551 I have gone crazy [Bonus chapter]
“I didn’t expect that Prince Lóng Wei would tell the truth to the Crown Prince,” Li Hua stated. “This truth must be troubling him. What if he tells someone else,” she murmured with a worried look.
“That will not happen,” Lóng Wei said and caressed her head. He side-hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I had a good sleep. Let’s have our breakfast,” he stated and went with Li Hua to the chamber.
After they had their morning meals, Li Hua asked Lóng Wei about the King.
“He has gone to catch Qizhen,” Lóng Wei replied with a smile.
Li Hua was puzzled to hear the prince’s statement.
“I have had enough of the stress. I cannot tolerate this anymore,” Lóng Wei said. His frustration was visible in that tone.
“Prince Mu and Prince Zhang Xi are tough to please,” Li Hua stated and asked Lóng Wei what he would do if they voiced against him.
“You are forgetting Prince Tianjie,” Lóng Wei stated.
“Prince Tianjie is still better,” Li Hua affirmed.
.....
“Why do you think so? Prince Tianjie said a few good words to you and you thought he can be a well-wisher of mine,” Lóng Wei arched his eyebrow.
“Is Prince Lóng Wei taunting me?” Li Hua asked and twitched her lips.
“I am,” Lóng Wei said and rested his elbow on the table. He placed his chin on his palm and continued, “Li Hua, I have gone crazy for the last few days. I am desperate to kill and it might happen today. If any of them raises a voice against me, then I may kill him. Can you feel the burning rage inside me?”
Li Hua told Lóng Wei not to think of taking anyone’s life. “The Princes will not betray you. I bet my life on this,” Li Hua asserted.
“You will feel low once you lose this bet,” Lóng Wei asserted.
“Prince Lóng Wei is scaring me now,” Li Hua stated.
“Li Hua, I told you that I’ve gone crazy,” Lóng Wei stated.
“What happened? What is His Highness’s plan? Will he share it with me?” Li Hua asked.
“My plan is simple. I will overthrow the King tonight,” Lóng Wei stated.
Li Hua widened her eyes. “How? Is it even possible? The military will stand against Prince Lóng Wei,” She stated. “I don’t want him to do such a thing. Let the Crown Prince handle this. He will definitely help us,” she proclaimed.
“Indeed. The Crown Prince will surely help us,” Lóng Wei said, “but before that, I need to clear his path.”
“Today is the Qiqi festival. I don’t want Prince Lóng Wei to touch his sword and take any life,” Li Hua stated as tears filled her eyes.
“Forgive me, Li Hua. I must do it today only. I cannot have sleepless nights anymore. I am in a pang of utter guilt. It is suffocating me,” Lóng Wei affirmed.
Li Hua leaned forward and placed her hand on his cheek. “Is it too painful?” Li Hua asked.
Lóng Wei hummed. “I am tired of all this. It hurts me badly. Numerous negative thoughts fill my mind. No festival was special for me anyway. Today is just another normal day for me,” He affirmed. Li Hua lowered her hand and nodded at him.
“But today is a special day for me. I want to celebrate the festival with my husband. I want to see the three stars bridge formation with my husband,” Li Hua asserted.
“I don’t want to delay anything. There is a saying: don’t leave any work for tomorrow,” Lóng Wei stated. “Don’t worry. We both will surely see the bridge formation in the sky,” He said with assurance.
“Fine. I trust His Highness,” Li Hua stated, “but he should promise me one thing. Will he?” She tilted her head.
“I will decide after you tell me,” Lóng Wei asserted.
“That is wrong,” Li Hua complained.
“How?” He asked.
“Prince Lóng Wei should have readily agreed instead of deciding after I tell him,” Li Hua said.
“You don’t want me to kill Qiu Zedong, right?” Lóng Wei asked.
“Yes.”
“I had not planned to do that. I have planned something bigger,” Lóng Wei said with a broad smile and held her hand. “I want you to come with me,” he said.
“Where?” Li Hua astonishingly asked.
“That is a surprise,” Lóng Wei replied and pulled her up as he stood up.
He took Li Hua out with him. As they reached the imperial gates, they encountered Qiu Mu.
“When did Brother Lóng Wei return?” Qiu Mu asked.
“In the early morning,” Lóng Wei answered.
“Are you both going out?” Qiu Mu asked.
“Yes,” Lóng Wei replied. “Did Prince Mu find out about Cha Ying?” He asked.
Qiu Mu sighed and shook his head. “She has disappeared. I am worried for her. I don’t know in which state she must be in,” Qiu Mu expressed his worries.
“Cha Ying can survive without a man’s support. She is different from many other women that Prince Mu has known,” Lóng Wei stated.
Li Hua looked at him in astonishment.
“Brother Lóng Wei is right. But I am concerned for her,” Qiu Mu asserted.
“That is understandable. If the person you love is not around you, it is normal to get anxious,” Lóng Wei stated.
“It all happened because of Kang Xi. He forced Cha Ying to marry me.” Qiu Mu’w jaw clenched in anger.
“I always used to tell that Kang Xi is a danger to us. But no one ever believed me,” Lóng Wei remarked.
“Forgive me for not listening to you, Lóng Wei,” Qiu Mu said with a chuckle.
Lóng Wei smiled at him and said, “Prince Mu should discover a different way to bring Cha Ying to him. I am getting late, so I will take my leave with Li Hua.” He walked ahead while Li Hua bowed to Qiu Mu first before running behind Lóng Wei.
“A different way?” Qiu Mu mumbled.
He saw that Lóng Wei helped Li Hua in getting into the carriage.
“He adores his wife so much. I should have done the same to Cha Ying. She didn’t trust my love at all,” Qiu Mu muttered.