664 I like the Fifth Prince
Zhang Xi took the hairpin box from his mother, the Third Concubine to the late King. He was excited to meet Li Feiyi, but at the same time, he was nervous.
"Lóng Wei!" Zhang Xi saw him going ahead of him and called out his name.
Lóng Wei turned around and bowed to him. "Brother Mingquan's marriage is in the evening. Why has the Fifth Brother gotten ready in a new dress?" Lóng Wei asked. He remembered in the early morning during the tea session, Zhang Xi had put on different clothes.
"I am going out to see General Li Tian's daughter, Li Feiyi," Zhang Xi told Lóng Wei. "Tell me, if I look good enough?" he inquired.
"The Fifth Brother does look good, but he cannot beat me in looks," Lóng Wei stated with a proud smile.
"I know. I just want to know if Miss Li Feiyi will like me in this attire. I was confused among so many attires and finally wore this," Zhang Xi said.
"This outfit looks good on the Fifth Brother," Lóng Wei asserted.
"Great! Thank you. I should leave since I do not want to be late," Zhang Xi said and went ahead. At the imperial gates, a carriage was already present. The soldier opened the door for the prince and he got inside it. After the soldier instructed the chauffeur, the carriage left for the Li Residence.
Li Tian was waiting for Zhang Xi at the residence's entrance and as the carriage stopped, he descended the stairs. Zhang Xi stepped out of the carriage and smiled to see Li Tian. They exchanged formal greetings before heading inside.
"My sister has done most of the preparations today," Li Tian told Zhang Xi, who was astonished to hear it. "Instead of the guest room, she prepared the seating arrangement in the pavilion," he affirmed.
"That sounds so unique to me, General Li Tian," Zhang Xi said.
"My sister has an interest in home decor. The residence was renovated a few months back and it was my sister, who planned most of the designs here," Li Tian stated. They walked through the cobblestone pavement on both sides on which beautiful rock structures were sculpted.
"Miss Li Feiyi is a lover of art, I believe," Zhang Xi asserted.
"The Fifth Prince can say that," Li Tian said with a smile.
They reached the corridor of the pavilion. Zhang Xi saw a young woman standing with her head down. "Is she the sister of General Li?" Zhang Xi asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," Zhang Xi replied.
He was mesmerized to see Li Feiyi as they entered the pavilion. Li Feiyi looked pretty in a green hanfu dress with shades of white on it.
"Feiyi, this is Fifth Prince Zhang Xi and this is my sister, Li Feiyi, Your Highness," Li Tian introduced them to each other.
Li Feiyi took a step forward and greeted Zhang Xi by kowtowing before him.
"Such formalities are applicable in the palace only, Miss Li Feiyi," Zhang Xi said and asked them if they should take the seat.
"Sure, Your Highness," Li Tian said. He humbly asked Zhang Xi to sit on the floor seating arrangement. He nodded and took the seat first, followed by Li Tian. Li Feiyi instructed the servants to bring the tea.
After a few seconds, a servant came forward with the tray in her hand. Li Feiyi, first, served the tea to Zhang Xi and then to her elder brother.
"Please take your seat, Miss Li Feiyi," Zhang Xi asked her. Keeping a tiny smile on her lips, she settled on her place and the servant served tea to her.
After Zhang Xi took a sip, he put the teacup on the saucer. "Yesterday, when the King informed me about this proposal, I was a bit surprised. I have not expected that General Li will choose me for his sister," he asserted.
Li Tian smiled. "It was a request from my sister, Your Highness. I was talking to her about her marriage when she told me she would like to marry the Fifth Prince," he informed Zhang Xi.
Zhang Xi had not expected to be someone's choice. Because he was the son of a concubine, a marriage proposal from the renowned General's sister was surprising for him. He gazed at Li Feiyi for a few seconds, wondering why she chose him. She could have chosen a better prince than him.
He then picked up the teacup and took a few more sips.
"I will leave Prince Zhang Xi and Li Feiyi alone for having an open conversation with each other," Li Tian said and rose to his feet. He bowed to the prince and instructed the servants to empty the pavilion before walking away.
"Why me?" Zhang Xi asked Li Feiyi after everyone left the pavilion. "I am not like the other princes. I mean, I do not possess enough power or a good position like my other brothers," he asserted. It was important for Zhang Xi to know because he did not want a woman who would encourage him to power. After what his father did, he hated being in power. He also did a lot of wrong things for years. But now, he was rectifying his past mistakes.
"I do not understand why the Fifth Prince talks about power and position in our first meeting. My reason is simple, Your Highness. I like the Fifth Prince," Li Feiyi stated.
Zhang Xi was stunned to hear her confession. Since when the Qiu Kingdom women became so bold and open. He used to think that women were usually shy.
"I told my elder brother if he can ask His Majesty about my marriage with the Fifth Prince. I am glad that Prince Zhang Xi did not refuse it and came here to see me," Li Feiyi asserted with a smile.
"I am out of words, Miss Li Feiyi," Zhang Xi said and started smiling. He also liked her and was ready to tell her he would only marry her.
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