Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

297 Feng Lao is also a Victim [Bonus chapter]

Xu Zifan entered the guest room and greeted Mingquan. He asked Zhi Ma to bring tea for them when Mingquan refused. Instead, he asked for water. Xu Zifan gestured to Zhi Ma, who went to the kitchen to fetch water.

Xu Zifan took a seat around the floor table and asked Mingquan about his sudden visit.

“Do you know anything related to Feng Lao?” Mingquan inquired.

“How would I know about him? I ended my years-long friendship with him,” he asserted and let out a frustrated sigh.

“He sent a message for your sister,” Mingquan stated.

“What?” Xu Zifan knitted his brows. “What kind of message did he send?” He asked in fury.

“He is not in a good state and he is apologetic to you both,” Mingquan replied. “Why don’t you bring him here? He mentioned that he would help Sister-in-law to find the culprit. He even said that he found out the person behind your family’s murder plan it was a man. However, he doesn’t know who it is,” he affirmed.

“What did Prince Lóng Wei say?” He asked.

“Brother Lóng Wei doesn’t know about this. Sister-in-law could not tell him earlier in the morning,” Mingquan answered.

.....

“How would I bring Feng Lao here? Moreover, I do not know where he is,” Xu Zifan pronounced. He was not even interested in talking with Feng Lao. He didn’t want to see his face. But it was all his evil thoughts because of the betrayal he received. Xu Zifan was also concerned about Feng Lao. Like him, he had no one left around him. At least Xu Zifan’s sister was there for him.

Zhi Ma knocked on the door and stepped inside the room. He put the tray on the table and handed the water glass to Mingquan, who thanked him. He drank the water and put it on the table. Zhi Ma took the glass and left the room.

“Feng Lao will return to Qinping soon. He had told this to Prince Lóng Wei. In my opinion, I should not go and bring him here,” Xu Zifan opined. Feng Lao might need a lot of time to himself. It would be awkward for Xu Zifan if he suddenly went to see Feng Lao.

“I understand. Feng Lao is also a victim in all this. Everyone gets selfish when they have to protect their family. Feng Lao did the same. He was forced to choose selfishness for his family’s safety. You were his friend once, so you must embrace him again,” Mingquan advised Xu Zifan.

“That’s why I didn’t kill him. He was once my friend... a close friend,” Xu Zifan replied, and scrunched his brows. “Your Highness, I have many questions to ask him. I know that you think he would take his life because of the negative things that suddenly happened in his life. But it will not happen. He will try again to apologize to me and come to see me. Because we were once friends,” he stated with a menacing look.

Mingquan hummed. “I truly hope for his safe return to Qinping.” He decided to change the topic and informed Mingquan about Lóng Wei’s win. “Brother Lóng Wei is the new Governor of Qinping. You will see him more often in the bureaucratic office,” he asserted with a smile.

“That’s such good news. Prince Lóng Wei achieved his goal. He must be happy,” Xu Zifan stated while smiling.

“He is!” Mingquan said.

“Your Highness, I never dared to ask this, but I am curious about one thing. Will you answer me?” Xu Zifan wanted to know more about Lóng Wei.

“I will try to answer,” Mingquan said. “You may ask.”

Xu Zifan pursed his lips together before opening his mouth. Mingquan found him a bit hesitant when Xu Zifan finally spoke.

“Your Highness, why did Prince Lóng Wei kill his mother?”

The smile on Mingquan’s lips disappeared as he heard the question.

“Prince Lóng Wei’s one mistake made him an evil person in front of everyone’s eyes. He is a good person, but because he committed a sin, people always judge him. I also judged him once. However, with time, I found out that he would not have killed his mother. Was it a trap? Did someone else kill her and he took the blame?” Xu Zifan skeptically asked.

“I am afraid, but I do not know anything about this, Xu Zifan,” Mingquan refused to say anything. He was the only one who knew the truth, but he couldn’t tell anyone. So, he decided to lie to Xu Zifan.

“But you are from the royal family. Also, you are close to Prince Lóng Wei. He must have told you about this,” Xu Zifan was still curious to know.

“I am not close enough to Brother Lóng Wei. Indeed, I am from the royal family, but that doesn’t mean I know the truth. Brother Lóng Wei only said this to everyone when he was asked: he killed his mother because she hated him,” Mingquan replied, what Lóng Wei told everyone.

“That’s a very private matter related to Brother Lóng Wei and his mother’s life. I try not to ask him about it. Moreover, if I ask, Brother Lóng Wei will never answer me. He refrains from speaking about it. I want you not to ask him about it,” Mingquan suggested to him. Xu Zifan acknowledged it. He merely wanted to help his sister. But now, Mingquan had told him that it was a matter between Lóng Wei’s mother and him, so Xu Zifan would not dare ask about it.

“Xu Zifan, I will take my leave. Take care of yourself,” Mingquan rose to his feet. Xu Zifan promptly got up and saw the Fourth Prince outside the residence. Once Mingquan left on the horse, Xu Zifan decided to go to the market. He never explored the capital and asked Zhi Ma to follow him. A guide was important on the first day so that he would not lose his way to the residence.