Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

78 A week with my wife

Qiu Zedong and Zhu Liling settled on the throne. The tea brewer served them the tea first, followed by the others. Qiu Zedong lifted the teacup.

“Welcome to this family, Princess Li Hua,” Qiu Zedong said with a broad smile. Promptly, Li Hua stood up and bowed before the King. Her right hand covered the back of the palm of her left hand. The long sleeves of the overcoat reached her thighs.

“I am thankful to Your Majesty, who thought me capable enough to be a part of this royal family,” Li Hua said humbly.

Qiu Zedong smiled. “I am impressed with the manners of Princess Li Hua,” he praised her and looked at Lóng Wei. “I am hopeful that Prince Lóng Wei will learn from his virtuous wife,” he stated.

“My humble apologies, Royal Father. But Brother Lóng Wei can never learn manners since his mother forgot to do her duty well. A mother is the first teacher of the child. However, in Brother Lóng Wei’s matter, his first teacher failed in doing her duty,” Tianjie remarked. He left no ground to humiliate the Sixth Prince, who was not bothered about it.

Li Hua glanced at him and found the calm composure on his face. Usually, a child would get angry if his/her mother would be insulted, especially after her death.

“Prince Tianjie, this is the last time I have heard such a thing about my late concubine. Respect the dead. Also, keep in mind not to bring her into the conversation,” Qiu Zedong scolded the Third Prince, who apologized to his father.

“Li Hua, have a seat and enjoy the tea,” Zhu Liling said.

Li Hua bowed and sat down on her seat. She picked the teacup to take a sip. Jingfei from the other side looked at Li Hua and gulped the anger inside her.

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‘I can never accept that a servant has titled a Princess,’ she told herself and tightened her hold around the teacup. “I heard that our dear Sister-in-law is skilled in soap making,” Jingfei pronounced and looked at her father & mother. “Can I request my Royal Father to let me hold a small meeting, where the Sister-in-law can teach us soap making?” Jingfei put forward her humble request.

“She doesn’t know,” Lóng Wei affirmed, beaming at Jingfei. Everyone in the hall got confused when Lóng Wei looked at his father. “Li Hua doesn’t know how to make soap. The First Princess has a misunderstanding,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“Brother Lóng Wei, the soap makers cannot lie about it. My Sister-in-law had helped them once. Brother Lóng Wei wasn’t present in the palace, so he might not be aware of it,” Jingfei argued with him. However, she kept her tone as polite as possible.

“I am well aware of my wife’s habits,” Lóng Wei affirmed. “Royal Father, since we are newlyweds, I wish to go somewhere with Li Hua. If the Royal Father allows it, can I take my wife to the famous Xinshui Town?” Lóng Wei asked his father.

Li Hua gaped at Lóng Wei, wondering what was going on in his mind. Why did he bring the name of this town in front of them? What if someone is suspicious of her!? Many insecurities surrounded her head.

“I do not hold any position, at the moment, nor am I interested. I want to spend a week with my wife far from the palace in Xinshui Town. If the Royal Father allows us to go, it will be great,” Lóng Wei put forward his request.

Qiu Mu glanced at Xiaoming and gestured to him. Xiaoming realized that it was the best time to divert Lóng Wei’s mind from the matter. He would get time to clear everything from his path.

Before Xiaoming could speak, the Queen, spoke.

“Your Majesty, why don’t we allow them to go? Prince Lóng Wei is right. He doesn’t hold any position in the Kingdom, so he is free to roam around. Also, if they want, they can stay in the Cold Palace. Though the Cold Palace is a place isolated from the outside world,” Zhu Liling started to convince her husband. She also wanted the Sixth Prince to stay away from the palace for a while.

“I thought that the Prince would celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with his family,” Qiu Zedong said. He was not ready to let Lóng Wei go to Xinshui Town when he returned a few days ago.

“I also feel that Brother Lóng Wei shall spend time with his wife. Who knows there’s a change in his personality after his return to the palace?” Qiu Mu supported the decision of the Queen.

Qiu Zedong brought the teacup to his lips and sipped the tea. After contemplating, he said, “I will allow it, but on one condition.” Lóng Wei and the others wondered about the condition.

“I will fulfill the condition that my Royal Father put forward,” Lóng Wei stated.

“Commander Hei Huang Xi and a section of highly- trained army soldiers to accompany them,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

Jingfei didn’t want it to happen. She thought that she would celebrate the festival with Hei Huang Xi. She had to get close to him and if he accompanied Lóng Wei, then her plan would be ruined.

“I agree to my Father’s condition,” Lóng Wei said. Initially, he had thought to not let anyone accompany them, but Hei Huang Xi was trustworthy. Also, more than him, he was worried for Li Hua’s safety, who might become the target of his enemies. Since he had declared his love for her, his enemies were well aware that if they would harm Li Hua, then it would directly harm him.

“The First General may not like it if his eldest son is away from his family on such an important festival,” Jingfei said, “Royal Father.” She could not let Huang Xi leave the capital when she had gotten the perfect opportunity to become close to him.

“What is the First Sister saying?” Qiu Mu raised the concern. “It is the duty of a General, or a Commander, to serve the royalty. Why would the First General be upset about it?” Qiu Mu did not want Lóng Wei to stay back because he had to clear the evidence against Xiaoming.

“Second Brother, the Second Commander can accompany them. The First General returned two days ago only,” Jingfei said.

“I want the First Commander to accompany them for a reason. The Second Commander’s shoulder is injured. His state may get worse if he doesn’t take proper rest,” Qiu Zedong stated.

“So, when will the Sixth Prince leave with his wife?” Qiu Zedong asked.

“Day after tomorrow, Royal Father. The following week is the Dragon Boat Festival. I want to show Li Hua around. She had never been outside,” Lóng Wei said and tilted his head to look at her with a smile.

She knitted her brows and averted her gaze from him. ‘Why does the Sixth Prince want to go to Xinshui? There’s nothing in the town left, except some painful memories. He must look into the Royal Family, who was behind my family’s assassination,’ she thought and soon finished the tea in her cup.