Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

However, as per Lóng Wei’s instructions, he gulped his anger and stepped foot into the Shui Residence. He saw a servant and asked him about Feng Lao.

“Young Master Shui is with his wife,” the servant replied in his humble tone. “Please be seated in the guest room. I will inform the young master,” he told Tang Zhaodang and took him to the guest room.

Tang Zhaodang wondered what Feng Lao’s reaction would be to finding out about the jade ring. Would he accept his mistake as he once loved Li Hua?

Feng Lao entered the guest room and asked Tang Zhaodang about his sudden visit. “You don’t need to stand up,” Feng Lao said as he sat on the broad chair.

The servant came with a tray in her hand and served tea to them. Feng Lao asked her to leave, and she left, closing the door behind her.

Feng Lao asked him to take the tea. Tang Zhaodang picked up the teacup and stared at it for a while. He put it down and gazed in Feng Lao’s direction, who had taken the first sip of the tea.

“Feng Lao, do you miss our friends?” Tang Zhaodang started with a question.

“Friends?” Shui Feng Lao arched his brow and put the teacup on the table. “Which friends?” He asked for clarification.

.....

“Xu Zifan and Xu Zuwen,” Tang Zhaodang answered.

The tiny smile on Feng Lao’s lips had disappeared. His brows relaxed, but a tense expression was now visible on his face.

“Why did you suddenly talk about them?” Feng Lao asked. “I miss them, but I cannot hold onto the past for too long. We had a conversation on this earlier too,” he asserted.

“What about Li Hua? Don’t you miss her?” Tang Zhaodang inquired and fixed his gaze on him.

Feng Lao’s fingers curled and his lips twitched. It seemed that the wound in his heart was opened again.

“Did you ever love her?” Tang Zhaodang modified his question.

“Why do you want to know all this suddenly? I am now married, so there’s no use talking about her,” Feng Lao crisply replied. He saw Tang Zhaodang had put his hand inside his inner pocket.

Tang Zhaodang took out the red jade ring that Li Hua had given him. He placed it on the table and glanced at Feng Lao, who was stunned to see that.

“You gave it to Li Hua, right?” Tang Zhaodang asked another question.

“How did you find it out and how do you know that I gave it to Li Hua?” Feng Lao asked him.

Tang Zhaodang chuckled. “The Sixth Prince has a message for you-If you are remorseful of your actions, then come to Qinping and accept your crimes.”

Feng Lao was perplexed to hear from Tang Zhaodang. Why did he suddenly talk about Lóng Wei?

Tang Zhaodang stood up to leave when Feng Lao stopped him. “How did it reach Prince Lóng Wei?” He asked with desperation. “Is Li Hua alive?” He asked.

“I cannot answer your questions. Go to Qinping and find your answers,” said Tang Zhaodang, refusing to answer any of his queries. He stepped forward to leave and opened the door.

However, before leaving, he said, “Feng Lao, don’t hide the truth anymore. I never thought in my worst nightmare that you would do something like that. Our friendship ends here.” He stepped out of the room and left the Shui Residence.

Feng Lao let out a deep breath and picked up the jade ring. “Li Hua, are you alive?” He murmured and closed his palm.

~~~~~

Mingquan woke up from his sleep in the evening and freshened up. He returned to his chamber after taking another hot water bath, which relaxed his tense muscles when he found Qiu Mu in his chamber.

Mingquan bowed before him and lowered his hands. He had already studied the face of Qiu Mu and realized he was furious.

“Is Brother Mingquan on Lóng Wei’s side?” Qiu Mu questioned him. “Why did he accompany them to Xinshui? He knew very well about my plan. Am I wrong?” He raised his voice at Mingquan.

“Brother Mu should not have sent Chang Shi after Brother Lóng Wei. Chang Shi is a close friend of Lóng Wei,” Mingquan revealed to him, shocking Qiu Mu. Chang Shi wasn’t on his side but on Lóng Wei’s side.

“Brother Mu shouldn’t do anything to Brother Lóng Wei. If the Royal Father finds out that Brother Mu tried to kill the youngest prince. He may get punished severely,” Mingquan advised Qiu Mu, who scrunched his brows.

Qiu Mu let out a frustrated sigh and left the chamber. He could not believe that Chang Shi was not on his side. But when did Lóng Wei befriend Chang Shi?

‘I don’t have time to waste on this. I must vanish every trace before he reveals everything in front of our father,’ he thought and halted upon seeing the Crown Prince.

“Your Royal Highness!” Qiu Mu bowed and thought to ask for his help. But then he became hesitant. After what Xiaoming told him a few days ago, he didn’t trust him either.

“Brother Qiu Mu looks troubled,” Xiaoming said, and lifted his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Qiu Mu took a step back and excused himself, saying he had to take a rest.

Xiaoming tilted his head a little and shook his head.

“Your Royal Highness, I don’t know why you asked me to search for it, but your life can come into danger too. I have heard from the maidservants here that the Second Prince isn’t a good person,” Liu Jin Yu said in a low voice.

“You have told me that I am the Crown Prince, so I should not fear anything.” Xiaoming reminded her of the words that she said to him.

“We need to go to the Sixth Prince’s manor, and after that, I’ll see you till the imperial gates of the palace,” he stated, and they both headed to Lóng Wei’s place.