Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Ahh, I met Bai Jue earlier in the morning. He told me he wanted to visit you,” Ye Xin informed her.

“What? Why?” Lin Jiao exclaimed.

“How can you forget what you did yesterday? Everyone in the market knows that the Lin Family’s daughter chased away those goons from the restaurant to save the life of the young boy there. She got injured and rescued by the Fourth Prince,” Ye Xin explained to Lin Jiao.

“I do not intend to see Bai Jue,” Lin Jiao said.

“Why don’t you tell him that your family has already seen a man for you? That way he will stop bothering you,” Ye Xin suggested to her.

“I don’t feel like talking to him,” Lin Jiao affirmed.

“Why? He is not a bad person though,” Ye Xin stated.

Lin Jiao knitted her brows. “He is not good either,” Lin Jiao said. “I once saw him with his fellows in the brothel house,” she stated.

.....

“When did you visit the brothel house? Why did you go to such a place?” Ye Xin questioned her.

“I wanted to find out something,” Lin Jiao replied.

“So, what did you see there?” Ye Xin asked.

“What could I see there? Guess yourself,” Lin Jiao answered. “That sight was not pleasant at all. So, I could never develop any likeness toward Bai Jue despite the effort he made to win my heart. Perhaps he is good by heart, which I am failed to see yet,” Lin Jiao asserted and stretched out her arms.

“Let’s go out. I am bored here. Father did not let me leave since yesterday. But now, you have come, so he will not stop me,” Lin Jiao said with a smile and rose to her feet.

“But your wound is still not healed,” Ye Jin said and she stood up.

“It will take a week or more to get healed. I cannot stay inside my room for that long time. I may go crazy,” Lin Jiao said and put her arm around her shoulder. She walked out with her while brushing her hair with her other hand.

“Miss Lin cannot leave the residence,” the servant in her service stopped her.

“Father allowed me to go out with Ye Xin,” Lin Jiao lied. Ye Xin looked at her with a shocked expression and nodded at the servant as Lin Jiao pressed her hand on Ye Xin’s shoulder, gesturing to her to help her.

“Lin Jiao is right,” Ye Xin stated.

“Forgive me, Miss Lin. I cannot let you go,” the servant did not come into their lies. “Miss Lin cannot fool me,” he added.

Ye Xin glanced at Lin Jiao and realized she was stuck at home today. From the front, a soldier walked in and asked Lin Jiao why she came out of her room.

“Lord Lin has given strict orders that Miss Lin cannot leave the residence today,” the soldier stated after Lin Jiao requested him to let her go.

“You are stuck,” Ye Xin whispered in her ear.

“I will see my friend out,” Lin Jiao said and smiled at them. The servant and the soldier did not stop her from doing so. However, they followed her.

“Now, what to do? Your father already made arrangements so that you cannot go out,” Ye Xin whispered.

“I have an idea,” Lin Jiao said and whispered in Ye Xin’s ear.

“Your father will scold me,” Ye Xin said in an extremely low voice. The soldier and the servant tried to hear their whispers but failed to do so.

“He will not,” Lin Jiao said and they reached the entrance.

“Ahhh!” Ye Xin started screaming and held her stomach.

“What happened, Ye Xin?” Lin Jiao made a fake facial expression of worry.

“My stomach is hurting badly,” Ye Xin said while faking the pain. Lin Jiao glanced at the servant and the soldier.

“Call the physician,” Lin Jiao told the servant, who quickly complied with the command.

“I am unable to walk, Lin Jiao,” Ye Xin said when Lin Jiao asked the soldier to carry Ye Xin on her back. He hesitated at first, but seeing the condition of Ye Xin, he got on his knees. Lin Jiao smiled at Ye Xin, who got on the soldier’s back. He stood up while Lin Jiao took silent steps backward.

She smiled and waved at Ye Jin before running out of the residence.

Ye Xin after two minutes told the soldier to put her down, and he immediately acted.

“My stomach is fine. I should go home,” Ye Xin said and ran out. The soldier realized after a while that he was fooled. He ran out of the residence to look for Lin Jiao, but could not find her nor could Ye Xin.

Ye Xin and Lin Jiao laughed seeing the soldier running out of the house. They turned and left for the market in a local carriage. Ye Xin paid the fare after reaching the market and they both stepped out of the carriage.

“Your father will be angry at you when he does not find you at the residence,” Ye Xin said.

“Father will be angry for a few minutes, then he will be fine,” Lin Jiao stated and spread her arms out. “It feels fresh to be in the open air,” she murmured. Ye Xin smiled and went to the stall to their left to buy some snacks while Lin Jiao looked up at the sky staying in that position.

“Lin Jiao!”

They both heard a familiar voice and saw Bai Jue coming from the front. He was accompanied by two of his fellows whom they did not recognize. Ye Xin stood next to Lin Jiao, who had lowered her arms.

“What is he doing here?” Lin Jiao murmured.

“How would I know?” Ye Xin asked.

Lin Jiao turned and decided to run away, but she felt pain in her knee. A low scream passed her mouth and Ye Xin asked her if she was fine.

“Lin Jiao, what happened?” Bai Jue worriedly asked her and came to Lin Jiao’s side. “Why did you come out of your house? You were supposed to rest. Come, I will take you home,” he said and gently grabbed Lin Jiao’s arm.

Lin Jiao pulled her arm back and asked him not to be worried. “I am alright,” she said.

“You are not, Lin Jiao. I will drop you home. Your father and brother must be worried for you,” Bai Jue said and again tried to grab her arm, but Lin Jiao immediately moved back.

“No, thanks. I can go by myself. Please go your way,” Lin Jiao said while faking a smile at Bai Jue. She gazed at Ye Xin, and they turned to walk ahead when Bai Jue grasped Lin Jiao’s wrist.

“Lin Jiao, you are hurt. Do not be stubborn. I will report to your brother if you do not go home,” Bai Jue tried to intimidate him.

Lin Jiao tried to pull her hand back, but he was not letting it go. “Leave my hand, Bai Jue,” She sternly said this time.

“I will drop you home,” Bai Jue said and drew her toward him. “You are not supposed to roam around when you should be resting at home.”

“Bai Jue, let me go. You cannot force me to go with you. I can go by myself,” Lin Jiao said. She was turning angry because of Bai Jue’s behavior.

“Stay quiet. Your brother knows me. What if you fall in danger?” Bai Jue muttered and started to drag Lin Jiao along with her. Ye Xin walked along with them and asked Bai Jue not to do that. His fellows had gone their separate ways already.

“Ye Xin, you do not take care of your friend at all,” Bai Jue said.

Lin Jiao twisted her wrist in his grip.

“Bai Jue, leave my hand,” Lin Jiao said again. She did not want to make a scene, but Bai Jue was crossing his limits. She decided to scream and ask for people’s help. However, before she could do that, she heard Mingquan’s voice.

“Leave the hand of Miss Lin Jiao,” Mingquan voiced and the three of them stopped to hear that voice.

Lin Jiao’s eyes shimmered to see Mingquan in front of her. He stepped up and held her hand. With his other hand, he removed Bai Jue’s hand from Lin Jiao’s wrist.

“When a woman says no, then it means no. You are not supposed to force the woman to go with you, especially the one who is already betrothed to someone else,” Mingquan said, and he pushed Bai Jue away.

At that moment, Lin Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. She curled her fingers and she felt so protective when his hand gently caressed her wrist.

“Lin Jiao is not betrothed to anyone, Your Highness,” Bai Jue said.

“She is! She is betrothed to me,” Mingquan pronounced and glared at him.