Wang Hao left for the Prime Minister's house with his father. After having a conversation with the Prime Minister, General Wang went towards the garden of the residence where Ai Huian was waiting for him.
He watched her back and found her standing in front of the small pavilion of the garden. Walking near her, he said, "Forgive me, Miss Ai Huian, for making you wait."
Ai Huian turned towards him and bowed. "Greetings to General Wang," she said in her soft tone. Wang Hao bowed in her respect as well. They both lifted their respective heads.
"I am glad that General Wang agreed to this marriage. I have been waiting for him to converse with me for a long time," Ai Huian stated.
"Miss Ai Huian, I am glad that you waited for me for such a long time," asserted Wang Hao.
Ai Huian suggested to him that they must sit inside the pavilion and converse more. Wang Hao nodded his head and followed her to the pavilion. Sitting around the floor desk, Ai Huian asked a servant to bring tea for them.
The servant brought it and placed the tray on the table. Ai Huian dismissed her and served the tea to Wang Hao. "Chrysanthemum is the flower of autumn, General Wang. So, I thought that this tea would be best for today," she said as she forwarded the teacup to General Wang.
"Miss Ai Huian is absolutely right. Chrysanthemum is my favorite flower, so is the tea," Wang Hao ended up telling her. She smiled a little and poured the tea into her cup. They both started to drink tea while conversing more.
"I heard from my Father that Miss Ai did not accept marriage proposals as she adores me. I was astonished to hear it because I never met you in person," Wang Hao said curiously.
"It isn't necessary to meet in person to fall in love with someone. His heroic acts were enough to sway my heart for him. Also, I have seen General Wang many times. It is just that General Wang never looked at any woman. It might be because he was too busy serving the Emperor," Ai Huian pronounced. Wang Hao was amused to hear such an explanation from Ai Huian. She was different from the girls he usually had heard of. She was mature and calm.
Wang Hao sipped the tea silently.
"Does General Wang have a sister?" Ai Huian asked, out of the blue. "However, my Father told me that his sister passed away a long time ago," she said. "Forgive me if I sounded rude. I was a little curious because I saw a girl in the market claiming that she's your sister," asserted Ai Huian.
"Indeed, I have a sister. Her name is Yin Na," Wang Hao replied and smiled. "You might have probably seen her in the market," he asserted.
"Oh. Yin Na is a beautiful name," Ai Huian said and wore a tiny smile on her lips.
"Indeed," Wang Hao answered.
"I will bring lunch for General Wang tomorrow. If General Wang nods for it, I will be glad," Ai Huian requested to him.
"Of course, Miss Ai can," Wang Hao replied. They both conversed with each other till the teapot got emptied. Wang Hao stood up from the cushion first and Ai Huian followed him. She thanked him for having a tea session with her.
"It was indeed great," Wang Hao said. "Then, I shall take my leave. Father must be waiting for me," he affirmed.
"Yes, General Wang," Ai Huian bowed in front of him. Wang Hao did the same and soon left the pavilion.
He arrived at the main house courtyard where his father and the Prime Minister were waiting for him. He walked to them and bowed. "Miss Ai and I had tea earlier. It was a nice conversation," Wang Hao informed them, who were delighted to hear that.
"Then we shall proceed with this relationship. Let's talk with the Astrologer and find a betrothal ceremony," Wang Hao's father told the Prime Minister, who gladly accepted it. Wang Hao did not refuse his father this time because he wanted to make him happy. Also, he found Ai Huian a nice woman for his family.
They soon left for their home. When they reached home, a soldier informed Wang Hao about the palace situation. Wang Hao informed his father that he had to urgently leave for the Palace and left on his horse.
Reaching the Palace, he met Xiao Zhan and asked him about Prince Shi Zhihao.
"Prince Shi said a few words to His Majesty that made him lose his temper. The Emperor is in anger while Princess Bai is not in a good state. I heard from Eunuch Chung that she's refused to marry anyone," Xiao Zhan answered.
"Is Prince Shi in the Palace?" Wang Hao asked.
"He has left, General Wang. The Emperor was angry at him," Xiao Zhan replied.
"When did he leave?" Wang Hao queried him.
"Ten minutes ago," Xiao Zhan answered. "General Wang, let's calm down the Emperor first. The Empress is not informed about all this as she will take stress," he asserted.
"I will be back soon," Wang Hao said and hopped on his horse. He pulled the reins and soon vanished from the sight of Xiao Zhan. Wang Hao did not want it to end like this. He caught the convoy of Prince Shi Zhihao. As he halted the horse in front of the carriage, the chauffeur stopped it.
"What happened?" Shi Zhihao shouted from inside and got out of the carriage with a sword in his hand. Seeing General Wang, he got confused. He wondered if the Emperor had sent his General to kill him.
"I want to talk to Prince Shi. Can I have a few words with him?" Wang Hao asked. Shi Zhihao was stunned to hear that. He put back the sword inside the sheath and walked to him. They both went aside when Shi Zhihao asked him about this sudden action.
"Apologies, if I scared you, Prince Shi. I came here to ask you why you step back from this marriage? I remember that you told me that you would like to marry Princess Bai after a small conversation," Wang Hao asserted.
"I wanted to, General Wang, but then the sudden pregnancy news made me take this decision. The Empire knows Princess Bai's husband and her child with him will only bring doom to me and my family," Shi Zhihao explained to Wang Hao, who was perplexed to hear that.
"How could you say that?" Wang Hao questioned him.
"General Wang, Prince Yongzheng was a traitor. What do you think his child would be? Also, I had never expected that Princess Bai would have a child with him. That child is a traitor's child in everyone's eyes. Just because the child has the blood of the Royal Family, people have kept mum," Shi Zhihao pronounced.
"Did you tell this to the Emperor and Princess Bai?" Wang Hao asked him.
"In front of the Emperor, I did not say much. He got furious at me. However, Princess Bai did ask me, so I remained truthful with her," Shi Zhihao answered.
Wang Hao did not like the thoughts of Shi Zhihao. He could not get angry at him. "Prince Shi, I have known you for a long time, that's why I will not say anything harsh to you. However, you are no one to say such a thing to Princess Bai Yaling's child. The child has not even come to this world yet you are thinking this way. The Former Emperor told us that Prince Shi would be the best choice for Princess Bai. However, you come out to be the worst choice. You shall return," Wang Hao stated and stepped back.
"General Wang, every man thinks this. It is not only me. Ask yourself. Would you marry a woman with a child?" Shi Zhihao questioned him. "No, right? Even if the late Prince Yongzheng had never adored her, but they had a sexual relationship. She is pregnant with his child. I am afraid but this thing I can never accept. I had no problem marrying a widow, but a widow with a child is not acceptable to me when the child is of a traitor," Shi Zhihao pronounced.
Wang Hao clenched his fist. "Prince Shi shall leave," he glared into his eyes. Shi Zhihao did not argue anymore and quickly walked to his carriage.. Wang Hao got on his horse and left for the Palace.
