Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

300 A promise of Love

Liu Jin Yu rested her right leg above her left knee. Her hands were under her head and her focus was on the wooden ceiling with intricate patterns carved on it.

“I knew that this life was going to be tough. What if they all forced me to have a baby within a month of marriage? What will I do then?” She muttered.

“No one will force you,” Xiaoming’s voice fell into her ears. She tilted her head and immediately sat up on the mattress on her knees. Her hands rested on her knees, and she told him that he had entered unannounced.

Xiaoming smiled and walked up to her. He sat down and lifted his hand to tie the knots of her dress. Liu Jin Yu looked down and found out that she had opened the knot again after she sent Court Lady Hong out. She was feeling hot in those layers of clothing, but now she was embarrassed.

She moved away, which startled Xiaoming and quickly turned her back to him. After she tied the knot, she turned to him. “Forgive me,” she apologized.

“Are you shy?” He asked because Liu Jin Yu lowered his head.

“No,” Liu Jin Yu promptly refused and looked at him. She should have listened to Court Lady Hong and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

“Your face says something else,” Xiaoming stated.

“His Highness had told me that he would not see me until tomorrow, so why did he come here?” Liu Jin Yu changed the topic to make her feel more comfortable.

.....

“Now, I am united with you, I am unable to stay away from you,” Xiaoming replied. “It’s tough, right?” He had found out from Court Lady Hong that Jin Yu was unable to make Lady Hu happy.

“Lady Hu said that she didn’t taste the worse tea that I made for her,” Jin Yu replied and scoffed. “Master Wu never complained about the tea I gave him,” she grumbled.

“Because he was a father to you. He will not find any fault with your tea. People who love you will always find your tea delicious,” Xiaoming stated.

“The Crown Prince never tasted the tea from my hand. So, he doesn’t know if it is bad or good. What if it turns out to be the best?” She pouted her lips while complaining.

“Indeed, for me, the tea made by your hands will be the best,” Xiaoming answered. “I answered you from others’ perspective,” he clarified.

“Did the Crown Prince meet Prince Lóng Wei?” She waited for Xiaoming’s response.

“I did. The box that Kang Huijuan left in Wu Jin’s place, Brother Lóng Wei had retrieved it earlier with the help of someone.” Jin Yu was startled by this sudden revelation. She was happy, but then anger built up inside her.

“It means Wu Jin lost his life for nothing,” Liu Jin Yu said with a gloomy expression.

“Brother Lóng Wei is the Governor of Qinping. Wu Jin will definitely get justice, Jin Yu.” Xiaoming caressed her arm and asked her to stay strong.

“Your Royal Highness, tomorrow I will be examined,” Liu Jin Yu informed him.

“Why?” Xiaoming was confused for a while.

“To find out if my body is good enough to conceive,” she replied in a low voice. “I am not even married to the Crown Prince. Then why did all these things begin? Should it not be done after marriage? I mean, I am not ready to even think about it,” she spoke her mind.

After taking a short pause, she continued, “Court Lady Hong said that to grow the lineage we must have many children. I am scared. I do not know if His Royal Highness understood me or not,” she said and fidgeted with her fingers.

“I understand you. Since I am the Crown Prince and next-in-line to the throne, inner palace officials want such things to be checked beforehand by the Crown Princess. They are performing their duties. However, a medical examination isn’t wrong. I will also come when Peng Yuxian comes to examine you. About the children, no such thing will happen this early,” Xiaoming gave her assurance.

Liu Jin Yu moved closer to him. “Your Royal Highness, the training is tough, but I will complete it soon. You have taken so much trouble for me. I must become the perfect royal lady that everyone wants to see.”

He showed his faith in her. “I know you’ll become one of those unique royal ladies,” he said.

He took out something from her pocket and asked Jin Yu to close her eyes.

“I want to see,” she insisted, and grabbed his hands to open the fist.

“I cannot show you. Close your eyes for ten seconds,” he requested.

“I do not like surprises. His Royal Highness shall show me what he brought for me.”

Xiaoming surrendered and opened his hands. “It is a hairpin,” he said. Jin Yu was flustered to see it. She had heard if the one who loved you gave you a hairpin, it showed his promise of love for her.

“It’s pretty,” she said, moving her hand above the hairpin. It was made of gold and had seed pearl dangling on its one end. “It must be expensive,” she muttered.

Xiaoming ended up laughing. “I am the Crown Prince, and I can afford the most expensive ornaments, dresses for you,” he affirmed and leaned close to her. He inserted the hairpin in her hair bun and complimented her.

“I am penniless, so I cannot give such expensive presents to the Crown Prince,” Liu Jin Yu said. “However, I have given my heart to him, which is the most expensive thing for me,” she proudly proclaimed.

“I agree with you. It was slightly difficult to win it.”

“I thought my feelings for His Royal Highness could create problems for him. Forgive me for getting harsh that day. I should not have said those words to the Crown Prince. But believe me, those words weren’t from my heart,” Liu Jin Yu suddenly felt guilty about her previous acts.

“I didn’t get hurt. I knew why you were pushing me away,” he said, and told her not to feel guilty about that anymore.