Henan Zhong: Three Wooers, The Bride Is Not Ready Yet

He gave her money for expenditures.

She could buy jewelry, shoes and other things she needed. 

There was birthday invitation too. 

The Queen planned to celebrate the birthday of the second Concubine of the Crown Prince. 

Queen favored this concubine a lot but Prince never cast a glance on her. 

There will be small chit chat in the part. 

Women of the Palace would be able to share their preparations about the Event of Winter. 

It was important because the King would attend that great event. 

Almost all the ministers and important figures of the kingdom would be invited on that occasion so the preparations should be grand as well. 

The important matters about the security and wealth of the Kingdom would be discussed.

There would be some ministers who would lost their positions and new selected people would take the charge.

There was also an important event, it was possible that Crown Prince might be announced as a King because King was facing few health issues if he died without announcing the next King, there might be choas in the Kingdom after his death. 

So Queen had a notion of all this and she wanted his son to court a woman before his Kingship. 

Either it would be impossible for his King father to make announcement of his next Kingship.

Crown Prince himself was aware of this important fact. 

He was also facing problem whether to tell his mother that he wanted to court a non noble birth girl, that the girl he wanted to court was common country girl. 

But if she disliked, she might hate Diu and immediately send her away. 

"Son, I wanted you to attend this party and choose a bride, you know it is important," 

"Mother I know your concern but what if I dislike the woman I court,?" 

"You have a fair choice, I would not impose my choice on you," 

He nodded his head that he would attend the party. 

He was still in dilemma when a spy guard came, "Glories to the Crown Prince, I brought a news for the Crown Prince," 

He gestured to close the door of study and then speak. 

"Our spies have found the news about the neighboring Kingdom," the Crown Prince shoot up his brows. 

"What is there to be concerned about? We have already defeated their army and held captive the Prince," he spoke with horrible tone. 

"Our spies send the news that the famous General Zhong has showed up once again," 

"What, General Zhong, he is alive? Speak the full report," he has visited Shang Palace and from the tone of the King Shang it was clear that General Zhong was missing. 

To say missing was just for cover up, when a powerful person die his death was kept secret for the sake of general peace. 

He came back and told his father that General Zhong was no more protecting the Kingdom Shang. 

His father ordered him to attack on the Shang Kingdom which he did. 

After six months of war, it was still not decided who would win. 

His father ordered him to play a trick of friendly contract between both kingdoms, and he held captive the Prince because his father thought if the Shang Kingdom lost the backing of this young Prince they might be able to attack and win the fertile land of Shang kingdom. 

If the General Zhong was alive then the Yong Kingdom should forget its glorious days. 

He was one man army. 

He could stand alone against the thousands warriors. 

He needed to talk to his father immediately. 

If the General Zhong was ordered by the King to bring his son then they were done for. 

It might possible that he attack as soon as the orders were passed. 

He walked toward the First Court. 

The guards outside the room saw the Crown Prince and bowed. 

"Tell father that I am waiting outside," he ordered the guard. 

He went inside and after sometime came out, "The King permissioned your visit Crown Prince," 

He walked inside the room. 

The grand room was filled with the scent of herbs. 

"How are you father?" The king was laying on the bed. 

Twelve trustable physicians were attending his disease. 

"My son is there anything urgent for your visit?" 

"Father, I just received a news which our trusted spies sent," 

"What is it?" He asked immediately. 

"They found that General Zhong is alive," there was no need for him to speak further to explain a king what would be the outcome. 

His eyes constricted to hear his son. 

'Why did he order to capture the Prince?" he was regretting now.

"What do you think, what should we do to avoid this crisis?" He asked his capable son. 

After all it was ridiculous to think that they call for the captured Prince and put a formal apology and then they send him back to his Kingdom, it would be truly embarrassing. 

The murder was more horrible option, it was equal to jump on the burning fire thinking that fire cane save their lives. 

"I think we should call our three ministers and the formal General to give us their opinion, this way we might come up with a better option," the Crown Prince suggested. 

His father nodded and approved his suggestion. 

He left his room after paying respects to his father King. 

He sent his guards to inform them immediately. 

The meeting room was silent. 

"We should make a thorough investigation first," 

A minister spoke. 

"The news is valid and concret that General Zhong is alive," the former General spoke. 

"If he was ordered by the king or if he was still serving the King it was possible that they might not have waited this long for an attack, I am suspicious about the whole thing," the second minister was thoughtful. 

It was valid too, the King Shang must have ordered him to bring back his son long before. 

"It is possible that General Zhong have some disagreement with the King years before and he resigned from the services," the third minister put his opinion.