Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Li Hua stepped up the stairs and went inside the manor. She paused as she saw Feng Lao, who bowed to her. “His Highness has appointed me in Her Highness’s service,” he said and looked at her.

“Hmm. How is my brother doing?” Li Hua asked.

“He is well,” Feng Lao lied to her as per Lóng Wei’s instructions to him.

“Feng Lao, I have learned archery basics. Will you see and tell me if I am doing it right? I want to become good at archery before Prince Lóng Wei returns,” Li Hua said with a confident tone.

“Sure,” Feng Lao said.

Li Hua asked him to follow her, and they went to the practice ground. Li Hua brought a bow from the small room and also some arrows in the quiver. Feng Lao held the quiver for her and she started to practice. Feng Lao keenly watched her and felt proud to see that. With Lóng Wei, a different side of Li Hua came out, which was much stronger than the current one.

Li Hua threw the five arrows, and they all hit the target. A big smile formed on her lips. He told her two more ways to release the arrow, which would be more powerful and efficient.

“When you slightly tilt the arrow and release it, the power is greater and it will not give any chance for the enemy to retract. He will die on the spot,” Feng Lao said as he placed her thumb and pointer finger on the string of the bow. He told her to concentrate on the angle. “It will put more pressure on your fingers, but only in the beginning,” he stated.

.....

Li Hua hummed, and when he stepped back, she released the arrow. It ripped off the arrow that was already on the target into two pieces before hitting the center of the wood log. She was amazed at the way the target was hit. Her finger had gotten a cut and it started to bleed. She was so engrossed in the happiness that she did not feel the wound on her finger.

Feng Lao noticed that and held her hand in concern. He took the bow from her, thus bewildering her.

“What happened?” Li Hua asked him.

“Your finger is bleeding,” Feng Lao replied, as she looked at her finger. She pulled her hand back and pressed her thumb over it.

“You should-” Feng Lao could not complete his statement as Li Hua interrupted him.

“It is not a big injury to worry about,” she said and went to the patio. She sat down and kept pressing her finger with the thumb. “It is not appropriate for you to touch me anymore,” she said and looked at him. She was sweaty because of standing in the bright sunlight.

Feng Lao lowered his eyes and apologized to her.

“I told you to forget me,” she further stated. He gazed at her when she continued, “I do not want you to think about me anymore. I know His Highness sent you here as my protector, which was a selfish favor to ask. You should move on for a better future as I did,” Li Hua advised him.

“I am aware of the fact that you cannot be mine anymore. Do not call it a favor. And I am trying to forget you,” Feng Lao said.

Li Hua shook her head. “Your actions say otherwise, Feng Lao,” she proclaimed. “I feel bad to see you getting concerned for me. I do not want this to happen anymore,” she asserted.

“I understand,” Feng Lao said.

“I want you and my elder brother to move on. I want both of you to lead a happy life, full of prosperity. I will be happier that way, Feng Lao,” Li Hua said and looked at her finger. The bleeding had stopped. “I needed protection when I was in Xinshui. Now, I do not want that to happen. I want to be a strong woman, who can protect everyone around her,” she expressed her desire.

“Then, let’s have a sword fight. You had it once with Xu Zifan, so let’s see how much you learned from him,” Feng Lao said.

Li Hua nodded and rose to her feet. She went to the small room and came out with a sword in her hand.

She marched to him and attacked him when Feng Lao defended him by pulling out the sword from the sheath. He pushed her back, and she somehow balanced herself. But Feng Lao pointed the sword at her neck.

“Your reflexes are not strong,” Feng Lao said as he pulled his arm back. “Your footwork is not good. Do you want to get trained by me?” He asked.

“Yes. Teach me,” Li Hua said, and asked him to wait as she would tie her hair. Feng Lao allowed her and she went to the chamber.

She tied her hair in a pony tail and came to the pratice ground. Feng Lao taught her the way to hit and defend. He asked her to do it one hundred times. She hummed and started doing that. When she would do something wrong, Feng Lao would correct her. Three hours had passed when Feng Lao asked her to take a break from today’s practice.

“Thank you, Master,” Li Hua said, and she joined her hands to bow.

Feng Lao ended up smiling and asked her not to do that anymore. She shook her head and said, “A student must greet his master properly.” She lowered her hand when he took the sword from her and put it in the sheath. She told him that she would see him later and went to her chamber.

Feng Lao had put everything in the room and slid the door to close it when he heard a voice. Someone was calling for Li Hua. He went to the chamber and saw a woman before her.

“What is Feng Lao doing in Brother Lóng Wei’s chamber?” Xiaolian asked while squinting her eyes in suspicion.