Song Ning is at school about to go home when a light rain comes. She waited the rain to stop but instead she see a person walking to her with an umbrella. She smile and see a slim figure holding the umbrella shielding his face. He have a clean outfit white outfit. She wonder who is the lucky person that is going to share the umbrella with this man. The moment the umbrella lift up to show his face, Song Ning almost roll her eyes. He smile as he walk nearer to her.
"Surprise? Very happy to see me?"
She maintain her smile and bow. Today he is not dress in his dark clothes with golden threads. He is wearing what scholars would wear and this have deceive her. He even change his hairstyle to scholar hairdo.
"Hmm, Your highness, the rain is lighter now. I am to get going."
Before she hurry off, he grab her wrist. Surprise, she look at him. He give her a small smile.
"Your lucky day, i will give you a ride at my carriage."
Her heart grows a small fear as she look at his wick smile. He force her to walk beside him while sheltering under his umbrella. She crunch herself inwards and hold her tool box tightly in front of her. When in front of the carriage, a step stool is already in place. Standing above is the man who deliver the gift. He is wearing a waterproof coat and a hat. He offer his hand to help her up.
Inside the carriage, it is moving slowly. Song Ning knows that The Third Prince is staring. His piercing eye seems to be stripping her garments. She clutch tight her tool box.
"Why… are you … excited about?"
"Excited? No… oh by the way why did you deliver those box of garments and books."
"You needs more clothes and your brother too. The last time i see Song Qin, his sleeves are shorter than his arm. His pants are revealing his ankles. He is clearly growing up and he is not doing anything about it. Thus, i present those garments in proper measurements. He needs clothes that are for proper function. I can show him the way to make proper connection once he reach GuanLi."
Suddenly Song Ning realised that she have forgotten about it. GuanLi is an important event for a grown up boy. It is a Chinese tradition where on the day of his birthday, he cross over to be a man. However, they don't have the ancestor tablets where they can do the prayers. Her elder sister probably will not open a prayer table for him in the temple.
"Your highness, thank you for so considering of Song Qin. I did not… i will return the cost of the garments and books."
"It's fine there is no need to. I am going to be his family after all. I can take care of him."
Song Ning look up with her eyes open wide. He smirk and move to sit beside her. Shock she try to move to the opposite side but he is holding her down. Outside at that moment, there is a soft roar of the thunder.
"I am going to say this now. I think you know that i like you. I am interested in you. I want to know you."
"I don't like you, your highness."
"I know. i Know and i don't care. I like you is more than enough."
"You cannot…"
"I can and i will."
"I am not planning to marry anyone."
"Did i say that i am going to marry you? Aren't you thinking too much?"
He smile and lay his chin on his uphold hand position. Song Ning stare at him with her eyes open wide, she is speechless at his shameless attitude.
"I am glad that you are not thinking … that far."
"Hmm i am glad that you bring that up. However you do know i have three wives. I love and respect them all… so i won't marry another woman to upset the three of them. It's hard enough to keep three women happy in my mansion."
"I think you should stay away from me if you want to have a happy family."
"Hmm no i have other plans. Oh by the way… your ex-fiancė is on the way back. He brings bad news. You probably meet him one of these days. "
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing much I am still waiting for something to … fly out."
Before she open her mouth again, the driver announce that they have reach her home. Without a word, she alighted and walk with the umbrella in her hands. While the Third Prince, Li Tan Ye stare from the curtain. He did not smile but sigh instead.
"Bing Ming, to the palace!"
Zhang Nan Feng look for Song Ning twelve days later when he return to the capital. He did not know what to say to the two women that are trap in this situation. Between his work and daily life. He meet Lady wen almost everyday as he live in her mansion. While Song Ning, he prepare himself after twelve day and arrange to meet at the restaurant. In the same private room, they eat their lunch in quiet.
"Your family did not want to break off the engagement?"
"No…"
"Is the wedding of my sister and brother Yu done?"
"Yes. Done. My brother… he looks haggard. While your sister looks beautiful as how i remember her."
"Hmm… so what do you plan to do?"
"I… why don't we just get marry as the elders say…"
"What did you tell them, actually?"
"Well, i told them i have someone else and you are occupied with Song Qin and your job as a teacher. Also i told them that … Lady Wen might be pregnant … soon."
Without looking up and without stopping to chew, she ask quietly.
"So did they make you kneel in the ancestor altar?"
"Hmm three days… I heard that my brother was kneeling repeatedly before the wedding. I think he have issues like us. We did not want to marry."
"Didn't you talk to him?"
"Yes i did. He… wasn't like himself. He used to be the man who smile a lot but now he is alike me. A block of wood."
Song Ning laugh with the food in her mouth.
"Feng ge ge! You know that we nickname you that?"
"Not hard to know when people talk by my ears. Besides that my father yell at me a few times. He call me names many times."
The two childhood friends talk and laugh about things in the past. Time goes by slowly for them. Nan Feng watch the smiling face of his childhood love. He remember saying that he will grow up and marry her. He proposed many times and She agree each time.
"Song Ning… why don't we all just marry. I will…"
"Feng ge ge… no woman wants to see her husband with another. Since now you and Lady Wen both love each other, then resolve the engagement with me is better. Besides that she is from a noble clan. She cannot be the secondary wife. It's a disgrace. Her clan will not accept it. Also you are just a junior law enforcer. Her family might tolerate or help to push your position up."
Nan Feng watch her as she talks. What she said is all true. He reach out and hold her hand. Looking at her earnestly, he whisper softy.
"If i didn't come to the capital to work… all these will not happen…"
"Feng ge, things happen for a reason. whatever have happen is done. We have ended our … chapter."
"We are still engaged…"
"I can imagine that Lady Wen is now, nervous. Go back and console her."
She lower her eyes and look down at her empty plate.
"We just have to be firm with the elders. Only then, they will give way."
"I … i don't understand why… are you so determine to break off this engagement. Is there another man? Did someone stole your heart?"
"No there isn't. Is just that … i…"
There is nothing she can say anymore. Everything that is in her mind, she said it but there is something that she doesn't want to tell him. They ended their meal and take a stroll in the busy street. After awhile, a huge luxury carriage stop at the side of the busy street. Song Ning see the wooden tag of Wen on it. She look at her childhood friend and smile.
"She is waiting for you. Go now."
"I can give you a ride…"
"No i need to purchase something. So go ahead. We can meet anytime when you are available."
He bow to her and turn his back to her and walk away. She watch him walk and go inside the carriage. Song Ning turn around and walk to the fan shop. She look around for a nice fan. She bought two fans without any drawing on it. The shop keeper put them nicely in their own boxes. She walk home humming a tone.
At home, she unpack one of the fan and put it on the table. She prepare her brush and Chinese ink and other colors as well. She start to draw and paint. The one with black lacquer wood, she painted mountains and clouds. She writes her name at the corner of the fan. The other with wood curving design in black, she draw a Peony on branches that is blooming. The trim, she painted a fine line of gold. She leave them on the table to dry. She look for her threads to make a small tassels to go along with the two fans. After she is done, she look at the two fans on the table. She wonder why did she get the other one.
Two days later, The Third Prince along with eunuch Ding goes to the mansion of Marquis Wen Jiang Bing. They bring the edict along with them. Lady Wen who is gather together at the courtyard is delighted with the edict. She accepted it with grace. Her father while frown and later walk away. This is the result what she is looking for. She whisper to her maid to look for master Zhang and inform him the good news. She bow and walk away quietly. The Third Prince and eunuch is given premium tea prepare by Lady Wen.
"With the edict, Lady Wen and Master Zhang can proceed with the marriage."
"Yes indeed. I will look for a matchmaker to bring along to JiangNan. They will have to accept the will and order of the emperor. Whether they like it or not. That contract will be invalid and Lady Song will be free."
"Advance congratulations to your marriage. "
Lady Wen gives a bright smile and ask the gentlemen to drink the tea. While she look at The Third Prince, she wonder if she should ask what is the Prince planning to do however she decided to shut her mouth as not to offend the prince who help her grant her wishes.
Five days after the issue of the edict, a letter before that is send off to JiangNan. Zhang Nan Feng and Lady Wen along with a matchmaker left the capital. While Song Ning already hear it from the servants from the Marquis Wen's mansion talk in public about about the edict. So she understand that The Third Prince have help them. Since now, it is done. She is free from the bond. Song Qin run home after hearing it and got chase back to school by Song Ning with a broom. She is afraid he will be lock out of school for such small issue.