220 Don’t even pity your situation
Lóng Wei looked at Xu Zifan, who was outside the guest room. “Why are you outside?” Lóng Wei inquired.
“I waited for His Highness’ return,” Xu Zifan replied. “I have no intention of speaking with Feng Lao,” he stated.
“How is Li Hua, Your Highness? Did she gain consciousness?” Xu Zifan worriedly asked.
“She woke up a few minutes ago. You can go and be around her for a while,” Lóng Wei asserted and gazed at Mingquan. “We will both hear Feng Lao,” he stated. Xu Zifan bowed and left to see Li Hua.
“Brother Lóng Wei doesn’t appear angry anymore. It seems the sister-in-law calmed you down,” Mingquan stated.
“No. I am still angry,” Lóng Wei said, and pushed the door to step inside. Mingquan walked after him.
“Your Highness, how is Princess Consort?” Feng Lao desperately wanted to know if Li Hua was alright.
“She has gained consciousness and sent a message to you,” Lóng Wei stated. Feng Lao waited for his response with inquisitiveness.
“Li Hua doesn’t want to see you anymore, nor does she want to talk to you. She trusted you, but you broke her trust. You didn’t try to find out the truth and keep your father’s crime and your family’s crime grounded. Li Hua doesn’t love you anymore. The token of your love is not acceptable to her,” asserted Lóng Wei.
.....
Feng Lao’s eyes turned teary. He fell to the ground on his knees. “Your Highness, tell her that I won’t ask for her forgiveness anymore. I respect her decision. However, I will help His Highness find the real culprit behind all this. My father merely followed the orders of that person,” Feng Lao stated. He begged Lóng Wei to let go of his family while tears rolled down his cheeks.
Lóng Wei took out the envelope from his pocket that Tang Zhaodang had given her. “Why did you give this envelope to Tang Zhaodang and ask him to give it to Xu Guang Li?”
Feng Lao lifted his head and looked at Lóng Wei’s hand. “You were supposed to deliver this envelope to Xu Guang Li,” Lóng Wei proclaimed.
Feng Lao got up and stepped up to keenly look at the envelope.
“Yes, I gave it to Tang Zhaodang because, in the evening, I have to prepare for my engagement with...” Feng Lao paused and wiped the tears from his cheek with the back of his palm.
“The Messenger gave it to me as he knew that I was close to the Xu Family. Also, the Xu residence was far compared to other noblemen’s residences, so I accepted it. I thought I might get late, so I told Tang Zhaodang to give it to Lord Xu,” he narrated to Lóng Wei.
“I’m unable to believe your words, Feng Lao,” Lóng Wei stated, and put the envelope inside his pocket. “You should have come to Qinping and told the King how your father aided an enemy,” he stated.
“Your Highness, my mother, my wife, and my people in the Shui residence would have died then. I could never sleep a single day after that day. Every night, I thought about Li Hua,” Feng Lao said. He forgot that he was forbidden to call Li Hua’s name.
“I know that my words have no meaning left now. I am ready to get punished, but spare my mother and my wife from the King’s order. I will gladly accept the punishment, Your Highness. This life has no meaning left for me,” Feng Lao stated.
Mingquan stepped up. “His Majesty is known for his righteous decisions. If your father is solely responsible for all this, then only he will be punished.” He assured Feng Lao that nothing would happen to the rest of his family.
“Tomorrow, your father will be here. Before he sees the King, meet him and ask the name of the person who planned all this,” Lóng Wei instructed Feng Lao.
“But, why? Brother Lóng Wei, Shui Xiaoqing will tell everything in front of the King without any hesitation,” Feng Lao expressed his thoughts.
“He won’t. If he can betray his friend because of this person, then he will never take his name in front of the King. Because his family’s life is also at stake,” Lóng Wei affirmed and gazed at Feng Lao.
“You have one chance to save your family. Make sure your father tells you the name of the person,” Lóng Wei sternly said.
“But how do I know when my father will arrive?” Feng Lao questioned.
“In the early morning, I will take you to the capital’s main gate. We will wait for your father,” Lóng Wei stated.
“I will also accompany you both,” Mingquan said. They ended their conversation soon. Lóng Wei called for a servant and told her to serve the meals to Feng Lao.
“I don’t want to eat,” Feng Lao said.
“You can die tomorrow in the court, but not in my manor,” Lóng Wei stated and turned to leave.
“Will she not see me even once?” Feng Lao asked about Li Hua.
“She has a weak heart and your betrayal could impact her more. Also, she said that you are already dead to her. So, it’s better for you not to go in front of her,” Lóng Wei proclaimed. He didn’t want Feng Lao to hurt Li Hua anymore.
“Xu Zifan also refused to converse with me. Your Highness, help me talk to him. I want to apologize to him,” Feng Lao requested.
Lóng Wei took a deep breath and turned to face Feng Lao. “Why should I do that? I don’t even pity your situation. I want everyone in your family to be dead. Feel the pain of Li Hua and Xu Zifan. Because I need you, that’s why you are alive. Also, I don’t even stand the faces of the people whom I hate from the bottom of my heart,” he stated and patted his shoulder.
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“Serve Young Master Shui well. He is a special guest for a day,” Lóng Wei ordered the servant and walked away.