MARRIED TO A CRUEL CROWN PRINCE

I Love Other People

Chapter 5: I love others

Han Sheng Li, after paying his respects to the late king Juyan left for the Han capital with An-Ying Lili. After two days of travel, they reached the capital, Luoyang. The capital is dotted with red lanterns, pieces of paper hanging along the main route to the Imperial Palace. The Han people gathered on both sides of the street to support their Crown Prince over his victory campaign.

"May the Crown Prince Live Long!!" An-Ying Lili heard loud cheers from the people.

Some people tried to peek at the palanquin as news of the princess getting married to the crown prince had spread among them. But he's not interested in any of this. "He killed my father" the only thing on his mind.

After a while, the stretcher stopped. "The Head of the Crown has arrived with Princess Juyan completing the conquest of her conquest campaign," An-Ying Lili heard a man announce this. The curtain was pulled to the side by a female servant as she peeked inside. "Miss, please hold my arm," An-Ying Lili heard the servant whose gaze was lowered.

An-Ying Lili gently placed her hand on the servant's arm and walked out of the stretcher. He turned to look and read - 'Fu Imperial Gates'. He stepped forward when he saw the crown prince was looking at him but, he then shifted his gaze. He stopped near the crown prince when he found the Emperor and Empress of the Han Kingdom standing at the gate. A few servants stood behind them.

The Crown Prince's two hands slightly raised up to his wide, fused shoulders. His head lowered as he spoke. "Your Highness, greet the crown prince. I have completed the campaign that my father and the first prince have begun. I'm glad to see you two after six years."

"I'm proud of you, Crown Prince of the Empire. My queen, look at the crown prince how much he has grown," the emperor with a delighted expression declared that he agreed with her.

The Emperor looked at An-Ying Lili who had lowered her eyes. He bowed before the Emperor and the Empress. "Princess Juyan, An-Ying Lili was blessed to meet with His Imperial Majesty. My father lost his life because of this marriage alliance, I kept it so that peace between the two countries could be maintained" An-Ying Lili said.

Sheng Li glanced at him. He did not expect this kind of thing from An-Ying Lili. She could not believe the princess was saying this to the Emperor as her first words, and it was not just her voice that it was as if she thought Han Sheng Li was the culprit. For the first time, he saw someone so brave. If the crown prince's father had not ordered him not to kill anyone there, he would have already killed this woman by now.

Han Wenji (Emperor) and Weng Wei (Empress) looked at each other and then Han Sheng Li. The Emperor turned his gaze towards An-Ying Lili and spoke, "I am very saddened over your loss. I'm glad that Juyan's daughter has kept her late father's promise with me and came here." Sheng Li clenched his fists tightly in anger and glanced at An-Ying Lili.

"Dear queen, please take the princess to the inn prepared for her," Han Wenji told Weng Wei who nodded and left with the princess.

"Through here, my son," said the emperor, and they went from there. General Wang instructed the soldiers, and they went to the barracks.

"Zhenzhu Inn," Ying Lili read on the wooden board. "Daughter, this is your inn from today onwards. The Crown Prince's room is at the left end of your inn" the empress said to Ying Lili who nodded with her head lowered.

"The Ying Court Lady will explain to you the rules of the Imperial Palace. He will also assign a servant to you. Since you're not married so, don't come out until tonight when the Royal wedding is about to happen. Your duties as Crown Princess will be notified by me in the morning," Weng Wei, the empress briefly told Ying Lili a lot.

"Your Majesty, I understand," Ying Lili said. Weng Wei looked at Palace Mistress Xu and then left the inn, followed by the palace maids.

The court lady stepped forward and lowered her head in front of Ying Lili. "This is Xu Wan, a palace lady in the Imperial Palace. This is Su Binxi, your personal servant who will follow you everywhere, including the palace servants. The inner room in the inn has your bedroom while the other two rooms are for your free time," Court Lady Xu explained to Ying Lili.

Su Binxi advanced and lowered her head. "This is Su Binxi. It is with great pleasure that I serve my young Miss," Su Binxi said humbly.

"I want to rest. I'm not feeling well," said Ying Lili, who was worried? Madam Court Xu.

"Miss, you may be experiencing motion sickness. I'll call the royal physician for you. Binxi, please follow the princess to her bedroom," Madam Xu ordered to Su Binxi who bowed and then brought Ying Lili in. As Ying Lili walked in, she saw that the room was quite large. A large bed was placed in the middle with a white curtain surrounding it.

Ying Lili lay on the bed after taking off her shoes. Su Binxi covered him from the blanket. By then the court lady Xu had reached there with the royal physician. "My lady is having a motion sickness. Please give her some medicine, "Mistress Xu told the royal physician.

"Thank you," An-Ying Lili said with a faint smile. The royal physician left the inn while Lady Xu arranged snacks for the princess. After eating, the princess took the pill and fell asleep.

The emperor and the crown prince were in the inn of Thyide (Virtue Chamber). "Dad, I always agree with your every decision. Your decision is the highest for me, but this marriage alliance is unacceptable to me. I brought Juyan's daughter in because I thought she could marry the first brother. I love other people and I want her to be my official wife, my crown princess, and the future queen" Sheng Li said.

Han Wenji smiled faintly at his son. "I have given my words to the late king Juyan. You will marry Juyan's daughter, and I believe An-Ying Lili is the most suitable bride for you. Let me tell you something. You don't love the Prime Minister's daughter but since you were close to her since your childhood, you're crazy about her" Han Wenji said.

Sheng Li was not happy to hear that. "Dad, I know that I cannot defy your orders, but my father, you must think of me first. King Juyan is no more, so the promise is meaningless anymore, in my opinion," Han Sheng Li said.

"You are wrong, my son. I have spoken to King Song directly and I have given my words to him. Not that I needed his kingdom but it was his daughter who impressed me. You must have not heard, but he had defeated a general from the neighboring kingdom of Juyan in the war. I want a fierce, intelligent, and at the same time kind daughter for my son. The princess has all those qualities, so, she is qualified to be the crown princess," Han Wenji explained to her son.

"I don't like good-natured people," Sheng Li said resentfully to his father. "After all, he's outspoken. Don't you see how rudely he spoke to His Majesty the Emperor? He's not smart at all. He let his uncle live and rule the kingdom, which killed his father. Can't you see how stupid he is? !" Han Wenji smiled seeing her son's reaction. Hardly anyone could disturb her son, but this woman did so at the first meeting.

"The princess may have thought of something. Don't think he's stupid. And, respect her," Han Wenji confirmed.

Sheng Li laughed. "He doesn't respect me then why should I? That woman made me nervous. I think he would be hurt if he continued that kind of behavior towards me. No one dared to call me by my name except my parents but that woman!!" Sheng Li said everything about the princess.

Han Wenji laughed out loud which confused Sheng Li. Controlling his laughter, the emperor said, "I have never seen my son being bullied by just a woman. Now I fully believe that the princess is perfect for you. Trust your father," the emperor emphasized his words. Sheng Li agreed with his father and stood up from the chair. "Please give me permission to return to my inn," Sheng Li said.

“Yes, you can go. At night, you and the princess will get married. Before that, don't meet him,” Han Wenji told Sheng Li who lowered her head and left the inn.