Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

148 A big secret

Mingquan and Huang Xi returned to the main courtyard after checking around the residence. They found Li Hua with Xu Zifan, near the door.

“Was it a good idea to bring the Sister-in-law here!?” Mingquan asked and glanced at Lóng Wei. “Sometimes it is good to escape the painful memories,” he suggested.

“I have opposite thoughts on it,” Lóng Wei stated. “Li Hua won’t be able to kill her enemy if she forgets what happened here,” he asserted.

“Why does His Highness want the Princess Consort to kill her enemy? To my knowledge, late Master Xu never let her daughter even step out of this residence, let alone fight or kill someone,” Huang Xi affirmed.

“Huang Xi, a person remains weak for a period of time. With time, he grows stronger. Li Hua is that person. She has asked me to let her kill the person who did this,” Lóng Wei stated and looked at Li Hua, who had clung close to her brother.

“Brother Lóng Wei, we have retrieved something from the inner side of the residence,” Mingquan informed and forwarded a burned notebook. “A few of its pages are burned, but a few are readable. It is of Xu Guang Li. You should keep it,” he stated. Lóng Wei grabbed it and put it inside his pocket.

“The Fourth Brother shall go to the Governor’s Residence,” Lóng Wei stated. Mingquan nodded and looked at Huang Xi.

“I was thinking of accompanying the Fourth Prince,” Huang Xi said. Lóng Wei refused him to do so. He asked him to take Xu Zifan safely to the cold palace.

“Where is His Highness going?” Huang Xi asked.

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“To the center of the town. I want to explore the town with Li Hua,” Lóng Wei answered and smiled.

“The people may recognize the Sister-in-law. Is Brother Lóng Wei sure that no problem will arise?” Mingquan expressed his concern. “The words will spread like a fire and may reach our Royal Father’s ears. What will Brother Lóng Wei do then? His wife can be punished for lying,” he opined.

“I have planned out everything, Fourth Brother,” Lóng Wei said. “I will discuss that part later,” he added.

“Brother Lóng Wei, Royal Father will punish the Sister-in-law to death. The ministers will call it treason because she had taken a false identity. I hope whatever Brother Lóng Wei has in his mind it will only aid him.” Mingquan was confused at Lóng Wei’s decision.

“The Fourth Brother will help me,” Lóng Wei said and smiled. “The Royal Father will indeed be upset to know that Li Hua hid her identity, but he will be happy to find that his youngest son is married to a noble’s daughter,” Lóng Wei proclaimed. Mingquan smiled and hummed.

“I never knew that Brother Lóng Wei would start to trust me to this extent,” Mingquan remarked.

“The Fourth Brother has given me the biggest reason to trust him,” he replied. “Let’s start our work then,” he added and walked towards the main door.

Xu Zifan and Li Hua bowed seeing them. Lóng Wei walked to Li Hua and put his hands on her shoulders. “You cried so much today,” he said.

“Anyone would cry recalling the old, painful memories,” Huang Xi said. Lóng Wei narrowly gazed at him, who turned quiet and apologized.

“Let’s go,” Lóng Wei said and put his arm around Li Hua’s shoulder. He took her out while the three followed them. Huang Xi locked the door with a wooden lock.

Xu Zifan left with Huang Xi while Lóng Wei took Li Hua to the market. She was reluctant at first but then he convinced her. Mingquan excused himself as he had to go to the Governor’s Residence.

“Your Highness, many know me in the town,” Li Hua stopped. “For everyone, I am dead,” she opined.

“We cannot hide the truth about you for long. One day my father will find out,” Lóng Wei stated.

“What if we never tell them? For His Majesty, I am a servant,” Li Hua stated.

“I want you to live with your real identity with dignity,” Lóng Wei affirmed and his brows drew close. “I cannot hide Xu Zifan forever in the cold palace. After a week, he will go back with us to the capital. Since he is your only family member left, I want him to stay close to you,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“Your Highness, the King might punish us all, especially you,” Li Hua said worriedly.

“Why will my father punish me? I saved a person from dying. I did nothing wrong,” Lóng Wei’s brow cocked up with inquisitiveness.

“To hide the truth,” Li Hua affirmed.

“That’s up to me to handle. I brought you to Xinshui for a reason. The lie that has spread here, we must vanish it from people’s minds. They must know that the Xu Family’s daughter survived and is now the Princess Consort in the royal Qiu Family,” Lóng Wei pronounced. Li Hua’s eyes again turned teary.

“I don’t know what His Highness is up to. But I will trust him,” Li Hua said and again wiped the tears from the pad of her fingers.

“Did you ever wonder why you had limited access to go out from your residence?” Lóng Wei asked Li Hua.

“Because my father was scared of my safety. And His Highness told me earlier that I am,” she paused as she felt awkward praising herself.

Lóng Wei smiled. “That was my deduction. You are beautiful enough to flutter anyone’s heart around you. However, your father’s mind had something else,” Lóng Wei stated.

“What was in my father’s mind?” Li Hua waited for his answer.

“That’s what we need to find out,” Lóng Wei replied. Li Hua sighed. For a second, she thought that Lóng Wei knew a big secret that was hidden from her. She recalled Xu Zifan’s words regarding the prophecy which the old monk had made. She wanted to ask Lóng Wei about Yuze’s visit to Xinshui, but not now. There’s a probability that Yuze had shared about her with Lóng Wei.