Keeping a Promise

It wasn't until late at night that the Crown Prince returned. Zhao Xing was inside the Mayor's house, she had slept for most of the day and so she wasn't as sleepy. But since she had locked herself up, she didn't know when the prince had arrived.

She lay in bed and just as she was wondering whether or not she should go outside to check if the Crown Prince was back, there was a knock at her door. She quickly went to open it, thinking it was the Mayor's wife.

"If I didn't come to you, who knows when we would meet?" Zhang Zhengyang stood at the door post alone. The lamps in the house had been extinguished. Only the faint light in Zhao Xing's room illuminated his face.

Her eyes were wide open. "Zhang Zhengyang? I thought you wouldn't be returning tonight! Look at the time." She took his hand and dragged him in, making him chuckle.

She made him sit on a chair and sat next to him, she then proceeded to take a good look at him. "Zhang Zhengyang, did you lose weight?"

The question took him by surprise, but before he could say a word, the girl continued, "Even your dark circles got worse…" Zhao Xing pursed her lips and shook her head. "Just two weeks…say, if you return in such condition wouldn't it make things even harder?" If the enemy attacked and they managed to escape, and he fell sick, it would be the worst case scenario.

"I heard from the mayor's wife that you'd wake up very early each day and come back late, are things that serious?" She asked.

Zhang Zhengyang watched her being so concerned about his wellbeing and didn't know what to say. In fact, things were getting better. They got various cities from afar to send a flow of food. The reservoir needed fixing, and they had already gotten enough man power as well as funds for it all. It seemed that this year everything was going smoothly. He just, didn't feel like returning early whenever he went out maybe because he wanted to supervise things more, maybe it was something else, after doing it every day, he got used to it, and continued to do so.

Seeing he didn't answer, Zhao Xing spoke up, "If there's nothing much to do then come back earlier, so you can rest earlier and have supper…" She suddenly realized something when she said this,

"Zhang Zhengyang did you have breakfast?"

The Crown Prince recalled that this morning the supervisor had come to see him to attend to certain affairs. He remembered Xiao Chen asking him to take breakfast first, but he had refused. He looked at Zhao Xing's inquiring eyes and couldn't utter a word.

"Lunch?"

Still no answer.

"Supper?"

Silence.

Zhao Xing was speechless, did men also fast to reduce weight? She had never heard such a thing- that's not the point! The point was that had neglected his health. Zhao Xing held her head with a hand. She suddenly had a headache.

"Zhang Zhengyang, who was it that always scolded me whenever I refused to take my medicine? Now you even neglected eating."

Zhang Zhengyang was suddenly scolded, but a big smile appeared on his face, annoying Zhao Xing to death. She raised her hand and pinched his arm as hard as she could.

But The Crown Prince didn't hiss in pain as she had expected, instead he gave her a pitifully look, "Zhao Xing, it hurts…"

Zhao Xing's eyes widened and she quickly let go. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt uncomfortable, when Zhang Zhengyang spoke like that.

'This guy was scary no matter what he did.'

"What is it now? You're not going to act domineering like you used to?"

Zhang Zhengyang smiled at her, and lazily leaned his head on his hand, he no longer teased her. "How could I act domineering when Grand Tutor was speaking so seriously about this prince's health?"

'Tch, the Zhang Zhengyang I know is back.'

Zhao Xing cleared her throat, "That's because I was worried that if we were to go back, while you had fallen sick you would only draw us back if the enemies were to attack."

The prince eyes narrowed. "Why do I feel whenever you speak about me you only talk about my demise?"

"…I…am I not just being cautious? Of course I have to remind myself at all time that you could be in danger."

The prince shook his head feeling helpless. He then changed the subject, "This prince hasn't seen Grand Tutor for a long time, and when you came back, you asked about my wellbeing first. Does Grand Tutor miss this prince?"

"Miss? Ha! Can you stop being so narcissistic?"

The prince chuckled, "If I don't love myself, it would be a waste."

Zhao Xing: "…"

'Was he saying he ought to love himself, because he saw himself as someone so lovable, that it would be a waste not to like him?'

'Indeed, this is narcissism in the flesh.'

She didn't continue with the topic. She had more important things to discuss about. "Zhengyang, got the poison master to work for us, what's next?"

Zhang Zhengyang looked at her and smiled, but before he could speak Zhao Xing explained. "I want a reward, not another task. My hands are already full as they are."

The Crown Prince raised a brow, "Oh?"

Zhao Xing nodded, she knew if she didn't clarify, Zhang Zhengyang would directly give her another task to finish. And once he did he wouldn't take it back, then she'd be forced to do it even if she didn't want to.

"Do you think you deserve a reward?" He asked calmly.

Zhao Xing didn't waste time to answer, "Of course I do, I work so hard for it, with all the sacrifices that I made, I don't believe I don't deserve a reward."

"If you asked for money, this prince has never withheld it from you, if you asked for treasures, this prince opened up my treasury to you, I don't think you seem to lack anything, what reward are you talking about?"

Zhao Xing scratched her head, it was something so simple, why did he make it sound so complicated? Stating money here and treasure there.

"Zhang Zhengyang, you really want to give me a headache, I did such a good job aren't you going to praise me?"

Zhang Zhengyang heard this and smiled, "Is that all?"

Zhao Xing looked at his smiling face and felt there was a trap somewhere. "Don't twist my words, how can you just praise me and let me go like that?"

Zhang Zhengyang laughed then asked her, "What do you want then?"

Zhao Xing thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea, "I want you to grant me a wish."

"What wish?"

"I don't know yet, but you have to promise me you would grant it, when I do make this wish."

The Crown Prince looked at her then nodded, "Alright, as long as it doesn't go against the rules and morals of this prince, this prince will grant it."