I will marry you if you do that

Licheng ignored Xiana's warning and reached his manor. Eunuch Jize bowed to the Crown Prince, who asked him about the flute which he used to play.

Eunuch Jize was surprised to hear that Licheng wanted to play the flute. "His Royal Highness stopped playing the flute at the age of thirteen. I wonder if he still remembers how to play the flute," Eunuch Jize said with a dubious expression.

"I started playing the flute three years ago, Eunuch Jize," Licheng said and stepped down the stairs to reach the rock garden. He sat on the base of the rock and looked into the water at his reflection. Eunuch Jize bowed and left to bring a flute for Licheng.

Ten minutes later, Eunuch Jize reached there and handed the flute to Licheng.

"Thank you," Licheng said and told Eunuch Jize to leave. Eunuch Jize complied with the command of the Crown Prince and went to the patio before heading out of the chamber.

Licheng moved his fingers over the flute and recalled his childhood days when he would spend hours on the same rock, playing the flute. He brought the flute near his mouth and blew the air in the holes. The seamless movements of his fingers produced soothing melodies. After a few minutes, he closed his eyes as he got immersed in the tunes emancipated from the flute.

Xiana, who was present in her room, and was lying on the mattress, sat up on the mattress and knitted his brows. "Who is playing the flute?" She mumbled and put her feet on the floor. She wore her shoes and opened the door. Walking out, she stopped a servant and asked if she could hear the flute sound.

"Yes, Princess Xiana," the servant replied.

"Who is playing it?" Xiana asked.

"I do not know, Princess Xiana," the servant replied and went ahead with the huge basket in her hand.

Xiana decided to follow the sound and to her surprise, she reached outside Licheng's chamber. Eunuch Jize was present outside the chamber and instructing a few things to the servants. She quickly walked to Eunuch Jize.

"Is Licheng playing the flute?" Xiana asked Eunuch Jize, thus she interrupted him in the middle.

"Yes, it is His Royal Highness," Eunuch Jize replied and humbly requested Xiana to respect Licheng.

"I am going inside," Xiana said when Eunuch Jize stopped her and stood in front of her.

"Please get aside, Eunuch Jize. I do not want to use my force on you," Xiana politely said.

"The Crown Prince may get furious if the princess disturbs him," Eunuch Jize pronounced.

"Does Eunuch Jize not want the Crown Prince to live like us? I am helping him only, so please get aside," Xiana stated.

Eunuch Jize shook his head, so Xiana huffed and joined her hands to apologize to Eunuch Jize. She grabbed his arms and pushed him away easily while the other servants looked at her in awe. Eunuch Jize narrowly escaped from falling as two maidservants prevented him from falling.

Xiana opened the door and closed the door from the inside.

"Princess Xiana, please do not do this," Eunuch Jize shouted from outside, but he did not keep the pitch high.

"Do not worry, Eunuch Jize," Xiana said and went to the patio. She jumped down the stairs and marched toward Licheng. Her steps slowed as she found him in a calm position and she soon halted a meter away from him.

'I feel like pushing him into this water,' Xiana thought in her mind. However, seeing Licheng in that position, Xiana's inner voice spoke, 'He looks mesmerizing.'

Promptly, she realized that she was not supposed to think that way for him and she lightly slapped her cheeks. She covered the remaining distance between them and snatched the flute from Licheng, thus shocking him.

Licheng tilted his head to glance at Xiana. He was not surprised that it was Xiana, who interrupted him.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to apologize to your mother and be with your sister?" Xiana reprimanded him for not listening to her.

"Give me my flute back," Licheng calmly said and extended his hand out.

"I will not give it back unless you go to your mother and sister," Xiana said.

Licheng stood up and took a step toward her. He moved his hand to her to take the flute, but she moved her hand behind and took a step back. "Licheng, I am not asking you to climb a hill. I am asking you to do what you should," Xiana stated.

"You are not supposed to order me," Licheng said.

"Fine!" Xiana said and turned to leave when Licheng grabbed her arm. He pulled her back and twirled her. Her head bumped just above his chest and she lifted her head to gaze at him. She tightened her grip on the flute and tried to move away from him.

"Leave me, Licheng," Xiana said.

Licheng lowered his gaze to look into her eyes. "I will after you return my flute," he stated.

"You will not get it back unless you do what I have told you," Xiana affirmed.

"You are not my wife who can order me around," Licheng pronounced.

"Ahh, so whoever will be your wife can order you. Should I go to Ji Anning and tell her that I lied to her about us?" Xiana arched her brow.

"Try doing that," Licheng said.

"You think I won't go to Ji Anning!?" Xiana challenged him.

"I dare you to go to her," Licheng stated.

"And what if I go to her?" Xiana wondered why he was not getting scared by her threat.

Licheng brought his fingers under her chin and gripped it. "I will marry you if you do that," Licheng affirmed.

Xiana widened her eyes and stopped blinking for a few seconds.

"I will re-return the flute to you. You can let me go," Xiana said.

Licheng pulled his hands back when Xiana took a step back and ran away from him.

She climbed the three stairs to reach the patio when she felt Licheng's hand on her arm and the next second she was pinned to the pillar on her left.