After a while, the guard returned and said, "The Second Prince wants to see you. Come with me."
Lin Taichu followed the guard into the imperial palace. Pavilions and towers filled the grounds. After walking for about half an hour, the guard led him to a palace hall. "The Second Prince is inside. Go in."
Lin Taichu took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and entered. The hall was spacious, with a table in the middle. The Second Prince sat behind it, reading a book.
The Second Prince looked to be in his thirties. He was handsome, dressed in a yellow brocade robe, and carried himself with extraordinary poise. Seeing Lin Taichu enter, he set down his book and smiled. "You are Lin Taichu? I have long heard of your great name."
Lin Taichu cupped his hands. "Greetings, Second Prince."
The Second Prince pointed to a chair beside him. "Sit. I heard you are quite formidable. You defeated Li Mo, Old Man Zhang, and Zhao Lei. A truly promising young man."
Lin Taichu sat down and said, "You flatter me, Second Prince. I was merely lucky."
The Second Prince smiled. "Luck is also part of one's strength. I also heard that the Prince thinks highly of you and even wishes to make you his Prince Consort. Is that true?"
Lin Taichu said, "The Prince does have such intentions, but Miss Wang and I are not yet familiar with each other. We still need to get to know each other better."
The Second Prince nodded. "Quite right. Marriage is a serious matter and should indeed be approached with caution. But with your abilities, it would be a shame for you to become merely a Prince Consort."
Lin Taichu's heart stirred. He knew the Second Prince was about to recruit him,