Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

75 I will go insane [Bonus chapter]

Court Lady Hong entered the chamber after the Sixth Prince left and found the broken vase on the floor. The first thought that came to her mind was if the Sixth Prince harmed Li Hua in any way, but she was assured when she saw Li Hua peacefully sleeping.

She gestured to the two maidservants, one of whom, cleaned the floor.

“Your Highness,” Court Lady Hong softly called out Li Hua, while shaking her arm, who gradually opened her eyes, and smiled at her.

Li Hua acted to feel soared and sat on the bed. “I will ask the royal chef to send the nutritious soup for Her Highness later,” Court Lady Hong said and glanced at the second maidservant. She picked the plain white silk dress and asked Li Hua to wear it as they would head to the washroom.

As Lóng Wei had instructed her, she had removed her upper robes, keeping on the inner clothing. Her feet landed on the floor, and she put on the thin silk robe. Her eyes caught Lady Hong’s eyes, which were focused on the red stain on the bed sheet.

“Her Highness performed her duty well,” Court Lady Hong said. “She was shy before the marriage.” Li Hua found her smiling, and she smiled too.

“Indeed, Court Lady Hong. Li Hua knows her duty well as a wife,” she said humbly and made the knot on her dress. She rose to her feet, and they left for the washroom.

“Court Lady Hong, did the servant pick the clothes of His Highness from the bathhouse?” She asked, after brushing her teeth and washing her face with the rice water.

“His Highness is still bathing. No one is allowed to go in,” Court Lady Hong replied. Li Hua hummed and wondered if she could go in. She had to if she wanted to get the jade ring back.

.....

“I will be back soon,” Li Hua said and walked out of the washroom. Court Lady Hong ran after her, but couldn’t find her outside.

“Where did Her Highness go?” She got tense and waited for her return.

Li Hua halted outside the bathhouse where Lóng Wei was present. She gently pushed the door and peeked inside. She could only see a small part of the bathhouse. Steam from the hot bathtub was visible, but she was unable to see the Sixth Prince.

Li Hua looked for the basket in which Lóng Wei would have put his clothes. She opened the door a little more and walked in without making any noise. She smiled upon seeing the basket. To her surprise, Lóng Wei was not present in the bathhouse.

It delighted her, and she got on her knees. She searched for the jade ring in the clothes but didn’t find the jade ring. She looked into the sleeves, but nothing was there.

“Are you done searching?” Lóng Wei asked her, and she immediately stood up. She found him half-naked and lowered her head.

“C-Court Lady Hong is waiting for me. I-I shall take my le-leave,” Li Hua said while stuttering. She could feel his burning gaze at her. Turning, she was ready to leave when Lóng Wei caught her arm and stood in front of her.

She widened her eyes, seeing his naked torso so closely. She turned her head away and requested Lóng Wei to move away.

“We will bathe together in the hot spring,” he said. Before she could stop him, Lóng Wei dragged her to the other end. He slid the door, and they both were now in a small yard with a hot spring in the center. She was unaware of it, or she didn’t bother to explore.

“Your Highness, I need to go back.” Li Hua wasn’t ready to get into the hot spring with him. She kept pulling her hand back, but he would not let it go.

“I told her not to disturb us,” Lóng Wei said and scooped her up in his arms. “My Princess, let’s dive in the hot spring and enjoy our time together,” he said and advanced to the hot spring.

Li Hua kept her body away from him and didn’t wrap her hands around his neck. Lóng Wei didn’t mind it either.

“His Highness told me that he will not cross the limits unless I do,” she reminded him. Lóng Wei lifted his foot and landed it in the hot spring. He made her stand up. Li Hua’s body was more than half-submerged in the water because of her small height compared to Lóng Wei.

“I can make efforts to make you break those limits,” he affirmed and splashed water on her face. Quickly, she closed her eyelids and heard Lóng Wei’s giggle. She wiped her face and opened her eyes, but he was not in front of her.

Her breath hitched when felt Lóng Wei’s breath on her ear. “This hot spring water relaxes one’s mind and body. Your Qi will be stabilized and you’ll feel better than before. I had thought of coming here at night with you, but then I changed my plan,” he whispered.

He rested his hand on her right shoulder and she narrowly gazed at him. “Let’s sit for a while,” he said.

She turned to him. “I won’t sit in this hot spring with His Highness unless he gives me the jade ring,” she asserted.

“I threw it away,” Lóng Wei answered. His expressions were on the verge of getting grimmer.

“His Highness should not lie. He put it inside his pocket,” Li Hua replied. “Feng Lao gave it to me. His last memory is important to me, Your Highness,” Li Hua kept her words simple.

That name was sufficient to anger him. He brought his hand to the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss, but stopped before they could land on her lips. “What should I do with you? I can’t even get angry at you,” he whispered before her lips. Li Hua had stiffened at her place and her lips quivered because of the closeness between the two.

However, she didn’t meet his gaze because she knew they were burning with desire for her.

“If you think that he is alive and I will let you go to him, then you are wrong,” he said and finally she peered at him. Her chest rose and fell because of the anger that built inside her at that moment.

“Let me go, Your Highness. I want to leave now,” she said sternly without fearing the consequence awaiting her.

“I don’t allow you to leave,” he authorized. Li Hua pushed him away and turned to leave. Her foot slipped on the hot spring’s bed, and she fell into the water.

Lóng Wei also dived into the water and prevented her from falling. He crashed his lips on hers before pulling themselves out of the water. Their lips were still connected. Li Hua’s hands were on her shoulders, and she gaped at him in shock.

She almost withdrew from the kiss, but Lóng Wei’s hand on the back of her head drew her again. His other hand remained on her waist, keeping her intact at her place.

For the third time, she had taken Feng Lao’s name in front of him. He hated it. He hated to hear that she loved him. It made him go insane.

Suddenly, he withdrew and stepped back. “Take his name and I will seal your lips with a kiss again,” he warned her. The kiss which lasted for a few seconds was not out of anger, it was out of love. He didn’t want it to look like a forced one in any way. He only wanted to show her that his feelings were stronger than anything for her, even stronger than Feng Lao.

He ran his fingers through his hair and continued to step back. “I think I have to leave because if I stay longer, I will go insane,” he affirmed and left the hot spring, leaving Li Hua in dismay.

She lifted her hand, and her fingers touched her damp, moist lips. She finally recalled her first encounter with him.

She quickly got out of the hot water and ran after Lóng Wei. “Your Highness,” she called him, who was on the patio of the bathhouse and was ready to go in.

“I am not in a mood to talk. And don’t ever ask me about that jade ring or say that bastard’s name in front of me!” Lóng Wei said furiously and soon left her sight.

“You were the person, who I encountered at the beginning of the winter. I recalled everything,” Li Hua murmured and knitted her brows.