Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

‘Feng Lao!’ Lóng Wei recognized him and clenched his fists in anger. He glanced back at Li Hua, whose eyes had darted at him. It was a perfect opportunity to let Li Hua see Feng Lao, but his heart told him not to let it happen.

He took a tiny step to her to close the distance between them and hugged her tightly. “Stay like this for ten seconds,” he said while keeping his gaze fixed on Feng Lao.

Li Hua stayed that way and didn’t move back. A smile formed on her lips and her fingers relaxed from his robes.

Feng Lao narrowly gazed at Lóng Wei as he walked past them. Lóng Wei knitted his brows in anger, while the veins popped on his forehead. It was the best chance to kill Feng Lao in front of everyone. The town must know what Shui Feng Lao and his family did to the Xu Family.

“Your Highness.” Li Hua’s soft voice fell in his ears, and he drew away. Some of the people smiled seeing them, while some started to gossip.

A hue of red had formed on Li Hua’s cheeks. Lóng Wei never stopped himself from expressing his love for her, even in public. Lóng Wei looked in the direction in which Feng Lao headed and decided not to go in that direction.

“What is His Highness looking at?” Li Hua asked and curiously looked in the same direction where Lóng Wei’s eyes darted.

“Nothing,” Lóng Wei answered and asked Li Hua to take him somewhere, where they both could have fun while watching the boat festival.

.....

“Will His Highness like to go to the lakeside?” Li Hua asked him. Lóng Wei hummed and they went in the direction opposite to where Feng Lao had headed to. Li Hua found that Lóng Wei looked tense. What could be the reason behind that? Was it because she asked him to become like the other princes?

Lóng Wei held Li Hua’s hand tightly as the market started to turn crowder.

‘I don’t think I will be able to see Li Hua and Feng Lao meet. She will get hurt seeing him. She still has the soft space for Feng Lao. Xu Zifan is right that Li Hua would break completely. That bastard betrayed her badly. Then, will it be good to hide the truth from Li Hua?’

Lóng Wei contemplated and narrowly glanced at Li Hua, who looked happy. If Feng Lao had truly loved her, then he would not have asked her to run away that day. However, it was still a mystery to Lóng Wei why Feng Lao didn’t kill Li Hua. No one was spared that night except Li Hua, who made a safe escape from Xinshui. Why did he protect her?

“Your Highness.”

He came out of his thoughts and found Li Hua, called him out, a lot of times.

“What happened?” Lóng Wei asked her.

“The lanterns will glow soon near the lake,” Li Hua said.

“Huh?” Lóng Wei cocked his eyebrow.

“It’s evening time, Your Highness,” Li Hua said in a low voice. “They will start lighting the lanterns. We also need to do that. Let’s walk faster.” Li Hua’s sudden enthusiasm and excitement astonished Lóng Wei. He hummed, and they hastened towards the lake where many people were heading.

“You should address me as Dear Husband.” Lóng Wei, for the nth time requested her. Li Hua smiled and lifted her skirt a little.

“We need to get a good spot near the lake,” Li Hua said as she matched the long steps of Lóng Wei.

“Shall I carry you in my arms? You are literally running to match my steps,” Lóng Wei opined as he slowed down.

“It’s a public market. Also, I love to walk,” Li Hua refused him politely. She looked at the front when Lóng Wei grasped her arm and twirled her. The next second he lifted her into his arms, astonishing her.

“Please put me down,” Li Hua asked him and curled her fingers. Lóng Wei shook her head as his lips curled up into a smile.

Li Hua pursed her lips together and bit her bottom lip. “Please, Dear Husband.” She found the gazes of people on them and it made him feel embarrassed.

“I didn’t lift you to put you down, Dear Wife,” Lóng Wei implied and started to walk.

The people on their front started to give them the way. The young women giggled among themselves while praising Lóng Wei for being such a good husband. Some even got jealous to see them.

The Courtesans, who had also come to the market, were astonished to see the acts of Lóng Wei.

“I wonder who this person is! He has no shame in lifting his wife in his arms among so many people,” a young official remarked while moving the paper fan in the air.

“Young Master Tang, it seems the young man doesn’t care about the world in front of his wife. Becoming such a man is difficult,” the courtesan, who was standing by his side, reasoned.

“Is Courtesan Luo Zhishi dreaming about such a man?” the other young master asked while a chuckle escaped his mouth. Luo Zhishi could only smile and shook her head.

“I think that I have seen her,” another young master said and looked at Tang Zhaodong.

“Doesn’t she resemble the late daughter of the Late Official, Xu Guang Li?” Tao Jingren stated. Luo Zhishi looked at Tang Zhaodong, who didn’t answer.

“Have you lost your mind? The entire Xu Family is dead,” Tang Zhaodang nullified Tai Jingren’s statement. “Also, if Li Hua would be alive, then Shui Feng Lao had married her instead of marrying the daughter of the Townhead,” he stated.

“I thought that she resembled Miss Li Hua,” Tao Jingren murmured.

“Courtesan Luo Zhishi, I will take my leave here,” Tang Zhaodang said and bowed. Luo Zhishi bowed at him. Tang Zhaodang left with his other friends. He decided to check once if Tao Jingren’s words were true.

“Why are you going towards the lake?” Mu Zhou asked Tang Zhaodang. His friends also glanced at him with inquisitiveness.

“I thought of watching the dragon boat,” he made an excuse.

“Aish! Let’s have drinks at my house,” Tao Jingren offered and hung his arm around Tang Zhaodang, who yanked it away lightly.

“No. I have enough drinks for today,” Tang Zhaodang replied and took his leave. Mu Zhou found his acts strange.

~~~~~

Lóng Wei gently put Li Hua on the ground, who started scolding him. “It was embarrassing. I even addressed him as Dear Husband, despite that he didn’t stop. What if people recognize us?” Li Hua started to panic.

“Isn’t this what we want?” Lóng Wei brushed the fringes behind her ear which had covered her cheek.

“We want this, but,” she paused as Lóng Wei’s index finger pressed on her lips.

“Then, let this world know. You no longer have to hide. You are Xu Li Hua before Qiu Li Hua, so let’s not forget that identity. You need to keep it alive until the very end. Let the consequences come our way. I will handle those consequences for you. You no longer have to think about outcomes with me. You no longer need to feel shy or embarrassed,” Lóng Wei proclaimed and put his hands on her shoulders.

An intense eyelock occurred between them.

Li Hua’s heartbeat picked its speed and she questioned herself, ‘Is this the feeling of love?’