Chapter 167 - Dark
Nianzu and Chuntao reached the village. "I will see you in your house in a while. Do not go anywhere, Miss," Nianzu asserted, and told her to go. Chuntao bowed her head and walked away. Once she disappeared from his sight, Nianzu went to the house of Village Headman.
Wuqing Pao welcomed the Fourth Prince in his residence and told him that he should have informed him about his visit. The tea was served to Nianzu who thanked Wuqing Pao for the hospitality.
"I have a message from the Governor of the Capital, The First Prince, Jian Guozhi. He wants to see you in person. The reconstruction of the village will start after your conversation with the First Prince. So, come to the Palace tomorrow," Nianzu passed the message to the Village Headman who had lowered his head.
"Yes, your highness. I understand. Be truthful in front of the First Prince," asserted the Fourth Prince. He picked the teacup and sipped the tea. After conversing about the other matters, Nianzu left the Residence of the Village Headman and went straight to the house of Chuntao in a horse cart which was arranged by Wuqing Pao.
The Horse cart could not go to Chuntao's house because of the poor road condition, so Nianzu thought to go on foot there. Getting out of the cart, Nianzu walked towards Chuntao's house. As he reached there, he saw Chuntao was hugging a young lady of the same age as hers, crying.
"It was my mistake. I should have told them that I would be fine. I should not have fought with my father that day for selling me off. They would be alive today, but because of me they are no more," Chuntao said in a broken voice. Nianzu stepped out of the house as he wanted to give some personal space to them.
He stood aside from the door, but the cries were still heard by him. He took Chuntao to the Palace but did not try to understand how hurtful it must be for her, losing her family, and left her alone behind. Nianzu realized that the punishment given to Landlord Ma was not enough.
"It was not your fault, Chun. Your anger at that time was understandable. You were going to be an entertainer there," Miaoran, the friend of Chuntao said as she wiped the tears off Chuntao's eyes.
After a few minutes when Chuntao had calmed down, Miaoran made her drink water. "Bingbing has returned. He was asking about you. I told him that you are taken to the Palace by the Fourth Prince. He was worried and went to the Palace because he thought that…" Miaoran paused as she did not want to speak further.
"Fourth Prince helped me a lot. I was lucky to meet him that day. His highness not only saved me from the Landlord Ma but also is taking care of me. Where is Bingbing? I will talk to him and tell him not to worry about me," Chuntao said softly.
Miaoran smiled. "Chun, why do you not marry him? He likes you and is ready to take care of you. Palace is Palace and then there is the Crown Prince. What if he saw you and killed you? He is not as generous as others," Miaoran expressed her worries.
"I think we all have misunderstood the Princes. They think about their subjects but the bureaucrats working for them are corrupted, not all but some of them," Chuntao replied.
"But the Crown Prince is dangerous. I have heard Palace is not for outsiders and people like us. What if he harms you?" Miaoran asked. Nianzu could not believe the strange rumors about Sheng Li.
"Why would his highness harm me!? Nothing will happen. I want to serve the Fourth Prince because he was the one who saved me. Moreover, I need to pay my debts which he paid on my behalf. I shall not run away from my duties," Chuntao asserted.
Miaoran knew that Chuntao was an upright woman. But she did not want her friend to go to the Palace. "Do you like the Fourth Prince?" Miaoran asked.
"What are you saying?" Chuntao exclaimed and was baffled to hear why her friend said so.
"Then do not go there. What if you fall in love with him but then he is the Prince and he will never marry you. Did you not hear about the former Emperor's son who loved a peasant woman. He took her to the Palace, but what happened at last. She was punished to death! Palace is not a beautiful place. As the life of a commoner, we have many miseries but at least we are away from this Palace scheming." Miaoran tried to make Chuntao understand.
Chuntao agreed with Miaoran. "I do not even dare to love his highness. I know my place. Once I will pay my entire debt, I will be back. Do not worry about me," Chuntao proclaimed.
Miaoran was assured to hear that. "Shall I bring Bingbing here? He will be happy to see you," Miaoran asked Chuntao who nodded.
Nianzu hid on the other side as he knew that Miaoran would walk out of the house soon.
"Wait for me here," Miaoran said, and walked out of the house. After ten minutes, Bingbing came there who was happy to see Chuntao. Miaoran could not come as she had some urgent work in the fields.
He looked at her from head to toe. "You are safe. Why did you go to the Palace? Miaoran told me everything. Tell the Fourth Prince you do not want to go there. Stay here and marry me," Bingbing said. Chuntao did not expect that he would propose to marry her.
"I cannot leave the Palace for a year. The Fourth Prince has saved my life so I need to fulfill my promise to his highness," pronounced Chuntao.
"Forgive me. I have never imagined that something like this would happen," Bingbing said and placed both of his hands on Chuntao's shoulders. "Chun, you know that I like you, and I am ready to marry you. My family has agreed with this. You do not need to work for the Prince. I will repay his highness. Do not go to the Palace," Bingbing affirmed.
"Why would you repay his highness? It was my family's debt so I need to pay it back. Thank you for thinking about me, but I have taken this decision after thinking a lot," proclaimed Chuntao.
Bingbing put his hands down and said, "Then after a year we can marry. Will you?" he asked.
"Answer," Bingbing said when Chuntao did not speak anything for a few minutes.
Chuntao had known Bingbing since his childhood days. She would love to marry him and today his words indeed touched her heart. "Yes, I will marry you," Chuntao answered Bingbing who was delighted to hear that. "I will wait for you. When will you come here again?" Bingbing asked.
"His highness has told me that I can come anytime I want to," Chuntao replied and gave him a tiny smile.
"That's good. Whenever you will be here, come to my house as well," Bingbing said. Chuntao nodded. Nianzu was listening to all that walked in there.
"Your highness," Chuntao lowered her eyes upon seeing him. Bingbing turned towards the Fourth Prince and he also bowed his head.
"Your highness, I am Chuntao's friend, Bingbing. Thank you for saving her the other day," Bingbing said.
"It was my duty as the Prince," Nianzu affirmed. Binging smiled and took his leave from there. As soon as he walked out, Chuntao told Nianzu to sit on the bamboo stool there. She went to the kitchen and brought water for the Prince.
Nianzu took the glass and thanked her. "His highness returned early," Chuntao said as she took the glass from Nianzu.
"Yes. I need to pass the message of the First Brother to the Village Headman," answered Nianzu. Chuntao brought a hand fan as well and started fanning near Nianzu's face. "You do not need to do that, Miss," Nianzu said as he took the hand fan from her hand.
"Miss, do not tell anyone here about the Palace's matter. The talks between you and me shall remain between us. I trust you, but not the others," Nianzu asserted.
"Yes, your highness," Chuntao replied.
"Miss, do not trust men easily. Sometimes things appear beautiful but something dark is hidden behind them," Nianzu advised Chuntao who could not understand that but she gave a nod to Nianzu.