Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Take the shorter route,” Li Zixuan told the porters.

“But my lord that route is dangerous in the evening,” the servant said, who was walking along with the porters.

“Do what I told you. The route is still visible, so it will not be dangerous,” Li Zixuan affirmed.

The four porters gained speed and walked fast upon their lord’s order. They changed the route and walked on the shorter way to reach the palace. Because it was the rainy season, the route was covered in fog and visibility had started to decrease.

However, after covering a certain distance, an arrow hit the porter at the front and he fell off to the ground. The balance was lost and the entire sedan chair fell to the ground. Li Zixuan screamed as he hit the muddy ground and got bruises on his hands, arms and legs.

The servant ran to his lord when an arrow pierced through the middle of his back and he instantly died. Li Zixuan widened his eyes thinking if the bandits attacked him. The other three porters also died.

Li Zixuan got up and ran for his life when an arrow touched his right arm and he faltered. The blood oozed out from his arm. But he could not care about it. First, he had to run as fast as he could. Li Zixuan did not see the huge pebble in his way and his foot hit it. He fell to the ground again and turned to look behind.

“What do you want? I will give you the desired money that you want. I will give you hundred gold coins,” Li Zixuan asserted. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead and he gulped because he was unable to see anyone through that fog.

.....

Suddenly, a silhouette of a man appeared before him. He widened his eyes when he saw Lóng Wei and another unknown person behind him who had a bow in his hand.

“Prince Lóng Wei, did you do all this? How dare you?” Li Zixuan barked at Lóng Wei.

“Tsk. You are going to die, yet you are not throwing your attitude away. That is so wrong,” Lóng Wei stated as he approached Li Zixuan with the sword in his hand.

“I told you not to fool me,” Lóng Wei said and halted in front of him as he slowly unsheathed the sword.

“His Majesty must know his son’s doings,” Li Zixuan stated.

“You are going to die, Li Zixuan. What is your last wish? Say it before your soul leaves your body,” Lóng Wei said with a menacing expression.

“Prince Lóng Wei cannot threaten me this way. He should not forget that he will also die if he kills me today,” Li Zixuan tried to threaten Lóng Wei.

Lóng Wei chuckled and pointed the sword in the middle of Li Zixuan’s chest. He realized that the prince would not spare him and he trembled in fear. “Why is the Prince doing it?” Li Zixuan asked with a terrified voice.

“I do not want a person like you in the court,” Lóng Wei reasoned. “I got to find that you killed a family many years ago upon His Majesty’s order. You used to work for Qizhen and decided to betray him when the present king offered you a bigger position. Then, you did all sorts of wrong work while staying as the minister,” Lóng Wei reminded him.

Li Zixuan was unable to understand how Lóng Wei found out all this.

“I supported the Sixth Prince when he asked to become the governor. He should not forget the favor that I did for him,” Li Zixuan asserted.

“I also returned that favor by keeping your son alive when he disrespected my people,” Lóng Wei stated.

“Please do not kill me, Prince Lóng Wei,” Li Zixuan said and grabbed his legs as he moved away the sword from his chest. “I beg you. I will do what the Prince asks me to do,” he stated while pleading for his life.

“Leave my legs,” Lóng Wei said and pushed him away.

“Fine. I will spare you if you tell me the spy network of His Majesty,” Lóng Wei said.

“What is His Highness asking for? How would I know about it?” Li Zixuan asked him.

“Finish him off,” Lóng Wei said and handed the sword to Xiwan. He turned to leave when Li Zixuan noted that he would tell him. Li Zixuan told him the names of those spies, who were mainly from the military. Only three were the officials, who were in the government office to check the activities of Prince Lóng Wei.

“According to you, who is better: Qizhen or the present King?” Lóng Wei questioned.

“Qizhen,” Li Zixuan immediately replied.

Lóng Wei chuckled. “Do not flatter me this way, Li Zixuan. Your answer should have been different,” he asserted.

“I am not flattering the prince,” Li Zixuan said.

“Hmm. Thank you for answering my questions. You can go,” Lóng Wei stated. Xiwan glanced at Lóng Wei in bewilderment, but he did not speak.

Lóng Wei helped Li Zixuan in standing up and patted his shoulders. He thanked the prince for sparing his life and turned to go. At that instant, Lóng Wei took the sword from Xiwan’s hand and stabbed the sword into Li Zixuan’s back. He pulled it away and Li Zixuan coughed the blood.

He turned to face Lóng Wei and cursed him. “I told you I would not keep you alive if you betrayed me. I pray that your soul gets into hell,” Lóng Wei said with a smirk. Li Zixuan fell to the ground and died.