Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

184 Quiet and Aloof [Bonus chapter]

Mingquan was surprised to learn that Li Hua had come outside his chamber to have a conversation with him. He asked the maidservant to let her come inside. As Li Hua’s figure appeared in his sight, he passed a smile to her while she bowed to him.

“Please, take a seat,” Mingquan said and waited for her to sit first. After Li Hua settled, he sat down and asked if Lóng Wei didn’t accompany her.

“His Highness didn’t return to the chamber yet,” Li Hua replied. Mingquan pondered over that. Had Lóng Wei gone out to investigate the letter? But where he would go when no one could answer his question.

“Why did the Sister-in-law visit me?” Mingquan asked. He knew that she wanted to know something from him.

“Your Highness, I have put a lot of thought into it. Since the Shui Family was involved in my family’s murder, they deserve death only. I want to kill them from my hands, but if I take justice in my hands, then it will not be justice anymore.”

“Does the sister-in-law want to punish them differently?” Mingquan inquired. “She is right. She cannot make the decision regarding the Shui Family. Also, it is not anymore between the Shui Family and the Xu Family. Since you know that someone from Qinping is involved, then it will be appropriate to tell all this to the King,” Mingquan suggested to her.

“I have thought the same, Fourth Prince. However, my husband will not spare Feng Lao and if I stop him or I don’t kill Feng Lao, my relationship will be questioned. My Husband may think that I have feelings for Feng Lao. I do not want His Majesty to punish my husband for no reason. That’s why I request the Fourth Prince, if any such situation arises in the Shui residence, please intervene and stop him.”

Li Hua had come with high hopes to Mingquan. After Lóng Wei had ended his bitterness towards Mingquan, things changed. Li Hua realized that Lóng Wei consulted Mingquan various times and even listened to him.

“I understand. I will do my part if anything goes wrong. I won’t let Brother Lóng Wei do anything which forces our father to punish him.” Mingquan’s words were full of assurance and it calmed her restless heart.

.....

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will never forget your kind help,” Li Hua said, keeping the tiny smile on her lips.

“Sister-in-law, I am glad that you made a wise decision. In Brother Lóng Wei’s eyes, the rules and laws are nothing. He thinks that they only obstruct justice,” Mingquan affirmed. Li Hua agreed with his words.

“Did the Fourth Prince ever try to help...”

“Many times. However, he refused every time or ignored me. He doesn’t trust his half-siblings,” Mingquan clarified her few doubts.

“Oh.” Li Hua wondered why Lóng Wei never trusted the people around him.

“He was quiet and aloof from a young age. He was different from the other kids of his age. Since I was young, I only heard it from our mothers or older siblings. However, as we grew up, Brother Lóng Wei’s thoughts started to deviate from all of us. I was surprised to see this side of Brother Lóng Wei. His feelings for you must be on a level which I am unable to describe.” Mingquan told certain things about Lóng Wei to Li Hua.

“I think he was a neglected child. He hates his mother. Did his mother despise him?” Li Hua asked. It was the best moment to know the answers which Lóng Wei refrained from talking about.

“I do not have knowledge regarding it,” Mingquan answered. As per his promise to Lóng Wei, he didn’t tell Li Hua. It would break the trust between the two brothers.

“Sister-in-law, I would like to tell you a few things. As soon as the King finds out that you are a nobleman’s daughter, it will delight him. But the lie you told may also offend him.” Mingquan had the fear that she would get severe punishment because of the interference of the Queen and the others.

“I have thought about it as well, Your Highness,” Li Hua answered and knitted her brows.

~~~~~~~

The palanquin stopped at the top of the bridge. The people were already told to stay five meters away from the palanquin, and soldiers had surrounded it well. It was said that the Crown Prince had stopped for a while to rest.

Eunuch Lishi went close to the palanquin and said in a low voice, “Your Royal Highness, Liu Jin Yu isn’t present here.”

Mingquan’s eyebrows furrowed, and he slightly moved the curtain to look outside. He found Liu Jin Yu and came running in his direction. “She is here,” Minquan said, and he let go of the curtain.

Eunuch Lishi scrunched his brows to see her and scolded her for making the Crown Prince wait.

“Please forgive me,” Liu Jin Yu said while panting. Xiaoming looked at her through the curtain and found the blood on her hand. However, he didn’t say a word since he was in the market center. Many eyes were on him.

“We are leaving,” Xiaoming ordered. Eunuch Lishi immediately instructed the porters to carry the palanquin, and they soon left for the palace. During the entire return journey, Xiaoming’s focus was on Liu Jin Yu. He found that there were no frowns on her forehead despite the injury that she had gotten.

‘Why is she so different from the other women?’ Xiaoming was curious to know.

The palanquin stopped inside the imperial gates as the porters carefully put it on the ground. Xiaoming came out and left for his manor. Liu Jin Yu’s throat was getting drier while her body was giving up. While returning, three masked men attacked her. The fight was fierce, but somehow, she managed to return.

They had entered the main palace and were crossing through the lake pavilion. Liu Jin Yu’s vision was getting blurred and she felt intense sweating in her body. She shook her head, trying to remain in her senses when she got a push.

“Your Royal Highness, I have come to apologize to you.” Xiaoming heard a familiar voice and halted, followed by the others. He turned to look and found Cha Ying before him. Eunuch Lishi slightly smiled upon seeing her.

Xiaoming’s eyes fell on Liu Jin Yu, who had closed her eyes, and she fell into the lake filled with lotuses.

“Jin Yu,” Xiaoming shouted and rushed forward. He pushed Cha Ying away, and without a second thought, he jumped into the water.

“Your Royal Highness!” Eunuch Lishi shouted in concern.

Xiaoming pulled Liu Jin Yu out of the water and patted her cheek. He brushed off the hair from her face. “Jin Yu! Jin Yu! She’s unconscious,” he murmured. He came out of the lake, carrying Liu Jin Yu in his arms, and ordered Eunuch Lishi to bring the Royal Physician Peng to the manor.

Cha Ying was shocked to see all this. Xiaoming was concerned about a mere servant and it heightened her temper. But she didn’t lose it as per her father’s instructions and walked to Xiaoming, who had already turned to leave.