Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Who is this woman who finally won the heart of the Crown Prince?” Qiu Zedong suddenly turned excited.

“Liu Jin Yu,” Xiaoming answered.

The smile on Qiu Zedong’s lips vanished as he heard the name. Did he hear it correctly? Did Xiaoming really take that name?

“That dancer!” Xiuying was the first one to react to Xiaoming’s answer. “She was a servant in the Crown Prince’s manor a few days back. It is unbelievable to hear that the Crown Prince fell for a servant.” She narrowly gazed at Zhu Liling, who remained quiet.

“Brother, do you really like Liu Jin Yu?” Jingfei asked.

“The Crown Prince loves her. I wonder why the Crown Prince has such weird choices towards women,” Xiuying remarked.

“Did you say a ‘weird choice’?” Lóng Wei spoke up and then looked at Qiu Mu, “Tell your mother to shut her mouth. If she doesn’t, I will make sure she never opens it.”

“Your Majesty, please punish the prince for using such a language for me.” Xiuying didn’t like the way Lóng Wei threatened her son and showed his authority.

.....

“Mother, please stop. You should not speak this way about a woman,” Qiu Mu finally said, which Lóng Wei had wanted to hear for a long time. Xiuying couldn’t believe her ears. Her son told her not to speak instead of requesting his father to punish Lóng Wei.

Li Hua looked at Lóng Wei. “His Highness loves to make people fume in anger,” she whispered near his ear.

“She called you a weird choice of the Crown Prince. Previously, Liu Jin Yu, he liked you,” Lóng Wei said. “I am happy today, else I would have created havoc here. I would have made her apologize to you,” he affirmed.

Li Hua ended up smiling when she heard Lóng Wei’s words.

Qiu Zedong was numb at the answer from his son. Zhu Liling looked at Xiaoming and recalled how he wanted her to understand him. She remained quiet until Qiu Zedong’s response.

Xiaoming stood up and came to the center of the hall. “Father, I know that a noble woman is important for my political strength. However, it is not necessary. Liu Jin Yu might have no familial background, but she is far more intelligent and smarter than many noble women. Unlike the Prime Minister’s daughter, Liu Jin Yu doesn’t have any greed for the title of Crown Princess. That day, when I was attacked, she protected me and fought bravely. Please allow me to marry her,” Xiaoming said, and he got on his knees to bow down.

“I cannot agree to it,” Qiu Zedong plainly refused to allow Xiaoming to marry Liu Jin Yu. “The Crown Prince cannot deviate from the set norms. Liu Jin Yu may become his concubine, but not his official wife,” Qiu Zedong announced his decision.

“What will happen?” Li Hua murmured.

“He is the Crown Prince, so he must take in a noble family woman as his official wife,” Lóng Wei said in a low voice. “However, if he is knowledgeable enough, then he will surely convince the royal father today,” he added.

“I hope so,” Li Hua replied.

Xiaoming lifted his head, but he remained on his knees. “Father, hundreds of years ago, a woman ruled over China who had no specified family origins as Liu Jin Yu. Her name is engraved in our historical text, Li Yangmi. The rest is history. She brought China to greater heights after the King declared her his Queen. The rest is history,” Xiaoming pronounced.

Lóng Wei grinned. Xiaoming’s day-long studies finally came in useful to him. Hardly any of them knew that name because the men of society didn’t want women to be superior to them. So, such things weren’t said publicly.

“Liu Jin Yu is good with swords, she is also a good archer, a good decision maker, and a woman with great goals. I do not want a woman who will keep reminding me I am a puppet of others. ‘If I marry her, only then will I become strong’, were the words of Kang Cha Ying,” Xiaoming stated.

“Liu Jin Yu doesn’t even deserve to become a concubine, let alone become the Crown Princess. She might have prior goals. That’s why she seduced the Crown Prince by faking as a dancer,” Xiuying intervened again. This was the best chance for her to make Xiaoming fall in Qiu Zedong’s eyes, and she would not let this opportunity slip off her hands.

Lóng Wei took a deep breath and thought about helping him.

“Second Mother, you forgot about your family status,” Lóng Wei asserted and walked out of his place. He walked up to Xiaoming and halted next to him. He could not believe that Xiaoming didn’t use Xiuying’s ascension to the Consort’s position to make Qiu Zedong agree to his marriage with Liu Jin Yu.

Qiu Mu got furious at hearing Lóng Wei’s words, but he didn’t speak as it could backfire on him. Lóng Wei still had his weakness with him.

“What did Prince Lóng Wei say?” Xiuying frowned to hear his statement.

Lóng Wei smiled and turned to face Qiu Zedong. “Father, the Second Mother was from the lowest rank noble family. I may sound rude, but what the truth is, I would say that only. Father also officially married her when she was supposed to be the concubine.”

For Lóng Wei, it was the best way to hit the two targets: First, he wanted Xiuying to understand the word humiliation. Second, he wanted the King to be able to see Liu Jin Yu as a potential woman for Xiaoming.

“Lóng Wei, you are not supposed to say this,” Qiu Zedong said with an angry look.

“I said what the truth is, Royal Father. Forgive me if it hurts you badly,” Lóng Wei said, and glanced at Xiuying.

“Your Majesty, I agree with Prince Lóng Wei’s words,” Zhu Liling finally spoke, and it astonished Xiaoming. He had not expected his mother to take a stand for him. “His Majesty married the daughter of a low-ranking official despite many ministers’ opposition. At that time, His Majesty proved to everyone that a strong family isn’t necessary,” Zhu Liling asserted.