Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

533 I went hunting

Lóng Wei and Xiwan were on the cliff where Yuze used to stand and watch everything. “I thought rain will fall. The sky got clearer too,” Xiwan said and looked up at the sky which had turned redder after the sunset.

“When evil people die, even heaven celebrates it,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“The King will be mad to see that his one more loyal lost his life,” Xiwan said and smiled a little.

“I want to see him tremble in fear, Xiwan,” Lóng Wei said and looked at him.

“Your Highness, the King’s first suspicion will be you. What plan does His Highness have to tackle the suspicion? There must be havoc going on in the palace. The Prince was not present in the office today and the three officials who are the spies might have already informed the King about it,” Xiwan asserted. He was worried for Lóng Wei that he might not be handle Qiu Zedong’s wrath that would fall on him soon.

“It will not happen. I have made sure that he did not suspect me in any way,” Lóng Wei stated with a confident smile.

“How can Prince Lóng Wei be so calm?” Xiwan questioned.

“Because it is not my time to get crazy,” Lóng Wei stated. “Staying calm is important in this situation,” he said and asked Xiwan what he would cook for him in the dinner. He put his arm around him and they left for the palace.

“Your Highness, I was thinking if you become the King, then we all live happily,” Xiwan asserted.

.....

“Do not think of that because I will never be one. I want a peaceful life. I do not live under stress all of my life. I am only twenty and already my life is full of stress. Li Hua is eighteen and she lives under stress too. I do not want our lives to be in constant fear after getting such a power,” Lóng Wei explained the reason why he never wanted the throne. He merely was clearing the path to a happy kingdom that Yuze wanted him to.

Lóng Wei and Xiwan soon reached the palace. Xiwan silently left for the royal kitchen without getting anyone’s notice while Lóng Wei heard about Li Zixuan from a group of servants. When they saw Lóng Wei, they paused talking and bowed to him before leaving his sight.

“Lóng Wei, where were you?” Lóng Wei heard Qiu Mu’s voice. He was coming from his behind. He turned slightly and bowed slightly to Qiu Mu. He was a little surprised by Lóng Wei’s gesture, but he ignored it.

“I was with my friend. I heard the servants earlier. Did something happen to Li Zixuan?” Lóng Wei asked.

“He is dead. Some bandits attacked Li Zixuan while he was coming toward the palace from the shorter route,” Qiu Mu informed him.

“That route is prone to the frequent bandits’ attack. I have gone to see Minister Li Zixuan. I am shocked to find out about this too, Prince Mu. Life is so unpredictable,” Lóng Wei stated.

“Why did you go to see him?” Qiu Mu asked.

Lóng Wei took out the envelope from his pocket and showed him a document. “I wanted his seal on this document. But he did not put the seal because he was angry with me,” Lóng Wei replied and put the envelope back into his pocket.

“Do you think it is Qizhen’s doing?” Qiu Mu asked Lóng Wei. “First the great general of the kingdom died, and then this happened,” he stated while frowning.

“But Prince Mu said that it was the bandits’ attack. A thorough investigation is a must before reaching any conclusion,” Lóng Wei opined and they resumed the walk. “How is Father? Should we see him?” He asked.

“Sure,” Qiu Mu agreed to him and they both went to see the King.

As they entered the chamber of their father, Qiu Zedong told them to take their seats.

“Father, we came to know about Minister Li,” Lóng Wei said with an upset look.

Qiu Zedong took a deep breath. “Some bandits attacked Li Zixuan and five other people. They looted them and killed them,” he stated and asked them why he came to see him.

“We thought father might be troubled, so we decided to come. Father, what if this is also Qizhen’s doing?” Qiu Mu raised a suspicion. “But Lóng Wei and I think that we should first investigate this matter,” he asserted.

“Father, I will bring Qizhen to you if it is his doing. He has killed two of the wonderful officials of the Qiu Kingdom,” Lóng Wei said while clenching his fists.

Qiu Zedong glanced at Lóng Wei’s left hand. “How did the Prince get hurt? I heard that he left on a horse in the morning in hurry, but he did not go to work. Where he was the entire day?” He asked. He was suspicious of Lóng Wei after his spy also died. Though there is no such evidence that would prove that it was Lóng Wei, Qiu Zedong got the information from his spy about it.

Qiu Mu gazed at Lóng Wei and then at his father.

“I went hunting, Father,” Lóng Wei said with a smile. “It has been long since I last went for a hunt. While using the arrow, I ended up hurting myself,” Lóng Wei said and looked at his hand.

“Did Prince Lóng Wei go alone to hunt?” Qiu Zedong asked.

“Father knows that I have always done hunting alone. No Prince used to come with me,” Lóng Wei replied.

“So, what did Prince Lóng Wei catch?” Qiu Zedong inquired.

“Nothing, Father,” Lóng Wei replied. “When I got hurt in the hand, I went to my friend’s place. I was with Chang Shi for the entire day as I needed a break from my work. Huang Xi also joined me there as he brought lunch for me from the palace. In the evening, I went to Yuze’s place. I miss Yuze a lot, Father. I am unable to believe that he has left this world,” Lóng Wei affirmed.

Qiu Zedong realized that Lóng Wei was not hiding anything from him. He was doubting Lóng Wei for no reason.

“Monk Yuze is always with us, Prince Lóng Wei,” Qiu Zedong said with a smile.

Lóng Wei hummed and the smile from his lips slowly vanished. At that moment, he felt that he should beat Qiu Zedong to death.