Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Nianzu was looking at his creations, which he had done for his mother. Every art, every poem, and every delightful event he had recorded. His sorrow was incomprehensible.

Chuntao placed her hand on his shoulder and he looked up to meet her gaze. "I feel empty, Chun." His hands circled her waist and he rested his temple on her abdomen. Chuntao caressed his hair while crying.

"You should not be crying at this time. I am not a good husband either," he said when heard Chuntao's weeping. He pulled himself away and pulled out a chair for her. "Have a seat," he said. Chuntao settled on the chair. Nianzu wiped the tears from her cheeks and told her not to cry.

"How can I not?" She asked. Her eyes were red.

Nianzu wiped his face and held Chuntao's hands. "Chun, I don't want the life inside you getting affected by this. Whatever a mother feels, her child feels too. It's the first month, but you need to be careful," he said, forcing a smile on his lips.

"I will try to," Chuntao assured him.

"I have conflicting emotions at the moment. My mother committed many crimes to isolate power to herself. On the other hand, I feel bad that because of her family status, she bore the torture. I know she wanted it for me. But she forgot that I never wanted it. I regretted listening to her and letting her stay here. If we had been out of this place, today I would not have to see all this. She tried to take away your lives: Brother Sheng, Sister Lili, and their unborn kids; lastly Brother Lei Wanxi. Why did she have to act like Weng Wei until her last breath? I hate her but at the same time, I cannot stop loving her."

He looked at the table before him. "She should have at least thought about me once. How am I going to live with all this?" His eyes once again filled with tears.

"Probably, she was in regret too. But she refused to accept that. One must not hate the dead. Let the negative thoughts about your mother go from your mind. You told me that forgiveness is the biggest treasure one can have." Chuntao made him understand.

"I don't know. I am confused and anguished," Nianzu said and leaned back on his chair. "She was the one who taught me to be good to everyone, yet she's the one who changed her ideologies later. I don't know how to meet the eyes of the Emperor, whom my mother said was such a big thing. I sincerely apologized to him, but it feels he is hurt the most by her after me," Nianzu deduced.

~~~~~~

Lei Wanxi waited for Nianzu in the waiting chamber. He had finished his tea, yet the Fourth Prince didn't come to see him. Disappointed, he left telling Eunuch Chung that he would come later.

He never feared anything, but today seeing a person, who seemed harmless to him until today, made him frightened. He reached the Eastern Pavilion and missed the old days when everything was so lively. The family was reducing day by day and it was concerning.

"Brother Wanxi looks troubled," Weng Yu said and came forward. He stood by his side and asked him the reason for his upset face.

"Brother Yu, did you not feel scared seeing how internally we are weak?" Lei Wanxi asked him.

"After my elder brother died, I no longer feel it." Lei Wanxi was amused to hear his answer. "Brother Wanxi, bad people are the bane of society. Their end is necessary. So, mourning for them is useless. I learned it," Weng Yu said.

"Ahh, I didn't mean that," Lei Wanxi cleared him.

​ "I understood what the Sixth Brother meant. He doesn't want anyone in the family to fight among themselves," Weng Yu stated. "The thoughts that our mothers possess are different from us. Ultimately, if you are powerful, the people will bow before you. We cannot make everyone understand. My elder brother didn't understand, so giving him a death sentence was inevitable. The family isn't shrinking, Brother Wanxi. It is just there's no room for bad ones," he proclaimed.

Lei Wanxi was surprised to hear Weng Yu's thoughts. He could not believe it was the same Weng Yu, who used to get scared easily.

"My younger brother has become mature." Lei Wanxi embraced him and patted his back. "I am so proud of you, Brother Yu," he said with a smile.

They stepped back and looked at the cloudy sky. "What do you think, Brother Yu? Will snowfall happen? This year the fall is a little late," Lei Wanxi stated.

"The temperature does not seem colder. I think it will take a few more days, Brother Wanxi," Weng Yu answered. Lei Wanxi hung his arm around his shoulder and agreed with him.

"Wanxi!"

They both turned upon hearing Sheng Li's voice, who walked toward them. They both bowed before him.

"What happened, Brother Sheng? Why is he here when he should be resting?" Lei Wanxi said worriedly.

"I am good. I was exhausted because of the long travel. Tell me, what does first snowfall with your lover mean?" Sheng Li asked him.

"What?" Lei Wanxi exclaimed.

"Lili asked me to find out. She was angry that I didn't know," Sheng Li said.

Lei Wanxi smiled brightly. "Brother Sheng, it means you will stay together for long," he told him the meaning.

"How could Brother Sheng not know about this?" Weng Yu ended up smiling.

Sheng Li looked at him. "Did you also know?" he furrowed his brows together in displeasure.

"Yes, Brother Sheng. Everyone knows about it," Weng Yu answered and smiled.

"Brother Sheng knows well how to annoy Sister Lili. That's why their love is so strong," Lei Wanxi teased Sheng Li. "Brother Sheng can make Sister Lili's first snowfall special. It has been long since Brother Sheng openly showered his love for Sister Lili," he stated with a grin.

"You are right. I need to prepare something good for Lili. Shall I go to our private residence for a week? The hilly mountain's picturesque view will delight her," Sheng Li stated and thanked Lei Wanxi for giving him the idea.