Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Lei Wanxi was strolling in the market. He reminisced about the moments with Prince Nianzu and heaved a sigh. "If I ever get to see Brother Nianzu, then I will not talk to him," he murmured and kicked the pebble on the ground. The sky got covered with clouds, so he hastened towards the Palace as rainfall could occur anytime. 

He took the shortest route to get out of the market, which went through an isolated alley. As Lei Wanxi walked on that route, he heard the clanking of swords. "Who is fighting here?" Lei Wanxi wondered and followed the noises. 

He stopped and quickly stepped back, hiding behind the wall of a house. Lei Wanxi peeked out and saw the same men who had captured him the other day. "Zhu Lin," he mumbled as he saw her there. He pulled back himself. "What is she doing here? Is she again trying to be brave?" 

'Because of you, they beat me up.. Today, you have to die.' Lei Wanxi heard the voice of the man. It was the same man who had captured him. He decided to leave and not to intervene between them. 

'Are you a coward? How can you leave like that? They are ten while she is one. You should help her.' His inner voice stopped him. Lei Wanxi shook his head and reminded himself how Zhu Lin treated him. "I will not help her," he walked away after fighting with himself.

"You shall not use such petty ways. You think you will be spared after all this mess," Zhu Lin threatened the leader, who was not interested in her talks.

"Why are you all waiting? Go, catch this woman," the leader roared, and again a fierce fight broke between them. It was tough for Zhu Lin to escape, and also fighting with ten people at once was tiring her. 

Suddenly the leader of the group got hit on the forehead from a pebble. "Ahh," the leader screamed in pain and put his palm over his forehead. He brought his palm down and saw blood on it. His men had stopped fighting with Zhu Lin.

"Master," they said in unison in concern. 

His facial expressions turned grim as they annoyed him more. He lifted his gaze and saw a young man near Zhu Lin. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword. 

Lei Wanxi, on the other hand, grabbed the hand of Zhu Lin and dragged her to run away with him. Zhu Lin was not only shocked but surprised too to see Lei Wanxi there. 

"Catch them," screamed the leader, and his men started to chase Lei Wanxi and Zhu Lin. 

"Run fast, else they will nab us," Lei Wanxi said while panting. They halted and entered the market. Running among the people, Lei Wanxi turned to a cloth house backyard. He dragged Zhu Lin with him and hid behind a tiny space. Lei Wanxi put his index finger on Zhu Lin's lips, gesturing to her to not make any sound. 

Their chests rose and fell because of the running. Lei Wanxi tilted his head slightly to peek out of the space and found those men were searching for them. "They are not here. Let's go ahead," both Zhu Lin and Lei Wanxi heard them. He heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Zhu Lin. Putting his finger down, he took Zhu Lin out from there. They heard the thunder and quickly left for the Imperial Palace.

Lei Wanxi preferred the long route this time, and soon they were out of the market and near the Imperial Palace. "You can let go of my hand," Zhu Lin stated. All this time, Lei Wanxi did not realize that he had held Zhu Lin's hand. 

"Why did you fight with them again?" He curiously asked. 

"They chased me this time. I had gone to the market to stroll around," Zhu Lin replied. "I think they have sources that's why they came out of prison easily," Zhu Lin deduced. 

"Why do you involve yourself in other people's matters? They were ten while you were alone. Anything could have happened if I was not there at the right time," stated Lei Wanxi. 

Zhu Lin amusingly glanced at him. It bewildered her that Lei Wanxi saved her. She took out the handkerchief from her pocket and started to wipe the sweat from Lei Wanxi's forehead. "You shall not have come in between us," Zhu Lin put her hand down and handed him the handkerchief. 

"Do you know not that one shall say thank you when another person helps him or her?" Lei Wanxi taunted her and walked ahead. Zhu Lin followed him up.

"I sincerely thank the Sixth Prince," Zhu Lin expressed her gratitude. "I did not know you carried a slingshot around," she stated. 

"I bought it last time and helped Brother Nianzu as well." The smile on Lei Wanxi's lips faded away. 

"You are good at it. Come to think of it, it appears you are good at children's games." Zhu Lin's statement irked Lei Wanxi when he heard her, "The Sixth Prince could have become a good archer if he had practiced diligently." 

"Why are you still in Luoyang?" Lei Wanxi questioned her. 

"The Crown Princess wants me to celebrate the dragon boat festival and also her birthday with her. I could not refuse her request," Zhu Lin replied to Le Wanxi, who nodded. A raindrop fell on his cheek, and he looked up at the sky. 

"Let's run before we get drenched," Lei Wanxi suggested to Zhu Lin, and the two hurried towards the Palace. Zhu Lin found that Lei Wanxi had turned calmer and quieter after the Fourth Prince left the Palace. 

"Do you want me to find Prince Nianzu?" Zhu Lin asked Lei Wanxi, who was not surprised by her question. 

"How will you find it when no one can!" Lei Wanxi doubted Zhu Lin. "It's better not to search for him. Moreover, I do not want to talk to Brother Nianzu anymore. He did not care to meet me before leaving, so why shall I?" Lei Wanxi was aggrieved at the Fourth Prince. Zhu Lin realized that the Sixth Prince was hurt because the Fourth Prince did not see him for the last time.

~~~~ 

Far from Luoyang, in Village Xiandong, Nianzu could be seen coming out of the house of the Village Headman. Nianzu completed his work of the day. He had gotten the job in the Village Police Bureau to file the grievances of the village people if any. Other than that, he used to jot down the justice delivered by the Chief of the Village. 

He had a small house in the middle of the village. As he reached outside his house, he saw a few children coming out from there. A smile formed on his lips, and he walked in. 

Chuntao hung the lantern at one edge of the house when she heard the footsteps. She lowered her eyes and put her feet on ankles on the ground. 

"Nianzu," she pronounced his name and smiled. Nianzu sat on the bedstead in the small front yard. Chuntao brought water for him in a copper glass and handed it to him. 

Nianzu drank the water while Chuntao picked his cloth bag. "You came late today," Chuntao asserted. 

Nianzu put the glass down and gazed at her. "Yes. Today, I had more work to do. The Crown Princess's birthday is coming, so the bureau is working fast as an order is passed from the Capital– the bi-annual report is asked from every village and town. It is said that she will reward those villages and towns which have given outstanding performance during these six months," Nianzu informed Chuntao with a smile. 

"Oh. I pray this village name also comes in the list," asserted Chuntao. 

"Yes," Nianzu replied. 

"You shall freshen up. By then, dinner will be ready," Chuntao asserted. 

Nianzu nodded and picked the glass from the ground. "I will take it," Chuntao forwarded her hand. 

"It's fine. I am going to the kitchen, so I will put it there," Nianzu walked away while Chuntao went inside the house. 

After Nianzu took a hot water bath, he felt fresh. He came to the kitchen and saw Chuntao had already cooked for them. He helped her and took the tray to the room. Putting the tray on the floor mattress, he put the bowls and plates on the table. 

The two started to eat. "I heard about the water crisis in the neighboring villages. It's a good thing that a river stream flows by this village," Nianzu stated and put the cooked green vegetable over the plate from which Chuntao was eating. 

"Oh. Then?" 

"I think water will be supplied from here then. Again fight for water," Nianzu sighed. Chuntao hummed and soon they finished the food. After washing the utensils, Chuntao came to the room and found Nianzu had already made the bed on the floor. 

"I told you not to do all this. I can do it," Chuntao said as she removed the hairpin from her hair bun. She put it on the table there and sat on the mattress. 

"It is fine. Let's sleep," Nianzu stated and laid down on the mattress. Chuntao blew off the candle and went to bed. As soon as she laid down, Nianzu wrapped his arm around her. 

"Dragon Boat Festival is coming. It will be our first festival together," Nianzu stated. 

"Yes. I am excited too," Chuntao replied. "Back in Luoyang-" she paused. 

"Complete your words," Nianzu said. 

"Umm… It is a great event in the Capital. You also missed them, right?" Chuntao turned to Nianzu and faced him. 

"Yes, I do miss my Brothers. Lei Wanxi must be furious at me," Nianzu answered. "I did not meet him before leaving," he added.

"Because of me, you needed to leave everyone. Forgive me," Chuntao felt guilty. 

"Chun, I left because it was necessary. Don't say such a thing," Nianzu stated and planted a soft kiss at the top of her forehead. Chuntao hummed, but somewhere she felt that Nianzu would be happier in Luoyang.