"What? Wang Hao, what are you saying?" Sheng Li exclaimed. "What has happened to your brain? How could you come up with such a stupid idea?" Sheng Li scolded Wang Hao who lowered his eyes.
Nianzu intervened and said, "Your highness, do not be angry at General Wang. In my opinion, this is the best idea. You must take Hu Jingguo with you on the journey. He is a medical expert which will be beneficial for you and the Crown Princess."
"Brother Nianzu, I do not want to burden myself. I am already concerned about the safety of Lili and then taking a physically weak person will only burden me. I have been into wars so, know the general medicine level. Even General Wang knows, so I do not think that taking him is necessary," Sheng Li affirmed.
"Your highness, forgive me but you are wrong. Hu Jingguo is not physically weak. He told me how he defeated the best swordsmen with the Crown Princess…" Nianzu stopped speaking as Sheng Li stopped him.
"Did he tell you to send him to the Southern Province? I do not want to hear what he did in the past in Juyan and whom he fought with? General Wang let him stay in the Palace and tell General Xiao to ensure his safety," Sheng Li ordered, thus ending the conversation.
But Nianzu did not accept that, so he further spoke, "Your highness, are you jealous of the fact that he is close to the Crown Princess?" Wang Hao looked at Nianzu and suppressed his smile, not wanting the Crown Prince to notice that.
"What? Why would I be jealous of him? I do not know why Brother Nianzu thought like that," Sheng Li asserted.
"Then take him with you. I am saying this as the Advisor of the Emperor. Hu Jingguo will be helpful on the journey. He is loyal to his highness and also saved his life once," Nianzu professed. Sheng Li was stuck because he could not defy the orders of the Fourth Prince.
"If anything happens to Hu Jingguo while you two will not be here, then it would be an enormous loss for us. The Crown Prince should repay the kindness by protecting Hu Jingguo as well," Nianzu suggested to Sheng Li who nodded, thus agreeing to the Fourth Prince.
He stood up from the chair and turned to go when Nianzu said, "The Crown Prince shall not pull up a face. Hu Jingguo considers the Crown Princess as his sister. For her, he came to Juyan and also saved her husband so you can see how much he cares for both of you."
Sheng Li turned back and saw Nianzu was smiling. "Brother, you are thinking wrong. I am not jealous of him. If I had been jealous, then I would not even have agreed to this and like a mad lover killed him right away… what I mean is it does not matter to me if he knows Lili or not." Sheng Li was still not accepting the truth that he was indeed jealous of Hu Jingguo in some aspects.
He dashed out of the chamber. Wang Hao smiled, looking at Nianzu, and then went after the Crown Prince. "Your highness, since we are taking the short route, I have prepared a separate horse for the Crown Princess," Wang Hao informed Sheng Li. "But I am afraid the Crown Princess will not be able to handle the scorching summer heat in this journey," Wang Hao expressed his concern.
"She will. Don't underestimate her. The shortest route is tough, but that will be safer for us. After a day we will use the horse cart for the Crown Princess for her safe travel. You arranged that already, right?" Sheng Li inquired from Wang Hao.
"Yes, your highness. During my return to Luoyang, I arranged everything so his highness does not need to worry." Wang Hao assured the Crown Prince. They were turning to Zhenzhu Inn when Sheng Li encountered Weng Yu.
Weng Yu was smiling, but as soon as his eyes fell on Sheng Li, the smile disappeared from his lips and he lowered his eyes. "Greetings to the Crown Prince and the General," Weng Yu said. Sheng Li saw a wooden box in the hands of Weng Yu.
"What is this? And why are you coming from Zhenzhu Inn?" Sheng Li queried.
"Y-your highness, I-I was playing with the Crown Princess. She is leaving tomorrow, so I thought to meet her and play with her for some time," Weng Yu replied while stuttering.
"How many times did I tell you to train and study instead of playing around? And what's this in your hand?" Sheng Li asked with exasperation.
"I trained in the morning with the Sixth Brother," Weng Yu replied. "This is a gift that the Crown Princess has given me, your highness," Weng Yu replied.
"Okay. General Wang, send the Younger brother to his chamber," Sheng Li ordered and walked ahead.
"Prince Yu, please this way," Wang Hao told Weng Yu, and the two left from there. Wang Hao observed how the Seventh Prince got scared seeing the Crown Prince. "Prince Yu, may I ask why do you get nervous around the Crown Prince?" General Wang asked humbly.
"I do not know. I heard that he punishes badly," Weng Yu truthfully replied to Wang Hao who smiled upon hearing the response of the Young Prince.
"Prince Yu, the Crown Prince punishes only those who do wrong. The Crown Prince is worried about you, that's why he tells you to train because it is for you," Wang Hao told Weng Yu and continued, "Is the Prince getting what I am saying?"
Weng Yu nodded. "The Crown Princess also told me the same. Brother Wanxi has told me that from tomorrow General Xiao will train me. I know that the Crown Prince wants me to get stronger," Weng Yu proclaimed. Wang Hao was delighted to know that Prince Yu had not had any ill thoughts for the Crown Prince.