Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Yes. Brother Mu, I have never complained to you about any matter. But this time your mother has crossed her limits. She insulted Song Jia and it hurt me,” Tianjie said with a saddened expression.

“I apologize to you on my mother’s behalf, Brother Tianjie. I will tell my mother not to do this. Also, I will support you. Please do not worry,” Qiu Mu said with assurance.

“Your mother may get annoyed with me more,” Tianjie stated.

“What does Brother Tianjie want me to do then?” Qiu Mu asked as he rested his hand on the table beside him.

“I request Brother Mu to support my decision tomorrow morning. I want him to defend my decision,” Tianjie said.

“I will do it,” Qiu Mu said. Tianjie thanked him and turned to leave when Qiu Mu stopped him.

“Father may punish Song Jia. Brother Tianjie, you should rethink marrying her. I am not against you, but I want you to not get hurt,” he asserted.

“Brother Mu, I will protect her,” Tianjie said and left his chamber.

.....

Qiu Mu lowered his head and pondered why his mother was acting like a villain in other’s lives. “At this rate, she will make enemies,” He murmured and thought to see her before taking a bath. He left to see his mother in her manor.

Xiuying was sewing a pattern on the silk fabric and when she learned that Qiu Mu had come to see her, she left her work in the middle and asked the maidservant to let the prince in.

In a few seconds, Qiu Mu entered the chamber and bowed to her.

“Bring the tea for Prince Mu,” Xiuying ordered a servant.

“I do not want to drink tea, Mother. Instead, I want to have a conversation with you,” Qiu Mu stated.

Xiuying glanced at the servants and they all left the chamber while closing the door behind them.

“What does Prince Mu want to talk about?” Xiuying inquired.

“I want my mother not to intervene in the lives of the other princes,” Qiu Mu said and looked into her eyes.

“When did I do that?” Xiuying chuckled. “Did Prince Tianjie approach Prince Mu?” She asked.

“No. I got to find out what happened earlier,” Qiu Mu lied.

“Prince Mu, I merely want the good of this family. Also, Prince Tianjie said that my mind was polluted,” Xiuying said and let out a frustrated sigh. “His Majesty doesn’t want Prince Tianjie to marry a dancer. Prince Mu knows well what a dancer does,” she vaguely said.

“Mother, please do not say such a thing for a woman to whom Brother Tianjie wants to marry. It should not matter to you,” Qiu Mu argued with his mother.

“I want to protect the inner palace. Prince Mu, I cannot let some women from low status enter–” She was interrupted as Qiu Mu didn’t let her speak.

“Mother, don’t forget that you weren’t either from a high-status family. My maternal grandfather’s rank was the lowest among many officials. You should not forget how you reached this level,” Qiu Mu asserted. He had a change of thoughts in these few months.

Probably after Lóng Wei returned from the cold palace, his thoughts changed. If he would be older Qiu Mu, he would not have either supported Tianjie.

“But I am still from a noble family,” Xiuying said and chuckled.

“You aren’t from a higher-status family. You are making a pit for yourself, Mother. The princes will hate you this way. The Crown Prince also doesn’t like you. Now, Prince Tianjie is also against you and your ideologies. Prince Lóng Wei has always despised you. If this keeps going on, then you may fall in danger. Don’t you think, Mother?” Qiu Mu questioned her.

“I merely wanted to make this royal family stronger,” Xiuying said.

“Mother, I know you well. Don’t lie to me. You never wanted that. You want my value to increase in Father’s eyes. But this is the wrong way. This way they all will be my enemy. So, I request you to stop,” Qiu Mu clarified to his mother. “It is a request from the bottom of my heart,” he added.

The smile from Xiuying’s lips faded. Her son never talked this way with her. Qiu Mu looked at the threads, and various kinds of needles on the table and asked his mother to resume her work.

He stood up, bowed his head, and left her chamber.

Xiuying fisted her palms and her brows scrunched on her own.

Qiu Mu when returned to his chamber was shocked to find Lóng Wei there.

“May I know what Brother Lóng Wei is doing here?” He asked and stood in front of him.

“Forgive me for my behavior in the morning, Prince Mu,” Lóng Wei said and bowed his head lightly.

Qiu Mu pinched his hand and realized that it was real. “Ahh, I am shocked to see this gesture of Brother Lóng Wei,” He said and pulled out the chair for him. He sat down and rested his hands on the table’s surface.

“You never bowed your head at me,” Qiu Mu said, still shocked by Lóng Wei’s previous gesture.

“We need to find Qizhen. We will head to Dongqing after celebrating the Qiqi festival. Feng Lao will accompany us. Father has suggested me to take Prince Mu with me,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I am ready to accompany you. Qizhen is a threat to us. We have to find him as soon as possible,” Qiu Mu affirmed.

“I agree. But before that I want Prince Mu to look into this,” Lóng Wei said and took out a document from his pocket. He forwarded it to Qiu Mu, who opened it.

After reading it, Qiu Mu looked at Lóng Wei. “How did you find out this, Lóng Wei?” He questioned with an astonished look.

“After acquiring the Governor’s position, Prince Mu. You can use it as you please. I am sure you will take the right decision,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

“You know well that I will marry Kang Cha Ying soon. I cannot remove Kang Xi from the prime ministerial position. You should do it,” Qiu Mu stated and put the document on the table.

“Become the Prime Minister, Prince Mu,” Lóng Wei pronounced.

Qiu Mu widened his eyes at Lóng Wei’s remark.

“Ignore my earlier statements. It is the time when you should go for something bigger, Prince Mu, not for yourself but also the kingdom,” Lóng Wei stated.