Chapter 102

102 It hurts me as well [Bonus chapter]

Zhu Liling got tied with the request that Li Hua made. She couldn’t ignore it either, so she acknowledged her request. “Fine. If any such thing gets reported to me, then, I will punish the person.”

Li Hua bowed and thanked her for accepting her request.

“The tea ceremony ends here. Everyone may dismiss,” Zhu Liling announced. She stood up and left the patio first, followed by the others. Eunuch Lianying glanced at both Lóng Wei and Li Hua before leaving.

Li Hua stood up and turned to look at Lóng Wei. “Why does His Highness intervene?” She asked in anger.

“It was important to intervene,” Lóng Wei said and walked away. Li Hua followed him while her servants walked behind her. They stepped out of the main entrance when Lóng Wei held his hand out. Li Hua didn’t hold it and stepped forward to descend the stairs. However, Lóng Wei grasped her wrist and helped her in descending the stairs.

“Why did you request the Queen that no one shall say anything to me related to my past?” Lóng Wei asked her. “You could have asked anything. It was a great opportunity to ask something which could be useful for you,” he opined. The two walked gradually ahead to their manor.

“I do not like it when someone tries to judge the Sixth Prince,” Li Hua answered. “Since he did many things for me, so I could do such a small thing for him,” she affirmed. A deep silence persisted between them till they reached their manor.

“Why didn’t His Highness ever tell what the Sixth Prince did to those young female servants? He should have told the King about it,” she proclaimed.

“Li Hua, the Second Prince, and I had never promised about it. Also, I could not inform the Royal Father because the Second Prince would have told them to shut their mouths. I lied that I have evidence,” Lóng Wei stated.

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Li Hua gaped at him. “Pardon me?” She was unable to believe his words. “Did His Highness really lie?” She again asked to confirm. Court Lady Hong, who was told to stay outside the chamber, ended up hearing it as Li Hua was loud enough. She wondered what the Sixth Prince lied about. She leaned close to the door to listen to their conversation.

“Keep your voice low. Court Lady Hong is outside. She might listen to us and then inform the Queen,” Lóng Wei told Li Hua in a low voice. Li Hua nodded her head.

“I lied about not having evidence. I have to be confident while telling a lie. But it is good that at least I am able to tell the wrong that the Second Prince is doing. The Queen will try to find out on her own. Noble Consort Xiuying has captured the heart of the Royal Father, which the Queen doesn’t like. Let the two fight in all this,” Lóng Wei said and brought his hand on the headpiece that Li Hua had worn.

“I will help,” he said and removed the accessories that were used to decorate it. Li Hua looked at Lóng Wei’s face and found the smile on his lips. She studied his face well.

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“Is there something on my face?” Lóng Wei asked. He downcasted his eyelids to meet her gaze, who shook her head promptly. “Then, are you admiring my handsome features?!” He asked in amusement.

“No!” She averted her gaze from him.

Lóng Wei chuckled and put the hairpins and gold studs on the small table. He carefully removed the headpiece from over her head. Li Hua felt relieved. He put the headpiece on the table and then stroked her hair.

“You look tall today,” Lóng Wei said as he didn’t notice that Li Hua had worn pot bottom shoes with heels.

“I have worn these shoes,” Li Hua said and slightly lifted her high-waist skirt to show the shoe to him. Lóng Wei hummed and wrapped his arm around her waist. He pulled her close and their bodies pressed against each other.

Li Hua bit her bottom lip and put her palms on his chest to gently push him away.

“Are you ready?” He arched his brow.

“For?” Her eyes flickered.

Lóng Wei brought his face a little closer to hers. She closed her eyes, moving her head back. “To go to Xinshui,” Lóng Wei replied and smirked. Li Hua pried her eyes open and nodded at him.

“You wanted me to do something else, right?” Lóng Wei asked her.

“W-what?” She stuttered.

“You wanted a kiss from your husband,” Lóng Wei said.

“Why would I want that?” Li Hua asked. “Do I not need to train today?” She tried to divert his attention from her.

“Since we have to travel tomorrow, you don’t need to train,” Lóng Wei said and pulled her chin to look at him. “Focus here,” he urged her. Li Hua gulped and moved her eyes to his face.

“I missed watching you playing guzheng. Though, I heard it. The song you played was beautiful: filled with happiness and, at the same time, enriched with sadness,” Lóng Wei said. “They might have doubted that you know such a great song.”

“I lied to them. I told that a musician in the village taught it for free to the kids,” Li Hua stated.

“I am blessed to find such an exceptionally talented woman. She knows how to handle the situation calmly. I, would like to apologize to you, because you weren’t supposed to hear anything regarding your character. I will not let it happen again,” Lóng Wei said and moved his hand to her cheek. “It hurts me as well, when they try to say anything about your character. After our return from Xinshui, I will teach them a lesson,” he promised her.

“Teach a lesson? How? Will His Highness do something similar to what he did with the First Princess? If it is so, then the Sixth Prince doesn’t need to do anything,” Li Hua stated. “He needs to prove to everyone that he is one of the finest princes among them,” she opined.

“You need not worry. I will not let my name come this time,” Lóng Wei assured her. His hand, which was on her cheek, now slowly moved to her nape.

“Let’s kiss, Li Hua,” Lóng Wei said with gleaming eyes.