Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Suddenly, they heard the clearing of the throat. Promptly, Li Hua pushed Lóng Wei away and lowered her head in embarrassment. She didn’t even want to see who it was who saw them.

“Brother Lóng Wei has given a manor to do such things,” Tianjie remarked.

“That doesn’t mean I cannot kiss my wife outside the manor,” Lóng Wei stated. Li Hua held the small portion of his sleeve and gestured for him to stop.

Tianjie walked ahead as he didn’t want a heated argument between them. Once he left, Li Hua let go of Lóng Wei’s sleeve.

“His Highness should not reply this way to his elder brothers. I have told him many times. Can’t His Highness be gentle and respectful towards them? Act like a prince, Your Highness.” Li Hua couldn’t refrain from reprimanding Lóng Wei.

“You should accept my flaws too,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I did. However, if Prince Lóng Wei starts respecting the people around him, then he will be respected too,” Li Hua asserted.

“I do not need anyone’s respect. I want to remain the way I am,” Lóng Wei affirmed. Li Hua sighed to hear him and walked ahead of him towards their manor. Lóng Wei followed her and asked her not to be upset with him.

.....

“Why can’t His Highness change himself? He wants everyone to change, but he’s adamant about being the person he never wanted to become.” Li Hua used to get puzzled by his behavior and it always troubled her. He had more haters compared to his well-wishers.

“Li Hua, I always was like this. I am good to a few people. You should not force me to change myself because I will never,” Lóng Wei clarified her doubts. He didn’t want to keep her in the dark, nor did he want her to fight with him on this.

“I didn’t ask His Highness to change himself. I only told him to be respectful towards his elders. Your highness, words have strong power. It influences people more than anything,” Li Hua made him understand.

“You are right,” Lóng Wei said and intertwined their fingers, “Let’s not talk about that anymore.”

Li Hua turned quiet and silently followed his steps.

Xiaoming who was heading to Qiu Mu’s manor, saw Li Hua and Lóng Wei together. He realized that he wasn’t jealous any more of them. Earlier, he used to get infuriated. “They indeed look good together. Unlike me, Brother Lóng Wei is indeed strong,” he murmured. He wondered if Lóng Wei had found the culprit or not.

Qiu Mu, who had just returned from prison, welcomed Xiaoming.

“Thank you, Brother Mu, for taking Brother Lóng Wei to prison,” Xiaoming thanked him first before taking a seat around the floor table.

“It is a part of my duty to listen to the Crown Prince’s command,” Qiu Mu said and sat on the other seat.

“May I know why the Crown Prince wants Brother Lóng Wei to find the culprit? Does he think I am incapable of doing that?” He didn’t like Lóng Wei’s involvement in that matter.

“No. I never thought that Brother Mu,” Xiaoming immediately refuted. “I have sought Brother Lóng Wei’s help for a reason, and I will soon tell Brother Mu about it. Please do not think that I consider you incapable. Brother Mu is the Second General, which in itself shows how capable he is,” Xiaoming asserted.

“Brother Lóng Wei has resources. This I won’t deny. I was a fool to attack him. The Crown Prince was right. I must accept my crimes in front of my father before Brother Lóng Wei uses them as my weaknesses. However, it was mutual, so I don’t blame myself entirely,” Qiu Mu stated, and picked up the small wine jar on the table. He removed the porcelain lid from over it and asked Xiaoming if he wanted to drink it.

Xiaoming shook his head. Qiu Mu didn’t pour the wine into the cup and drank it with the jar.

“Crown Prince, Lóng Wei sometimes scares me. What if he tried to snatch my position? I know that I have made some foolish decisions as a General, but I don’t want to get defeated against Lóng Wei,” Qiu Mu proclaimed. Eunuch Shi Rang, who was outside the chamber, overheard their conversations. He knitted his brows, thinking about why his master had turned lenient towards Lóng Wei.

“Brother Lóng Wei isn’t a danger until we provoke him. He is not even interested in holding power like us. However, he doesn’t like it when we brothers treat him special because of the prophecy,” Xiaoming affirmed. He had realized the problem lay in them. They were the ones who were scared of Yuze’s prophecy about Lóng Wei.

“But what if he wants the power?” Qiu Mu questioned Xiaoming. “That gaze of his was no less than a threat. He told me that he would take my position from me. He always stayed outside of all this. It didn’t mean that he was never interested,” Qiu Mu said, and took a few more sips of the wine.

“Brother Lóng Wei was a neglected child, so he turned out to be rebellious among all of the princes and princesses,” Xiaoming stated. “However, when he was punished, he used to wail silently. That’s why I tried to help him in pardoning his punishment.”

Xiaoming was well aware of how Lóng Wei stayed in the cold palace. Like a prisoner, Lóng Wei was captivated in the dungeon where not a single ray of sunlight could pass.

“What does the Crown Prince mean?” Qiu Mu asked as his eyes turned heavier. The wine was strong, and its effect was visible now. His cheeks had turned redder and his ears too.

Xiaoming noticed that and decided to leave. “Brother Mu shall not drink anymore,” Xiaoming took the small jar from Qiu Mu’s hand and placed the lid on its top.

“I want to finish it,” Qiu Mu said when Xiaoming pulled the jar away.

“Brother Mu has enough to drink,” Xiaoming stated, and called in Shi Rang. The door opened and he walked in

“Eunuch Shi Rang, please take Brother Mu to bed. He needs rest,” Xiaoming ordered. Shi Rang complied with that order and took Qiu Mu to the bedchamber.

Xiaoming left for his manor and was surprised to see Eunuch Gao Bing with a young Eunuch.

“Forgive me, Your Royal Highness. It took me more than one hour to find a suitable eunuch in your service,” Gao Bing said, and he glanced at the young eunuch whom he brought with him.

“This is Sun Fuguo. He will serve His Royal Highness from today onwards,” Eunuch Gao Bing informed the Crown Prince. He thanked Gao Bing for working hard. Gao Bing bowed and left after instructing Sun Fuguo.

“You look young to me,” Xiaoming initiated the conversation.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness. I am 19 years old,” Sun Fuguo replied. Xiaoming was surprised to find out his age. “Your Royal Highness, I am happy to be in your service,” he said, and got on his knees to bow before him.

Xiaoming told him not to do that and to carry out his work honestly. “I removed the previous eunuch because he was disloyal to me. I hope you won’t do that,” he clarified to Sun Fuguo.

“Never, Your Royal Highness. I am your servant and will always be loyal to you,” Sun Fuguo said in a loud voice. Xiaoming liked his enthusiasm and asked him to send dinner for him. Sun Fuguo got up, bowed, and walked out to bring meals for the Crown Prince.