You want to marry her

After an hour-long conversation with his father, Licheng went to see his mother. In the Empress' manor, he found his younger sister, Princess Ning too.

"You have grown up into a beautiful young lady, Sister Ning," Licheng said, looking at his sister, who told him she was upset with him.

Empress Yunxian told Princess Ning to greet her eldest brother properly.

"I don't want to!" Princess Ning said and stomped her foot on the floor. She walked out in anger since she didn't want to speak anything with her brother. She still remembered the day he left the palace without any trace. She cried for days for Licheng.

"I guess, Sister Ning is upset with me," Licheng said and looked at his mother.

"Princess Ning has forgotten her manners. I will talk to her later and punish her for this kind of behavior," Empress Yunxian said and told Licheng to take a seat.

"Mother should not punish her daughter. Sister Ning will only become more rebellious. Since she is upset with me, as her eldest brother, I will apologize to her later," Licheng said and sat on the broad chair.

"Fine. Since the Crown Prince says so, I will not punish Princess Ning," Empress Yunxian stated and asked him if he felt better from the long journey.

"I am not tired anymore, Mother," Licheng said when the court lady came with a maidservant. "Her Majesty has made these sweets, especially for the Crown Prince," she informed Licheng.

He picked one sweet from the bowl and ate that. "I missed this taste," Licheng looked at his mother and thanked her for preparing his favorite sweets for him.

Empress Yunxian smiled at her son. "You should eat more," she said.

"Later," Licheng said and the court lady put the bowl on the table beside the broad chair on which he was seated.

"I will not ask the Crown Prince why he ran away from the palace because he would never answer me," Empress Yunxian said. From a young age, Licheng was a quiet child. He never shared anything with his mother. Empress Yunxian, instead, was interested in knowing about his relationship with Xiana.

"There is nothing special. Do I have to explain it one more time, Mother?" Licheng asked her.

"Crown Prince Licheng must be aware of the woman whom he is supposed to marry. I want the Crown Prince to get ready for his betrothal ceremony," Empress Yunxian asserted.

Licheng smiled at his mother. "I have not returned to get married, Mother," he said.

"I will not listen to the Crown Prince this time. He was supposed to get engaged when he was fourteen. Instead, he delayed it and when he turned fifteen, he disappeared," Empress Yunxian said with a bit of anger in her tone.

"I apologize for running away, Mother," Licheng said. "I request Mother not to prepare for any betrothal ceremony because I am not ready for this. Also, I will marry the woman whom I like," he asserted.

"I do not like Princess Yu Xiana," Empress Yunxian stated.

Licheng was bewildered by that statement.

"I know you want to marry her," Empress Yunxian stated.

"Then, Mother is at a wrong conclusion. Since Mother does not have anything good to talk about with her son, I take my leave," Licheng said and stood up.

"Crown Prince Licheng cannot fool my eyes. He returned to the capital after seven years with a woman. What should I expect with this?" Empress Yunxian asked him. "I have so many things to ask my son, but he always stays silent. He thinks I do not care for him," she lowered her voice as she didn't want to be angry at Licheng.

"Mother does need to expect anything. Moreover, I never thought Mother never cared for me," Licheng said, keeping his tone calm. "Forgive me for giving immense pain to Mother all these years. However, it was necessary for me to leave the palace," he gave a brief explanation.

Empress Yunxian gazed at her son and walked up to him. She hugged him and caressed his arms. "You have returned and that is more than enough for me," she said.

"I do not want to marry anyone right after my arrival. I know for Mother the Kingdom is important, but she should worry for me first. When the right time comes, I will get married," Licheng said.

"I understand," Empress Yunxian said and pulled away. She touched his face and beheld it for a while. "Whom did you fight with? Why did such a huge scar run over your eye?" She worriedly asked.

"Long story, Mother," Licheng replied.

"I will ask the physician to check it. Perhaps he will help this scar vanish," Empress Yunxian said with hopeful eyes.

"The Royal Physician won't be able to do that," Licheng said and he lowered the hand of his mother.

"Why don't you tell your mother about this long story? I am free to listen to you," Empress Yunxian said.

Licheng smiled and said, "I have to meet the others too, Mother. My sister is upset with me. I could not see Brother Xuanzi in the morning either. And I need to meet Brother Yuan too." Licheng deviated his mother's attention from that scar.

Empress Yunxian nodded her head. "I have thought of organizing an event on your return," she shared with her son.

"There is no need to do that, Mother," Licheng said. He never liked such occasions, where he had to sit for long hours just to watch a group of people dance or perform other arts.

Empress Yunxian didn't force him and said, "I wanted to share my happiness."

"Mother can with other ways. She can celebrate this with the other Royal family members," Licheng suggested to her. "I take my leave here," he said and bowed to his mother before heading out.

~~~~~~~

Prince Xuanzi was reading something on the bamboo slip while standing in the pavilion. Next to him, Prince Yuan was present.

"Is Brother Licheng still the same? Quiet and calm?" Yuan asked. He was too enthusiastic to know everything about Licheng.

"I do not know, Yuan," Xuanzi replied. "I could not see Brother Licheng in the morning," he said. He again recalled Yu Xiana and got irked.

"Your studies will finish soon, then you can help me with the work," Xuanzi told Yuan and turned to look at his brother.

"I am looking forward to it, Second Brother," Yuan said with a smile.

"I didn't expect we would meet at the same place where I saw you two seven years ago," Licheng pronounced after entering the pavilion.

Both the princes turned to look at their eldest brother. "First Brother!" Yuan ran to him and hugged him tightly. Xuanzi also marched toward Licheng and waited for Yuan to pull away.

"Brother Licheng is so tall," Yuan said as he pulled away. With his glistening eyes, he met Licheng's gaze. That scar again troubled both the princes. However, before they could ask about it, Licheng told them not to pay heed to that.

"Xuanzi, thank you for looking after everything in the palace," Licheng said and placed his hand on his shoulder. He placed his arm around Xuanzi and hugged him once.

Yuan held Licheng's arm, taking him by surprise. "Brother Licheng, I can feel the biceps. Brother Licheng must have worked out a lot," Yuan mumbled and kept smiling. Licheng laughed when he heard his youngest brother's reaction.

"Brother Licheng, were you well?" Xuanzi suddenly asked the question.

Licheng saw the concern in his second brother's eyes. "I was," he replied.

"How could Brother Licheng leave all of us? Did he never miss us? Because I missed him a lot. We all did. However, I do not know whether I should get attached to him or not," Xuanzi stated. Their bond was strong, but what had happened seven years ago still gave them pain.

"I will never leave, Xuanzi. I cannot go into the depth of my sudden disappearance because that part saddens me too," Licheng stated.

Xuanzi smiled at Licheng. "I am happy to hear this, Brother Licheng," he said.