm.
"Sit first," he pushed her down on the chaise. Zhu Lin was bewildered. Lei Wanxi hardly behaved this way with her. Lei Wanxi looked around and quickly brought a chair which was placed at the left end of the chamber. He sat on it and looked at Zhu Lin.
"I want to sincerely apologize to you." Lei Wanxi lowered his head. Zhu Lin blinked a few times and then squinted her eyes. "I should not have made such remarks against you. Forgive me," he stated.
"It's fine," Zhu Lin replied. Lei Wanxi looked at her and thanked her for forgiving him. "I hope we will not fight in the future," stated Zhu Lin. "Forgive me for my behavior too. I should have acted my age," she stated. Zhu Lin looked at the tiny bump because of the hit on Lei Wanxi's forehead.
"Did you not apply any ointment on that?" Zhu Lin asked him. Lei Wanxi touched the bump on his forehead and shook his head.
"I have one effective medicine," Zhu Lin asserted and stood up from the chaise. After a few seconds, she came to him and told him to raise his forehead. Lei Wanxi did so and closed his eyes. Zhu Lin took the paste in her hand and then gently rubbed it over the bump. "I never fought this way with anyone except you," Zhu Lin asserted as a smile appeared on her lips.
"You love to get violent on me. I am such a patient man. Even after you beat me, I, every time reconcile with you," Lei Wanxi proclaimed. "Such a great-hearted man I am!" Lei Wanxi praised himself and opened his eyes.
Zhu Lin smiled at him. "You are the only person who annoys me to do things which I do not want to!" She stated as she pulled her fingers back. She put the lid on the tiny bottle of porcelain. "You seem the pampered child of the Emperor," she added.
"You are the only woman who loses temper so fast. Whoever will be your future husband, he will definitely stay quiet around you," Lei Wanxi laughed in his own words. Zhu Lin smiled back and went to the chaise.
"I wanted Prince Nianzu as my husband." Lei Wanxi stopped laughing. "He was an ideal husband for me. If he had asked me to leave the Palace for him then I would have. But before I could get into his life, he ended up falling for someone else," Zhu Lin said and lowered her head.
"You will get someone better than Brother Nianzu. He was not the one for you. There are many ideal men like him," Lei Wanxi stated.
"Umm… maybe. Since I am of marriageable age so my Father will marry me off soon to someone- maybe son of the Governor!" A chuckle escaped from her mouth.
Lei Wanxi regretted being harsh on Zhu Lin. "Let's go to the market. The Dragon Boat Festival is near, so the preparations are going on. We will have fun in the market," Lei Wanxi said delightedly and with enthusiasm. He wanted to enlighten the mood of Zhu Lin. The market was the perfect place for this, according to him.
"Aren't you tired? It's almost evening," Zhu Lin stated.
"I am a little tired. I am craving dumplings, and in the market, Uncle Ma sells delicious dumplings. Let's go," Lei Wanxi jumped in happiness.
"Okay. Let's go," Zhu Lin agreed to go to the market. Lei Wanxi stood up from the chair and told her he would wait for her outside. He walked out of the chamber and opened his fan.
Slightly moving it near his face, he waited for Zhu Lin. A few minutes later, Zhu Lin came out of the chamber, and the two left for the market in the carriage.
"Zhu Lin, you did not get hurt by my words, right?" Zhu Lin looked at him amusingly and shook her head.
"Then, it's good. I was scared thinking that you took my words to your heart. Once Brother Nianzu told me that I do not understand the true meaning of love. Maybe while fighting with you, I said a few things which I should not have," Lei Wanxi proclaimed.
"Hmm. Your brother was right. You do not know what love is between a man and a woman! But your words did not hurt me. I was a little hurt when you said I was the reason your brother left the Palace," Zhu Lin finally told him the truth.
"Your brother hurt me. I did not even know he had someone in his life until the day he revealed his lover in the Hall in front of everyone. I felt disrespected at that time. And, I realized that he is not the man I was looking for!" Lei Wanxi widened his eyes. Brother Nianzu was not the man whom Zhu Lin had thought? Lei Wanxi was befuddled for a second when he heard her.
"He acted cowardly and made a rash decision in a rush. He might be happy now, but after looking at all the scheming going on in the Palace, it seems he might become the next target! Your Brother ran away from his responsibilities without sorting out everything," Zhu Lin pronounced.