Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

His eyes fell on the tall shelves with stacks of books and important documents. The portraits of the former Kings, their Queens, and their children were hung on the four walls.

Lóng Wei’s eyes landed on the portrait which did not look old enough. He walked close to it to check it and found it was Qiu Qizhen’s. He fisted his palm and then went to the other side. He searched the shelves for the document which would be present from the time of Qiu Qizhen’s reign.

After Hei Chengxi told him that the documents were not burnt, but kept safe, he decided to search for such ledgers first. However, the problem was how he would recognize and find the old accounts. There were heaps of scrolls, and stacks of ledger books all around.

He checked a few documents which were related to the old governance rules and put them back. Twenty minutes passed soon and he knew that it was the time when he must leave for the palace ground before the King’s suspicions rise. He decided to come to the place later in the night with Mingquan and Xiwan. Only they both could help him in an efficient manner.

He left the chamber after locking it and then went to the palace ground where everyone had gathered. He went to Li Hua, who asked him where he went to.

“Are they married?” Lóng Wei asked her.

“Of course. But where was His Highness?” Li Hua inquired again.

“I was hungry,” Lóng Wei replied.

.....

Li Hua squinted her eyes because she knew that he was lying to her. She remained quiet because of the people around them. She looked at the subjects standing on the large ground and also the servants. They heard the loud announcement about Xiaoming’s and Liu Jin Yu’s arrival.

Qiu Zedong had a wide smile on his lips as the palanquin entered where the Crown Prince was seated. It stopped at the end of the stairs. Xiaoming stepped down the palanquin and stepped down from it.

He bowed to see his father and mother who were at the top of the stairs. Then, he turned and waited for Liu Jin Yu to arrive. Soon, she also arrived and then got down from the palanquin. She bowed before the King and the Queen. As she turned, her eyes met Xiaoming before they both bowed at each other.

They ascended the stairs covered in the red carpet and finally reached the top where every royal family member was present.

The Queen glanced at the high priest, and he stepped up. He told everyone present in a loud and clear enough voice that Liu Jin Yu would be the Crown Princess from today onwards.

Lóng Wei glanced at the Queen wondering if she was happy enough with Liu Jin Yu’s coronation as the Crown Princess. He tilted his head to look at Li Hua, who had held his hand. Their fingers laced with each other and it made him smile.

Qiu Zedong came forward to crown Jin Yu while Xiaoming stood next to her. Jin Yu got on her knees as she was told to when the Crown was put over her head. Flowers were showered on her and loud drums were beaten, along with the loud, cheerful announcement that Jin Yu would be their Crown Princess.

Yuze smiled to see that and looked in the direction of Lóng Wei, who was whispering something in Li Hua’s ear.

Jin Yu took a deep breath and stood up. Along with Xiaoming, she stepped up and they looked at the subjects before them. As Xiaoming finished addressing them, everyone in the palace ground bowed to them while the drum continued to play.

~~~~~~~~~

Liu Jin Yu was taken to the manor of the Crown Prince, where she would be supposed to live from today onwards. She had to wait till the evening for the Crown Prince to arrive. Her head and face were covered with the red veil which Xiaoming would remove later.

She was hungry, but she could not eat without the presence of the Crown Prince. She had not even taken a single drop of water. She had wine earlier, but it was too little to quench her thirst. She yawned because of the tiredness and patted her shoulders.

“At least, let me drink water,” Jin Yu requested one of the servants.

“Forgive me, Your Royal Highness, but I cannot let you drink the water,” she said in a polite tone.

Jin Yu sighed and lay down on the bed. The veil from her face moved away and she felt better. She was feeling hot in that heavy wedding dress and prayed to God to bring the evening soon. The maidservant kept asking her to sit straight, but Liu Jin Yu did not listen to her.

She closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Xiaoming came to the chamber after attending the wedding feast. He was trying to leave the banquet, but because he was the Crown Prince, it was not even possible for him. He had sent Sun Fuguo to tell Jin Yu to eat something until he arrived and stay there only.

“Why are you outside?” Xiaoming asked as he saw Sun Fuguo outside the chamber.

“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Princess fell asleep. We tried to wake her up, but she did not listen to us,” Sun Fuguo replied to Xiaoming, who smiled to hear that.

He asked them to open the doors and walked in. Upon his order, the maidservant who was still in the chamber left. The lanterns and the candles had illuminated the chamber. He saw Jin Yu sleeping on the bed while her veil was still over her face.

He smiled again and settled quietly next to her. Slowly, he lifted the veil from her face and put it away. A smile formed on his lips to see Jin Yu, who was his wife. The moment was no lesser than a dream for him and was the prettiest moment of his life.