Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Nianzu was walking by the route along with his horse when he heard the conversation among a few people. "Her parents committed suicide along with their son after she was taken away by the Landlord Ma's servant," a man in his thirties said when the other remarked, "But she had returned. I heard the princes helped her."

"What do you mean?" a third man asked in astonishment.

"Don't you know? Everyone in the village knows that the Royal Princes have sent her back. I think she sold her body to them else why would the Princes help a common village girl?" the fourth one said and started laughing. The three others also laughed along with him.

"You are right. Even if she is a village girl, she has charm, that's why Landlord Ma wanted her to be an entertainer," the second one said with a grin.

Nianzu widened his eyes upon hearing all those statements from those men. He went towards them. "It is very sickening to know that people like you are disgracing a young lady." The four men turned to look and found the Fourth Prince in front of them. Immediately, they lowered their heads and asked for forgiveness.

"I do not need the apologies from people like you," Nianzu angrily said. Nianzu would hardly get angry, but the way those four men talked about a young woman made him lose his temper. The other villagers came near them after hearing the voice of Prince Nianzu.

Nianzu looked at a man there. "Call the village headman here," Nianzu commanded. The four men came to their knees and asked for forgiveness.

"You should feel lucky that the Crown Prince is not in the capital else he would have decided your punishment. Taking ill about a woman and then about the Royal Princes has only one punishment – a death sentence, but I will not do that. Punishment will be given where you four will realize your mistake," Nianzu announced. The villagers started whispering to each other.

After waiting for fifteen minutes, Village Headman Wuqing Pao reached there.  "Forgive me for making you wait, your highness," Wuqing Pao said. "May I know what happened here, your highness?" He asked further.

"These four men were gossiping and speaking disgracefully about the Princes and a woman of this village. Take them into custody. Their punishment will be decided by me in the evening," Nianzu ordered Wuqing Pao, who looked at the soldiers behind him and ordered them to take the four men away.

"Your highness, please do not be angry. I will make arrangements to send his highness to the Imperial Palace," the Village Headman offered but Nianzu refused.

"I have some work, so you shall leave," Nianzu stated. The villagers dispersed away while Nianzu went back to the house of Chuntao. "Why did she not tell me that her family is no more!" Nianzu wondered.

He again reached outside the house of Chuntao and saw she was spreading the grains on a white cotton sheet to dry them in the sun's rays. "Miss," Nianzu called her out. Chuntao turned and saw Nianzu there with his horse.

Tying his horse again to the wooden railing, Nianzu walked inside the wooden gate to the porch where Chuntao was working. Chuntao quickly stood up and lowered her head.

"How are you going to pay me?" Nianzu queried Chuntao.

"Your highness, we have a field. So, after selling the crops I can pay my debt," Chuntao replied.

"Come with me to the Palace," Nianzu offered. Chuntao lifted her eyes and looked confusedly at Nianzu. "I need help with my work. You are suitable for the position of assistant, Miss Chuntao. It is not a request, instead it is an order of the Fourth Prince."

"But your highness, I am illiterate. How could a person like me be an assistant to his highness? Forgive me, but I cannot work for you," Chuntao stated.

"Do not misjudge me, Miss Chuntao. You impressed me the day you told me about the Landlord's doings. Despite being illiterate, you are a great observant. I am an advisor to the Emperor and I have an eye for good things and persons.

The job you will do for me will pay much more than you will get from your fields," Nianzu proclaimed.

"I do not dare to misjudge the intention of his highness, but it does not seem suitable for me," Chuntao rejected the order of Prince Nianzu.

Nianzu did not want to talk about Chuntao's family, but he could not stop himself and finally spoke out about that. "Miss, this house is not safe for you when your family is no longer here. I am sorry, but I found that your parents and brother are no more in this world. Forgive me because as a Prince I failed in my duties towards my people and you lost your parents and brother."

Chuntao's eyes turned watery, but she did not let her tears fall. "Since I happened to meet you that day so now it is my duty as the royalty to give you sufficient care. I am offering you a job because you have a unique talent which I need. Moreover, you seem young and I shall ensure your safety.

If I had not encountered you, then I would not have even done this. It is like heaven wants to give you something good. You can think about this till the evening because I will send someone to bring you to the Palace," Nianzu asserted, keeping a tiny smile on his lips.

Nianzu stepped towards Chuntao and patted her head. "You are not alone, Miss Chuntao." Prince Nianzu pulled his hand back.

"Could Miss give me a glass of water? It is a hot day," Nianzu stated and looked up at the sky.

Chuntao was hesitating because a Prince could not drink the water from the house of a commoner when she heard, "Miss, water?" Nianzu was looking at her. Chuntao told the Fourth Prince to wait and quickly went to the kitchen. She searched for a new porcelain glass in which she could give the water to the Prince.

After five minutes of searching, Chuntao came out of the kitchen with a porcelain glass in her hand and handed that to Nianzu. "Thank you." Nianzu started drinking the water.

"How can a Prince be polite and humble?" Chuntao was amused and had an inquisitive expression on her face.

Nianzu drank the water and handed the porcelain cup to Chuntao. "Earthen pot water is so delicious." an indescribable smile formed on the lips of Nianzu as if he had drunk the elixir of life.

"Miss, I would like to stay here till the early evening. I have some work in the Village Headman's house later in the evening so I will leave after having lunch here. Is it okay with you?" Nianzu asked.

"Yes, your highness. It is my pleasure to serve his highness," Chuntao stated, but she feared what people would think. "Your highness, people might take the wrong meaning of this. What I mean is…" She paused as the Fourth Prince cut her words in the middle. "People always talk. You and I know that we have not done anything wrong then there is no need to get scared," Nianzu affirmed. Chuntao nodded and went inside her tiny house. She brought a cotton sheet and put it over the bedstead.

"Your highness, you can sit here. Wait! It is melting hot here," Chuntao said when she saw Nianzu had gone near the tree which was on the right side of the porch and was quite shady. Nianzu sat under the tree and took out his bamboo flute, which he always placed near the sash on his waist.

Chuntao was shocked to see the Prince had sat on the ground.

"Miss, you can continue your work," Nianzu stated, and brought the flute closer to his lips.