Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Lóng Wei felt the sadness in her voice. He didn’t try to talk anymore on that topic as it would only sadden Li Hua, which he could not handle.

“Your Highness, but after two months, I again found happiness,” Li Hua said with a glint in her eyes. “I am grateful to His Highness for it. I am glad that he didn’t forget me amidst all this. He remembered me and protected me as soon as he saw me. I am truly thankful,” she said with a tiny, and warm smile. She picked up the teacup and finished the remaining tea in it. Lóng Wei also finished the tea, and this time, he poured it for them.

“Li Hua, I fell in love with you at first sight. So, I can never forget you,” Lóng Wei said softly and pushed the teacup towards her. “Drink it,” he said.

“How did His Highness enter the Xu Residence? How did His Highness find out about me? I never told him my name.” Li Hua was interested to know. “Here everyone thinks that the Sixth Prince never left the Cold Palace,” she stated while being perplexed.

“It wasn’t tough to find you,” Lóng Wei stated. “I will answer your every question in Xinshui,” he asserted.

“Why?” She was curious.

“Because that’s where it all started. My deep attraction towards you, those sleepless nights, those exciting mornings- everything related to us began in Xinshui,” Lóng Wei proclaimed. “For the first time in my life, I found something so interesting, so amusing that I was unable to resist.”

Li Hua’s eyes darted at him. Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing his words. Lóng Wei indeed was crazily in love with her. She could not only sense this in his voice, but also in those eyes.

.....

Was this what they call true love?

A question popped in her head, and she drew her brows together.

“When His Highness didn’t find me in Xinshui, then did he,” she paused, “cried? Did he get upset?”

“I never cry,” Lóng Wei stated. “However,” he pointed his index finger at his heart, “it got hurt. Badly. From my childhood, I never felt many emotions like the others. I never felt sadness. But upon not finding you in the residence, I suddenly felt empty. I felt that my soul had been taken away from me. I didn’t want to live anymore.” He put back his hand on the table, ready to pick the teacup.

Li Hua was dumbfounded to hear his answer. She could feel those emotions that Lóng Wei described in the words.

“Then, did His Highness think that I also died?”

“No. Your body wasn’t inside the Xu Residence. Also, your brother already had told me that you left the residence before assassins could attack you, or harm you,” Lóng Wei stated. “After a week, I found out that you are in the palace,” he revealed another truth to her.

Li Hua’s eyes widened.

“I told Xiwan to keep an eye on you. I had not expected that you would be in the palace. It only shows how brave you were!” Lóng Wei complimented her and smiled.

“Why didn’t His Highness come earlier? He always says that he’s ten steps ahead of everyone, yet he didn’t come after finding out about me,” Li Hua grumbled at him. “He cannot say that he could not step out of the Cold Palace. I know he does all sorts of illegal things.” She bit her lips and apologized for the slip of her tongue. “I mean, His Highness does not get scared of anything, so he could have come to see me,” she stated.

Lóng Wei gulped the tea from the teacup and plonked it on the table. He rested his elbow on it. On his calloused fist, he rested his chin. “Li Hua, the Royal Father would have gotten suspicious of me. I never complain when I get punished. I had gladly accepted it, so I needed to be away from you,” he explained his past situation to her.

“I didn’t know that you would need me so badly,” Lóng Wei asserted. “You grew up so much in these two months. Xu Zifan has told me that you cannot stand anyone’s scolding. You must have undergone a lot of things. But I believe, this all made you strong,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

Li Hua agreed with him. “Indeed, this all helped me grow a little stronger. I never knew what a servant’s life was! What it feels like to be paid monthly? How much it mattered to get a compliment for your work. I always got everything on demand. However, I learned to be patient.” She looked at the teacup again and drank the last sip of the tea left.

“Your Highness, I don’t want to anger you, but I must know this,” Li Hua said. Lóng Wei understood what Li Hua wanted to ask. “Is he alive?” It was important for her to know.

“Why? Will you go to him and leave me?” Lóng Wei asked her. His biggest fear was losing Li Hua.

“No. I will never. I cannot betray the person who gave me the protection,” Li Hua answered, keeping a tiny smile on her lips. “Is he alive?” She repeated her question.

“I don’t know,” Lóng Wei answered.

“Your Highness, that night the Shui Family was present too in the Xu Residence. Did His Highness retrieve their bodies? I am sure he did. My First Elder Brother must have told him,” Li Hua affirmed. She was desperate to know about them.

“Let’s forget about that. We had enough of those conversations,” Lóng Wei announced. He no longer wanted to discuss it. “Let’s talk about us. We still have to know each other. Your brother will not like it if I am unable to answer about his sister.” He diverted the topic back to her.

“My First Brother will not ask anything,” Li Hua stated.

“He will,” Lóng Wei stated and felt sudden hotness in his body. He found Li Hua’s cheeks were turning red.

“Why am I feeling hot?” He heard her whisper, and their eyes met.

Li Hua’s vision started to blur, and she felt strangely attracted to Lóng Wei. A broad smile carved on her lips, and she got up. She went towards the bed with staggered steps and rubbed the sides of her neck.

“It’s hot,” she mumbled. Li Hua pulled out the knot of her dress in the middle of her chest. The garment slid down her body and fell to the ground. Lóng Wei rose to his feet and walked to Li Hua.

He walked to Li Hua, who had held the pillar of the poster bed. She wanted to remove the remaining pair of clothes from her body. It was too hot for her to bear.

“Li Hua.”

She heard her name in his deep voice and turned to look at him. “Your Highness.” She placed her hand on his chest and gradually moved it to his cheek. She tiptoed and kissed him.