Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Jin Yu, what are you doing here?” Xiaoming asked.

She was in deep thought and upon hearing Xiaoming’s voice, she promptly came out of her thoughts. She stood up and showed the curtsy towards the Crown Prince as she was taught.

Xiaoming smiled to see that and asked her why she wasn’t on the bed.

Liu Jin Yu lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “I was thinking about Prince Lóng Wei’s words. Feng Lao knows Li Hua and it felt strange,” she stated.

“Li Hua and Feng Lao are from Xinshui town. Feng Lao was a close friend of Xu Zifan. So, they know each other,” Xiaoming answered.

“Why didn’t His Highness tell me about it earlier?” Liu Jin Yu asked him.

“You didn’t ask me,” Xiaoming replied.

“Feng Lao has feelings for Li Hua. Does the Crown Prince know about this?” She asked. Xiaoming nodded at her.

.....

“Li Hua was supposed to marry Feng Lao. However, that night, a deadly assassination occurred. Everyone in the Xu family died except Li Hua and her first brother, Xu Zifan,” Xiaoming told her. Liu Jin Yu was shocked to learn about it. She realised why Li Hua was not moving from her place. Because she had probably been lost in the memories from that day.

“Prince Lóng Wei said that someone from the palace wanted it to happen. Today’s attack was to kill Li Hua since she’s from the Xu Family. Is it true?” Liu Jin Yu asked a question.

“I think so. Brother Lóng Wei didn’t share it with me. He doesn’t trust me enough,” Xiaoming replied. Liu Jin Yu hummed and asked the Crown Prince if he hadn’t tried to find out.

“We did. Feng Lao’s father knew who the real enemy was, but he didn’t tell us the name. In the end, he lost his life, and Feng Lao lost his entire family in Xinshui. Father asked Brother Lóng Wei to stop looking for things that aren’t even related to the royal family. Father thinks that it was someone’s animosity against the Xu and Shui family.” Xiaoming narrated the events to Jin Yu in brief.

“That looks complicated, Your Royal Highness,” Liu Jin Yu said. “If Prince Lóng Wei thinks that someone from the palace is behind it, then I am sure he had the reason to say it so confidently,” Liu Jin Yu affirmed. Xiaoming glanced at her in amusement and asked her why she was so interested in that matter.

“You again got hurt today. Why did you even go out? What if something had happened to you?” Xiaoming showed his concern for her. He looked at her arm and said, “You have hurt yourself many times.”

“Li Hua and I would have died if I hadn’t picked up the sword to fight,” Jin Yu stated. “I went out to roam around. My movements will be restricted after my marriage. I will miss everything, especially my life as a commoner. I was also missing my master and home, where I grew up for so many years. I wanted to look at those things one more time,” she truthfully told Xiaoming.

He held her hands and slowly drew her towards him. “Then, I will take you out. You should have asked me,” he softly said. “I have promised you that I will not let you feel like a caged bird. Forgive me for neglecting your happiness.”

Liu Jin Yu shook her head. “I chose this. I must go ahead with this life. The Crown Prince has already provided me with everything here. I know that if I ask him to take me out, then he will do so, but he was busy in the court that time.”

Liu Jin Yu didn’t want to disturb him at that hour. Moreover, if she had not accompanied Li Hua today, then it would have been a problem. Li Hua might have lost her life.

“Jin Yu, I asked the royal jeweler about the pendant that you had given me. He told me that he would tell me about it soon. Hopefully, we will find out about your father soon,” Xiaoming stated. Liu Jin Yu thanked him for helping her out.

She put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Xiaoming also wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close. His chin was on her shoulder and closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~

Li Hua looked at Lóng Wei, who was separating the spring onions from the noodles. She found out that Lóng Wei had been quiet around her since the time he found out Li Hua had been attacked.

“Your Highness, why aren’t you eating?” She asked, and he stopped. He gazed at her and looked at the bowl before her.

“You have also not eaten,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I am eating slowly. However, the Prince is separating every other vegetable from the noodles,” she asserted. “Is it because of me? Is His Highness troubled because I was attacked?” She asked. She remembered how Feng Lao blamed Lóng Wei for all this.

“Don’t mind the words of Feng Lao. He doesn’t know anything about the palace. It is easy for him to make comments,” she asserted with an angry tone.

“I didn’t mind his words,” Lóng Wei replied. “I am not feeling well. Today, you could have lost your life,” he said with a troubled expression.

“I have a long life like His Highness,” Li Hua answered.

Lóng Wei smiled as he heard her words. “Li Hua, I hardly get scared. I was terrified for the first time in my life,” he admitted the fear that was still inside him.

“Forgive me,” Li Hua said, and downcast her eyes. “I always become the reason for His Highness’ worries,” she added.

“Li Hua, tell me one thing: will you allow me to kill the person who sent those petty assassins?” Lóng Wei questioned her.