You both get married [Bonus chapter]

"I don't want to eat with the First Brother," Su Ning refused to go with Xuanzi. It annoyed him that Licheng sent her second brother to fetch her.

"Su Ning, Brother Licheng has returned after seven years. You should not act like this. We all were upset when he suddenly disappeared. And more than us, Brother Licheng must have suffered." Xuanzi tried to make Su Ning understand not to blame Licheng anymore.

Su Ning remained quiet for a while.

"Su Ning, what are you thinking? We got our eldest brother after seven years. He was all alone at a place that we have no idea about. I am two years younger than Brother Licheng and I have spent a good amount of time with him. He was always quiet but he was a great big brother to me. Let's try to understand him, Su Ning. He needs us," Xuanzi requested his sister. Su Ning was the most stubborn among those four siblings.

Xuanzi, upon getting no response from Su Ning, decided to leave.

"Brother Licheng could have told us what problems he underwent. He got everything in the palace. We are the royals. There is nothing, which we cannot get," Su Ning argued and looked into Xuanzi's eyes.

"We were young, Su Ning, especially you. He was in his teenage years. Give Brother Licheng time. His love for us never diminished. I sensed it through his way of talking. Let's not make it difficult for our elder brother," Xuanzi politely said. Su Ning hummed and gave a simple nod. Xuanzi got happy that he finally convinced Su Ning and he left with his sister to the Crown Prince's manor.

In the Crown Prince's manor, Yuan asked a lot of questions from Licheng. However, Licheng gave answers to limited questions only.

"Brother Licheng, do you remember Miss Ji Anning?" Yuan asked.

"Who?" Licheng inquired. "Sadly, I have no memory of this name," he asserted.

"How could the First Brother forget about her? Miss Ji was going to engage with you, Brother Licheng," Yuan replied with full excitement.

"I see," Licheng looked at the entrance to the pavilion, wondering when his sister would come with Xuanzi.

"Brother Licheng, are you not excited to see Miss Ji Anning? She will soon come to see my brother as soon as this news about his return falls in her ears," Yuan asserted.

"Yuan, I am not interested in this type of talk, especially when it is related to a woman whom I do not know," Licheng clarified to Yuan, who pursed his lips together.

"I thought Brother Licheng would marry her," Yuan murmured.

"My dear brother, I have not returned to get married. I have something bigger to accomplish. Also, I do not want to marry the woman of my mother's choice," Licheng cleared it to Yuan. It was necessary because the earlier this fact all his family members found out, the better it would be.

"I understand," Yuan said. He saw Licheng rising to his feet and also heard the voice of Xuanzi. He also stood up from his place and smiled to see Su Ning.

Licheng walked to them and thanked Su Ning for joining them for lunch. Su Ning stepped toward Licheng and hugged him. "I missed the First Brother. I hope he never leaves us," she said.

Licheng placed his hand on her head and caressed it. "I will never leave any of you. Thank you for forgiving me, Sister Ning," he said.

Yuan ran toward them and side-hugged both of them. Licheng extended his left arm to his back and looked at Xuanzi. He also came toward them and the four of them had a hug after a very long time. Eunuch Jize smiled to see the siblings' love which was still as strong as it was seven years ago.

After they all pulled away, Licheng asked them to take their respective seats for lunch around the table. Eunuch Jize instructed the servants, who served the meals to them.

Licheng was happy eating lunch with his siblings. He always thought of the day when he would be with them and enjoy his meals.

~~~~~~~

Xiana was sitting on the pond's one side on the bridge walkway and looked at her reflection on the water's surface. She cursed her fate to take such a bad turn. She would have been living a peaceful married life with Zhi Yawen, but God did not want it to happen.

"What is Princess Xiana doing in this part of the palace?" The Emperor's voice fell in her ears and she immediately stood up from her place. She bowed to him and apologized for sneaking into the royal garden.

Emperor Zhenji looked at the Eunuch behind him, who understood the gesture. He walked away along with the servants.

"Princess Xiana didn't answer me," Su Zhenji stated.

"I wanted to relax my mind, Your Majesty," Xiana replied.

"I got the message from the Princess' father," Su Zhenji informed her. Xiana lifted her eyes to look at the Emperor. "My son broke off your marriage and I apologize to you for that. I know such an important day matters a lot for a woman and her parents. I will talk to Su Licheng about this. However, I cannot guarantee Princess Xiana's return," he explained to her.

"It's alright, Your Majesty. This was my promise to Prince Licheng when I took his help. Somewhere, I was responsible for my own fate," Xiana asserted. She was thankful to the Emperor, who at least wanted to talk to Su Licheng about keeping Xiana in their Empire.

"I admire Princess Xiana's outlook toward any situation. Six months ago when she came to me, I thought she could sway my son's heart. I had heard about your battle skills from many of the nobles and somewhere, I wanted to send a proposal of marriage to your father regarding your hand for my son. However, Su Licheng was not in the palace, so it was never possible. If Su Licheng refuses to let Princess Xiana go, I will make sure you both get married," Su Zhenji expressed his thoughts.

Yu Xiana smiled a little and shook her head. "Forgive me, but I turn down this offer, Your Majesty. I love a man in my kingdom. Perhaps, someday I will succeed in making Prince Licheng set me free. Then, I can marry the man whom I was supposed to marry." Xiana was not supposed to say this. She had told Zhi Yawen to move on in his life. However, her inner voice told her Zhi Yawen might wait for her the same way she would wait for the day to get united with him.

"I would like to advise Princess Xiana. Time is powerful. No one knows what can happen in the future. If Su Licheng refuses to let you go, reconsider my offer. Your lover may move on after a while and it may hurt you badly if you remain stuck in his memories. It is a piece of advice as a father to her daughter," Su Zhenji said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiana said and smiled a little, "but Licheng is the last person on this earth I will like to get married with. Apologies. Prince Licheng," she corrected.

Su Zhenji laughed aloud to hear that. "I understand. Princess Xiana has a bright personality. I want her to stay the same. My son will need it," Su Zhenji asserted and smiled at her. Xiana was a bit confused to hear the Emperor and wondered why he said that. Before she could ask him about it, Su Zhenji walked away.