Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Cha Ying glanced at Xiaoming in bewilderment. She kept the smile on her lips and opened her mouth to speak. “Your Royal Highness, pardon me, but I do not agree with your first statement. There’s no difference between the title of the Crown Princess and an official wife.”

She could feel that Xiaoming was trying to reject her, but she would not let it happen.

“Miss Cha Ying, why do you think you are the most suitable woman to become my wife?” Xiaoming slightly modified his question this time.

Cha Ying’s lips curled up into a broader smile. “Because I am perfect in everything. I am not only proficient in household chores, but I also have a sound knowledge of politics, governance, and warfare. Hardly any woman possesses such skills as I do.” She was boastful and full of pride. Her every word clearly showed that.

“Miss Cha Ying, I would like to have a wife who will be full of imperfections. I don’t like perfect people,” Xiaoming pronounced.

Cha Ying let out a chuckle. “Will the royal family ever accept a woman with imperfections? Will the King and the Queen accept that? Will the ministers, officials and the commoners accept it?” Cha Ying sounded as if she was mocking Xiaoming’s thoughts.

“Why should I care what the others would think?” Xiaoming asked her and sneered. “I had thought that Miss Cha Ying was different from her father. However, I was wrong. You and I can never become husband and wife,” Xiaoming proclaimed.

The smile that Cha Ying had forced on her lips started to diminish. Did he reject her? No, that could not happen.

.....

“Your Royal Highness, that was a blunt statement about my character,” she asserted.

“Isn’t Miss Cha Ying perfect in everything? I believe that she’s perfect in bearing the insult too,” Xiaoming stated, with a menacing expression. “She should watch her tongue. She’s sitting in front of the Crown Prince,” he added.

Cha Ying’s eyes filled with tears.

“This was our first and last meeting. I will ask Eunuch Lishi to escort her to her house,” he said and called Eunuch Lishi in. He instructed Eunuch Lishi to safely escort Cha Ying. “Take the robe away too. I do not accept the robes from the woman, who will never be associated in any way.”

Eunuch Lishi was shocked to hear Xiaoming, but saying anything would only increase his anger, so he silently complied with the Crown Prince’s command.

“Then, that servant was suitable in His Royal Highness’s eyes?” Cha Ying suddenly brought Li Hua into their conversation which had already ended from Xiaoming’s side. Eunuch Lishi widened his eyes.

Cha Ying snickered. “The Crown Prince rejected me because of Li Hua. Am I right!?” She asked without fearing that she was sitting in front of the Crown Prince.

“Watch your tongue, Miss Cha Ying. She has a higher rank than you. Be respectful and don’t try to get into the royal family matters when you know nothing. Before I punish you along with your father, please leave.” Xiaoming had lost his temper, but he remained polite.

Cha Ying stood up and left in anger while Eunuch Lishi followed him.

“I was right. She’s behind the title. Who dared to spread rumors about Li Hua?” Xiaoming muttered and gritted his teeth in anger.

~~~~~~

Lóng Wei beheld the sight of the Shui Residence. It was no longer the ordinary residence anymore, but the Governor’s residence. Shui Xiaoqing became the Governor of the county one month ago.

‘Shall I set it on fire?’ Lóng Wei asked himself and clenched his fists. His hands were locked behind his back while his gaze was fixed on the top building in the residence. ‘You can’t lose control this way,’ he told himself when heard a heavy masculine voice.

He turned to look and found a man in his late 40s in front of him. Judging by his dress, he realized that the man must be the head-servant of the residence.

“Who are you? Are you new here?” The man asked and stepped towards him.

“I was wondering how much it has cost to build the new building,” Lóng Wei said and pointed his finger at the tall building whose top was visible from outside, “or it was built from the taxes that the Governor looted from the people or other illegal works.” Lóng Wei tilted his head with a smirk on his lips.

“What?” The man knitted his brows. Lóng Wei’s words angered him and he shouted at him. “Do you want to go to prison?” He threatened Lóng Wei, who snickered.

“Next time, if we meet then that will be your last day,” Lóng Wei said with a menacing expression and walked away.

The man took Lóng Wei as some freak and walked into the residence.

While returning to the Cold Palace, Lóng Wei halted when a woman stopped in his way, who had large bamboo basket. “Please buy some flowers, Young Man. These are fresh flowers and have pleasant scents in them,” she started to convince him to buy a few flowers from her.

Lóng Wei thought of buying some for Li Hua. “Can you make them into a bouquet?” Lóng Wei asked. The woman smiled and nodded. She tied a small string obtained from plants around the stems of the various flowers. Lóng Wei handed her the silver coin and took the bouquet from her.

He inhaled the scent of the flowers and a smile again carved on his lips.

“Young Man, a silver coin is too much for these flowers. These value 20 cents. I do not have-” she couldn’t complete her words as Lóng Wei told her to keep that and walked ahead.

He used the secret route to the hill and after an hour reached the cold palace. He went straight to the chamber and found Li Hua on the recliner. She was sleeping and he let out a deep breath.

“When did she sleep?” Lóng Wei asked Eunuch Qian He, who had followed him in.

“An hour ago, Your Highness. Princess Consort has waited for His Highness. She didn’t even take her lunch,” Qian He informed Lóng Wei.

“You were supposed to tell her to have her lunch. Did she not have her lunch with Xu Zifan?” He asked and put the flower bouquet on the table near the recliner.

“No, Your Highness,” Qian He replied.

“Leave.” Lóng Wei dismissed him and went to Li Hua. He saw the tear marks on her face. “I told you not to cry too much. All this happened because of Feng Lao. I will burn him alive,” he pledged as he stroked Li Hua’s cheek.