MARRIED TO A CRUEL CROWN PRINCE

Can't Look At Your Brother's Woman

Chapter 6: Not to look at your brother's woman

Sheng Li was walking through the corridor of the eastern pavilion when he heard the voices of the 'Prince Resting Places.' Sheng Li walked over there and entered. Seeing the crown prince there, they all stopped talking and stood up from their respective seats. They had lowered their heads in front of the crown prince except for the first Prince, Han Jian Guozhi.

Sheng Li sat on one of the chairs, followed by the other princes. "Fifth brother, welcome home. We are happy to meet you after such a long time" the sixth prince, Lei Wanxi said humbly.

"Bring Rose tea to the crown prince" the fourth prince, Han Nianzu, ordered. The female servant standing behind him lowered her head and left from there.

"Why did you all stop talking the moment I came?" Sheng Li asked them and then looked at his youngest half-brother, Weng Yu who immediately lowered his gaze. "You've grown up, Yu. Still, playing with toys? Ever since I returned, I can teach you how to become a warrior," Sheng Li proclaimed with a grin on his face.

"Fifth brother, don't scare Yu. He is still learning from us" Lei Wanxi said with a gentle smile on her lips then patted Weng Yu on the shoulder. Sheng Li gave a small smile as the maid came there and poured rose tea into the porcelain cup, followed by the other brothers. The servant checked the tea before the princes started drinking it.

"How's the first prince doing?" Sheng Li asked as he sipped his tea.

"I'm fine, mighty crown prince," Jian Guozhi replied.

Sheng Li laughed. "I'm younger than you. Why are you using the title so excessively?" Sheng Li laughed slightly and drank the remaining tea from the cup.

"Fifth brother, you will get married soon after returning. We have heard that the princess is truly beautiful from jade," Rong Zemin said as he looked at Sheng Li.

"I also want to meet the princess. Can I meet the princess?" Weng Yu asked and looked at Sheng Li but then lowered his eyes.

"I've seen the princess once. I rarely see beauty like her. Pearl eyes, long eyelashes, snow-white skin, and plump lips were enough to lure anyone in just seconds. Fifth brother, you must be captivated by him. When you will see him," Jian Guozhi characterized An-Ying Lili's features, staring at Sheng Li.

"Unlike the first brother, I have never observed him this close," Sheng Li said and glared into his eyes.

"The first brother was supposed to marry her, but King Juyan and our father agreed to marry the princess with a fifth brother," said the second prince, Han Yongzheng.

"I heard about that. First brother, you should have put more pressure on your father. I don't think you're trying hard" Sheng Li asserted.

"Did the crown prince not want to marry the princess? Oh, I almost forgot that you already have a lover," Jian Guozhi said in a sarcastic tone.

"Did the fifth elder brother dislike the princess?" Weng Yu asked, looking at the first prince who had a small smile on him.

Rong Zemin and Yongzheng looked at each other, signaling something. "I can't go against dad's orders. His words were the highest for me," they heard Sheng Li say this. Jian Guozhi smiled and spoke, "Is the princess aware of your behavior? I wonder if he will be able to survive with my cruel brother."

The situation became tense between them. Sheng Li sneered. "It looks like the first elder brother cares more for the princess. You mustn't stare at your future sister's brother, first brother. The way you describe the princess makes me think otherwise. Your wife won't feel good if she'll hear her husband's praise of other women than her."

Sheng Li then stood up from the chair. "I'll go now. Yu, I brought something for you," Sheng Li said and pulled out a dagger from his waist. "Stop messing around with toys," Sheng Li said to the youngest prince as he handed the dagger to him and left from there.

Lei Wanxi stood up from the chair and went behind the crown prince. "Fifth brother," Lei Wanxi summoned the crown prince who stopped in his place and turned to look at him. Lei Wanxi stopped right beside him. "How are you?" Lei Wanxi asked.

"I'm doing fine. Let's talk later. I'm a little tired so I'll take a break" Sheng Li said. Lei Wanxi lowered her head as she watched the crown prince leave. "He hasn't changed. I hope his daughter will change it" muttered Lei Wanxi. Lei Wanxi was the son of the second empress of the emperors and was closest to Sheng Li since his childhood.

Lei Wanxi turned to leave when she saw General Wang there who lowered his head in front of her. Lei Wanxi also greeted the general and asked about his health. "I am good, sixth prince," General Wang uttered.

"The crown prince seemed to be distracted by something. Did something happen?" Lei Wanxi asked out of curiosity.

"I think because of the princess' behavior she was a little upset," Wang Hao replied.

Lei Wanxi's eyes widened in shock. "Do you mean that Juyan's daughter is the reason behind the crown prince's vexation?" Lei Wanxi asked with a surprised expression.

General Wang shook his head in agreement. Lei Wanxi could not believe what he heard from General Wang. "Nobody is born to bother the crown prince. I thought something big was going to happen," Lei Wanxi said with a wide smile.

In the Prime Minister's residence house, a young woman is seen in the pavilion playing a guzheng (a Chinese picking harp). The melodious sound produced from it had surrounded the entire place. As soon as he finished playing, he placed both his hands on the strings and opened his eyes gradually.

"My lady is an improvised guzheng player," said the assistant, Wu Shan, from the young lady named Xue Yu Yan who had a small smile to her assistant.

"Miss," a servant came running over there and bowed in front of Yu Yan.

"What's going on?" Wu Shan asked the servant.

"The Crown Prince has returned, Madam," the maid replied with her head bowed. Immediately, Yu Yan stood up from the small wooden bench he was sitting on. He took out a golden hairpin from his hair bun and passed it to the maid. "You have given me good news. This take this," Xue Yu Yan said. The servant picked up the hairpin and thanked Xue Yu Yan.

"You are dismissed," Wu Shan said to the servant who left from there. "Miss, the crown prince has returned. You should meet him," Wu Shan told Yu Yan who agreed with him and told him to prepare a stretcher for him. Wu Shan bowed and left from there.

“Crown Prince, you made me wait for six years and now I won't let you go,” Xue Yu Yan muttered with a smile. Another waiter came there. "Miss, the stretcher is ready," he told Yu Yan who nodded and followed him. Entering the palanquin, they left for the imperial palace.

Arriving at the imperial palace, Xue Yu Yan headed straight for the crown prince's residence which was on the eastern side of the Empire when a guard blocked his path. "How dare you block Nonaku's path?" Wu Shan angrily asked the guard at the east gate.

"I'm sorry but no outsiders are allowed here because there is a wedding at night" replied the guard with his head bowed.

"Miss is the daughter of a great prime minister. You can't stop him," Wu Shan argued with the guards. Xue Yu Yan raised her hand and gestured for her assistant to stop. "Whose wedding is going to happen?" Xue Yu Yan asked.

"The imperial crown prince," the guard replied.

Xue Yu Yan could not believe her ears and again asked for confirmation. The guard repeated his words. "This can't be true," Xue Yu Yan muttered and stepped into the East Imperial Gate posing a threat to the guards so as to take her father's name.