Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Chuntao brought the tea for Nianzu into the room. Nianzu helped her, and the two sat around the table for tea. He picked the teacup and sipped it. "Brother Huo brought the tea herbs from the market," Chuntao told Nianzu. 

"Oh. The scent and taste are good," Nianzu stated and asked if she gave the tea to Huo Jin. Chuntao nodded her head. 

"Brother Huo told me how you saved him from getting a death sentence. He had no hope to live, but you gave him that hope." 

Chuntao was overwhelmed because Nianzu cared for every person around him. When he had the power, he used it for people's betterment. She somewhere regretted separating Nianzu from his family. She should have listened to the Emperor and should have never confessed her feelings to Nianzu. 

"What are you thinking?" Nianzu asked in his gentle voice. 

"Nothing," Chuntao replied and sipped the tea. "Brother Huo also told me about his love for the First Prince's wife. He used to serve her and wanted her to step back from the wrong path," she asserted. "His love story is tragic," she added, and tears appeared in her eyes. 

"Huo Jin loved her, but she never loved him. He will get a nice partner for himself. It is only a matter of time," Nianzu stated. "What's going on in your head?" He queried. 

Chuntao peered at him and shook her head. She gripped the teapot and poured tea for Nianzu and her. "There is a mini-fair tonight. We will go and have fun," asserted Nianzu and smiled. Nianzu noticed that there were frowns on the forehead of Chuntao. 

"Chun, you shall tell me everything. Nothing good will come from hiding things from me," Nianzu advised her. 

"Then, please only listen to me," Chuntao requested. Nianzu nodded his head. 

"Nianzu, I did wrong by separating you from your mother. Now, she is scheming against the Crown Prince and, if caught, will get punished. I recall the words of the Emperor. I feel that I did wrong by stepping out of my boundaries. All this would not have happened if--" she paused as her voice quivered. She did not want to complete her words. 

"Chun, you did not separate me from her. She was evil from the beginning. She was a concubine that is why no one saw her true face. When I first told my mother about you, then instead of supporting me, she told me to leave you and marry Princess Zhu Lin. Why? Because it would help me in raising my rank and also would give me the support of Father's close friend. 

It would be worse if I would have turned a blind eye towards you. My heart would never be at peace. We both might have been lifeless even with these bodies," Nianzu explained to her. 

"Materialistic things don't bring happiness, at least for me. I am happy as long as I am free. Though, the incident with you made me realize my mistake too. I acknowledge that a position and its power becomes necessary to survive," Nianzu affirmed. 

Chuntao lowered her gaze. "I understand. My head is cleared now," stated Chuntao. Nianzu passed a tiny smile and told her to drink the tea before it turned cold. 

~~~~~ 

Consort Jinlong told Lei Wanxi to drink the potion. "Mother, why do I have to drink it? It is not even good to see," Lei Wanxi complained. 

"So, it has magical herbs that will increase your strength. The herbs are rare to find and specifically brought from the Himalayas," Consort Jinlong stated. 

"I will not drink it. There is no magical herb in this world that can make my strength grow, Mother. If it had happened, then my Elder Brothers would have drunk it daily," asserted Lei Wanxi. 

"For your mother, Prince shall drink this," Consort Jinlong adamantly said. Lei Wanxi found himself stuck, but at the same time, he was annoyed. 

"Mother, I am strong enough to fight against the bad people. And if I get into a huge problem, Brother Sheng will save me," He argued and told the maidservant to put away the bowl from his sight. The smell of the potion had already nauseated him. 

"But the Crown Prince will not always protect you. Is the Prince unaware of the Crown Prince's ambitions?" Consort Jinlong asked her son. 

"What is the mother trying to say?" Lei Wanxi knitted his brows. 

"You are already 23, Prince Wanxi. But you have no special ability. You only lurk and have fun. Look at your Elder Brothers. All have gotten into good positions. Do you want people to call you a weak Prince with no special position? Even the Youngest Prince is training to become powerful," Consort Jinlong made her son understand. Lei Wanxi never got a lecture from his mother this way. 

"Mother, my father is the Emperor, and I inherited this fortune of a Prince. Why shall I train or work when everything is being handled by the Elder Brothers?" Lei Wanxi was not ready to implement any of her mother's advice. 

"Prince, this is the Palace. Everyone wants their benefits in the Palace. The Crown Prince is the strongest among you all, followed by the First Prince and the others. Do you want to become their slaves, especially the slave of your Fifth Brother?" Consort Jinlong's question irked Lei Wanxi. 

"Mother, I urge you not to say ill about Brother Sheng. I do not like it when someone tries provoking me against Brother Sheng. Since you are my mother, I will let it go. And, please do not bring such potions for me. I will not get strong that way," Lei Wanxi asserted. He stood up from the chaise and bowed his head. 

"Where is the Prince going? Prince shall not roam around the market," Consort Jinlong stopped her son. "I never stopped you earlier, but you have grown up, so act like one." Her tone was sharp. 

"Okay, Mother," Lei Wanxi replied and walked out of the chamber.