Chuntao's lips were on Nianzu's right cheek. His hand slipped from the zither and landed on her back. "Ahh," a low cry escaped his mouth because of the impact of the fall. Chuntao lifted her body only to meet his eyes, which were intently gazing at her, carrying an unusual expression.
She gulped and helped herself to move away from the body of Nianzu. Her hand slipped on the wooden floor, and her face banged against his chest. She widened her eyes and turned to look at the door, praying that no one would enter at that time. Nianzu wrapped his arm around her waist and moved her away. They both sat up on the floor.
Chuntao kept apologizing by bowing her head numerous times. Nianzu's left elbow hit hard against the floor when Chuntao landed over him. He moved his sleeve up when Chuntao placed her palm over her mouth. The elbow had reddened and she was scared that she might have broken his elbow.
"Your highness, I am bringing the Royal Physician," Chuntao worriedly informed him and raised herself when she was pulled down by Nianzu.
"Nothing happened," Nianzu simply replied. But Chuntao did not listen to him.
"Your highness, what if something has happened to the bone? I will bring the Royal Physician," Chuntao repeated her words. She opened her mouth to speak further when Nianzu placed his forefinger on her lips. "Quiet. When I said nothing happened, then you should agree with that." Chuntao gave a nod. Nianzu put his hand down and again looked at his elbow. He pushed the sleeve down.
"Don't let anyone find out about this," Nianzu told Chuntao, who was befuddled.
"But, the falling sound was loud. I think that Eunuch Chung and others might have heard it. Eunuch Chung will ask me and then I need to tell," Chuntao asserted.
Nianzu found that the woman was innocent and still did not understand the Palace. "It will not be good if people know that you fell on me," Nianzu proclaimed. "So, do not tell anyone about this," he advised her.
Nianzu nodded. The medical box lying on the floor had not broken, which provided relief to her. She went to pick it up. Nianzu's eyes fell on her heels, which were cracked. He never noticed that the girl used to walk bare feet in his chamber.
"Your highness," He heard her calling him. "I shall leave. Please forgive me again." Her head was lowered.
"You may leave. You can rest today," Nianzu stated. Chuntao felt a sudden coldness in his voice. She bowed before leaving the room. As soon as she left, Nianzu again examined his elbow. "I will check it with the Royal Physician," Nianzu murmured. He recalled the touch of Chuntao's lips on his cheek.
He felt a strange feeling in his heart, which he was unable to describe. These past few days, his emotions around Chuntao were unknown to him. He brought his hand near his heart and found his heart was beating fast. Why? He questioned himself as his brows came together. He knew the answer, but he did not want to admit that.
As soon as Chuntao came out of the room, Eunuch Chung enquired about the large thud sound. Chuntao fidgeted with her fingers on the handle of the medical box, unable to lie when she saw Eunuch Chung had lowered his head. She immediately turned back.
"The medical box fell," Nianzu lied in place of Chuntao and gestured to her to go away. She quietly left the place while Nianzu continued his conversation with Eunuch Chung. "Send the lunch for me in my chamber," Nianzu ordered Eunuch Chung, who followed him to the resting chamber.
"The Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince were here to converse with you. They are still waiting for you in your chamber, my master," Eunuch Chung informed the Fourth Prince. They halted outside the chamber. "I am not in a mood to eat. Don't send the lunch." Nianzu walked inside the chamber. Eunuch Chung was astonished to see the behavior of his master. It was odd for him to see his master getting upset. The biggest strange thing he had observed was that his master was comfortable around Chuntao.
"Don't touch those things. Where are your manners?" Sheng Li scolded Lei Wanxi, who was looking at the paintings that Nianzu had drawn in his free time.
"Why can't I touch them? Brother Nianzu never gets angry at me. He knows his younger brother loves to admire his talent," Lei Wanxi stated when his eyes saw something which no one should have seen.
"Brother Sheng, come here. Look what I have found!" Lei Wanxi called Sheng Li, who refused.
"Please, Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi requested him. Sheng Li stood up from the chair and walked near Lei Wanxi, who was near the shelf with a white paper in his hand. Sheng Li noticed how big Lei Wanxi's eyes had turned as if he had found something unique.
"What happened?" Sheng Li asked him. Lei Wanxi brought the sheet in front of Sheng Li, who was not surprised to see the painting.
"Nice," he complimented the art.
"Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi chuckled. "Can't you see what Brother Nianzu has drawn? It is shocking," Lei Wanxi stated, and looked back at the painting.
Sheng Li was least bothered about what the Fourth Prince had drawn. "Put it there. He will not feel good if he sees that we are taking a peek into the Fourth Brother's stuff," Sheng Li asserted and snatched the white sheet from him. He rolled it and put it back on the shelf.
They heard the footsteps of Nianzu, who had arrived there. Both of them went towards the table. Nianzu came to them and asked about their sudden visit.
"Brother, that painting-" Sheng Li hit Lei Wanxi's stomach from his elbow, thus stopping him from talking about the painting.
"Ahh," Lei Wanxi winced in pain. Nianzu confusedly looked at him and asked if he was alright. Before Lei Wanxi could speak, Sheng Li said, "Brother, I think he has an upset stomach. Earlier, he ate so much at the feast. I shall drop him to his chamber. I will return once I drop Lei Wanxi to his chamber," Sheng Li pronounced. Lei Wanxi shook his head when Sheng Li grabbed his arm tightly and dragged him out from there. Before Nianzu could stop them, they both had vanished from his sight.
