125 Your Family, your Husband and your Lover
Li Hua was awestruck to see the chamber. It was no lesser than a grand hall. The mahogany furniture was right under the arched ceiling of this grand chamber. One thing that shocked her was that the chamber was well lit and well decorated.
The long curtains were hanging loose around the pillars. She walked ahead and reached the other side of the chamber, where a huge bed was placed at the center. It was surrounded by the red curtains and the bedsheet used was red. She wondered if Lóng Wei asked the servants to decorate the chamber this way. One thing that she was sure about was that Lóng Wei didnât like vibrant colors.
She turned and gazed at Lóng Wei, who had followed her inside.
âYour Highness, you do not like such colors. Then, why did His Highness ask the servants to decorate this grand chamber?â
âDid I ever say that I hate vibrant colors?â Lóng Wei asked.
âNo. But in the palace,â Li Hua lifted her hand, âthe room isnât well decorated.â
âI like to keep that place dark,â Lóng Wei answered and reached out his hand to remove the unbuttoned overcoat from his shoulder. He removed it and threw it on the floor.
âLetâs have dinner. I am hungry,â Lóng Wei said and walked away. Li Hua picked up the overcoat from the floor and put it on the bed. She ran after him and sat on one of the mahogany chairs.
Three maidservants walked in and set the table for them. They stepped back and upon Lóng Weiâs order, they left.
.....
Li Hua used to think that the cold palace was full of miseries. However, it seemed the opposite to her. Everything about it was different. She wouldnât deny that Lóng Wei was happier being in the cold palace because it was luxurious!
She picked the chopsticks and looked at Lóng Wei. âYour Highness, thank you. I am extremely happy. I got to see my brother. Thank you for saving my brotherâs life,â Li Hua said.
Lóng Wei gazed at her. âI will give you hundreds of surprises to make you happy,â he stated. âStart eating,â he said.
Li Hua smiled a little and began eating. Lóng Wei found that she ate more than usual in her regular diet. It delighted him.
âYour Highness, what if the Fourth Prince and Commander Huang Xi see my brother?â Li Hua suddenly expressed her concern.
âDonât worry about it,â Lóng Wei said.
âWill His Highness tell them about my identity?â Li Hua queried.
âI need to tell them because Huang Xi is already suspicious of you,â Lóng Wei replied.
âHow? I swear I never-â
âHeâs the Generalâs son,â Lóng Wei interrupted her in the middle. âHe might have seen you as he had come to Xinshui with his father. I think it was two years ago when he came to Xinshui,â he said.
âBut I never went out. I donât remember the General visiting the Xu Residence,â Li Hua reasoned.
âBut he has seen you somewhere. I heard him say this. I will converse with him tomorrow morning. He is a good person. I let him accompany us because he will be of help. So, donât worry,â Lóng Wei assured her.
âI believe in His Highness,â Li Hua said and again resumed eating.
âI told you to address me as âDear Husbandâ. Canât you do this small thing for me?â Lóng Wei sulked.
âDoesnât it sound too cheesy?â Li Huaâs right eyebrow arched.
âIt sounds more affectionate,â Lóng Wei corrected her. âDo you want to show your feelings through actions?â He thought to tease her.
âPardon me? Actions?â
âAhh, earlier, you blushed on the same word. According to your beloved brother, women show their feelings more through their actions. I wonder what your actions will be?â Lóng Wei said and smirked.
âI donât know what His Highness is thinking in his mind,â Li Hua said, pretending that she didnât understand his words.
âThe same as what you are thinking in your head,â Lóng Wei replied and licked his lips. Li Hua gulped, and her eyes flickered. She quickly lowered them to avoid his gaze and focus on eating.
Li Hua finished her meals earlier than him and picked up the glass of water. After drinking water, she felt full. âIt was such a delicious dinner,â she said and waited for Lóng Wei to finish the food.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWill we go to the Xu Residence tomorrow?â Li Hua asked out of the blue.
âIf you want to, then we will go,â Lóng Wei answered.
âOf course, I want to. I want to check.â Li Hua sounded low as she once again recalled that night. âIt was burned, right?â She asked.
âHmm. The assassins put it on fire. I wonât stop you from visiting your house. However, I want you to remain strong,â Lóng Wei said, and he put the chopsticks down. He had finished eating his meals.
âI donât think I will be able to see it. Letâs not go tomorrow,â Li Hua changed her decision immediately and stood up. She walked away while Lóng Wei called a servant inside. He drank the water and walked to the innermost part of the chamber. He found her standing near the window, looking at the night sky.
He silently advanced to her and stood beside her. âI missed this beautiful night sky,â Li Hua said. âHowever, it still feels empty.â She tilted her head to look at him.
âWhat should I do to make it full?â
âHis Highness cannot make it full,â Li Hua replied. âBefore going to sleep, I always used to look at the night sky. I had my family, my people and my loved ones around me. Thatâs why it appeared beautiful and full. However, now, it no longer appears the same,â she proclaimed.
Lóng Wei leaned against the window and crossed his arms. âI am also your family, your husband and your lover. I believe that I can fill that emptiness,â he said, with a confident tone.
Lóng Wei moved his hand in the air, gesturing to her to come to him. Li Hua came near him and put his hand on her shoulder. He turned along with her as his arm wrapped around her, drawing her close.
âI also found this sky empty until I watched it with you today,â Lóng Wei said.