"Your Royal Highness, forgive this Court Lady to intervene between the conversation. The Crown Prince has asked for your presence in his chamber," Court Lady Xu humbly said. Zhu Lin looked at the Crown Princess.

  "It was a fun game, Princess. I will see you later," Ying Lili took her to leave. Zhu Lin bowed her head and, after a few seconds, lifted it. She also left the practice grounds and encountered Lei Wanxi. They both stared at each other when Lei Wanxi averted his gaze.

  He walked past her when Zhu Lin stopped him. "Sixth Prince, can you not stop being angry at me?" She requested.

  Lei Wanxi halted at his place and then turned to look at her. "I do not think so," he replied to her. "I told you not to come in front of me. You and I both know that our stars do not match a bit," asserted Lei Wanxi. He was right, though. Every time Zhu Lin and Lei Wanxi came face to face, they ended up arguing.

  "Prince Wanxi, you should not have pulled me with that force. It was partially your fault too that we ended up kissing-" Lei Wanxi stopped her from speaking by placing his palm over her mouth.

  "Don't say it loudly," Lei Wanxi knitted his brows. "I helped you, and you have put the blame on me. And nothing happened between us. Forget it as a nightmare," he gradually moved his hand down, and the two did not move their eyes away from each other.

  "I did not say anything happened between us. Prince Wanxi is the one who has made this issue a big one. The way Prince Wanxi is ignoring me depicts only one thing," Zhu Lin affirmed. Lei Wanxi widened his eyes and looked around.

  "There is no use talking to you. Don't imagine anything weird. If you think that I like you and are avoiding you for that reason, then, you are wrong," Lei Wanxi clarified her doubts. However, Zhu Lin was shocked to hear those words. It was strange that Lei Wanxi thought that way.

  "So, you indeed like me!" Zhu Lin astonishingly said, and a grin appeared on her lips.

  "Pardon? Have you lost your hearing ability?" Lei Wanxi got irked again. "W-Why would I like you?" He chuckled and stepped back. "You are an imaginative woman, Zhu Lin. Now, do not say this to anyone else, something big might happen between us. Either you'll get injured, or I will," Lei Wanxi threatened her.

  "Is the Prince challenging me for a fight?" Zhu Lin amusingly asked. "I will not be easy on you. Prince Wanxi might end up crying and run to his elder brother," Zhu Lin mocked Lei Wanxi.

  However, Lei Wanxi did not take it in a negative way. "Zhu Lin, you might regret saying that someday. I may look like an idiot while holding a weapon, but you see, I have something which most of the Princes lack," Lei Wanxi proclaimed and put his finger on the side of his forehead.

  "My brain works faster than any person here!" He put his finger down and passed a smile to her. "Why would I like a woman like you? There are plenty of women outside, prettier than you, Zhu Lin." He pulled out the fan from inside his sash and started to fan himself.

  Zhu Lin did not like the last statement of Lei Wanxi. "Prince Wanxi, let's play a game," Zhu Lin stated. Lei Wanxi drew his eyebrows together.

  "A game?"

  "Yes. Since the Prince said that he needs a brain while fighting with someone, I would like to see it. If the Prince defeats me, then I will acknowledge that he is great. But if the Prince loses, then be ready to face the shame," Zhu Lin afformed.

  Lei Wanxi closed the fan and took a step towards Zhu Lin. He brought the fan near her face and traced it. Zhu Lin was intimidated by this gesture of his when Lei Wanxi stopped the end of the tip of the fan under her chin.

  He brought his other hand behind his back and said, "The Princess shall get ready to accept her defeat. I love playing games, Zhu Lin. I might be weak in studies and warfare but in games, I come first. It is going to be fun." Zhu Lin did not budge from her place and intensely gazed at him. She saw confidence in his eyes and it made her worry if she did wrong by challenging him.

  "Tell me when do you want to play the game of sword fighting with me?" Lei Wanxi asked.

  "Is the Prince sure?" Zhu Lin asked once more for confirmation.

  "Of course," Lei Wanxi replied.

  "It's a water game, Prince Wanxi," Zhu Lin revealed.

  "What?" Suddenly the colors flew away from Lei Wanxi's face. "You cheated. You said-" he paused because he recalled that Zhu Lin did not reveal the game. He pulled his hand back which had a fan and closed his eyes.

  "What happened, Prince Wanxi? Is the Prince already stepping back? This is the fastest when someone accepts his defeat in front of me," Zhu Lin scoffed.

  "No. I will not step back. I am ready. What is the game?" Lei Wanxi asked.

  "It's simple. Prince Wanxi has to control his breath inside the water for three minutes," Zhu Lin stated.

  "What? Don't you know I fear water? I might die, Zhu Lin. I cannot risk my life," Lei Wanxi tried to convince Zhu Lin.

  "The Prince told me that he has a brain. Then, he shall use this brain and prove me wrong about him," Zhu Lin proclaimed.

  "Why shall I prove my abilities? A great scholar has said this- 'It is sometimes advisable to step back without taking it on your pride.' I will do the same. I do not want to create trouble for myself by playing such a risky game." Zhu Lin could not believe that Lei Wanxi stepped back from the game that easily. She did not expect this from him.

  Lei Wanxi left while Zhu Lin contemplated. "Why does it seem that some kind of deep fear exists inside Prince Wanxi? More than a phobia? But what's that?" Zhu Lin murmured.

  Lei Wanxi, on the other hand, reached the Eastern Pavilion and hit his head on a pillar. "How could I accept my defeat against her? And why did she say that I like her? Is she out of her mind? I should not have taken her outside with me," Lei Wanxi murmured while continuously hitting his forehead against the pillar.

  He felt someone's palm come in between his forehead and the pillar. He stepped back and found Weng Yu.

  "Yu," he called out his name and caressed his forehead.

  "What happened, Elder Brother? Why were you hitting your head against the pillar?" Weng Yu concernedly asked and looked at the forehead of Lei Wanxi. "Brother, your forehead has turned red."

  "Brother Yu, I am in trouble. I think my bad luck has returned after so many years…… I used to be the luckiest person but for the past few weeks I feel someone has jinxed my luck," Lei Wanxi asserted and heaved a sigh.