Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Lóng Wei jumped over the bench and settled on it. He rested his clasped hands on the table and tilted his head to look at Yuze, who had a bowl in his hands.

“Prince Lóng Wei looks happy,” Monk Yuze said while putting the bowl in front of Lóng Wei, who smiled. He picked up the chopsticks and swirled them into the bowl full of rice noodles.

“Yuze foresees the future. He must know why I am happy,” Lóng Wei affirmed as he looked into the bowl.

“I can see certain events, Prince Lóng Wei. If I could see everything, then I would be a God,” Monk Yuze corrected him as he brought another bowl for him. He sat opposite Lóng Wei on the bench.

“Li Hua is alone in your manor. According to you, the Crown Prince likes Li Hua. What if he comes in the night? Prince Lóng Wei has angered him already,” Monk Yuze said and studied his face.

“That’s what I want, Yuze,” Lóng Wei said with a grin and started to slurp the noodles, along with the soup.

“Why did the Prince plan all this? Is it really love?” Yuze asked with a serious expression.

.....

Lóng Wei chewed the noodles in his mouth and nodded. “Can I not fall in love? Yuze said that my bride is already chosen, who is none other than Li Hua. Still, he is asking me,” Lóng Wei stated.

“Because the Sixth Prince’s mind is unpredictable to me,” Yuze asserted. Lóng Wei leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky.

“I am indeed in love. She asked me if I was good when the hot water fell on my hand.” Lóng Wei smiled upon recalling that day and glanced at Yuze. The smile didn’t fade even for a second. “No one ever asked me if I was good. The Crown Prince asks sometimes about my well-being, but that’s indeed a fake one,” he said while letting out a sigh.

“Why does the Sixth Prince think that the Crown Prince’s concern is fake towards him? He even stands for his youngest brother. He argues for him with his other brothers and sisters,” Yuze affirmed and slurped the soup with the porcelain soup spoon.

“He is not what everyone takes him to be,” Lóng Wei replied. His tone was serious, and so were his facial expressions. “Behind that gentle face, a brutal face is hidden. Yuze must have noticed that too,” Lóng Wei stated and again continued to eat.

“Did the Crown Prince say something to the Sixth Prince, which made him come to such a conclusion?” Yuze was curious to know.

“I need to go back, Yuze. Eat your food.” Lóng Wei avoided telling the old monk. He picked up the bowl and drank the remaining soup before he plonked it on the table.

“Do you want more?” Yuze asked.

“No. I am full,” Lóng Wei replied. “Yuze, I wonder why the Emperor called Li Hua in the Royal Garden. Li Hua didn’t tell me the reason. She only said that she would be thrown out of the palace. I think my Royal Father has threatened her. Also, she’s hiding something from me related to her life,” Lóng Wei told Yuze what he had noticed in Li Hua.

“Why would a young woman agree to marry you in two days? The King pardoned your punishment because of her. His Majesty never saw anyone taking a stand for you,” Yuze briefed him. However, he refrained from telling the main part.

“That was what I wanted,” Lóng Wei affirmed. Yuze smiled and ate the remaining noodles in the bowl. Once he finished, Lóng Wei took his leave. Yuze told him not to roam outside the palace.

~~~~~~

Li Hua didn’t want to take her dinner without the presence of the Sixth Prince. What if someone would come and see her eating in the Prince’s chamber. She might get punished for it. So, she went to the patio and settled near the stairs. Her elbow rested on her knee while her chin was on her calloused palm.

She looked at the tree stem and found the two arrows were still on the tree. “His Highness must have practiced a lot,” Li Hua murmured. A cool breeze blew, and her long hair swung with it.

‘How will I change the Sixth Prince? His thoughts are at a level where, if I reach, I can lose my mind. But I cannot be beheaded either. If I somehow find out the truth in the two months’ time, then I am willing to be beheaded,’ she thought and lifted her head to look at the night sky.

The waxing crescent moon was glowing pale yellow. She recalled the legend about the lovers, who met once a year on a full moon day. ‘I wish such legends could be implemented in real life. I wish I could see Feng Lao once,’ Li Hua thought. A tear rolled over her cheek, which she quickly wiped off.

She sat straight when she heard the footsteps. Upon turning, she found Lóng Wei, who had returned. She rose to her feet and bowed before him.

Lóng Wei walked to her and lifted her chin. “Did you miss someone?” he asked. Li Hua found herself tongue-tied and started to fidget with her fingers.

His thumb grazed over her soft cheek. “If you ever miss someone, you can recall me. Your heart will be at peace.” Lóng Wei said in his low-deep voice.

Li Hua stepped back and lowered her head. “I want His Highness not to touch me without my will,” Li Hua spoke out her mind.

“That’s impossible for me,” Lóng Wei said and took another step toward her. Li Hua lifted her head to peer at him and found him taking another step toward her. “Why did you agree to marry then?” He asked and found her stepping backward.

“Because I cannot leave the palace,” Li Hua answered, “I need to pay debts.”

“No. You agreed to marry me for your benefit too. At least, be truthful with me. Since I am the one who will help you,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

“What did my father tell you to do?” Lóng Wei asked.

“Ahh,” Li Hua let out a low scream when her foot slipped off the end of the patio. Fortunately, Lóng Wei caught her and pulled her up. Her hands rested on his arms while their faces came closer.

“Your Highness, please let me go. His Majesty said I would be thrown out of the palace if I don’t agree to marry the Sixth Prince,” Li Hua told him the half-truth.

“Li Hua, you agreed to marry an unknown man for that reason,” he arched his brow. “If we get married, I will officially be your husband. We will have rights to each other. Tell me a valid reason which will make me not touch you,” Lóng Wei stated.

Li Hua gulped. “I love someone else. It is the only valid reason I have, Your Highness,” she said. Lóng Wei’s other hand went behind her head, and he drew his face close to him.

“That’s an invalid reason. You would not have agreed to marry me if you had loved someone else. Li Hua, the more you will hide the truth this way from me, the more it will make me mad,” Lóng Wei berated her.

“How can I believe in His Highness? What if he will kill me if I tell him the truth,” Li Hua asked.

“Li Hua, do I look like an insane man?” Lóng Wei questioned her.

“His Majesty wants me to change His Highness,” Li Hua replied. “If I am unable to do it, then I will be beheaded,” she finally revealed the truth to him.

“Then, you don’t have to worry about it. I have already changed myself for you,” Lóng Wei assured her.

“Then, why doesn’t His Highness refuse to go with this marriage? Since I love someone else, there’s no use marrying me,” Li Hua tried to persuade Lóng Wei.

“I didn’t plan all this to step back from the marriage,” Lóng Wei said. “I do not like it when you repeat the same thing time and again. I don’t care who you love. I care about you and me. Changing me is one of the most difficult things. I will love to see how you change my ideologies,” Lóng Wei stated.

“That means I will get beheaded after two months,” Li Hua deduced.

“No one knows what will happen after two months,” Lóng Wei reminded her.

“So, His Highness thinks that I can change him?” Li Hua questioned him.

“If she will love me, then it’s possible,” Lóng Wei affirmed and looked at her lips. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Li Hua started to hiccup, and it made Lóng Wei smile.

“I know an amazing way to stop your hiccups,” He said and leaned down to kiss her lips when Li Hua covered her mouth with her palm. His lips touched the middle of her palm and their eyes locked.

She pushed him away, and subsequently, her foot slipped off the patio. She tightly held the collars of Lóng Wei, who swirled, and the next second, they were on the ground.

Lóng Wei’s back hurt as it hit the ground while Li Hua fell on top of him. Her lips landed on Lóng Wei’s lips, who softly mewled.

~~~~~n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

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