Chapter 566 - Kiwis
Nianzu looked at the house for the last time before turning towards the carriage. "Your Highness, please get into the carriage. We already are an hour late," Xiao Zhan asserted. Nianzu hummed and stepped towards the carriage when Ru Gaoying and the others from the bookshop reached to meet him.
"Master Ru," Nianzu bowed his head.
"What is the Fourth Prince doing? He is embarrassing me," Ru Gaoying stated. "If I had known that you are the Fourth Prince, then I might have not let his highness do those petty chores. Forgive me, Your Highness, if I ever treated you badly," Ru Gaoying humbly said.
"Master Ru, thank you for giving me work. Your wages helped me a lot. Also, you always treated me as my real self. I am glad that I got to work under your guidance. Master Ru owes me a big favor, and I will return it. If you ever need anything, just remember me once. I will surely help you out," Nianzu gave him his words.
"Your Highness, you worked in my small bookshop. That's enough for me," Ru Gaoying stated. Nianzu smiled. He then looked at Quan Bo and Ye Fang.
Quan Bo apologized to him for yesterday's incident when Nianzu hugged him. "It is fine. It was not your fault. It would have been great if we had wine together," he pulled away and peered at Ye Fang, who had lowered his eyes.
"Forgive me for recklessly pronouncing your name," Ye Fang said as he slapped his mouth.
"Stop it. I was supposed not to reveal my identity. I am glad that you all treated me as your friend, a person like you all. I will miss you all," Nianzu affirmed. Ye Fang looked into his eyes and turned teary eyes.
"His Highness will never return," He asked.
"I wish I could. But it doesn't mean I cannot visit you all. I can come anytime, and the same goes for you. You all can visit me any time," Nianzu asserted, looking at those three. He put his hand inside the pocket and took out his Royal Seal that he had left in his chamber.
"Keep it, Master Ru," Nianzu handed it to Ru Gaoying, who refused to take it.
"Your Highness, I am an old man. I cannot keep such a precious thing with me," asserted Ru Gaoying. "This is a Royal Seal, and it will be safe with you only," he proclaimed. Nianzu put his hand down when Xiao Zhan once again reminded him about the departure.
Nianzu stepped back and then got inside the carriage. Xiao Zhan closed the door and went to his horse which was at the front. He hopped on it and pulled the reins on it. The horse started to run. The chauffeur also started the carriage.
Nianzu looked outside the window and saw how people were running after the carriage. He could not believe that the people started to love him. Soon, he lost sight of the villagers and closed the window.
He looked at the seal in his hand and then put it inside his pocket. Tilting his head towards Chuntao, he said, "The people did not want us to leave the village."
"Hmm."
Nianzu put his hand around Chuntao's arm and drew her closer to him. "Chun, are you happy?" He asked her. "Your happiness is important to me."
"My happiness lies in my husband's happiness," Chuntao replied.
"Same is with me. In the Palace, you will always be my priority. So, do not get dejected if anyone makes bad remarks about you and your status. Though no one will try to, the Emperor's Consorts might try to. Also, a few ministers might express their disagreement with our relationship. I need to take care of that too," Nianzu explained to her a few upcoming problems in their way.
"Nianzu, I have faith in you. I won't mind those taunts. You consider me your wife from your heart, that's what matters the most for me," affirmed Chuntao.
"Thank you, Chun. Those are only the possibilities. It does not mean they will happen for sure," Nianzu replied and grasped her hand. "I am glad that you did not step back even in those times. You understood me and followed me wherever I took you."
He brought her hand near his lips and kissed her knuckles.
~~~~~
Ying Lili came back to her chamber after meeting Bai Yaling. She was with her for half an hour but Bai Yaling did not utter a single word. How could she? She turned into a widow in just a month. Even just the thought of it making her sad.
She sat on the mattress when the maidservant handed her the water glass. Ying Lili took it and sipped the water.
"Your Highness, the Crown Will arrive shortly. Does Her Highness need to change into night clothes?" Court Lady Xu asked.
"No," Ying Lili replied. "Court Lady Xu, do you also think that remarriage of a widow is impossible?" She asked.
"Yes, Your Highness. A widow cannot get married. That cannot even happen in the dream let alone in reality," Court Lady Xu opined.
"Why? A man gets married if for any reason his wife dies. Then, why can a woman not marry?" Ying Lili questioned.
"Because if a woman is a widow, then she needs to remain loyal to her deceased husband until her last breath," stated Court Lady Xu. Ying Lili looked into the water before sipping it again.
Sheng Li entered the chamber. Court Lady Xu and the maidservant stepped away and lowered their heads. Ying Lili put the glass on the table and stood up.
"You did not come during lunchtime," Ying Lili said.
"Court Lady Xu, send the Kiwis that Crown Princess's aunt has sent from Juyan," Sheng Li ordered her. Ying Lili was astonished to hear that.
"Aunt has sent Kiwis?" Ying Lili asked again.
"Hmm. They reached in the late afternoon," Sheng Li replied to Ying Lili. Court Lady Xu went out of the chamber while the maidservant picked the glass, put it on the tray, and left.
Ying Lili went towards the back of Sheng Li and helped him in removing the overcoat. "How is she? Did she send any message?" Ying Lili asked.
"Yes. She is doing well. Her two sons are preparing for the Civil Services for next year," Sheng Li replied as he extended his arms out. Ying Lili gently removed the overcoat and handed it to another maidservant standing beside her.
"Leave," she told her, who did so.
Sheng Li turned to her and handed her the letter. "I ended up reading it. Here," he put it on her palm. Ying Lili opened the letter and started to read it. A smile formed on her lips. It was a heartwarming message to her.
She folded it back and put it on the bedside table. "Do you like Kiwis?" She asked.
"Not much," Sheng Li replied.
"Will you eat with me?" She asked.
"Hmm."
"Why didn't you come during lunchtime? Brother Wanxi and I waited for you," Ying Lili said.
"Wanxi had his lunch with you!" Sheng Li amusingly asked.
"Yes. We ate when Eunuch Xing-Fu informed us that you had gone outside," Ying Lili replied and put her arms around her neck. Sheng Li put his arm around her waist.
"I had some work in the Capital Bureau Office. That's why I sent the message through Xing-Fu," Sheng Li asserted.
"Hmm." Ying Lili pulled her hands back and put them down. "Let's sit on the bed. Court Lady Xu will come in a while.." Sheng Li had let go of his arm from around her waist and went to the bed with her.