"It's right place is in your neck, not mine. Your Father gave it for your success. I cannot take it, but it does not mean that I am rejecting his feelings. I want to become his wife," Bai Yaling said and put her hands down.
Wang Hao was unable to believe what he just heard. "Could the Princess once again say that?" He requested her.
Bai Yaling wore a tiny smile on her lips. "I want to marry General Wang," this time she said with more clarity. Wang Hao's lips moved up and a broad smile appeared on his lips. He opened his arms and pulled Bai Yaling into his warm embrace.
"Thank you for accepting me. That was quick. I thought Princess Bai would take a long time to accept my feelings," Wang Hao said as tears formed in his eyes. Bai Yaling rested her hands on his back and the two stayed that way for a few seconds.
As Wang Hao withdrew from the hug, he cupped the face of Bai Yaling and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Bai Yaling lifted her eyes while Wang Hao lowered them. They both peered into each other's eyes. "I think I shall leave, General Wang," Bai Yaling stated.
"I brought you for a tea session with the Wang Family. Why don't you leave after having the tea?" He suggested. "Also, it would be great if Princess Bai tells this to my family," he opined.
Bai Yaling agreed to him. The two stepped back and kept smiling while gazing into each other's eyes. "Princess Bai, you are not hungry, right? When do you usually eat fruits? Since you are pregnant, I need to take care of those things too from now on," Wang Hao stated.
"I usually eat in the morning. During the day, some special meals are cooked," Bai Yaling informed him. "General Wang, can I request you something?" She asked.
"Sure," Wang Hao replied.
"General Wang does not need to title me as the Princess. He shall call me by my name," Bai Yaling said.
Wang Hao was glad that Bai Yaling had allowed him to be close to her. She was ready to accept him as her husband. "I will," Wang Hao said. "You can also call me by name."
"I cannot," Bai Yaling said. "A woman shall not take the name of her husband," Bai Yaling answered.
"No one will know except us," Wang Hao said.
Bai Yaling blushed a little and lowered her eyes.
"I am eager to marry you. Shall we marry tomorrow? What do you say, Bai Yaling?" Wang Hao asked.
"The decision will be made by the Emperor. The Royal Astrologer will tell us about an auspicious day when we shall get married," Bai Yaling replied. Wang Hao hummed when he recalled something. He took out the white jade ring with a gold patch from his little finger and grasped her hand. "This is the token of my love," Wang Hao inserted the jade ring in her index finger.
"It's pretty," she said.
"It fits perfectly. It seems it was made for you only," Wang Hao stated. "We talked a lot. Let's head inside," he suggested and the two left the pavilion.
~~~~~~
"Prince Wanxi, you have caught nothing. At this rate, you will lose," Eunuch Chung told him. Nianzu sent Eunuch Chung to help Lei Wanxi.
The Sixth Prince looked at the arrow in his hand. "What will I even gain by hunting those poor animals?" Lei Wanxi questioned him.
"It will show your might. The ministers will show your trust in you. If the Prince will be afraid to kill, then he will never be able to tackle the enemies," Eunuch Chung pronounced.
Lei Wanxi did not pay heed to him and went towards a tree. "Eunuch Chung, let's sit here and admire the beauty. I am so tired. My feet need rest," he affirmed and sat down. He put the bow on the ground and rested his back on the trunk of the tree. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. Eunuch Chung stayed by his side and after an hour woke him up.
"Prince Wanxi! Prince Wanxi!" He called out his name. Lei Wanxi opened his eyes and asked him what happened.
"The hunting time is over, Prince Wanxi. The First Prince won the game," Eunuch Chung informed him.
"The First Brother loves hunting. It was evident that he would win," asserted Lei Wanxi and stood up. Eunuch Chung picked the bow from the ground. They started to walk and soon reached the main ground where all the Princes, their respective wives, and a few ministers were present.
"Brother Wanxi," Rong Zemin called out his name and put his arm around him. "You did not hunt any animal. Grow up," he told him.
"I have grown up, Third Brother. Even Brother Nianzu did not go for hunting," Lei Wanxi said and looked at Nianzu, who was with Jian Guozhi.
"Weng Yu hunt down two deer. Isn't that great? He will become a great warrior," Rong Zemin said and put his hand down. Lei Wanxi took off the quiver from his shoulder and handed it to one of the servants.
"If Brother Sheng would be here, then I might have won," Lei Wanxi proclaimed.
"How?" Rong Zemin amusingly asked him.
"I would be in Brother Sheng's team," Lei Wanxi said with a broad smile. Rong Zemin handed him a glass of water. Lei Wanxi drank the water and put the glass on the tray.
Wiping his lips, he went to Jian Guozhi with Rong Zemin. "Brother hunted seven deer. That's a lot. He surely has great archery skills," Lei Wanxi praised him.
"I saw you were resting," Jian Guozhi said.
"I got tired," Lei Wanxi said.
"Princess Zhu Lin has returned," Jian Guozhi informed him.
"Really?" Lei Wanxi's eyes glistened to hear that.
"Yes. Eunuch Long informed me," Jian Guozhi said.
"Now, Lei Wanxi will also get married," Rong Zemin teased him. Nianzu smiled and rested his hands on Lei Wanxi's shoulder.
"When do you want to marry?" Nianzu asked him.
"I do not know. Shall I marry tomorrow?" Lei Wanxi asked them.
"That's so early," Weng Yu said innocently.
"Brother Yu, I was kidding. I cannot marry her tomorrow," stated Lei Wanxi. "The Royal Astrologer will come first and then he will decide. There is still time in my marriage," Lei Wanxi stated.
"What are the Princes talking about?" Liao Jun asked from Xue Yu-Yan and Chuntao.
"Maybe they are talking about their performance in the hunting," Xue Yu-Yan deduced.
"It seems that they are teasing the Sixth Prince," Chuntao replied.
"Your Highnesses, the carriages are prepared. Please this way," Eunuch Long told them.
"Are we leaving already?" Liao Jun asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," Eunuch Long said. The Princesses stood up and followed Eunuch Long. They got into the palanquins and left for the Palace.
"Shall we head back too?" Nianzu asked as he saw the palanquins left.
"Let's stay for long here. The scenery is so beautiful," Weng Yu requested them. He hardly used to come out of the Palace, so he wanted to spend a little more time there.
"Brother Yu, let me show you something," asserted Lei Wanxi and took Weng Yu with him.
