Nianzu woke up from his sleep and called Eunuch Chung inside.

  "My Master, did you have a good sleep?" He humbly asked.

  "Yes," Nianzu replied.

  "There is one piece of good news, my Master," Chung informed him. "The Crown Princess is pregnant with the Royal heir of Han," Chung stated.

  "That's wonderful," Nianzu replied. "But how do you know it is a boy?" He curiously asked him.

  "My Master, everyone thinks that it will be a boy," Chung answered.

  "This should be addressed as the Royal Child," Nianzu corrected him. "Where is Chuntao? I would like to meet the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess in person with Chuntao," Nianzu stated.

  "Princess Chuntao is in her chamber. I think she is still sleeping," Chung replied. His head was low throughout the conversation. Nianzu hummed and stood up from the bed. Chung quickly came forward with the overcoat in his hand.

  He put it around Nianzu, who wore it. "Chung, I will be with Chuntao this evening," he said. Eunuch Chung nodded his head. Nianzu walked out of his chamber and soon reached outside Chuntao's chamber.

  The maidservant opened the door of the chamber for Nianzu. He gladly walked in and found that Chuntao was still in a deep slumber. He quietly sat beside her, not wanting to disturb her sleep. "She looks beautiful in this dress," Nianzu murmured and caressed her head.

  Chuntao's sleep got disturbed and she opened her eyes. She looked into the eyes of Nianzu, who was peering at her. "Did I disturb your sleep? Forgive me. I only caressed your head," he said.

  Chuntao sat up on the bed. "Prince Nianzu did not disturb my sleep," she said and yawned. "I am still tired. Also, this is the first time I wore such an expensive dress and it is heavier than normal people's clothes," she asserted.

  "You cannot wear those clothes anymore," Nianzu said. "Let's go to the Crown Princess chamber," he then said.

  "Why?" She asked.

  "To congratulate her. She is expecting a child," Nianzu informed her. Chuntao was surprised to hear that.

  "Wonderful," she said and smiled.

  Nianzu rested his head on Chuntao's shoulder. "Are you feeling well?" He asked.

  "Hmm. Prince Nianzu loves me a lot, that's why he left comfort for me. He told me that he never felt the warmth in the Palace despite such comfort. There might be something off that made him feel separated," Chuntao stated.

  Nianzu pushed his head up and the two looked at each other. "Schemings were the main reason that I left this Palace. Also, my mother changed. No one was understanding my love towards you. That's why I decided to leave with you. Your safety was my concern too. You understood me and held me in my toughest time. For you, this comfort was nothing," Nianzu explained to her. "Comfort is not everything," he stated.

  He put his arms around her and said, "However, even after leaving this Palace, I could not get peace. The constant fear of losing someone close to me was still in my mind. I had promised Brother Sheng once that I would be his right-hand man, but I ran away. I ran away from my duties. Also, my Father was right. The outside world is more dangerous without power. I am not a power-hungry person, but the day that man harassed you, I understood the importance of power," Nianzu narrated his deep thoughts to her.

  Chuntao hummed and turned her head to him. "You think so much of everyone. Your humbleness makes you lovable, " she said.

  "Brother Wanxi is angry at me. I did not meet him before leaving the Palace. In the evening, he usually used to come to me. Then I used to play the flute for him," Nianzu stated and giggled. "Let's go to meet the Crown Princess first. Then, I will show you the Palace," Nianzu opined.

  They both got down from the bed and left to meet the Crown Princess.

  ~~~~~

  "Sheng Li, you promised me that you will take me outside," Ying Lili complained.

  "We will go tomorrow," he said and checked the dry fruits that Ying Lili needed to eat daily.

  "Why tomorrow? You never turned back from your words. This is wrong," she stated and went towards him.

  "Why did you get down from the bed? I told you to take rest," Sheng Li asserted and held her hand to take her back to the bed.

  "Don't you know that an evening walk is good for your health?" Ying Lili questioned him as she yanked his hand away.

  "It is but I do not think that you should walk at this hour. What if you get a cold? Do not be stubborn," Sheng Li politely said. "You need to be cautious at this time," Sheng Li advised her. This time he lifted her in his arms.

  "Sheng Li," she pronounced his name with a shocking expression. She slid her hands around his neck and held him tightly.

  "There was no other way," He said and took her to the bed. Setting her on the mattress, Sheng Li pulled back his hand from her back and moved it to the top of her face. He tucked the lock of hair behind her ear and leaned closer for a kiss.

  "Lili, I will take you to the morning walks. That will be more healthy for our child and you. Is that good?" He asked her.

  "Hmm," she nodded her head and pulled him down for a kiss. Their noses touched against each other and soon their lips met. They smiled while kissing each other. Suddenly they heard Xing-Fu's voice.

  "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince and his wife are here to meet you."

  Sheng Li leaned back and said, "Let's continue this later." He made her sit up and caressed her hair. Ying Lili checked her dress while Sheng Li got down from the bed.

  "Let them in," Sheng Li said in a loud enough voice and put his hands behind his back.