Chuntao smiled and thanked Nianzu for caring about her. "Your highness, now I already have a man so, you do not need to worry about me." She clutched her dress tightly as she got nervous.
"What's his name?" Chuntao's eyes fluttered, as she did not know about the name. She did not bother to ask about it.
"Forgive me, your highness. I cannot take the name of my future husband. It is prohibited," Chuntao smartly escaped his question. Nianzu, oppositely, was thinking that his father told Chuntao that she lied to him every question.
"You want to marry a man who is almost ten years older than you!" Nianzu finally said and snickered. "At least do not lie to me. I trust you so much," Nianzu stated. Chuntao lifted her eyes and looked at him. She fidgeted with her fingers and felt guilty for lying to the person who shielded her.
However, except for lying there was no other way to stop Nianzu from coming to her. After knowing the truth from the Emperor about the Fourth Prince's heart, she had made up her mind that she would behave and maintain her distance. That's why she accepted the first proposal given to her by the matchmaker, whom the Emperor had hired.
"Age doesn't matter if someone loves you," Chuntao said. Nianzu stared at her and clenched his fist.
"Stop. Don't lie to me," Nianzu stated as he took another step towards her.
Chuntao gulped but she did not stop. "Why would I lie to his highness?" She chuckled. "He is considerate of me. Three days ago when he met me, he even brought my favorite flowers. Every girl in Shanxi was jealous of me," Chuntao smiled while telling all this to Nianzu, who did not blink even for a second.
"I said stop!" Nianzu raised his voice and it intimidated Chuntao a little. She wondered if she said something wrong. She did what the Emperor had told her. Not to let Nianzu get close to her!
"What did I do wrong that you are misleading me? Do you not know that I catch lies easily? Your mouth can tell lies, but what about your eyes and face?" Nianzu cross-examined her. "You will not marry him," Nianzu affirmed.
"Why?" Chuntao confusedly looked at him. "Forgive me, your highness but I cannot do that. I will marry tomorrow," Chuntao pronounced, gazing at him.
"Because you do not know who he is! You told lies because you are told to." Nianzu had calmed down. "I will take you back to Shanxi. That's your birthplace. No one has the right to forcibly move you away from that place," Nianzu asserted.
Chuntao had understood by now that the Fourth Prince knew everything. She knew that the Emperor conversed with the Fourth Prince. She wondered how the Prince could develop feelings for her. So, she contemplated her conversation with the Emperor. Since Prince Nianzu already knew everything, she decided to accept the truth.
"I cannot defy the orders of the Emperor, your highness. Please be understanding," Chuntao confessed the truth and at the same time requested him.
"Father will not do anything to you. I promise." Nianzu gave her his words.
"But I want to marry," Chuntao stated, while Nianzu knitted his brows. "One day or the other I have to get married. Then, why not tomorrow?" Chuntao questioned him. "I am grateful to his highness that he saved me from becoming an entertainer in the house of Landlord Ma. However, every time his highness cannot intervene in my life," Chuntao argued.
"I cannot see you hurt in a marriage which is forced upon you." Nianzu's eyes had turned watery. "The woman I like, I cannot see her crying. That's why I will intervene," Nianzu professed his feelings to her.
Words did not come out of Chuntao's throat. "I know you will never reciprocate my feelings because of our background and status and I will not force you for that. However, I will not let you marry any random man," Nianzu proclaimed. His selfless love towards Chuntao melted her heart.
"I will marry whomever I want to," Chuntao thought to end Nianzu's feelings towards her. So, she tried to portray herself as a selfish woman. "You cannot stop me. He is well off. I do not have to work then," she stated. "You only know half of the things. Last evening, he took me to the market, and we enjoyed each other's company too. It was a memorable moment," Chuntao broadly smiled when she felt an arm wrapped around her waist.
The other second, Nianzu, pulled her towards him. "Why don't you stop? You think I will get disheartened upon hearing all those things! Huh?" He waited for her response. Chuntao felt her heart had suddenly raced, and it worried her more.
She lowered her eyes. Her hands were on his arms. "You will not marry him. This is my order. I will fight with my father for you," Nianzu told her.
Chuntao directed her eyes towards him and shook her head. "His highness shall not raise his voice against the Emperor. His highness might get punished," Chuntao worriedly said.
"This is my first time standing for myself. All these years, I did things for others. I will marry you, Chun. I will fight for my love," Nianzu affirmed. "Earlier I said you will not be forced to reciprocate and I will still say the same. However, after hearing so many lies from you, I concluded that you also like me…" Nianzu peered at her and brought his palm over her side face.
Chuntao curled her fingers. "You cried the entire day. Your skin is rough. Your eyes are swollen. Why did you not come to me when my father met you? Do you not trust me enough?"
"How could I, your highness?" Chuntao questioned. "Let me go." She placed her other hand on his arm which Nianzu had wrapped around her waist.
Nianzu drew her closer and closed the distance between them.
