Does the Crown Prince know what Love is?

Su Licheng bowed to see his father and took a seat in front of him. "Father called me urgently. I wonder what could be the urgent matter," Licheng said and saw Eunuch Wang De step up with a scroll in his hand.

"I got the message from the King of Yu Kingdom. I have not expected my son to break off a woman's marriage," Su Zhenji stated and gestured to Eunuch Wang De to hand the scroll to Licheng.

Licheng opened the scroll and read the message from Xiana's father to his father. He handed the scroll back to Eunuch Wang De and said, "Father already knows my answer. There was no need to discuss it."

Su Zhenji astonishingly looked at his son. "I have a daughter, Licheng. What if tomorrow someone comes to my daughter's marriage and broke her marriage off, I will be devastated," he asserted.

"My matter with Xiana is different, Father. I did not know it would be her marriage," Licheng stated.

"Tell me why have you brought her here?" Su Zhenji asked. "I need to give an explanation to a father," he affirmed.

"The reason is simple. She needs to serve me," Licheng answered his father.

"Xiana is a princess and you are keeping her with you as a servant! Do you think your father is a fool?" Su Zhenji muttered.

"I never meant that, Father," Licheng asserted.

"Then, send Princess Xiana back to the Yu Kingdom," Su Zhenji told his son, "if not, you have to marry her."

Licheng chuckled to hear his father's last statement. "I will not send Xiana anywhere nor will I marry her. I have something bigger to accomplish. I will not let Xiana suffer here. I know how to treat women," he stated.

Su Zhenji furrowed his brows together. "Does the Crown Prince know what love is? A love between a man and a woman," he asked and waited for his son's reply.

"If Father does not have any more important things to speak with me, then I should take my leave," Licheng stated and rose to his feet.

"Crown Prince Licheng, I am the Emperor. So, if I will want Princess Xiana to leave, then I will do that. That's why if you want to keep her with you, then consider marrying her. Whatever deal you two made, the matter has involved me and the King of the neighboring kingdom. You are dismissed," Su Zhenji stated.

Licheng did not say anything after that. Before leaving, he bowed to his father.

~~~~~~~~

Xiana returned to the Crown Prince's manor in the evening after spending time in the royal garden for hours. She was hungry, but at the same time, she did not want to eat. She badly missed her parents and her brother.

While heading toward the servants' quarters, she stopped seeing the chief head of the servants, Lady Huo. "The Crown Prince is waiting for Princess Xiana in his manor," Lady Huo informed her.

"Why? My work shift is over. I do not want to see him," Xiana replied.

"Princess Xiana cannot refuse the order from the Crown Prince," Lady Huo said while keeping her tone polite.

"Tell him not to disturb me. I am tired and want to rest," Xiana said and walked past Lady Huo.

The servants gazed at her as she entered the quarters. She told them not to mind her and continue doing their work. Xiana went to the last bed and lay down on it after removing her shoes. She turned her face toward the wall and stared at it blankly.

Several minutes later, Xiana heard the same annoying voice of Licheng. However, she didn't budge from her place and pretended to be in a deep sleep. She heard how Lady Huo was complaining about her to Licheng.

'Did he leave? Why did everything suddenly turn quiet?' Xiana thought in her mind and opened one of her eyes, but she quickly closed it while smiling a little. 'I will not serve him. If I create trouble for him, he may send me back,' she thought.

Xiana pried open her eyes when she felt the foreign hands around her. Licheng's shining face came before her eyes, who had carried her in his arms.

"I didn't mean to disturb your sleep," Licheng said when Xiana quickly closed her eyes. She was embarrassed now and thought to remain that way.

"Pick the Princess' shoes," Licheng ordered and a servant swiftly complied with the Crown Prince's order.

'This is wrong!' Xiana's inner voice spoke and she again opened her eyes. "Put me down. I can walk," she said with a stern tone. Seeing him staring at her, Xiana ended up shouting at him, "Don't you have ears? Leave me! I can walk on my own two feet."

Licheng chuckled and leaned close to whisper in her ear, "Do you want to argue here in front of all the servants and create more trouble for both of us?" He looked into her eyes.

"I know how to tackle the trouble. Now, leave me," Xiana said while glaring at him.

"Fine, Princess!" Licheng let go of her and she with a loud thud fell on the thin mattress on the bed. Everyone present there got worried for Xiana, but did not dare to speak in front of the Crown Prince.

Xiana whimpered in pain and shot a glare at him.

"Lady Huo, I do not want to hear any rumors in the morning. So, make sure that words do not go out," Licheng stated while keeping his gaze on Xiana.

"Follow me if you do not want me to carry you," Licheng asserted and walked out of the quarter.

Xiana sat on the bed and took the shoes from the servant. She wore them and went behind Licheng. "I will teach him a lesson," she mumbled and ran behind him. She wanted to throw a punch at his face for treating her like trash.

Licheng abruptly stopped in his way when Xiana came in front of him out of the blue.

"What happened?" Licheng asked when Xiana ran toward him. She extended her fist out to punch at his face and a smile formed on her lips when she reached his pretty face.