Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Lei Wanxi and Sheng Li could be seen in the study room of Sheng Li. "Brother is not with Sister Lili. It is rare to meet Brother in the daylight," Lei Wanxi stated. Sheng Li was searching for a good book on art and philosophy.

"I came here a few minutes ago after having lunch with her. What do you mean by that? I am available all the time except evening," Sheng Li replied as he took a book out and flipped the pages.

"So, Hu Jingguo is leaving. Sister Lili is going to miss her friend and me too," Lei Wanxi said.

"Hmm. The Palace is not safe for him," Sheng Li replied and checked the pages. Lei Wanxi agreed with the Crown Prince. "He told me how you got angry when he intervened in your private moments with Sister Lili. I remember the day how you and Sister Lili were fighting. That day I have seen the spark between you two," Lei Wanxi stated as he opened the fan in his hand.

"What kind of spark are you talking about?" Sheng Li queried while skimming through the pages.

"The Spark of a Passionate Love, Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi replied and smiled. Sheng Li lifted his eyes from the book and looked at him.

"What kind of stories are you reading these days?" Sheng Li jokingly asked Lei Wanxi. He put the book inside the shelf and took out another book.

"I am watching a story these days which I had only imagined for Brother Sheng." Lei Wanxi stretched out his arm and continued, "How a man who considered himself ruthless and how that almighty warrior encountered a brave woman who gripped the sword which he had pointed at her father."

Sheng Li chuckled upon hearing his words. "Wang Hao told you many things," Sheng Li muttered while his gaze fixed on the pages of the book he was holding in his hands.

"I did not ask General Wang about your first meeting with Sister Lili. He told me himself. Two black eyes saw a beautiful young woman, stopping him, who then was mesmerized to see the young woman. That was the Love at First Sight! Alas, I could not capture this beautiful moment with my own eyes." Lei Wanxi brought his hands closer as he put one of them behind his back while the other under his chin was holding the fan.

"Wang Hao told you this!" Sheng Li amusingly said. "It was not love at first sight. It was something else. Don't deduce the wrong meanings of my first meeting with Lili," Sheng Li pronounced. He was annoyed now because the thing he was searching for was not in those books. He threw the book inside the shelves.

"What kind of books are these? Xing-Fu, throw them out," Sheng Li shouted. Xing-Fu who was standing near the door asked, "What happened, your highness? Royal libraries have the highest quality books in them." Xing-Fu humbly replied to the calm Crown Prince.

"Brother Sheng's mood swings are so unpredictable. May I ask what is Brother Sheng looking for?!" Lei Wanxi asked, and looked towards the shelf. "Art and philosophy section," Lei Wanxi readout. "Brother, are you okay? Since when did your interest grow in art and philosophy? I remember we two used to run away from these classes," Lei Wanxi stated.

Sheng Li walked out from there while Lei Wanxi followed him up. They were now in the Private Chamber of Sheng Li. "What does a butterfly mean?" Sheng Li asked as he took the seat on the floor chair around the floor table.

"Butterfly?" Lei Wanxi asked as his brows raised slightly. Sheng Li nodded.

Lei Wanxi sat on the other floor chair and put the closed fan on the table. "Butterfly means butterfly," Lei Wanxi replied.

Sheng Li laughed upon hearing that reply. "You are dumber than me in the art," Sheng Li stated, puckering his lips. Lei Wanxi pouted, "When brother knows then why he is asking me."

Sheng Li lifted his left-hand sleeve. "Because of this," Sheng Li replied. Lei Wanxi leaned closer and saw a butterfly painted on the wrist of Sheng Li. "Brother, since when did you start drawing? You drew a butterfly on your wrist! It is so unbelievable," Lei Wanxi stated.

Sheng Li picked the fan from the table and hit Lei Wanxi's head with it. "Ouch," Lei Wanxi rubbed his head. "Brother, it hurts," he complained.

"Lili has drawn this. She told me to find the meaning of this. I asked her many times but she is not telling me," Sheng Li told Lei Wanxi who nodded his head.

"It's so weird. Sister Lili asked you, who always failed in the class of art and philosophy, to find the meaning of the butterfly. If she knows about it, then she will laugh at you," Lei Wanxi commented.

"Are you making fun of me? I should not have asked you. Go away. Do not irritate me," Sheng Li proclaimed.

"Brother, I am not going anywhere. Why don't we ask Brother Nianzu about this? He is the most suitable person who can answer you about this. Master Shing used to praise him in the art and philosophy class," Lei Wanxi suggested to Sheng Li who agreed with him. "Brother, when did Sister Lili draw this on your hand? It seems not so new but neither old. But then I am curious why this isn't fading away," Lei Wanxi stated.

"She said that this ink never fades, and she wants it to be permanent on my wrist," Sheng Li asserted.

Lei Wanxi widened his eyes. "Brother, I think there is something deep meaning behind that. We shall ask Brother Nianzu about this. Let's go," Lei Wanxi said and stood up from the chair. Sheng Li too stood up, and the two left to meet the Fourth Prince.

Nianzu was conversing over a matter with Chuntao when Eunuch Chung informed him about the visit of the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince. Chuntao stood up from the floor mat and got aside. "Your highness, I will come later," Chuntao said.

Nianzu nodded when he saw the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince there. Lei Wanxi waved his hand at Chuntao who passed a tiny smile to him when Sheng Li looked at her and she immediately lowered her eyes. She left the chamber with Eunuch Chung. "How despicable? Who was she? Did she forget her manners?" Sheng Li muttered.

"Brother, she is a village girl whom Brother Nianzu had brought to the Palace. Her name is…" Sheng Li motioned his hand up in the air.

"I am not interested in knowing her name," Sheng Li replied. He turned to look at Nianzu and greeted him. Nianzu stood up from his seat and told them to take their seats.

"It is good to see the Crown Prince. I hope this journey did not tire you out," Nianzu softly said.

"It was not tiring. How is the Fourth Brother doing?" Sheng Li asked.

"I am doing fine. Thank you for asking, Crown Prince. Do the brothers want to drink tea?" Nianzu asked.

"Why not?" Lei Wanxi immediately said. Nianzu smiled and called Eunuch Chung inside. He ordered him to bring the tea for them.

"How is your mother doing?" Sheng Li asked.

"She is fine," Nianzu replied.

"I heard something else. The Empress is torturing her. Shall I take action?" Sheng Li asked.

"When our father is not able to do anything, then how is the Crown Prince going to take action?" Nianzu questioned. The maidservant came there with a tray in her hand. She served them the tea and walked out from there.

"Father cannot intervene in the Inner Palace matters. Lili has the powers equal to the Empress, slightly less than her, in the Inner Court so I will ask her to look into that matter. She will handle that matter in her own way," Sheng Li asserted and picked the teacup from the table.

"I promised myself that I would punish Weng Wei for her crimes," Nianzu stated. Sheng Li saw the anger in the eyes of the Fourth Prince.

"Even I promised myself but till now I could not do anything. Things take time. Wiping her out is not easy when she is supported by so many ministers. We need to be careful while bringing her truth out and also the evidence against her," Sheng Li stated in a menacing expression.

"Crown Prince, let's not talk about this. The Crown Prince shall tell me why he suddenly visited me?" Nianzu asked, and grabbed the teacup. He gulped the tea and put the cup on the table.

"Brother wants to get an answer to a question," Lei Wanxi replied.

"Question?"

Sheng Li moved his sleeve up from the left hand and showed the butterfly on his wrist. "The meaning of this butterfly is unknown to me. Lili drew it on my wrist. Since I am weak in art, I decided to come here to find the meaning of this."

Nianzu keenly looked at the pattern. "Did the Crown Princess draw it?" Nianzu asked.

"Brother Nianzu, you know that Brother Sheng was not good at painting. Of course, it is painted by our Sister Lili," Lei Wanxi stated.

Nianzu smiled, looking at Sheng Li. "Crown Prince, did the Crown Princess express her love to you?" Nianzu asked. Sheng Li refused immediately.

"A Butterfly indicates 'Young Love' - an undying love between the two lovers. A Butterfly always looks youthful that's why this is called Young Love, which never dies in any circumstance. In short, Sister Lili expressed her love to you through this," Nianzu pronounced and smiled.

Sheng Li blinked his eyes and then twice before pulling his hand back, moving the sleeve down. "She already confessed to me," Sheng Li murmured as a smile appeared on his lips.