Either marry her or free her [Bonus chapter]

"How could you speak so wrongfully with your mother?" Xiana scolded Licheng. "Her Majesty wanted to know the answers. Instead of explaining to her, you showed your rudeness," she said.

Eunuch Jize was surprised to find that Licheng allowed Xiana to speak with him so casually. Licheng asked Jize to leave and sat down on the chair. He lifted his head and looked into Xiana's eyes, "I explained to my mother about this yesterday. However, she does not pay heed to what I requested of her. You can leave and resume your work."

Xiana fisted her palm and hit him right below his shoulder and dashed to the other side.

Licheng glared at her, "What was that?"

"You should be happy that I did not punch you," Xiana pronounced and ran out of the chamber.

She reached the yard and picked up the broom. She swept the ground while murmuring, "He does not show affection at all. His mother wants him to settle down with a nice lady, but he has to show his ego in that too." It took her twenty minutes to clean the entire yard and she heaved a sigh of relief.

She went toward the stairs and sat on them to rest for a while. Ju Banruo came to her and waved her hand at Xiana. "Why is the Princess sitting here?" Banruo asked and she looked around before sitting beside Xiana.

"I was sweeping this yard. I got punished," Xiana replied and showed her the broom which she had kept beside her.

"It must be difficult for the princess to adjust like us," Banruo said.

"Not at all," Xiana refused to accept that she did not like such kinds of work.

"His Royal Highness's nature is unknown to us. No one knows what he has become in the past seven years," Banruo stated.

"What was he like before he left the palace?" Xiana inquired.

"I have heard that the Crown Prince was a calm child since childhood," Banruo answered. "I heard that the princess had seen the Crown Prince for the first time six months ago." She asked Xiana if that was true.

"It is true," Xiana admitted. "He was the same that time too as he is today," she asserted, "only the scar has appeared on his pretty face."

"I should leave, Princess Xiana. If someone will catch me slacking off, then I may get punished," Banruo said and walked away. Xiana also stood from her place and put the broom in the storeroom. She washed her hands and asked a servant to show her where Prince Yuan's manor was.

Xiana found out Yuan was not in the manor, but was in the practice ground with his elder brother. She reached there somehow and ascended the stairs to the pavilion, where Yuan was present. To her surprise, she found three more men there.

"What are you doing here?" Xuanzi saw Xiana and furrowed his brows together.

"Xiana, you got free," Yuan said with a delighted face and told Xuanzi that he invited her.

"May we know who this woman is?" One of the men asked, whom Xiana did not recognize.

"This is the Princess of Yu Kingdom, Yu Xiana," Yuan pronounced. "Xiana, they are our three cousins. The right one is Su Haibing, the middle one is Su Xufeng and the left one is Su Yinzhen," he introduced them to Xiana.

"Let's resume where we were," Xuanzi said and picked up an arrow.

"Xiana, will you do archery with us?" Yuan asked her.

"Sure!" Xiana said with a big smile. Yuan held her hand and took her to the front.

"Brothers, Xiana is well trained in all this. So, she will be on my team," Yuan stated and handed the bow to Xiana.

"I will be in Brother Xuanzi's team," Xufeng said and quickly went to Xuanzi's side. Yinzhen also went to Xuanzi and told them they might get defeated.

"Why?" Xiana was curious to know.

"Because Brother Xuanzi is unbeatable in archery," Yinzhen asserted. Xuanzi proudly smiled and narrowly gazed at Xiana.

"Yuan, you made a mistake by taking her on your team," Xuanzi stated and asked Heibing to join Xiana's team.

"Prince Xuanzi, let's make a bet," Xiana said and turned to face him.

"That will be interesting!" Yuan pronounced.

"The losing team will have to fulfill the wish of the winning team," Xiana affirmed.

"Fine," Xuanzi readily accepted the challenge and warned Xiana he would not be easy on her.

"Prince Xuanzi should give his best because I will make sure that my team wins," Xiana said with a confident smile.

"Let's see then," Xuanzi said and returned the smile to her.

~~~~~~~~

"I looked through the state policies, Father. I think we need a change in them. When will be the next court session?" Licheng asked his father.

"It will resume after two days," Emperor Zhenji said. "What changes do you think should happen?" He asked.

"I have prepared a list of such policies which in my opinion if changed can bring better results not only in terms of economy but prosperity as well," Licheng affirmed. He stood up from his place and handed a vertically folded sheet of paper to his father.

Su Zhenji opened it and started reading. He smiled and told Licheng he was not active in his duties for a long time, yet his observation toward the governance matters is remarkable," Su Zhenji said. "The Crown Prince can definitely raise these policies during the court session among the ministers," he gave the permission to Licheng.

"Thank you, Father. Since I have carried this crown on my head, I cannot neglect my duties anymore," Licheng stated.

Su Zhenji agreed with him and placed the paper on the side table and asked Licheng to go on a walk with him. Licheng readily agreed and followed the Emperor outside.

"The Crown Prince did not tell me what reply I should send to Princess Xiana's father," Su Zhenji said. The large umbrella above their heads shielded them from the bright sun rays.

"I thought King Xiangkong would come here," Licheng stated.

"He may come. Perhaps King Xiangkong is waiting for a reply from me," Su Zhenji stated. "So, what reply should I send him?" He asked again from his son.

"I would like Father to summon King Xiangkong here," Licheng said.

"I wonder what you will do, Licheng. I am a peace-loving king. I do not believe in bloodshed," Su Zhenji stated.

"I am not going to kill the King, Father," Licheng said. "If he comes here, it will be better for me to explain to him why his daughter cannot leave." He turned a bit serious.

"Marriage is a way," Su Zhenji opined.

"Father, that is not the only way. I know better ways," Licheng affirmed.

"What better ways the Crown Prince know? I would like to know," Su Zhenji curiously waited for his son's response.

"I will find out," Licheng assured his father.

"I told you yesterday as well. You cannot keep Princess Xiana by your side for your entire life. Either marry her or free her. If you cannot choose marriage, then I have to free her after a certain time," Su Zhenji cleared to Licheng.

"Marrying her will not end the problems. She is in love with the General of her kingdom. I cannot order her to marry me," Licheng opined.

"Then, let her go after you accomplish for which you have brought Xiana here," Su Zhenji advised him.

Licheng knitted his brows together and turned silent.