Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Princess Consort wasn’t too bad either. She remained on the ground even after getting defeated every time by her brother,” Huang Xi said with a smile.

“I agree with Huang Xi,” Feng Lao said.

“You have a lot to learn. It is just a beginning, but you’ll improve with time,” Xu Zifan told his sister and encouraged her. He walked up to her and asked her to hold his sword. Li Hua immediately complied with his request. Xu Zifan took out a handkerchief from inside his pocket and dabbed it against her forehead.

“You worked hard today. I can see you are going to be a great swordswoman in the future,” Xu Zifan stated.

“Really?” She asked to confirm.

“Yes,” Xu Zifan replied.

“I think the day I defeat my elder brother, then I will be considered good with swords,” she stated. Xu Zifan smiled and told her that he would wait for that day.

Feng Lao and Huang Xi smiled to see their bonding.

.....

“Elder Brother, can I make a request to you?” Li Hua asked him.

“Hmm.”

“Don’t stay awake for long hours. You have become thin. I can see that. Your eyes looked tired. I will not be able to sleep peacefully if my elder brother does not move on. I know you are guilty of not saving our people, but you did your best,” Li Hua told him and hugged him. She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Xu Zifan’s eyes filled with tears. He also wanted to come out of that guilt, but he was unable to do that. It was tough for him. The most surprising fact for him was that Li Hua saw through him even though he had kept a happy face before her.

“I don’t want you to worry about me,” Xu Zifan said. “I will take care of myself,” he assured her.

“Elder Brother isn’t lying again, right?” She asked as she pulled away and looked into his eyes.

“I am not,” Xu Zifan said, and his lips curled into a smile. Li Hua squinted her eyes and then hummed.

“I will trust my brother’s words. However, if the next time I find out that he has lied to me again, I will make him marry,” Li Hua threatened him.

Xu Zifan ended up laughing at hearing his sister’s words. “I won’t wake up till late. I will take good care of myself,” he promised her and then patted her head. Feng Lao came to them and took the swords from Li Hua.

“It’s the lunch hour. apologised Princess Consort have lunch here?” Feng Lao asked.

She shook her head and refused. “Prince Lóng Wei must be waiting for me,” she stated. “I must return.”

“I will escort the Princess Consort back to the palace,” Huang Xi said.

“There’s no need to do that.” They all heard a familiar voice and found Lóng Wei there. Li Hua turned to look at him and apologized to him for not telling him in the morning about her visit to her brother.

The other three bowed their heads to greet the Prince. He approached Li Hua and told her not to apologize to him. He glanced at Huang Xi and told him to send a message to him at least if Li Hua asked to go out of the palace.

“Forgive me, Your Highness,” Huang Xi said.

“We will go back,” Lóng Wei said, and he held Li Hua’s hand. They walked out of the residence. However, Lóng Wei made her sit on the horse with him.

Huang Xi also hopped on the horse after instructing the porters to take the vacant palanquin to the palace.

Li Hua kept her gaze at the front while she started the conversation with Lóng Wei.

“You should not have come outside when you got attacked two days ago,” Lóng Wei worriedly said.

“That’s why I asked commander Huang Xi to accompany me,” Li Hua stated, and tilted her head to look at him.

“You love to argue with me,” Lóng Wei said, and sighed.

“I didn’t argue,” she mumbled, and asked Lóng Wei if his work was over.

“Hmm. I only work till noon. After that, my assistant and other juniors work,” Lóng Wei answered. “I look into important matters only,” he asserted.

“Oh. What kind of matters did His Highness look into? He never shared it with me.” Li Hua was excited to hear about his work.

“I have to look into the governance and administration of the capital. Whether the laws are implemented well or not, then, a report is sent to the King about it. The revenue report is sent every two months. I can even take independently the decision to punish anyone in my territory,” he briefed her in the simplest terms.

“Oh. Prince Lóng Wei has a lot of work to do,” Li Hua said.

“Everything is corrupted in the administration. The officials try to outsmart people, and they have to follow the officials because they are powerful. I will bring a revolution in that,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

“Prince Lóng Wei should not get on the wrong side of the nobles,” Li Hua advised him.

“If I find anyone annoying, I will kill him. Such people only burden others,” Lóng Wei muttered. Li Hua realized that Lóng Wei was not in a good mood. It seemed someone had infuriated him.

“His Highness cannot kill anyone if he gets annoyed,” Li Hua opined.

“I will,” Lóng Wei stated.

Li Hua pursed her lips together. They found a large group of soldiers and the second commander heading to the market. When Lóng Wei saw this, he slowed the horse, and everyone behind him came to a halt.

“Greetings to the Sixth Prince and the Princess Consort,” the second commander said when Lóng Wei asked him where they were heading to.

“His Majesty has given orders to announce the marriage of the Crown Prince,” he replied.

“Is it decided?” Lóng Wei inquired.

“Yes. It is after three days,” the second commander answered.

Li Hua was happy to learn that.

“Hmm. Go ahead and make a loud announcement,” Lóng Wei said and he pulled the reins on the horse. It started moving again.

Soon, they reached the palace. Lóng Wei kept his hands on Li Hua’s waist and put her down. They went ahead, but Li Hua looked behind her to thank Huang Xi.

They found out the preparation had started already. They could see the servants following the servants. Lóng Wei told Li Hua that excitement for the Crown Prince’s marriage was evident on everyone’s face. “Were people this enthusiastic about our marriage?” He mumbled.

Li Hua glanced at him. “I think General Hei and his family were enthusiastic. Also, Monk Yuze and His Majesty were excited about our marriage. I should not forget Court Lady Hong and Brother Xiwan,” she stated and smiled at him.

“You are right,” Lóng Wei said, feeling better to hear her.

They headed to their manor when Li Hua told him that she would take a bath first. “If His Highness is hungry, then he can eat without me,” she opined.

“I will wait. Till then, I’ll eat some fruits,” Lóng Wei told her. Li Hua hummed and left with the maidservant to the bathhouse.

Li Hua returned to Lóng Wei’s chamber after half an hour. She found him on the patio. Besides him was a bowl with grapes in it. He turned to look and stood up to see Li Hua.

“His Highness seemed to be in deep thought,” Li Hua concluded, who then refused.

“Let’s have our lunch,” he said.

Li Hua continued to observe Lóng Wei while eating. He looked lost to her. Was it because of yesterday’s incident? She wondered. She decided not to say anything in the middle of . He looked lost to her. Was it because of yesterday’s incident? She wondered. She decided not to say anything in the middle of lunch, and they ate silently. After they finished their meals, Li Hua asked him if he would like to tell her why he was so silent.

Lóng Wei fixed his gaze on her. “I hate it,” Lóng Wei said.

Li Hua was perplexed to hear that statement and waited for his explaination.

“Hei Chengxi didn’t tell me the truth for years and suddenly, he spoke it. I just hate everything in my life now. Forgive me, Li Hua, but I think my existence is questionable now. Everything is messy in my life. She messed up with my life without thinking about me for once. I am irked. I’m feeling angsty because of all of this,” he finally admitted his mental state.

“Your Highness, your existence was never questionable. If the King hasn’t forced your mother to come to the palace, you’ve been in a better state of mind. Don’t you think you are blaming your mother without knowing the truth?” She questioned him.

“Tell me, did I ever deserve that treatment from her? I wasn’t even born when all that happened. If she was innocent, she shouldn’t have done this to me,” Lóng Wei stated with an angst.