MARRIED TO A CRUEL CROWN PRINCE

Afraid of This Woman

Chapter 7: Fear of this woman

"Pardon me for my rudeness, but the crown prince is sleeping," asserted the eunuch's head, Xing-Fu, with his head bowed.

"When the crown prince is about to wake up, please tell me that his Xue is here," Xue Yu Yan told Xing-Fu who nodded at him. Xue Yu Yan took a leave of absence from there. As he walked past the pavilion, he met the first prince Jian Guozhi. Gracefully, he greeted Jian Guozhi.

"What's the prime minister's daughter doing here?" Jian Guozhi asked.

"I'm here to see the crown prince, Your Majesty," Xue Yu Yan replied with bowed eyes.

"The Fifth Brother must rest. Miss Xue could not meet the crown prince anymore because she was about to marry the most beautiful woman of the Han kingdom," Jian Guozhi uttered with a small smile on her lips.

Xue Yu Yan felt sad after hearing the first prince's words. "Is the crown princess really that pretty?" Xue Yu Yan asked Jian Guozhi.

"He!! His gaze was enough to seduce the person standing in front of him, Miss Xue," Jian Guozhi replied. Xue Yu Yan clenched her fists, which Jian Guozhi noticed. "I'm sorry that my younger brother agreed to this marriage alliance. He could not help himself after seeing the princess' beauty," Jian Guozhi added further.

Xue Yu Yan smiled faintly at him. "Miss Xue could be the Empress of the crown prince," Jian Guozhi suggested and grinned. Xue Yu Yan looked at him and lowered her head. "I will leave, Your Majesty," Xue Yu Yan said and left from there as quickly as possible. He exited the eastern palace gate and then entered the palanquin, staying for his residence.

The crown prince woke up in the middle of the day. He was tying a knot in his satin robe when eunuch chief Xing-Fu told him about the visit of the Prime Minister's daughter. "Why didn't you wake me?" Sheng Li angrily asked what scared Xing-Fu and he bowed ninety degrees to apologize from the crown prince.

"I'll take a shower after meeting him," Sheng Li said.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xing-Fu replied and clapped three times. Three female servants entered and helped the crown prince put on a robe over. After getting ready, Sheng Li left for the Prime Minister's residence. Xue Yu Yan was informed of his arrival and she dashed out towards the gate to meet the crown prince.

He walked nearby and lowered his head to greet her. "Your Majesty, I'm amazed by your presence. Please pass by here," Xue Yu Yan told Sheng Li who nodded and followed him. Now the two of them were in Yu Yan's room. Sheng Li sat on the bench while Yu Yan served chrysanthemum tea for him.

"Why did you leave without seeing me?" Sheng Li asked Yu Yan while grabbing the teacup.

"I dare not disturb Your Majesty's sleep," Yu Yan said and sat down on another wooden bench.

"Xue never bothered me. You've been beautiful since the last time I saw you," Sheng Li praised her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xue Yu Yan replied. His eyes are still down.

"Why do I think Xue isn't happy to see me," Sheng Li questioned him and sipped his tea.

“I'm glad to see it, Your Grace. You think too much,” Xue Yu Yan proclaimed and gave a smile to the crown prince who was happy to hear it. “But, the Crown Prince forgot about the promise he had given to this young lady,” complained Xue Yu Yan and finally looked at Sheng Li's eyes.

"Xue, I can't stop him. My father wants me to marry Juyan's daughter" Sheng Li confirmed.

"What about this woman, then who has loved you for so long?" Xue Yu Yan questioned Sheng Li who placed the porcelain cup in his hand onto the table.

"I don't have an answer for this. Forgive me for not keeping my word" Sheng Li said.

Xue Yu Yan's eyes were filled with tears. "So, the crown prince was indeed enchanted by the beauty of princess Juyan. I can't believe that after six years of waiting, Your Majesty will give me such a gift," Xue Yu Yan confirmed as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Sheng Li clenched his fists upon seeing those tears. "Xue, I can't take back my father's words, but let me clarify something. I just love you. Her beauty amazes others, but not for me. To me, you are the most beautiful woman I care about" Sheng Li said.

"Your Majesty has once again given me false hope. After His Majesty is about to get married, it is clear that he will start loving the princess. I, on the other hand, will only keep memories of our unrequited love," Xue Yu Yan explained.

"Your Majesty, Xue doesn't want the title but the crown prince's love. I have no greed for that position," Xue Yu Yan insisted. Sheng Li smiled slightly at Yu Yan. "That's why I only love you. Thank you Xue for understanding me," Sheng Li said as a voice sounded by them.

"Your Majesty, the general is here."

He tiptoed and kissed Sheng Li's slightly surprised lips. Yu Yan then stepped back, lowering his eyes. "I will wait for the crown prince," Xue Yu Yan said. Sheng Li hummed and left the room. Outside the prime minister's office, Sheng Li asked Wang Hao about the sudden visit.

"The Queen is looking for you. His Majesty said that you shouldn't have come out of the palace on his wedding day, so, he sent me to take you," Wang Hao replied as the two leaped onto their respective horses.

"Since when did the Empress start taking care of such things," Sheng Li muttered and rode a horse to the palace. After they got there, Sheng Li went to the bathhouse prepared for him. A large round bathtub filled with roses and milk along with water. The fragrance coming out of the water calmed the crown prince down and relaxed every inch of his muscles.

The crown prince's hands were placed on a marble stand in the bathtub and his eyes were closed. The thought of marrying An-Ying Lili made her dizzy. "Everyone, get out of here" cried Sheng Li.

"Xing-Fu, where's Juyan's daughter?" Sheng Li questioned the eunuch chief who was standing a few meters away from the bathtub.

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

"Your Majesty couldn't see the princess before the wedding ritual," Xing-Fu proclaimed.

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

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

"You have no manners," An-Ying Lili said to Sheng Li who was sitting at the counter.

"I'm 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 said.

"What?" An - Ying Lili.

"I don't like to repeat my words twice but for you, I'll repeat them again. Just kill yourself," Sheng Li repeated himself.

"Your orders don't apply to me, Sheng Li," Ying Lili replied firmly.

Sheng Li laughed. "Don't I tell you not to call me by name and honor me? I guess I expected something very wrong from you," Sheng Li said.

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

"For Juyan's people," Sheng Li replied.

Ying Lili laughed. "It seems like the imperial crown prince was afraid of this woman when she didn't even do anything," An-Ying Lili said sarcastically, which made Sheng Li angry but at the same time amused him.

"So, you won't leave me this easily," Sheng Li said as he stood up and waited for Ying Lili's reply.

"I'll leave you when you're going to die!" An-Ying Lili announced with a hateful tone.

"You will probably die before I, Ying Lili," Sheng Li confirmed and grinned.