Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

No words were exchanged between them, and they stayed that way for a long time.

She understood why he wanted to die the day she pulled him out of the water. He had been thinking about all the things that he had to bear as a child. Yuze was the only support system for him in his lonely world.

“Your entry into my life was magic,” Lóng Wei finally said and broke the ice. “My heart is filled with happiness because of you from the day I saw you,” he asserted, and smiled. Li Hua pulled away from him and stared into his eyes.

“You never judged me,” Lóng Wei stated. “The most memorable part for me was when you told me not to die. I was surprised because I had only heard that I had to die my entire childhood and adolescence. I exist because you are in my life. You have lit my world of darkness with the light in you. I love you, Li Hua.”

His words were deep, full of affection and full of thankfulness. If Li Hua had not appeared that day, then he would not have experienced all those happy moments with her.

“I think I made you emotional with all those memories. That’s why I never wanted you to experience what I experienced as a child and as a teenager,” he stated when Li Hua placed her hands on his cheeks and continued to peer into his eyes.

“I am out of words, Your Highness. You are a great son because all the time you wanted to understand your mother. I feel upset thinking about how people around you failed to understand you. Such a beautiful soul was hurt so much. I am happy that I could become a person who lights your world. I am so happy to be your wife. If you find yourself alone, remember Li Hua is always by your side, holding your hand.”

Lóng Wei’s heart was giddy with those words, and he placed his hand above hers. Bringing it close to his mouth, he kissed it and hugged her. “I know that my Li Hua is always next to me.” They stayed in that position for a few minutes when he withdrew from the hug first.

.....

“Your Highness, why didn’t you try to find your father? Don’t you think you should find the answers to why your mother always said the same words to you again and again?” She suggested to him. “I do not intend to make you angry. Monk Yuze has said that your mother was forced to be a concubine and that it was one of the reasons why she was cold to you. But what if a bigger reason lies behind that?” She raised suspicions.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, Li Hua. I consider the King as my father. Also, I believe that my mother lied to me. She always hated me, so it’s possible that she wanted to make my life hell after her death,” Lóng Wei said. He knew his father was at fault too, but he always protected him. Qiu Zedong loved him a lot, and he had seen that many times.

Li Hua didn’t say anything more because it might upset Lóng Wei. She stood up to check the time on the sand watch clock system.

“We spoke for three hours almost,” Li Hua said, and widened her eyes when they heard the sound of footsteps. They looked towards the door and found the maidservant had come inside.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince is here,” she informed them.

Lóng Wei understood why he was there, and he told Li Hua that he would see her later.

Li Hua hummed as he watched Lóng Wei walk away.

The maidservant asked Li Hua if she should start cleaning. She hummed and went out of the bedchamber.

‘I need to find out why Prince Lóng Wei’s mother was so cold to him. I think the King is involved in all this. If a woman is forced to become someone’s wife, then it’s tough to find love in that relationship. It seemed she forced the Prince to leave the palace by developing a hatred for her. Also, who could be the father of Prince Lóng Wei? What if his highness’ father is alive?’ she thought in her mind.

“Your Highness.”

Li Hua came out of her thoughts upon hearing the voice of the maidservant. “Yes?”

“Her Majesty said that she will come after having the morning breakfast to see you,” the maidservant informed Li Hua.

Li Hua realised that she wasn’t even ready, and she asked the maidservant if she had prepared the bathhouses. The maidservant nodded and asked her if she should help her since she was not well.

“That’s not needed. You should clean the chamber until I arrive. Also, I want to wear the dress that His Highness has gifted me. Keep that in the dressing room,” Li Hua instructed her before leaving the chamber.

She freshened up and then, after taking a rice water bath, she dressed in the yellow hanfu dress. It had wide sleeves made of lace material and had flower patterns in the orange color. She looked at herself in the tall mirror when the maidservant asked her to take a seat.

“Can you try a new hairstyle on me today?” Li Hua asked her.

“Sure, Your Highness,” the maidservant quickly agreed, and dried her hair first. She brushed them gently and then made thin long braids from the front few hairstrands. She then clipped her remaining hair, keeping them lose. Li Hua asked him to use the hair clips that Lóng Wei purchased.

The maidservant nodded, and soon Li Hua was completely ready.

“Does Her Highness want to impress the Prince?” The maidservant asked while smiling.

“Yes. I want His Highness to feel happy. I am thinking of making breakfast for His Highness. Is His Highness ready?” Li Hua asked her as she applied the pink lip color, which was extracted from pink rose flowers.

“His Highness went to the bathhouse ten minutes ago. It will take His Highness to get ready,” the maidservant answered.

“That’s great. You should stay outside His Highness’ chamber. If he asks about me, then tell him that I am bringing breakfast for him,” Li Hua said. She knew that Lóng Wei would scold the maidservant if she did not answer him about her whereabouts.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Li Hua thanked her and left for the kitchen. Seeing her in the kitchen, the chief kitchen servant asked her if she wanted something.

“I want to cook a few dishes for Prince Lóng Wei,” Li Hua told him.

Xiwan came there and bowed to see Li Hua.

“Your Highness, tell the chefs about the dishes you want to prepare for His Highness,” The chief kitchen servant replied.

“But I want to make breakfast with my hands, Chief Yang,” Li Hua said.

The chief kitchen servant didn’t dare to refuse her because he thought if she complained to Lóng Wei, he might kick him out. He didn’t want to anger Lóng Wei in any way, so he allowed Li Hua.

“I’ll assist Her Highness,” Xiwan said.

“Fine.”

Xiwan told Li Hua to follow him. Li Hua started preparing the main dish, which was wheat noodles. Lóng Wei preferred the wheat noodles more than the rice noodles. Along with it, she prepared wontons and broth. For the sweeter dish, she chose mooncakes. It took her more than thirty minutes. With Xiwan’s help, the cooking time was reduced for her.

Once the dishes were ready, she and Xiwan carried the trays to the manor.

Lóng Wei was tapping his fingers on the floor table as it had been more than fifteen minutes for him to wait for Li Hua. When she entered with Xiwan in the chamber, he was mesmerized by her.

They placed the trays on the table. Xiwan greeted the prince and left soon. However, Li Hua managed to thank Xiwan before he left.

“Your Highness, forgive me for making you wait,” Li Hua said, and turned to look at him when she found him in front of her.

His sudden appearance startled her when Lóng Wei pulled her into a kiss.

Li Hua placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed him. “Your Highness, it’s not the right moment for this,” she said while smiling.

“There is no right time for getting romantic,” Lóng Wei stated, and lifted her chin by grabbing it. “You look so pretty in this dress, in this new hairstyle, and then your lips. You did this for me, right?” He asked.

“My husband has gifted me the dress, so I thought I should wear it,” she affirmed and asked him if they should have breakfast.

“Later,” Lóng Wei said, bending down to kiss her lips. They were kissing each other passionately when they heard the clearing of a throat.

Li Hua opened her eyes and was shocked to see the Queen. She promptly pushed Lóng Wei and lowered her head. Lóng Wei was bewildered by her action and turned to look. To his wonder, Zhu Liling was glaring at Li Hua.