Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Because someone needs to do that job too. Except for Prince Mu, I do not think any other person is capable of that. Don’t you think the same, Brother Mingquan?” Lóng Wei asked.

“I agree with Brother Lóng Wei. Brother Mu is more suitable to become the next prime minister. The kingdom cannot work with corrupt officials,” Mingquan stated. “Eunuch Gao Bing is executed in the evening. I wonder if it was important to do that,” he wanted to know Lóng Wei’s answer to this.

“It was. Gao Bing was a danger for a long time,” Lóng Wei proclaimed.

“Hmm. Did Brother Lóng Wei find his father?” Mingquan asked. “Jianjun has found out that my sister-in-law did not accompany you. I was scared thinking what if he tells our father,” he said while furrowing his brows together.

“Xu Zifan has shifted Li Hua to Chang Shi’s place,” Lóng Wei stated. “I want to thank Brother Mingquan to help Xiwan and find out that Gao Bing was not playing with me,” he stated.

“It is alright, Brother Lóng Wei,” Mingquan said and passed a smile to him.

“Brother Lóng Wei, the ministers must be scheming against you. I wonder what will happen in the morning,” Mingquan stated.

“Brother Mingquan knows that I am a hundred steps ahead of those ministers. I know my today’s step brought my close ones into danger, but sometimes it is important to take the risks for a better future,” Lóng Wei opined.

.....

Mingquan acknowledged his opinion. “Brother Lóng Wei, do you want to bring your truth in front of everyone after a certain time?” The lines of worry were evident on Mingquan’s forehead. He was concerned for Lóng Wei. Because if the truth came out, then it would bring questions to his status as the prince.

“Brother Mingquan, why did you keep my secret despite you could have used it against me? I thought about it occasionally, but I could never come to an appropriate answer which could end my curiosity. I know that you have answered my this question, but it was still not satisfactory to me,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I saw your mother crying once after father came out of her chamber. I also saw how Father raise his hand on her,” Mingquan stated.

“Father raised hand on my mother?” Lóng Wei’s blood suddenly boiled.

Mingquan nodded his head. “I was seven at that time. I wanted to show your mother the art I had made and went to her chamber. But I ended up witnessing that scene. Forgive me for not telling about it to Brother Lóng Wei,” Mingquan said and lowered his eyes.

“It seems she suffered a lot,” Lóng Wei murmured.

“She did.” Mingquan raised his head and again looked into Lóng Wei’s eyes. “I should not be saying this, but I do not like my father. When the prophecy was made for Brother Lóng Wei, I was happy as I understood its meaning as I grew up because I thought in the future we would get a more capable king.”

Lóng Wei glanced at Mingquan with skepticism.

“My mother never gave me her love. I wonder why Brother Mingquan respected her so much,” Lóng Wei said.

“Your mother was a very kind lady. As I grew up, I was not confident enough and I had a fear of people too. She used to come to my chamber and would even sometimes put me to sleep. My mother was more busy increasing her rank, so she truly not cared for me. If I would say that I considered Brother Lóng Wei’s mother as my own, then will he trust me?” Mingquan questioned and patiently waited for Lóng Wei’s answer.

Lóng Wei chuckled to hear all those things. “I always craved my mother’s love. I am surprised that she loved Brother Mingquan so much and gave him a mother’s love. I have no reason not to trust Brother Mingquan,” he asserted.

“Brother Lóng Wei, your mother loved you a lot. Perhaps because of her circumstances, she could never express it. Father might have known about your truth and might have asked her to behave that way with you. That is my assumption only since Father usurped the throne,” Mingquan proclaimed.

Lóng Wei was astonished to find that Mingquan landed on the true assumptions, but he stayed quiet. He still did not want to tell him that he had met Qizhen. It was not the right time to disclose Qizhen to anyone in the palace. Li Hua was an exception.

“Why did Brother Mingquan never tell me about all this?” Lóng Wei asked.

“Brother Lóng Wei was never ready to listen to me. If I would have mentioned his mother’s name, he would have gotten angry at me. Also, Brother Lóng Wei never communicated with me in older times,” he reasoned.

“Brother Mingquan, thank you for answering my questions,” Lóng Wei expressed his gratitude again.

Mingquan smiled at him and told Lóng Wei not to be so thankful. “We are brothers,” he said and looked outside the window that was behind Lóng Wei. “I should take my leave. It was a nice conversation with Brother Lóng Wei. Sister-in-law must be waiting for him,” he said and stood up from the floor chair.

Lóng Wei also rose to his feet and saw Mingquan off outside the chamber. He closed the doors of his room and went to Li Hua’s chamber to sleep with her. The maidservant had left already while Li Hua was alone in her chamber.

“Li Hua!” He called her name when she turned to him while holding the pillow. She was making the bed. Seeing Lóng Wei, she put the pillow on the bed and welcomed him. Lóng Wei closed the doors behind him and walked to her.

“Let’s sleep,” he said and removed the overcoat and then the hair bun holder from his head. He put them on the table and lay next to her.

“His Highness took a long time to return,” Li Hua said and placed her hand on his chest.

“The conversation went on for long period,” Lóng Wei replied and tilted his head to look at her.

“Hmm.”

Lóng Wei kissed the middle of her forehead and embraced her close. “Goodnight,” he said and they closed their eyes.