Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

194 How am I different?

Lóng Wei turned silent. He didn’t answer his father. Before Qiu Zedong could ask again, Eunuch Gao Bing came inside with a messenger.

“Your Majesty, this messenger is from Xinshui. Governor Shui Xiaoqing has sent a message to His Majesty,” the messenger informed Qiu Zedong after greeting the King. Gao Bing took the scroll and walked up to the King to hand the scroll to him.

Qiu Zedong opened the scroll and read the message. Shui Xiaoqing had complained about Lóng Wei. He hit Shui Feng Lao in the Shui Residence and disrespected them.

“Eunuch Gao Bing, take the messenger to the guest room and serve him well,” Qiu Zedong commanded. Eunuch Gao Bing and the messenger bowed before leaving the imperial court.

“Did the Prince hit the son of Shui Xiaoqing? Did he threaten Feng Lao that he would bury him alive?” Qiu Zedong inquired.

“Yes, Royal Father.” Lóng Wei didn’t hesitate to accept what he did to Feng Lao.

“May I know the reason? Is it because of Li Hua?” Qiu Zedong asked and arched his brow.

“He betrayed Li Hua, and he was proudly smiling in front of me. I could not control myself but hit him. I wanted to kill him, but I stopped. I couldn’t take the law into my hands when the head of law and justice is the King himself,” Lóng Wei pronounced, and curled his fingers into a fist.

Qiu Zedong put the scroll away. “The Prince cannot lose his temper now and then. It would be disadvantageous for him only. I will talk with Li Hua and Xu Zifan in the evening before delivering my decision,” he stated.

.....

“I understand, Royal Father.” Lóng Wei agreed with his decision. He stood up and was ready to leave when Qiu Zedong stopped him.

“I want the answer from the Prince. Why did he kill his mother? At least, as your father, I have that right to know,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

“I request the Royal Father to let the past wounds remain buried. The more one runs behind the past, the more it ruins the present. I hated that woman and I still do. I feel this is enough for an answer,” Lóng Wei replied. He bowed and thanked his father for listening to him.

Lóng Wei put the chair back in its place and left the imperial court while Qiu Zedong furrowed his brows.

“What darkness and unfairness did he see in the hearts of the people?” He murmured and decided to talk with Li Hua regarding this.

~~~~~~

“The Sixth Prince doesn’t respect his elders. It was evident in his acts,” Liu Jin Yu complained to the Crown Prince.

Xiaoming smiled as he finished the calligraphy and asked if she knew the meaning of what he had written.

“I cannot read, Your Royal Highness,” Liu Jin Yu said, and it amused Xiaoming. “Only noble women get the chance to study, while people like me have to do all sorts of work to fill their stomachs.” She gave him the reason why she could not study.

“A needle is not sharp at both ends,” Xiaoming read to her.

“Indeed, it’s not sharp,” Liu Jin Yu agreed with him.

“There’s a deep meaning hidden behind this proverb,” Xiaoming affirmed. “You must find out about it,” he added, and put away the sheet.

“Brother Lóng Wei is different from the princes and princesses in the palace. He thinks differently and works according to his philosophy without fearing consequences,” Xiaoming briefed her.

“That’s great. Hardly any have the guts to do that in the palace,” Liu Jin Yu remarked.

Xiaoming agreed with her words. “I envy Brother Lóng Wei because he is way too perfect in everything. It is just that he is not ready to take any position, or else he can even surpass me,” he asserted. This time he didn’t afraid to admit that Lóng Wei was better than him in many aspects.

“Jealousy is common if it is taken in a positive way,” Liu Jin Yu proclaimed. “Even I envy the great swordsmen of the Qiu Kingdom. I train hard so that I can become the first woman skilled in swords,” she stated with an enthusiastic tone.

Xiaoming was impressed with her way of being optimistic about everything.

“Your Royal Highness, being perfect is not everything. You must feel what your people feel. As the Crown Prince, you have that quality. But the Sixth Prince lacks empathy. I realized the way he converses,” she said and made a face. “However, in terms of personality, the Sixth Prince looks cool,” Liu Jin Yu stated and smiled.

“Does he look better than me?” Xiaoming asked her.

“Yes. The Sixth Prince looks handsome,” Liu Jin Yu answered truthfully.

“At least compliment me on my looks.” When Xiaoming heard Liu Jin Yu praising Lóng Wei, he became agitated.

“I said what was true. Among the princes, the Sixth Prince looks-”

Xiaoming didn’t let her finish the words, and said, “I understand.”

“Is the Sixth Prince’s perfection the only reason that the Crown Prince envies him?” Liu Jin Yu asked and rested her right elbow on the desk to hear him.

“Can I be honest with you?” Xiaoming asked her.

“Of course,” Liu Jin Yu said.

“There are many reasons. He does anything he likes. He got married to the woman he liked. He is sharp-minded. He has the answer to every solution. I am envious that I lack that,” Xiaoming answered.

Liu Jin Yu was surprised to find that Lóng Wei married the woman of his likeness.

“His Royal Highness possesses many things that the Sixth Prince doesn’t. Every person is different. It is not good to envy your youngest brother based on his qualities, because that will only make you feel inferior in your eyes. It will eat you inside-out. You will become mentally disturbed.” Liu Jin Yu made Xiaoming understand.

Xiaoming gaped at her for a few seconds before asking her, “How am I different?”

“The Crown Prince is considerate of people around him. He thinks many times before taking any step. People love him and see him as the future King of the Qiu Kingdom. He has the responsibility of a kingdom on his shoulders, and carrying out that duty isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. He doesn’t need to compare himself with the Sixth Prince. Instead, he must feel proud of having such a brother because, in the future, the Sixth Prince will help him and support him.”