Chuntao opened her eyes and saw Nianzu, who was smiling. "You are awake," he said. The memories of the day flashed in front of her eyes once again, and it brought tears to them. She averted her gaze from Nianzu.
"It was not your fault, Chun," she heard him. Nianzu caressed her head in a gentle, loving motion. "It is the fault in the eyes of him, who objectified you," Nianzu said. "And it was also my fault, unable to protect you from such a beast. Because of me, you underwent this," Nianzu asserted.
Chuntao turned her head to look at him. "How was it your fault? I should have stayed back," Chuntao stated. "Because of me, your identity was almost revealed," she stated.
"Chun," Nianzu took her hand in his. "Why would you stay behind the walls? I once was a Prince and used to fight against such evils. But as soon as the title got snatched from me, I refrained from doing anything. When I found out about his evil face, I should have taken action. There's no use of my education and my intellect as he raised his dirty hands on you. I truly apologize to you, Chun," Nianzu lowered his eyes. The pain Chuntao had undergone, no one could even imagine that or feel that.
When Landlord Peng told Nianzu about what exactly happened, his heart broke into pieces. Chuntao raised her hand on him when Zou Min not only touched her inappropriately but also said ill about her husband. That made her furious. Today, her life could have gone because of him.
"Father told me that once I will be stripped of all the privileges, which I never respected, I will find their true meaning. I was wrong and I hurt him as well. I thought being a commoner is fun as it gives freedom. However, I forgot that commoners are suppressed by upper-classmen. I forgot that if a commoner gets into trouble, he cannot do anything in most of the cases," Nianzu explained to Chuntao.
"I had faith that you would save me, which you did. I was not scared of him. Do you know why? Because I knew you would come and protect me. Somewhere, I wanted you to punish him, and I knew that only you could. Because he would have done this or more horrific things with other women. Luckily, General Xiao came, and everything turned right," affirmed Chuntao.
"Thank you, Chun. Your words are comforting me. You shall wash up. The hot water is in the washroom. You will feel good," Nianzu asserted. He helped her get up and took her to the washroom. "Shall I stay here?" Nianzu asked.
"No. Don't trouble yourself. I am good," Chuntao told Nianzu, who nodded and walked out. He closed the door behind him and came to the front yard.
Huo Jin was looking at the sword's blade when he heard footsteps. He put the sword in the sheath and stood up. "Is Sister Chuntao good?" Huo Jin asked.
"A little," Nianzu replied and sat on the wooden stair. Huo Jin sat beside him.
"Did you hear the conversation of Gu Zhenya and other Ministers?" Suddenly Nianzu asked him. He tilted his head to peer at him. "Tell me. Did you hear that my mother wants to kill Chuntao? That's why she is searching for me." Nianzu wanted confirmation from Huo Jin. He had not imagined even in his scariest dream that his mother would order something like this.
"Yes," Huo Jin replied. "She wanted to put blame on the Crown Prince if she would have succeeded in her plan," Huo Jin confirmed.
"How could a mother do this? She always got bad treatment because of her concubine status. Yet, she turned evil just for the throne. Why is the Palace even dirtier than mud? I used to curse the mother of the First Brother but was unable to see my own mother," Nianzu heaved a deep sigh. "I had this thought that she would not accept Chuntao as my wife, but I had never thought that she would plot to kill her," he proclaimed.
"I wanted to leave the Palace because of all these schemings. But now I feel the more I run, the more I will be chased by it," Nianzu proclaimed.
"Then what did his highness have decided?" Huo Jin queried.
"I will talk to the Crown Prince first if he comes to meet me," replied Nianzu. Huo Jin hummed and looked at the dark sky, covered with stars.
"Your highness, you are a great person. Not everyone can take a step like his highness," Huo Jin complimented Nianzu, who smiled.
"You shall call me by name, Huo Jin," Nianzu stated.
"How can I?" He muttered.
"I am no longer a Prince, and also someone might hear us," Nianzu told him to be alerted. Huo Jin agreed with him. "I think I will go back to my original life and also prove to people that status does not matter. Also, no one can stop my mother except me," Nianzu pronounced. Huo Jin keenly listened to him. He found out that the Princes in the Palace had no easy life. It was wrong to think that the Royals had an easy life. Oppositely, they had to be cautious at every step– because everyone in the Palace wanted absolute power for him except a few.
"I shall prepare dinner," Nianzu stated and stood up when Huo Jin caught his hand.
"I will cook, Nianzu. Sister Chuntao might need you," Huo Jin offered his help. "I have more experience in cooking in the furnace," he said and laughed. Nianzu laughed back. "I want to cook with my hands. Please stay here and keep a check," Nianzu patted Huo Jin's shoulder and went towards the kitchen.
Huo Jin took a deep breath. 'Forgive me, Nianzu. I did not tell you the complete truth about your mother. You would have been disheartened knowing more details about her. Even I refrained from telling about the Empress to the Crown Prince. But, now I think, I should have told the Crown Prince. At least he would have been in an alert state around the Empress..' Huo Jin contemplated as a menacing expression appeared on his face.