Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

94 If you had not captured my Heart

Li Hua looked at the flowers which were in the basket. She thanked Ai Fen for bringing them to her. “I will definitely use these flowers, Second Princess, but I am afraid they cannot be used tomorrow. The petals need to sun dry before using them in the tea,” Li Hua explained to Ai Fen, who nodded at her.

“Sister-in-law, hopefully, Brother Lóng Wei isn’t harsh with you,” Ai Fen expressed her concern.

“No, he isn’t, First Princess,” Li Hua answered.

“It is my first time visiting Brother Lóng Wei’s manor. Gladly, he married and it became possible. He never let any of us come here. Royal Father and Royal Mother can come since they are the King and the Queen,” Ai Fen informed Li Hua, who asked the reason behind it.

“No one knows, Li Hua,” Ai Fen replied. “I can call you by your name, right? If you do not like it then I’ll call Sister-in-law.”

“The Second Princess can call me by the name,” Li Hua stated. Ai Fen thanked her and asked her if her hand was healed. Li Hua immediately curled her fingers not wanting Ai Fen to see the bruises and cuts that she got. Lóng Wei had told her to keep it a secret from everyone.

“It has already healed, Second Princess. Thank you for your kind concern,” Li Hua humbly said.

“May I ask something from the Second Princess?” Li Hua requested her.

“Li Hua can ask anything from me. It will be better if she calls me Sister Ai Fen. I will feel good,” Ai Fen said and passed a tiny smile to her. Li Hua shook her head and said that she could never pronounce her name.

.....

“May I know why?” Ai Fen asked. “Don’t hesitate. We are a family now. Li Hua is a part of this Royal Family,” Ai Fen reminded her. Li Hua found that the Second Princess was gentle and humble. On numerous occasions, she had seen Ai Fen stopping Jingfei from severely punishing the servants.

“What did Li Hua want to ask?” Ai Fen asked again.

“Why does the Sixth Prince not like to interact with his elder brothers and sisters? Why does he not have much interaction with other people around him?” Li Hua asked Ai Fen.

“Why don’t you ask such questions from me instead of asking a third person?” Lóng Wei’s voice fell into her ears and she found him walking in through the door. They both stood up from their seats.

“Li Hua, it is better to ask the Sixth Brother. I will take my leave here,” Ai Fen said. Li Hua bowed before her while she left. She lifted her head when Lóng Wei asked her why she didn’t ask him.

“I thought His Highness would not answer me,” Li Hua replied. “Also, I wanted to know the Second Princess’s opinion.” Her right hand’s fingers rested over the back of the palm of her left hand.

Lóng Wei gestured to Court Lady Hong to leave them alone, who walked out, thus closing the doors behind her. Lóng Wei walked to her and opened the tiny box which had a gel-like ointment in it. He grasped Li Hua’s right hand and applied it gently over her fingers.

“I do not like any of them. They annoy me. They must first consider me as their brother,” Lóng Wei replied to her question.

“What about the second question?” Li Hua arched her brow.

“I do communicate with people around me. You, Xiwan, and a few others,” Lóng Wei stated. Li Hua didn’t seem satisfied with his answer. But she didn’t ask him either. Lóng Wei applied the gel to her left-hand fingers and palm.

“Why did you suddenly get curious about me that you decided to ask such questions from the Second Princess?” She met his eyes and opened her mouth to speak.

“She said that the Sixth Prince hardly let anyone enter in this manor. So, I got curious to know why he doesn’t talk with his siblings,” Li Hua briefed him.

“They aren’t my siblings. They are the step-ones,” Lóng Wei corrected her and blew the air on her fingers. Li Hua felt the uneasiness in his voice. However, she had seen all of his elders were good to him.

“Even if His Highness does not like them, he must respect them. He will be considered immoral if he continues to do it,” Li Hua asserted and he lifted his eyelids to peer at her.

“Then, I want to be immoral. Is it wrong to be immoral?” He domineered and it bewildered Li Hua. Which human would like to be immoral? People respected those who are humble, polite, and with high moral values.

“Convey your thoughts instead of talking internally,” Lóng Wei told Li Hua.

“Why does His Highness think that being immoral is good?” Li Hua got inquisitive.

“I don’t consider myself immoral. I give respect to the King, the Queen, the two consorts, and the other concubines. I also respect the General and the Commanders in the army. The only people I don’t respect who have this mask of goodness on their faces,” Lóng Wei explained to her.

“The Crown Prince is respected by many, loved by many because of his polite and caring nature. The Sixth Prince shall try to become like him. Everyone will love him then,” Li Hua stated.

“The Crown Prince isn’t what you think,” Lóng Wei sneered, recalling his recent act. How he tried to frame Lóng Wei in the murder of those servants and later tried to buy him!

“I don’t love anyone’s love except yours. Love me with my faults as I do to you,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“What faults do I have?” She was never told by anyone that she had any faults. She was called the epitome of perfection in her house and among the other young ladies.

“Even after getting the biggest betrayal, thinking that people are nice. Running away like a coward instead of staying in Xinshui. Refusing to train despite having the fire of revenge,” Lóng Wei revealed the major faults of her.

Li Hua didn’t expect him to call her a coward. She already regretted that, but she also entered the palace to find the truth.

“Why didn’t you stay back? I searched every corner of Xinshui. I had gone crazy. You have no idea how I spent those two months in the cold palace,” Lóng Wei questioned and found her eyes had turned misty.

“If I hadn’t run away, they would have killed me too. Indeed, I am not strong like the other women, but I needed to survive to know the truth. Feng Lao had told me to go to the capital,” Li Hua pronounced. Her tone was filled with anger.

“How could you trust Feng Lao?” Lóng Wei questioned her.

“His Highness doesn’t need to tell me whom to trust or whom not to. Unlike him, I do understand emotions, and I know what it feels like to be betrayed. Moreover, His Highness shall not say anything against Feng Lao,” Li Hua remarked. She was infuriated at him.

“If there would be another person at your place, I would have killed that person for speaking this way to me,” Lóng Wei said and he brought his hand on her neck. “You are lucky that it has to be you. If you had not captured my heart, I would not have carried this much pain for you. For others, my emotions are nil, but for you my emotions are indescribable. Do not ever lecture me. I don’t like it.” He warned her and, at the same time, caressed her neck. Li Hua’s breath hitched because of the nervousness and strange intimidation that built in her heart. For the first time, she found him what others used to describe him.

A Danger from whom she should keep no relation!

Lóng Wei let go of his hand from her neck and decided to leave. He did not want to take his anger out on Li Hua. He stepped back while Li Hua carried a strange expression on her face after hearing his words.

“Let’s see each other in the morning. I do not want us to fight for a third person. It makes me lose my control,” Lóng Wei stated and continued to step back before walking out of the chamber.

“Feed her dinner in the evening. Make sure that no one meets her. If I find out that she met or stepped out then, it will be your last day on this earth,” Lóng Wei threatened Court Lady Hong, who immediately agreed to his order.