Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Forgive me. Did you make this tea?” Tianjie inquired.

“Yes.” Song Jia put the teacup on the saucer.

Tianjie picked up the teacup and sipped the tea. Song Jia read his facial expressions and asked him if he would like to speak to her.

“Many things happened in the palace in these few days. That is why I could not visit you. Song Jia, I never empathized with people before. However, my perception has changed. The Crown Princess whom I once made fun of, helped me out. The people I always looked down upon left a great impression on me. First, it was Lóng Wei, who made me think differently. Then, you, who made me fall in love, and lastly, the Crown Princess. I always thought that she is incapable to be the Crown Princess, but that illusion also broke.”

Song Jia keenly listened to him. “I heard that the Crown Princess is a commoner,” she stated.

“She grew up as a commoner. She belongs to the Li family which is one of the strongest noble families in the kingdom,” Tianjie asserted. Song Jia was astonished to hear the truth when Tianjie narrated to her the incidents that happened to him in those few days.

“We can marry each other, Song Jia,” Tianjie stated with a smile, “I will always be loyal to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess because of what they did for us. The selfishness that persisted in my heart has left now,” he asserted.

Song Jia placed her hand above his. “Because of me, His Highness has to bear many things. I truly wish that he turns into a better human. I do not know what His Highness used to do when he always calls himself selfish, but to me, he never was. No one ever embraced me with such warmth as His Highness. I am not saying all this to flatter His Highness. I feel this from the bottom of my heart that His Highness decided to be selfish because of the circumstances he was in,” she stated.

.....

“I wanted to be powerful because of my mother. I do not have a good relationship with her because of some reason. However, I will try to be a good son to her. That was the main reason why I was into wrong things more,” Tianjie stated and lowered his eyes in shame.

“May I know why His Highness’ relationship with his mother is not good?” Song Jia was curious to know.

“She became a concubine,” Tianjie replied. “She did not do any effort to reach the level of the consort which could have benefited me. I know it is a weird reason, but I could not stand seeing that she was the most unfavored concubine of my father. I thought that she never made any effort. But now, I think I was wrong. She chose not to be involved in the palace politics,” Tianjie affirmed and recalled how Consort Xiuying treated his mother a few days back.

“Being a concubine is not easy. You have no right and you do not even get to see the King unless he himself visits you or asks for your presence,” Song Jia asserted.

“It must have been difficult for His Highness’ mother/ I want him to see his mother today and have dinner with her. I have something for my mother-in-law which His Highness must give to her. Also, the Third Prince should buy a present for his mother. She will be happy,” she explained to Tianjie.

“I will do that,” Tianjie said and held her hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

Xu Zifan flipped the page and looked at the complaint report. He had to visit the nearby village tomorrow with another official to give judgment.

“I see that you are working hard with your new position,” Li Jianjun’s voice fell in Xu Zifan’s ears and he lifted his head. Li Jianjun walked up to him and then took the report that Xu Zifan was holding.

“Why don’t you leave?” Xu Zifan asked him and stood up to take the report away when Li Jianjun put his hand away.

“I am not here to leave, Xu Zifan. I have a piece of good news to share with you,” Li Jianjun stated.

“I do not want to hear it,” Xu Zifan replied as he glared into Jianjun’s eyes. “Leave before I ask someone to show you the way out,” he politely said.

“Watch your words, Xu Zifan!” Li Jianjun warned him. “Did you think that you would marry Jingfei and win the entire world? I have gained my position back and this time, I returned as rank second official,” he proudly stated.

Xu Zifan knitted his brows to hear him.

“Shocked?” Jianjun smirked at him. He looked at Xu Zifan’s left hand and continued, “I wonder what if you lose your second hand too. Then, you will be completely disabled.” Before he could say more harsh and evil things to Xu Zifan, he was hit by a hard object on the back of his head.

“Ahh! Who the hell has dared to hit me?” Li Jianjun barked and turned to look.

Lóng Wei was standing at the door with a slingshot in his hand. “I never knew I was so good at this, Feng Lao. A young boy was selling this outside, so I thought to buy it. Then, I thought to use it once to see if it is enough to make someone mad,” Lóng Wei pronounced with a smirk. Feng Lao smiled to hear the Sixth Prince’s words.

Li Jianjun looked at the stone on the floor and saw a big round pebble with which Lóng Wei had hit him. He touched the back of his head again and looked at his fingers. “Blood,” he murmured and then gazed at Lóng Wei.

Lóng Wei lowered his hand and walked up to Jianjun. “I told you to stop such ridiculous acts of yours. You still have not learned your lesson,” he said and patted Jianjun’s shoulder.

“The Governor cannot act this way with me,” Li Jianjun said while clenching his jaw and fists.

“I can. Why? Will you run to the King to tell him that I did this?” Lóng Wei asked with a menacing expression.

“I should tell His Majesty how his dear youngest son lied to him and everyone that he went to spend some time with his dear wife to Dongqing,” Li Jianjun tried to threaten Lóng Wei. Xu Zifan and Feng Lao gulped to hear that and wondered what Lóng Wei would do.

“You can tell about that. Sadly, my dear father already knows the truth, Jianjun. I do not hide anything from him. Don’t think I am a fool like you,” Lóng Wei stated with a broad smile on his lips.

“This time I was gentle on you and hit you lightly. The next time, you will not be alive if you try to say anything bad to Xu Zifan. Do not force me to lift my sword. I become crazy when someone crosses the limit to annoy me,” Lóng Wei stated, which intimidated Jianjun and he could not speak anymore.

Lóng Wei snatched the report from him and tossed it over the table.

“It will take me a few minutes to change the King’s decision to rip you off your current rank. Then, even your sister’s name will not be able to save you,” Lóng Wei asserted. “So don’t challenge me,” he warned Jianjun.

Jianjun apologized and left for his house after getting humiliated.