Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

"Princess Qi Jing, a few princes and the sons of the governors have been selected for you. Talk with your mother about that. Whomever you will select, you will be married to him," Han Wenji proclaimed.

Princess Qi Jing nodded. "Father, I would like to get married after the arrival of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," Princess Qi Jing expressed her desire.

"It is not known when those two will return. We cannot delay your marriage just because of that reason," pronounced Weng Wei. Han Wenji agreed with the Empress.

"But mother, father, if I leave without seeing the Fifth Brother, I will feel sad. Once I get married, then I will never come back here, so please let them return first," Princess Qi Jing softly said.

Han Wenji nodded. "You have been attached to Sheng Li since your childhood days. Okay, then you will get married after their return. Prince Jian, is there any news from the Southern Province?" Han Wenji asked.

"Father, I am afraid, but there is no news sent by the Crown Prince," Jian Guozhi replied. Han Wenji nodded.

"Report to me when the Crown Prince will send a message to you," Han Wenji proclaimed. Jian Guozhi bowed his head. "You all may leave. It was nice conversing with my children. Is there any other thing anyone wants to say?" Han Wenji asked.

Lei Wanxi raised his hand. "Father, there is something I want to ask for," Lei Wanxi stated. 

Weng Wei was glaring at him. 'After Sheng Li, one who bothers me the most is Lei Wanxi. He is not good at warfare but he is clever!' Weng Wei thought.

"Yes, Prince Wanxi," Han Wenji permitted him.

"Father, these days I am getting influenced by Buddhist teachings. I want to go to the Shrine daily but the Shrine is so far from the Palace that it would take me almost half a day traveling," Lei Wanxi asserted.

"What is the Sixth Prince trying to say?" Han Wenji confusedly asked. "Be clear," he then added.

"Father, can I go to the shrine which you have made especially for the Imperial Mother as it is within the Palace?" Lei Wanxi asked for permission.

Weng Wei's eyes slightly turned big, but she quickly turned normal and did not want to show it on her face.

"It is a shrine and I think anyone can visit that, but then I think you shall ask Empress Wei as well," asserted Han Wenji, and looked at Weng Wei. "Empress Wei, you do not have any problem with this, right?" Han Wenji asked.

Lei Wanxi looked at Weng Wei who was a bit hesitant. "Why would the Imperial mother have a problem with this? Since my childhood days, she has taught me how important it is to seek the blessings of the Lord Buddha. The main reason for this influence is my dear Imperial mother. The Imperial mother always takes care of her sons' requests," Lei Wanxi affirmed and smiled.

"Prince Wanxi is so sweet. You do not even need my permission. I do not know why the Princes ask for my permission for such petty things," Weng Wei pronounced and smiled.

"Imperial mother is great just like her name. Thank you, Imperial mother," Wanxi again passed a signature to the Empress.

"You all may leave. Prince Jian, today there is no court hour so, come to my chamber in the afternoon," Han Wenji stated. Jian Guozhi nodded, and they all left the Greetings hall.

Nianzu and Lei Wanxi went to the pavilion. "What are you trying to do?" Nianzu asked from Wanxi.

"Something great," replied Lei Wanxi and joined his both hands together. Bringing them to the front near his chest, he said, "I am seeking the blessings of the Buddha which the Imperial mother has been doing for over 24 years."

Nianzu smiled and understood what he was trying to say.

"Be careful," Nianzu warned Wanxi.

"Hmm. Did you notice the expressions on her face? She is definitely hiding something there but cannot hide it from my eyes," Lei Wanxi menacingly said.

"She is at the seat of the Empress because of a reason. She will clear the evidence from there even before you could catch that," Nianzu opined.

"That's why I am leaving now, Brother Nianzu," Lei Wanxi stated and turned to go when he stopped.

"What happened?"

Lei Wanxi turned back and said, "Brother Nianzu, why don't you teach how to write to Miss Chuntao? I saw her yesterday evening. She was drawing something on the ground of the garden which seemed to me like some letters but she was drawing them wrong."

Nianzu nodded. "I will talk with her regarding that. Even I have noticed that," Nianzu stated. Lei Wanxi smiled and took his leave from there. He opened the hand fan and went straight to the Shrine.

Nianzu, on the other hand, went to his chamber and ordered Eunuch Chung to bring Chuntao there. Nianzu put the inkstone on the table. He then took out an ink stick from inside the drawer of the floor desk and prepared the ink. Chuntao arrived there and greeted the Fourth Prince.

"Have a seat, Miss," Nianzu said humbly. Chuntao nodded and sat down around the floor desk.

"Does his highness want to ask something?" Chuntao asked.

"Do you want to learn Chinese?" Nianzu asked her. Chuntao's eyes glistened, but she was a bit hesitant to say yes.

"I will teach you basic Chinese characters first. Then, we will learn it at an advanced level. It is a great opportunity for you to learn," Nianzu proclaimed. Chuntao nodded and thanked him.

"Miss, the grip on the brush is extremely important followed by its movement," asserted Nianzu. Chuntao nodded and keenly looked at the way Nianzu was moving the brush over the sheet and writing the characters. After he was done writing the basic characters, he told Chuntao to hold the brush and wrote them on a separate paper.

Chuntao did so and started imitating the characters. Oppositely, Nianzu took out a book on philosophy and started reading it.