Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

The other servants had walked past them while the one who could not save the basket from falling started to pick the petals and put them into the basket.

Li Hua moved away and started to help the servant in picking the petals. “Forgive me, Brother. I increased your work,” Li Hua said and ran to the bottom of the stairs to pick up the basket.

“You are no longer a servant. Don’t do this anymore,” Lóng Wei told her, who did not listen to him. He glanced at the servant, who happily took Li Hua’s help.

He descended the stairs and pulled her up. “Leave it and go to your chamber.” He took away the basket from her and asked the servant to take it from him.

“Just like Brother Lóng Wei, Li Hua also doesn’t bother to follow the command of the Queen.” Both of them heard a voice and turned to look.

Li Hua lowered her head upon seeing the Third Princess. She stopped before Li Hua and looked at her. “When the Queen has strictly instructed you not to meet Brother Lóng Wei, then you should not have,” Xiaolian said sternly.

“Forgive me, Third Young Mistress,” Li Hua apologized.

Lóng Wei grasped Li Hua’s wrist and pulled her behind his back. He stood in front of Xiaolian and said, “Talk to me, not her. Also, start respecting her.” His tone seemed threatening.

.....

Xiaolian chuckled and she opened her mouth to speak. “Brother Lóng Wei, a servant remains a servant. Sixth Brother doesn’t respect anyone around him and he’s expecting me to respect his bride. Impossible! Unlike the First Sister, I will never tolerate your behavior.”

Li Hua came forward and apologized to Xiaolian. “I did not intend to unfollow the instructions of Her Majesty. His Highness mistakenly encountered me here. Please forgive me.” She kept her tone as humble as possible. Lóng Wei didn’t speak as Li Hua pressed her fingers tightly on his wrist, gesturing for him not to speak.

“It is good that you have realized your mistake,” Xiaolian said and walked past them. Once she left, Lóng Wei questioned Li Hua about why she apologized for no reason.

“I shall leave, Your Highness. I will answer you after our marriage.” She let go of his wrist and turned to leave.

“Li Hua, don’t apologize for no reason, especially from these people. I don’t like it.” He sounded angry. Li Hua didn’t utter a single word and went back to her chamber.

Upon reaching the chamber, she took a breath of relief. Xiwan helped her and gave her the pill that induced sleep. Court Lady Hong found Li Hua smiling and asked the reason for it.

“I recalled an old memory,” Li Hua answered.

“I will send tea for Miss Hua,” Lady Hong informed her and walked out.

Li Hua quickly took out a tiny, folded piece of paper from inside her long sleeve in which Xiwan had put the pill. “I need to keep it safe for two days,” she murmured and looked around the chamber.

She looked at the bed and put it beneath the mattress. “I won’t let the Sixth Prince succeed in this,” she murmured and smiled.

~~~~~~

Xiwan looked at Lóng Wei, who was on the recliner. “Your Highness, I brought your favorite snack- fried dumplings,” he stated and put the tray on the table near the recliner.

Lóng Wei held out his hand and quickly Xiwan handed him a stick that had four dumplings in it.

“Why did Li Hua go to the kitchen?” Lóng Wei took a bite of the dumpling. He chewed and waited for Xiwan’s answer.

Xiwan recalled the words of Li Hua. She requested him not to tell anyone because if anyone would find she was facing troubles in sleeping, she would be asked questions. So, he decided to lie to Lóng Wei.

“Don’t even think of lying to me,” Lóng Wei warned her. His facial expressions didn’t appear pleasant. Xiwan gulped and found himself in a dilemma.

“Li Hua asked for a sleeping pill, Your Highness.” Xiwan finally told the truth to Lóng Wei, who was bewildered to learn that Li Hua asked for such a pill.

“Why?” He arched his brow.

“Because she is unable to sleep properly these days. Before marriage, Li Hua wants a good sleep,” Xiwan replied.

Lóng Wei ate the remaining dumplings while contemplating. Why did she lie to Xiwan? For two days, she slept in his chamber in front of his eyes. She slept peacefully both days. Xiwan took the stick from him and put it on another plate.

“You must call her Miss Hua. I don’t like it when you pronounce her name,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I will keep in mind, Your Highness,” Xiwan replied humbly.

‘She should have asked the appointed Court Lady for a sleeping pill. Why did she approach Xiwan?’ Lóng Wei looked at him. ‘He is my loyal. He will never lie to me. If what she said is true, then it’s not a good thing. Her past is haunting her and I need to help her,’ he thought and asked for another dumpling stick from Xiwan.

“Xiwan, how did Li Hua join the palace as a servant?” Lóng Wei asked him.

He found it strange, but questioning Lóng Wei would only raise his temper.

“Miss Hua passed several rounds in her first attempt. Many were surprised to find that Li Hua,” his tongue slipped and he promptly apologized for his mistake, “Miss Hua surpassed servants who joined earlier than her. That’s why within a month, Miss Hua was asked to join the Queen’s Manor by Her Majesty herself.”

“That’s indeed impressive,” Lóng Wei answered. “It seems she was aware of the servants’ works and their etiquette,” he affirmed.

“Did she ever talk about her life? From where she came etc.” Lóng Wei with inquisitiveness glanced at Xiwan.

“Miss Hua had told me once that her family got murdered in the hands of unknown men. However, she refrained from telling me more. I also respect Miss Hua’s privacy, so I never bothered to ask her,” Xiwan answered.

“Why are you telling me this now? I have told you to report me everything!” Lóng Wei suddenly turned furious and huffed. “And why she told you so many things.” The anger and annoyance were visible on his face and voice too.

Xiwan found it a little funny that Lóng Wei was getting jealous of him. “His Highness doesn’t need to be jealous of me. I am a senior brother to Miss Hua,” he explained to him.

“Of course. I have full right to be jealous of you. When I asked her, she didn’t utter any word. However, to you, she told such a big thing. Wasn’t I supposed to know all this first?” He suddenly lost his temper and sat on the recliner. He ate the dumplings and threw the stick on the floor, didn’t care where it landed.

“His Highness is with Miss Hua for only three days. That’s why she is taking time to open up with him,” Xiwan stated, and asked Lóng Wei to calm down.

“Did she tell you that she loves someone?” Lóng Wei asked her with curiosity.

Xiwan shook his head. “Does Miss Hua love someone else?” He asked.

“Hmm. I don’t know who this jerk is!” Lóng Wei fisted his palms.

“If Miss Hua had loved someone, then she would not have agreed to marry His Highness. It is not easy to forget someone whom you love,” Xiwan said and found the beam of Lóng Wei at him. “Forgive me, Your Highness, if I again said something wrong.”

“I will make her forget him. She indeed has many secrets. Don’t speak about our conversation to her,” Lóng Wei sternly told him.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Xiwan said.

“You may leave. Take this with you,” Lóng Wei said, looking at the plate with fried dumplings. His mood was ruined to hear that Li Hua didn’t trust him. Xiwan picked up the plate, put it on the tray, and silently left the chamber.

“She gets nightmares about her family. Then, why she lied to me and said that she was an orphan,” he mumbled.