Transmigration: Save My Chastity

[49] Heart To Heart

"Tell your grandfather that mother is going out because I have another appointment." Bai Xiu Ying said as he walked out of the manor with his attendant, Madam Zhang.

Zhan Chen bid his mother goodbye as he got ready to go to his grandfather's house. He was just walking out of his room when a servant came and told him that Prime Minister Li Huizhong had arrived and waiting in the visiting room.

He was surprised. He didn't know that Li Huizhong would come to the Bai Manor. He hurriedly went to receive the old man.

It took a bit to go to the main courtyard from his courtyard. He was almost running to go there. As he arrived, he knocked on the door and opened it. He immediately saw an old man who still looked very strong and healthy at his golden age.

"Grandfather!" Zhan Chen exclaimed in joy as he hugged the old man.

Li Huizhong happily received his only grandchild in his arms. "Aiya! This old man's bone is already so old!" he jokingly said even if he was already holding his grandchild steadily in his arms.

Zhan Chen hurriedly climbed down from the old man and flustered in panic, "Ah, Xiao Chen is sorry! Xiao Chen is so excited to see grandfather! Are grandfather okay? I don't hurt your back, right?"

Li Huizhong laughed as he touched his white beard. He shook his head and told the young ger to sit down.

"I'm just playing with my cute grandchild. This old man is still strong and could protect you well."

Zhan Chen pouted then smiled at the old man. Noticing a teapot and cups, he picked a cup and poured the tea. "Grandfather should drink first. You must be exhausted."

Li Huizhong received the tea cup with a happy smile. Taking a sip, his eyes brightened in appreciation. It was his favorite tea. "Thank you, Xiao Chen."

"En," Zhan Chen watched as the old prime minister drank his tea and hesitated on how to start his words. He obviously wanted to ask about the matter of hearts but now his grandfather was here... He suddenly lost his courage.

Li Huizhong already saw that this only grandchild of his was troubled by something. He slowly put down his teacup and called him softly, "Xiao Chen ah, do you have anything you want to tell grandfather?"

Zhan Chen looked up from the table surface in surprise. He immediately saw the old man looking at him, waiting for him to talk.

Seemingly hesitated, he fiddled with the sleeve of his hanfu for a while, before he awkwardly opened his mouth, "Xiao Chen indeed has something to ask grandfather. But..."

"Mm. What is it? Grandfather would try to answer Xiao Chen's question." Li Huizhong said as he caressed his white beard with patience.

"Actually, it is about..." Zhan Chen paused. This topic was really embarrassing but he didn't have anyone else to talk to beside his grandfather.

"Grandfather would not judge. You can ask me and don't be afraid," Li Huizhong was a wise old man and he knew that his grandchild had something very important he wanted to ask him.

Looking down on his fingers, Zhan Chen hesitated again before he decided to just go with it and done. Taking a deep breath, in a swift but low mosquito voice he asked, "g-grandfather, how do you know if you like someone?"

When Li Huizhong heard the question, he wasn't surprised at all. In fact, he had a gist about it.

Well, recently, when the emperor was alone, he did look like someone who was waiting for his love to be returned.

His grandchild and Emperor's courting was sudden but the two had had a great relationship since they were little children. And he guessed, Emperor Xian was captivated by his grandchild when he saw him again when both were adults.

Li Huizhong was of course proud. His grandchild was the most cute and pretty, he was his little treasure. Emperor Xian to fall for him was not unexpected.

Reaching his wrinkled hand, he patted the soft head opposite of him. "Xiao Chen ah..."

Slowly, Zhan Chen looked up at his grandfather and his eyes held fear and uncertainty inside of him.

Li Huizhong sighed. His grandchild was still a child and too innocent. But, he was also at the age of falling in love and getting married.

He smiled reassuringly. And instead of answering Zhan Chen's question with an answer, he decided to tell him about how he and his grandmother met.

Zhan Chen listened to the old man in front of him telling story. It was always interesting to hear about the story of how his parents or grandparents met, fell in love and getting married.

"At the time, my heart that never beat for anything, had begun to beat fast whenever I saw your grandmother's smile. I was confused at first, treating it as something bothering but then, I realised, not only was my heart beat fast whenever I was with your grandmother but also there was this happiness and warmth along with it."

Zhan Chen unconsciously felt his heart above his layered of clothes. He did feel all of that when he was with Emperor Xian.

"...And there was this time, when someone wanted to court your grandmother, my heart felt pain and uncomfortable. Just thinking of him married to some man, I was angry and that was how I finally realised that I fell in love with your grandmother. I wanted to marry him and never wanted him to be with someone else."

Zhan Chen indeed did feel lost and empty when at the pavilion, Emperor Xian didn't hold his hand. And he tried to imagine the scenario of the young emperor getting married to some ger and he would slowly forget about him, this little ger.

Hurts.

It hurts.

Zhan Chen clenched his hand on top of his heart. It hurt and uncomfortable.

"Zhan Chen?"

"It hurts, grandfather." Zhan Chen closed his eyes tightly. "I don't want Wei Dage to marry other ger."

And he realised, that he too maybe in love with Emperor Xian.

The love was too sudden or maybe not. At first, he was sure he didn't love the emperor because as a man, how could he fall in love with another man? Impossible! But, then, slowly, very slowly, the young and handsome emperor began to take root in his young inexperienced heart.

He himself also didn't realise since when did he begin to fall for the man. Was it after the courting? Or during the courting? But, he was sure it was somewhere along that time when Emperor Xian was very gentle, considerate and attentive to him.

Unconsciously, he was waiting for the man to come and see him everyday. To bring him out and be together with him. He anticipated their outing - courting - and he especially wanted to be with the handsome Emperor.

Li Huizhong watched the vary expressions on his only grandchild's beautiful face. When Zhan Chen finally opened his eyes and looked him in the eyes, he saw the love he had for their emperor.

"Have you known what is it like to like someone?" Li Huizhong smiled kindly. In fact, it was a blatant show on his grandchild's face but it wasn't wrong to hear it right?

Zhan Chen who was full of confidence after he realised what feelings he had for the young emperor, nodded his head shyly as he face reddened.

"I-I like Wei Dage."

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Small Theatre

Grandpa Li: Ah... Young love.

Baba Bai: Huh? What are you saying Father?

Grandpa Li: Nothing.