"I heard the other day in the Court, Minister Gu Zhenya raised the matter of who should be the next Crown Prince? But Prince Nianzu refused again. Sister Hui shall talk with the Prince regarding this as it concerns his future,

" Consort Ju Fen proclaimed and waited for Deng Hui's response.

"I talked with the Prince but he is not interested,

" Deng Hui simply replied.

A maidservant came inside and informed the Empress about the arrival of the Crown Princess.

"Send her in,

" Deng Hui commanded. The maidservant bowed and walked out. After a while, the Crown Princess came there and greeted all of them. She took her seat and heard Deng Hui.

"Crown Princess, my son is going to marry soon. The Princess of Huan Province has arrived here. She might be resting in her chamber at the moment. I want you to make her aware of the Palace environment,

" Deng Hui politely said.

"Crown Princess, she has qualities like you. Earlier, when she came to the Imperial Palace, she was wearing the clothes of a man and had a sword in her hand. Such women are rare to see,

" Consort Ju Fen stated, and praised Zhu Lin a little. Ying Lili smiled upon hearing about Zhu Lin.

"I will meet her after my morning meals, Your Majesty,

" Ying Lili assured her. There was a doubt in her mind regarding the marriage. Sheng Li had informed her that Prince Nianzu loved Chuntao. Was he going with this marriage because of his status? Ying Lili wondered.

"The Crown Princess shall leave then,

" Deng Hui asserted. Ying Lili bowed and left the chamber of the Empress. She went straight to Zhenzhu Inn. After having a light breakfast, she took the medicine and went to the chamber where Huan Zhu Lin was staying, leaving Court Lady Xu behind in the Zhenzhu Inn.

Zhu Lin was writing something over a paper when she was informed by the maidservant about the Crown Princess's arrival. She put the brush on the stand and stood up from the chair when Ying Lili entered.

Zhu Lin bowed her head. Both of her hands were on the front, resting slightly above the belly over the overcoat, and were joined together.

"Good Morning, Crown Princess. I am Huan Zhu Lin, the only Princess of the Huan Province.

" Zhu Lin greeted Ying Lili with a brief introduction.

"You have a beautiful name. 'Zhu' means vermillion and 'Lin' means Sun Goddess. Please raise your head, Princess Zhu Lin.

" Upon hearing the meaning of her name, Zhu Lin lifted her head only to meet the two beautiful eyes. She had heard right! The Crown Princess had charming eyes and her face was flawless. She was called a Heavenly Jade Beauty for this reason only.

"The Crown Princess is beautiful. I have heard from the people but today it is cleared.

" Zhu Lin could not remain quiet without praising Ying Lili, who passed a smile to her and thanked her for the compliment.

"Have a seat, your highness,

" Zhu Lin stated and removed the paper, which was placed over the desk. Ying Lili found Zhu Lin was writing a letter for her father. She took the seat and gestured to Zhu Lin to sit.

"I think I interrupted Princess Lin.

" Zhu Lin confusedly looked at Ying Lili, who continued,

"You shall finish the letter first.

"

"I will do that later, Crown Princess,

" Zhu Lin affirmed.

"Just finish it, Princess Lin, because I am going to take your precious time for the entire day,

" Ying Lili proclaimed. Zhu Lin smiled and nodded. She picked the brush and pulled the paper back to her side. Stroking the brush on the paper, she wrote a message for her father. Once she was done, she put it aside to let it dry.

"The Empress has told me everything related to the Palace. Forgive me for not welcoming you yesterday,

" Ying Lili politely apologized.

"It's fine, your highness. You do not need to apologize. I was informed that the Crown Prince has gone out of the Capital for some work, so it is natural that the Crown Princess must be upset,

" Zhu Lin proclaimed. Ying Lili smiled and agreed with her. Before the Crown Princess could speak, they both heard the voice of the Sixth Prince.

"Why can't I meet the Princess? I have to tell her that she cannot marry my elder Fourth Brother,

" Lei Wanxi shouted at the maidservant. Ying Lili and Zhu Lin stood up from their respective chairs, walking out to see the commotion created by the Sixth Prince.

"Brother Wanxi, what is going on?

" Ying Lili asked with a raised brow. Lei Wanxi was bewildered to see Ying Lili with Zhu Lin.

"Sister Lili, this woman yesterday put my life in danger. I urge you to help me and cancel her marriage with Brother Nianzu,

" Lei Wanxi requested Ying Lili, who was befuddled to hear him.

"I already apologized for that matter,

" Zhu Lin monotonously said.

"LIAR!

" Lei Wanxi loudly said.

"Sister Lili, she is lying. The sword was hanging here.

" Lei Wanxi pointed his index finger on his neck.

"That man was going to kill me, Sister Lili just because of her,

" Lei Wanxi stated and glared at Zhu Lin.

"Language, Brother Wanxi. Since when the Sixth Brother is talking this way with a woman. Apologize to Princess Lin,

" Ying Lili scolded Lei Wanxi.

"Sister Lili, I will talk this way only with her. Even Sister Lili does not care about my life. I am missing Brother Sheng. He would have broken the hands of the person who harmed me by now, without even asking me.

" Lei Wanxi was enraged and without listening to Ying Lili further, he walked away.

She turned to Zhu Lin to apologize for the behavior of the Sixth Prince.

"Your highness, please do not apologize. It was sort of my fault. But I did not know that a Prince would be weak,

" Zhu Lin asserted.

"I will apologize to the Sixth Prince later,

" Zhu Lin proclaimed.

"May I know what happened between you two?

" Ying Lili asked.

"You can tell me while we two walk,

" She added. Zhu Lin nodded her head, but before that, she told the maidservant to send the message which she had put on the table to her father.

Ying Lili and Zhu Lin then left to roam around the entire Palace. While walking, Zhu Lin narrated the entire incident to Ying Lili, who understood the anger of the Sixth Prince.

"Princess should have been careful,

" Ying Lili advised Zhu Lin.

"I thought they would not catch me and I did not know that the one from whom I seeked the help was the Sixth Prince. As soon as I found out, I made sure to save the Sixth Prince,

" Zhu Lin explained her point to Ying Lili, who nodded.

They stood by the Practice Grounds where Weng Yu was practicing with the First Prince.

"Here only Princes can come but the Crown Prince made an exception for me as I love all this.

"

"I also love this, so will I be allowed here? I hope so else I would have to ask the Emperor for permission,

" Zhu Lin stated.

"You will be allowed, Princess Lin,

" Ying Lili said with assurance.