Chapter 7 - Scared Of This Woman

"Forgive me for my rudeness but, the crown prince is sleeping," asserted the head eunuch, Xing-Fu, with a bowed head.

"When the crown prince will be awake, please tell me that his Xue was here," Xue Yu Yan informed Xing-Fu who gave a nod to her. Xue Yu Yan took a leave from there. As she was walking through the pavilion, she encountered the first prince Jian Guozhi. Gracefully, she greeted Jian Guozhi.

"What is the daughter of the prime minister doing here?" Jian Guozhi queried.

"I was here to see the crown prince, your highness," Xue Yu Yan replied with lowered eyes.

"The Fifth brother must be resting. Miss Xue cannot meet the crown prince any longer as he is going to marry the most beautiful woman of the Han kingdom," Jian Guozhi pronounced with a tiny smile on his lips.

Xue Yu Yan felt disconsolate upon hearing the words of the first prince. "Is the crown princess a real beauty?" Xue Yu Yan inquired Jian Guozhi.

"She is!! Her gaze is enough to seduce the person standing in front of her, Miss Xue," Jian Guozhi replied. Xue Yu Yan clenched her fist, which Jian Guozhi noticed. "I am sorry that my younger brother agreed to this marriage alliance. He could not stop himself after seeing the princess's beauty," Jian Guozhi further added.

Xue Yu Yan gave a faint smile to him. "Miss Xue can be a Princess Consort of the crown prince," Jian Guozhi suggested and grinned. Xue Yu Yan looked at him and bowed her head. "I shall take my leave, your highness," Xue Yu Yan stated and left from there as fast as she could. She came out of the eastern palace gates and then entered the palanquin, living for her residence.

The crown prince woke up in the late noon. He was tying the knot on his satin robe when the head eunuch Xing-Fu told him about the visit of the Prime Minister's daughter. "Why did you not wake me up?" Sheng Li angrily asked him which terrified Xing-Fu and he gave a ninety-degree bow to apologize from the crown prince.

"I will take the bath after meeting her," Sheng Li pronounced.

"Yes, your highness," Xing-Fu replied and clapped three times. Three maidservants came in and helped the crown prince in wearing the upper robes. After getting ready, Sheng Li left for the Prime minister's residence. Xue Yu Yan was informed about his arrival and she ran outside towards the gate to meet the crown prince.

She walked near him and bowed her head to greet him. "Your highness, I am overwhelmed by your presence. Please this way," Xue Yu Yan told Sheng Li who gave a nod and followed her. Now the two were in Yu Yan's chamber. Sheng Li was seated on the ground stool while Yu Yan was serving chrysanthemum tea to him.

"Why did you leave without meeting me?" Sheng Li asked Yu Yan as he grabbed the teacup.

"I do not dare to disturb the sleep of his royal highness," Yu Yan proclaimed and got seated on the other wooden stool.

"Xue has never disturbed me. You have become beautiful since the last time I have seen you," Sheng Li complimented her.

"Thank you, your highness," Xue Yu Yan replied. Her eyes were still lowered.

"Why does it seem to me that Xue is not delighted to see me," Sheng Li questioned her and sipped the tea.

"I am delighted to see, your highness. You are thinking too much," Xue Yu Yan proclaimed and gave a smile to the crown prince who was happy to hear that. "But, the crown prince forgot about the promise he had given to this young woman," Xue Yu Yan complained and finally peered into the eyes of Sheng Li.

"Xue, I could not stop that. My father wants me to marry the princess of Juyan," Sheng Li asserted.

"What about this woman, then who loves you for a very long time?" Xue Yu Yan queried Sheng Li who put down the porcelain cup in his hand at the table.

"I have no answer for this. Forgive me for not keeping my promise," Sheng Li proclaimed.

Xue Yu Yan's eyes were filled with tears. "So, the crown prince has indeed spellbound by the beauty of the princess of Juyan. I cannot believe that after six years of wait your highness will give me such a present," Xue Yu Yan asserted as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sheng Li tightened his fist at seeing those tears. "Xue, I cannot go back on my father's words, but let me clarify something. I love you only. Her beauty is spell-bounding for others, but not for me. For me, you are the most beautiful woman whom I care for," Sheng Li stated.

"Your highness is again giving me false hopes. After your highness will be married then, it is obvious that he will start loving the princess. I, on the other hand, will only keep the memories of our unrequited love," Xue Yu Yan pronounced.

"What do Xue want? Do you want to be my consort? I am not in a position to give you a royal Crown Princess title," Sheng Li asked for Yu Yan's opinion.

"Your highness, Xue does not want the title but the love of the crown prince. I have no greed for the position," asserted Xue Yu Yan. Sheng Li gave a tiny smile to Yu Yan. "That's why I love only you. Thank you Xue for understanding me," stated Sheng Li when a voice was heard by them.

"Your royal highness, the general is here."

Sheng Li stood up from his seat, followed by Xue Yu Yan. "I shall leave. I will see you in the morning," Sheng Li told Xue Yu Yan and stepped forward when Xue Yu Yan grabbed Sheng Li's arm.

She tiptoed and kissed Sheng Li on the lips who was slightly startled. Yu Yan then stepped back, lowering her eyes. "I will wait for the crown prince," Xue Yu Yan said. Sheng Li hummed and left the chamber. Outside the prime minister's office, Sheng Li asked Wang Hao about the sudden visit.

"The Empress was searching for you. Her Majesty has said that you should not have stepped out of the palace on his marriage day so, she sent me to bring you," Wang Hao replied as the two hopped on their respective horses.

"Since when the Empress started caring for such things," Sheng Li muttered and rode the horse to the palace. After they reached there, Sheng Li went to the bathhouse prepared for him. The large round bathtub was filled with rose and milk along with water. The scent emancipating from the water calmed down the crown prince and relaxed every inch of his muscle.

The crown prince's both hands were rested on the marble stand of the bathtub and his eyes were closed. The thought of getting married to An-Ying Lili was giving him a headache. "Everyone, get out from here," Sheng Li shouted.

"Xing-Fu, where is the princess of Juyan?" Sheng Li questioned the head eunuch who was standing a few meters away from the bathtub.

"Your highness, the princess is taking the bath in the bathhouse next to you," Xing-Fu replied. Sheng Li opened his eyes and ordered Xing-Fu to send every person out of the bathhouse where An-Ying Lili was taking a royal bath.

"Your highness cannot see the princess before the marriage rituals," Xing-Fu proclaimed.

"Xing-Fu, I think you need to be replaced," Sheng Li announced as he turned his head slightly to glance at Xing-Fu who apologized and walked out from there. Sheng Li stood up and wore the white satin cloth.

In the next bathhouse, An-Ying Lili got confused as the maidservants started walking out. "Where are you going?" An-Ying Lili confusedly asked Su Binxi who before leaving told her that the crown prince had ordered that. As the entire bathhouse emptied, An-Ying Lili heard the sound of footsteps, so she quickly covered her body using a white satin bathrobe that was placed on the marble bathtub counter.

"You do not have any manners," An-Ying Lili said to Sheng Li who was seated on the counter.

"I am not interested in seeing your body," Sheng Li whispered in An-Ying Lili's ear. He leaned back and then said, "Kill yourself," Sheng Li stated.

"What?" An-Ying Lili exclaimed.

"I do not like to repeat my words twice but for you, I will again repeat. Just kill yourself," Sheng Li repeated himself.

"Your orders are not applicable on me, Sheng Li," Ying Lili sternly replied.

Sheng Li chuckled. "Did I not tell you not to call me by name and respect me? I guess I was expecting a very wrong thing from you," Sheng Li pronounced.

"Respect is not imposed, but it is earned, and for you, I have no respect," An-Ying Lili proclaimed. "Why shall I kill myself?" Ying Lily questioned Sheng Li.

"For the people of Juyan," Sheng Li replied.

Ying Lili chuckled. "It seems the imperial crown prince fears this woman when she did not even do anything," An-Ying Lili sarcastically said, which infuriated Sheng Li but at the same time amused him.

"So, you will not leave me this easily," Sheng Li said as she stood up and waited for Ying Lili's response.

"I will leave you when you will die!" An-Ying Lili announced with utter hatred in her tone.

"You might end up dying before me, Ying Lili," Sheng Li asserted and smirked.