Sheng Li, after making Ying Lili sleep, left to meet Shi Zhihao in his chamber. Shi Zhihao upon getting informed about the arrival of the Emperor. He got down from the bed and stood in the middle of the chamber.
He bowed and greeted Sheng Li.
"Did the Prince sleep well?" Sheng Li asked him and sat on the chaise. He gestured to Shi Zhihao to sit down on the other one, who took his seat.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I had a good sleep. I am feeling refreshed," he answered in his soft tone.
"Princess Bai Yaling married my Second Brother, Prince Yongzheng, who's no more. However, my late father, the former Emperor, wanted the Princess to start a new life when she is young. He believed that other than Prince Shi Zhihao no one could be better for Princess Bai Yaling.
I wanted to know your views on this," Sheng Li asserted.
"My views are nothing special, Your Majesty. I am glad that the Emperor found me this worthy," Shi Zhihao replied.
"Prince Zhihao does not have any problem with the Princess' past, does he?" Sheng Li asked him.
"No, I do not have any problem. When a man can marry another woman, then why can't a woman?" Shi Zhihao stated. Sheng Li was overwhelmed to hear that. Han Wenji indeed made a great decision by choosing Shi Zhihao.
"Did you meet Princess Bai Yaling?" Sheng Li asked him.
"No, Your Majesty. I thought of meeting the Princess after having the conversation with His Majesty," Shi Zhihao replied with a tiny smile.
"That's great. Princess Bai is a nice woman. I will be glad if you consider this relationship," Sheng Li proclaimed. Shi Zhihao nodded his head and told Sheng Li that he would not disappoint him.
Sheng Li thanked him for considering this request of his. He stood up and saw him Shi Zhihao also stood up. He lowered his head while Sheng Li left the chamber. Lifting his head, he thought of meeting Bai Yaling. He called in a servant.
"Send a message to Princess Bai Yaling that I would like to meet her in the Royal garden," Shi Zhihao ordered him. He picked the overcoat and wore it. Looking at himself in the mirror and checking his hair, he left for the Royal Garden.
He arrived at the Royal Garden and waited for Bai Yaling to come. After waiting for 15 minutes, he got to see Bai Yaling. She halted a meter away from him and greeted him. Shi Zhihao found how nervous she was while looking at her hands.
Zhihao greeted her back and stepped towards her. "Let's have a walk, Princess Bai," he offered her. Bai Yaling agreed with him and the two started to walk.
"I have heard about you, Princess Bai. I remember one incident where you defeated the women in a sewing competition," Shi Zhihao started his conversation. He did not want her to feel awkward around him, so thought it would be the best conversation to start with.
"That was a small competition, Prince Zhihao. I didn't know that you would remember such a competition," Bai Yaling replied to him, keeping a tiny smile on her lips. "I would like to thank Prince Zhihao for giving me a chance," she said humbly.
Shi Zhihao passed a smile to her. "I am glad that Princess Bai made this decision to move ahead in her life. I heard about your late husband, Princess Bai. She never deserved such treatment of fate," Shi Zhihao pronounced.
The smile from Bai Yaling's lips disappeared.
"Sometimes fate gives you a tough situation to fight with. The same happened with me, Prince Shi Zhihao," Bai Yaling told him the same words that Wang Hao had told her when they visited the Buddhist Shrine.
"You are right. Hopefully, you are no more in the memories of your late husband," Shi Zhihao stated.
Bai Yaling halted at her place and gazed into Shi Zhihao's eyes.
Wang Hao arrived at the Palace in the evening. Today, he and Xiao Zhan would drink with Sheng Li after a long time. He was delighted and had many things to converse with both of them. Crossing the Western Palace hallway, he turned to the Northern Palace when his eyes fell on Bai Yaling, who was in the Royal Garden with Shi Zhihao.
He stopped for a while and smiled upon seeing the two. "It seems they are getting together. Prince Zhihao is a nice choice for Princess Bai," Wang Hao murmured and then walked ahead.
"What happened? Why did Princess Bai stop walking?" Shi Zhihao asked her.
"Prince Zhihao, what do you think of me as a woman?" Bai Yaling asked him out of the blue. The sudden question perplexed Shi Zhihao.
"That would be difficult to say this early," He replied after contemplating for some time.
Bai Yaling hummed. "I asked because I was someone's wife, who is a widow now. I don't want Prince Shi Zhihao to get awkward or embarrassed because of me," She explained to him.
"Why would I get awkward or embarrassed just because of your past life?" Shi Zhihao questioned her. He started to walk while Bai Yaling followed him. She liked it that Shi Zhihao was not the type of man which she had imagined.
Shi Zhihao moved his hand above the chrysanthemum flowers. Bai Yaling amusingly glanced at him, trying to understand what he was doing.
"Princess Bai, do you know what the Chrysanthemum symbolizes?" Shi Zhihao asked.
Bai Yaling shook her head because of her lack of knowledge of flowers.
"It represents loyalty, longevity, and devoted love. It is an autumn flower. An elegant one– just like your name. Your last name 'Yaling' means elegant– like a jade," Shi Zhihao stated. Bai Yaling was overwhelmed to hear the meaning of her name from the Prince's mouth.
Her late husband never bothered to talk like this with her. It saddened her which Zhihao noticed.
"Did I say something wrong?" Shi Zhihao asked and put his hand behind his back.
"No. No man ever talked with me this way… not even my late husband," Bai Yaling answered.
"Why don't you throw out your late husband from your mind? That way you will be able to enjoy life in a better way," Shi Zhihao advised her.
Bai Yaling gazed into his eyes and nodded. "I will try," she said.
~~~~
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