[Suggested song for this chapter: Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven]
"Mei Meili!" Zhu Yicai roared. "No! I won't have it! I won't tolerate you looking at another man. You've known how I feel about you! How could you allow yourself to imagine feelings for someone else?"
"Crown Prince," she said gently, "it's as you said to me, the heart wants what it wants. We have no control over where our heart settles. I did try so hard not to fall for him, but the feelings crept up on me, and before I knew it…"
"Don't say it!" he interrupted her angrily. "Who is it? You barely know any men. It's not my Father is it?" he asked with rising alarm.
She shook her head vigorously, "No, Crown Prince! Of course not!"
He suddenly knew who it was. It was Bai Li of course!
He had thought more than once that the number of times the man had saved her would be pulling on her delicate feminine heartstrings.
"It's that dog, Bai Li," he muttered, not requiring an answer.
