Chapter 44: I must take what is Mine!
The man dressed in black robes had bruises on his face. The King asked about him from Lóng Wei and also inquired about Monk Yuze.
“Your Majesty, this man murdered those servants in their sleep. Prince Lóng Wei chased him uphill, where I reside. I ended up catching him along with the Sixth Prince,” Monk Yuze said.
Tianjie raised doubts. “How will we believe it? Who knows Brother Lóng Wei hired someone to escape this,” he stated.
“I agree with Brother Tianjie’s words,” Zhang Xi supported the argument of Tianjie.
Lóng Wei raised his hand and showed them the royal seal that he had retrieved from the man. “Now, everyone can believe me. This royal seal belongs to the royal family. Except for me, everyone possesses it. I didn’t take back my seal after returning from the Cold Palace. Eunuch Gao Bing still has my seal,” Lóng Wei affirmed and smiled.
Qiu Mu stood up and walked to Lóng Wei. He snatched the royal seal from him and checked it. Turning towards Qiu Zedong, he said, “It’s indeed of the royal family.”
“Eunuch Gao Bing, do you have the royal seal of Brother Lóng Wei?” Qiu Zedong asked to confirm.
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“Yes, Your Majesty. It is with me. I forgot to return it to the Sixth Prince and neither His Highness asked about it,” Gao Bing answered.
“Royal Father, someone from the family wants me to leave this palace. I wonder, who could become this ruthless to kill so many servants.” Lóng Wei glanced at everyone and finally landed his gaze on Xiaoming.
“Everyone must show their seals,” Xiaoming suggested and turned his head to look at Qiu Zedong. “If the Royal Father allows, then may I ask for the seal that the Sixth Prince possesses,” Xiaoming requested humbly.
Qiu Zedong gestured to Gao Bing to bring the royal seal that Lóng Wei possessed, who left the hall.
The Princes and the Princesses showed their seals to the King. Gao Bing had also returned with the seal and showed it to Qiu Zedong, who examined every seal.
“Who gave you this seal?” Qiu Zedong asked the man, whom Lóng Wei had captured.
“I do not know, Your Majesty. I was given the order and the seal to enter the Palace without any suspicion,” the man answered and pleaded to spare his life.
“Every Prince and every Princess wants me to stay in the Cold Palace. Is this the work of all of them?” Lóng Wei questioned skeptically.
“The Prince shall not think this way. No one wants him to leave,” Zhu Liling answered softly.
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Lóng Wei snickered. “I don’t believe it, Royal Mother. I need justice this time. Every time, I get punished for the wrong I did. Today, I was doubted by everyone for the mistake I never made,” he said.
“A thorough investigation will be made on this,” Qiu Zedong stated. “Till then this man is imprisoned. Prince Qiu Mu will look into it,” he affirmed.
“Father, I have a request to make,” Lóng Wei said. Everyone was curious about what Lóng Wei had to say.
“You are allowed to make,” Qiu Zedong permitted him.
“I want His Majesty to give me the authority in the Palace matters and also in the Kingdom’s matters. I want to investigate this matter myself,” Lóng Wei made the request to his father.
Xiaoming widened his eyes as he didn’t expect it to happen. Firstly, he was surprised that Lóng Wei caught the man that he had hired. Secondly, he was frightened. If Lóng Wei got the slightest power, everything might ruin.
“The Sixth Prince cannot ask for any power. If he is granted any such power, then he might abuse it,” Qiu Mu objected to Lóng Wei’s request.
“I also feel that the Youngest Prince still needs to work on himself,” Zhu Liling advised the King.
“The Second Prince is the one, who abuses power. If he wants, then I can tell everyone what he has been doing with the position of being the General,” Lóng Wei mocked Qiu Mu. The Second Prince felt humiliated and gulped the anger that had built inside him.
“Everyone complained to the Royal Father that I only trouble people around me. Now, I want to work for them, so everyone is opposing me. I don’t understand what this family wants from me,” Lóng Wei said and let out a sigh.
“Today’s incident made me realize that I must not keep playing and kill my time doing nothing. I must take what is mine!” Lóng Wei pronounced while boring his gaze at Xiaoming.
Monk Yuze smiled and stepped forward, holding his stick. “Your Majesty, it seems the Sixth Prince has realized his duties as a Prince,” Monk Yuze said.
“I don’t think that Father shall grant any such power to Brother Lóng Wei. He will keep troubling others,” Tianjie opined.
“Or I may bring those realities out, which our Father is unaware of! You all wanted me to work for the Kingdom and stop being selfish. I am ready to do it,” Lóng Wei stated, shutting Tianjie’s mouth.
“I also want the Sixth Prince to realize his duties as a Prince. I am glad that he is finally ready to serve the Kingdom. I grant him equal power as the other ones, lower than the Crown Prince’s power and the Second Prince’s power,” Qiu Zedong announced his decision.
Lóng Wei lifted his hands to the level of his shoulders and bowed his head. “Thank you, Royal Father. I will not disappoint him,” Lóng Wei assured him and lifted his head.
“Royal Father, what about my marriage?” He asked curiously.
“I have prepared the royal decree. I announce your marriage to Li Hua. You both will be married after two days. Li Hua will stay in another chamber for these two days,” Qiu Zedong said with a smile. He was delighted to see how his son tackled the situation. He was glad that Li Hua, unlike other people, didn’t leave his son’s side. He glanced at Monk Yuze and realized that he had made a good decision.
“Thank you, Royal Father,” Lóng Wei said with a victorious smile.
“The Sixth Prince cannot see his bride for two days. Court Lady Hong, please take Li Hua to the chamber prepared for her,” Zhu Liling stated. Court Lady Hong came forward and asked Li Hua to follow her.
Li Hua bowed before the King and the Queen. She turned to leave when Lóng Wei whispered, “I will come to see you.” She narrowly gazed at him and found him smirking. She gulped and quickly left the chamber.
Oppositely, Xiaoming clenched his fists. He failed to stop this marriage. But how did Lóng Wei find out all this? Fortunately, he prepared another royal seal for himself. So, he didn’t get caught today, else it would be an end for him.
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