Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Ai Fen, who was seated on the swing with the rabbit on her lap, tilted her head to look at Xioalian. “Why does Sister Xiaolian ask? She already knows my answer,” Ai Fen stated.

“I was rejected by Feng Lao, so I know how it feels to be rejected in love,” Xiaolian asserted.

Ai Fen gazed at her with inquisitiveness and tried to understand her pretext. “Feng Lao did wrong to reject Sister Xiaolian without even understanding her,” Ai Fen affirmed.

“Sister Ai Fen did the same with Commander Huang Xi,” Xiaolian said. This made Ai Fen stop caressing the rabbit’s fur.

“That was a different matter,” Ai Fen said.

Xiaolian shook her head. “It was not a different matter. Commander Huang Xi got angry at the heat of the moment, which made Sister Ai Fen think he’s not a good person when she also knows Sister Jingfei was at fault that time,” Xiaolian affirmed.

“Perhaps we aren’t made for each other. I was never interested in Commander Huang Xi,” Ai Fen asserted. “Baobao has healed faster. I think I need to send it back to the forest,” she said.

“Baobao has become close to Sister Ai Fen’s heart. She may miss Baobao if she leaves him in the forest,” Xiaolian stated.

.....

“I will miss Baobao, but he must be missing his family. They must be looking for Baobao,” Ai Fen asserted and stood up from the swing. “Sister Xiaolian, I will see you later.” Ai Fen walked away while Xiaolian stayed back.

Ai Fen encountered Jin Yu in her way and bowed to her. The servants behind Jin Yu halted to see their Queen stop.

“How is Sister Ai Fen doing? How is cutie Baobao?” Jin Yu asked and caressed Baobao’s forehead.

“I am well, Your Majesty. Baobao has healed fully. It is the time Baobao should return to its habitat,” Ai Fen asserted.

“That’s great. Baobao, don’t get hurt again,” Jin Yu said and asked Ai Fen if she should call Chang Shi to the palace.

“That will be great, Your Majesty,” Ai Fen said with a smile.

Jin Yu tilted her head over her shoulder and the Eunuch quickly stepped up. He kept his head low and left to send a message to Chang Shi on Jin Yu’s command.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ai Fen said.

“It is alright. Sister Ai Fen doesn’t need to thank me for this,” Jin Yu said and asked her if they should go to the rock garden till the time Chang Shi arrived at the palace.

Ai Fen agreed to her and they both headed to the rock garden.

“It seems Her Majesty has something to say to me,” Ai Fen stated.

“I do,” Jin Yu stated.

“Her Majesty should say then,” Ai Fen affirmed.

“Sister Ai Fen, your mother has visited His Majesty. She wants us to see a good proposal for you. Do you have anyone in mind or should we see the marriage proposal for you?” Jin Yu inquired her.

“I will be happy if His and Her Majesties look for a marriage proposal for me. I will gladly accept it. I have no such man in my mind,” Ai Fen stated.

Jin Yu hummed and told her she would deliver the same message to Xiaoming.

“We will go for the best marriage proposal for Sister Ai Fen,” Jin Yu said and they both stopped by the pond. The rock wooden structures on the pond side were good for sighting and admiring nature’s beauty.

“Sister Ai Fen, have fun as much as you want to in the palace. Though, after marrying off, you will be happier as you will have freedom,” Jin Yu affirmed with a smile.

Ai Fen gazed at Jin Yu. “Her Majesty misses her before marriage life. Am I right?” She queried.

“Not anymore. I got my freedom after finding such a good husband. His Majesty never stops me. I know as the Queen now things are different for me. But His Majesty takes care of the fact that I do not miss my outside world. His Majesty let me do whatever I want to,” Jin Yu said with a wide smile on her lips.

“That’s great to hear. I wish my husband is also gentle and kind to me,” Ai Fen said.

“He will be,” Jin Yu assured her.

~~~~~~

Lin Jiao slowly landed on the ground and gradually opened her eyes, but she kept her gaze down. The grip of her hands on Mingquan’s nape loosened and she slowly brought her hands down.

“This was the hate you were talking about,” Mingquan’s eyebrows arched and he made her look at him, gripping her chin again.

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“...”

Mingquan chuckled and patted her head. “When I told you to share things with me, you refused. We didn’t have to stay apart for five days,” He muttered and let go of her chin. His thumb caressed her cheek while his fingers remained hooked on her neck.

“If His Highness hadn’t seen me today, he would not have decided to meet me,” Lin Jiao said.

“I think so,” Mingquan truthfully answered. “Who was the young man whom you were talking with?” He asked. He was anticipated to know. Seeing her smile at him triggered Mingquan’s jealousy and he followed them.

“He lives in my neighborhood. He is Tai Jin,” Lin Jiao replied. “Was His Highness jealous of him?” she squinted her eyes.

“I was! You looked happy with him. It made me jealous. You didn’t come to see me despite you were in the market,” Mingquan said.

“I was upset with the Fourth Prince,” Lin Jiao said.

“I want to kiss you one more time,” Mingquan said.

“What?” Lin Jiao chuckled and shook her head.

“Why?” Mingquan wanted to know the reason.

“We are in the open,” Lin Jiao said. She showed him the envelope and asked him if he would like to eat the sweets. She took out one and put it close to Mingquan’s mouth.

He took a small bite and chewed it.

“How is it?” Lin Jiao asked.

“Good.”

“Just good?!” She expected some more appreciating words from him.

“It is not sweeter than the kiss we had,” Mingquan stated.

Lin Jiao widened her eyes, the smile on her lips hadn’t vanish away.

“One more week left for this month to get over. Then, we will be married,” Mingquan said with a bright smile.

~~~~~~