Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

113 Cheerful Smile that can melt

“Do you have any other jade accessories?” The woman asked, keeping the dagger on his neck. Xiaoming removed the three jade rings that he had on the fingers of his left hand.

“Here,” Xiaoming said. The woman put them inside her pocket and slowly stepped back. “Get your wound checked if you don’t want to die,” the woman warned Xiaoming and soon disappeared from his sight.

Xiaoming brought his hand on the right side of his neck and returned to his horse, Heji. Mounting on it, he returned to the palace. As Heji slowed down near the Imperial Gates, two soldiers came running to the Crown Prince, and he got down from the horse.

“Take Heji to the stable,” Xiaoming said and went to his chamber. He had already instructed a soldier to bring Physician Peng to his manor.

Eunuch Lishi was shocked to see Xiaoming’s dilapidated condition. His dress was torn, and it was stained with blood near the neck. “Your Royal Highness, how did it happen?” Eunuch Lishi panicked and shouted at a servant.

“Go and bring Physician Peng!”

“Calm down, Eunuch Lishi. Physician Peng must be on his way,” Xiaoming said and settled on the bed. He removed the sash first and then removed the upper robe.

“Did His Highness get attacked by enemies? Shall I inform His Majesty about it? It is a serious matter, Your Royal Highness,” Eunuch Lishi suggested.

Physician Peng arrived soon and greeted the Crown Prince before examining him. He dressed Xiaoming’s wound, and gave the pills to him, which would reduce his pain.

.....

“Your Royal Highness, luckily, the cut was not deep,” Physician Peng said and looked at the red marks on Xiaoming’s neck. “Did someone use force on the Crown Prince’s neck?” Peng Yuxian asked worriedly.

“I will call the First General immediately,” Eunuch Lishi said when Xiaoming stopped him.

“It is nothing serious,” Xiaoming answered, and asked Peng Yuxian if he did the work, then he could leave. Physician Peng stepped back and bowed before him. He picked up his bag and left, while Eunuch Lishi tried to convince Xiaoming to let him inform the King.

“A cat scratched me,” Xiaoming stated, “it was a big one.”

“A cat?” Eunuch Lishi was bewildered to hear him. “It was indeed a dangerous cat. The Crown Prince’s clothes are torn. I will bring a new pair of clothes for the Crown Prince,” Eunuch Lishi said humbly.

“Eunuch Lishi, have the robbers in the capital increased recently?” Xiaoming asked out of the blue.

“Pardon me, Your Royal Highness, but I don’t have knowledge on this,” Eunuch Lishi truthfully replied.

“Bring me the lists of robbers in the capital,” Xiaoming ordered Eunuch Lishi.

“My humble apologies, but it is difficult to find the actual number of robbers in the capital.” Eunuch Lishi didn’t find it feasible.

“Ask the Royal Inspector. I need it by tomorrow afternoon,” Xiaoming ordered him. Except for acknowledging the order of the Crown Prince, Eunuch Lishi had no way out.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” Eunuch Lishi bowed and walked out of the chamber.

~~~~~~

Li Hua put the tray on the table and glanced at Lóng Wei, who was on the recliner. He got down from it and walked to her. He stood on her left and ducked his head. “The love bite, did you like it?” Lóng Wei asked. Li Hua narrowly gazed at him.

“Can His Highness not remain quiet?” Li Hua complained. “I need to keep my focus on the tea while brewing it,” she stated and asked him to take a seat.

“I’ll take the seat after my wife,” Lóng Wei pronounced.

Li Hua didn’t respond this time. She put the dry chamomile flowers in the teapot along with mint leaves. Later, she poured hot water into it and picked the teapot. Swirling it, she waited for five minutes to get the desired color and the scent.

Lóng Wei keenly observed her movements and got mesmerized by her. His lips curled up into a smile and his heart got fluttered.

Li Hua placed her hand over the lid and poured the tea into the porcelain cup. “Your Highness, please take your seat,” Li Hua requested.

“Why don’t you sit first?” Lóng Wei pulled out a chair for her. Li Hua, without objecting or arguing with him, settled on the chair. Lóng Wei sat beside her and brought the cup near his mouth.

Taking its scent, he heaved a sigh of relief. He took the first sip and found it extremely tasty. The reason was simple: Li Hua prepared it with so much love.

“Why did the Sixth Prince lie the other day saying he hates chamomile tea?” Li Hua finally asked him. She clearly remembered how Lóng Wei left in the middle of that day after saying that he hated Chamomile tea. “Today, he is enjoying it. It is strange,” she said and poured a cup of tea for her.

Lóng Wei licked his lips. “I was annoyed that day. The Crown Prince had his deep gaze at you. So, I said in anger. It is my favorite,” he stated and again sipped the tea.

Li Hua also sipped the tea like a noble lady, and it brought a smile to Lóng Wei’s lips again.

“Li Hua, do you want something from me?” Lóng Wei asked. “You can ask anything for yourself. Your wishes, you can share them with me. Back in Xinshui, you were bound to four walls most of the time. You must have wanted to enjoy it like the other people. You can ask me, and I will surely fulfill your wishes,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

Li Hua was awestruck by his words. She put the teacup on the table and said, “The Sixth Prince had given me everything. I don’t want anything.”

“No. The things which I gave you were of my choices, not yours. I still do not know your likes, your dislikes. I want to see Li Hua, which I saw in Xinshui. That cheerful smile that can melt anyone’s heart, that laugh that can delight the person in front of her. I want to see that Li Hua, which she left in Xinshui in the Xu Residence,” Lóng Wei proclaimed.