Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

108 That night I was present

Lóng Wei moved his head back and chuckled. “Why do you always imagine that I will kiss you if we stand or sit close?” He tilted his head and twisted his lips into a broader smirk.

“His Highness’s acts are enough to show that,” Li Hua replied.

“All I wanted to stare into your eyes. You have a naughty mind, Li Hua,” Lóng Wei said and continued to tease her. The maidservant came inside with a tray in her hand and started to put the dishes on the table. Li Hua quickly moved away from Lóng Wei by pushing her chair back to its original place.

Li Hua picked up the chopsticks and started to eat. The maidservant bowed and stepped back. The lunch went in silence. However, Lóng Wei kept his eyes fixed on Li Hua, who could feel that burning haze. She didn’t dare to look at him and somehow finished her food.

The maidservant cleaned the table and took the dishes back to the royal kitchen. Li Hua asked Lóng Wei if she could go back to her chamber.

“Why?”

“I am tired,” Li Hua replied. “I want to sleep for a while,” she lied.

“Sleep here then. I will watch you sleep,” Lóng Wei said.

“Pardon me?” Li Hua was bewildered by his words. “If His Highness continues to watch me then, I won’t be able to sleep,” she stated.

.....

“Fine. Take a good rest. I will be outside for a while. I will see you in the evening. I would like to have tea made by your hands in the evening,” Lóng Wei expressed his desire. Li Hua nodded and promised him that she would brew the tea for him. She rose to her feet and bowed.

“Your Highness, don’t do any mischievous thing,” Li Hua urged him, who hummed when Li Hua took a promise from him. He gave the promise to her, who smiled and left the chamber.

Lóng Wei tapped his fingers on the table’s surface and then stood up. He walked out of the chamber and closed the doors from outside. “Prince Qiu Mu will dig his own grave if he harms me. He will be easily removed from the General’s position,” Lóng Wei murmured. He turned and descended the stairs.

Lóng Wei reached the barracks and searched for Huang Xi. He found out that Huang Xi had not come since he would accompany them the next day for the journey. He was resting in his residence. He decided to go to Hei Residence and meet Huang Xi once.

“Brother Lóng Wei!” Mingquan gladly called him and walked to him. Lóng Wei saw the sword in his right hand and realized that he must be practicing.

“How is Sister-in-law?” Mingquan’s question bewildered Lóng Wei. “She was a little tense after what she heard in the private chamber. I was also present there,” he asserted.

“For how long?” Lóng Wei asked.

“Brother Lóng Wei should have told the truth, instead of lying. The Second Brother will destroy every piece of evidence. Also, he wants to kill you.” Mingquan said the same words as Li Hua. “I think I shall inform the Royal Father,” he opined.

Lóng Wei glanced at him in amusement. “What is going on in the Fourth Prince’s head?” Lóng Wei squinted his eyes in suspicion.

“I would love to tell the Sixth Brother if he had considered me as his well-wisher even for a second,” Mingquan stated. Lóng Wei chuckled and decided to leave when Mingquan’s words stopped him.

“Brother Lóng Wei, let me accompany you. I know that you are brave enough to tackle small obstacles. However, this time you are married. Everyone knows how much you love our Sister-in-law. The enemies’ first target will be her,” Mingquan affirmed. “I am one of the undefeatable swordsmen. I will safely escort you both to Xinshui,” Mingquan offered his help.

Lóng Wei turned to him and bored his gaze at him. “Sadly, I don’t trust any of the Princes,” he rejected Mingquan’s help, who smiled a little.

“I would not have saved my Sister-in-law from getting noticed by Brother Qiu Mu if I was Brother Lóng Wei’s enemy,” Mingquan asserted. He briefed Lóng Wei on what happened in the private chamber.

“That is what is bothering me the most. Why does the Fourth Prince want to help me?” He tilted his head and looked at the soldiers, who were coming in their direction. “I shall take my leave,” he said.

“The night Brother Lóng Wei killed his mother, I was present. Is it enough to show that I am his well-wisher?” Mingquan questioned him. Lóng Wei didn’t expect Mingquan to be present on that day.

“I won’t reveal anything as it was Brother Lóng Wei’s matter with his mother. All I want to do is to help him,” Mingquan stated. Lóng Wei furrowed his brows and walked away without answering Mingquan.

~~~~~

Qiu Zedong took the seat while Noble Consort Xiuying got seated on the other broad, puffy-cushioned chair. “I just had my lunch, Your Majesty. If he had informed me about his arrival then, I would have waited for him,” Xiuying replied.

“I had my lunch with my Queen,” Qiu Zedong answered. “What happened in the tea ceremony should not have happened,” he stated.

“I agree with His Majesty. The Sixth Prince should not have accused my son of no reason. This is what happens when you are grown without a mother’s presence,” Xiuying remarked and left no opportunity to humiliate Lóng Wei.

“Noble Consort Xiuying, you cannot tarnish the character of Li Hua after her marriage. She is the first daughter-in-law of this royal family and she also has dignity,” Qiu Zedong affirmed. Though he had been polite, it seemed he was angry at Xiuying.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. It wasn’t even serious. I was only asking Li Hua if she indeed seduced-”

“She never did that,” Qiu Zedong cut her words in the middle. “If Noble Consort Xiuying had not humiliated Li Hua, then her son would not have been humiliated. I don’t want Noble Consort Xiuying to repeat this kind of mistake in the future. Else, I will punish her,” Qiu Zedong asserted in a harsh tone.

Xiuying lowered her head and apologized to him. Qiu Zedong didn’t sit anymore. “Prince Lóng Wei has apologized to Prince Qiu Mu. So, refrain from doing anything. I don’t want the royal family members to fight amongst each other,” Qiu Zedong warned her before leaving her manor.