Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

136 Prepare for the worst

Li Hua opened her eyes and felt the slight pain in her neck. She recollected that while waiting for Lóng Wei, she fell asleep. She rubbed her eyes and sat straight.

“Why didn’t you take your lunch with Xu Zifan?”

Li Hua turned to her left and found Lóng Wei. He walked to her and picked the bouquet from the table. “Here, it is for you.” He forwarded the bouquet to her, who looked shocked.

Lóng Wei gestured to Li Hua to take that. Li Hua lifted her hand and grabbed the bouquet.

She smiled and brought the flowers closer to inhale the scent.

“Did His Highness go out? Without me?” She arched her brow as it upset her.

“I thought to take a stroll while you were with your brother,” Lóng Wei said, and he brought his thumb to her right cheek. “It seemed you didn’t listen to me.” His thumb stroked her cheek.

Li Hua lowered her eyelids. “I could not help, Your Highness.”

He lifted her chin, “look at me while speaking,” he urged her and slowly pulled his hand back.

.....

“We were a happy family, Your Highness. My father never did anyone wrong. My Elder First Brother lost his right arm. He is in a lot of pain. Not because of his arm, but also because he could not able to save anyone. He didn’t tell me, but I could sense that. Also, my elder brother loved someone. But the woman married someone else. So many things happened in such a short time,” Li Hua narrated to Lóng Wei. Once again, tears filled her eyes.

“Someone conspired against your father,” Lóng Wei said and held out his hand. Li Hua put her palm on it, and he pulled her up. His left hand rested on her waist. “Your father was too good for this world,” he stated.

“What does His Highness mean?” Li Hua was puzzled by his statement.

“Straight trees are cut first. Your father was an honest and upright person. That’s why his entire family had to see this kind of fate,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“It wasn’t my father’s fault, who was honest and helpful,” Li Hua said. “Is His Highness saying that a person should not be good to others?”

“I didn’t say that,” Lóng Wei said. “Let’s have our lunch, and then we will go out,” he said with a smile and called a maidservant in. He asked her to bring meals for them and took Li Hua to the floor table.

“Li Hua, will you allow me to kill the person who did this to you and your family?” Lóng Wei asked her.

“I will kill him with my hands, Your Highness,” Li Hua stated.

“Do you mean it?” Lóng Wei wanted to confirm and twitched his lips.

“Of course, I mean it,” Li Hua replied. “I have pledged myself that I will kill the person with my hands,” she affirmed.

“You don’t even know how to use a weapon. How will you do that? Instead, you can ask me, and I will finish him for you. I will burn him alive,” Lóng Wei said, with a stern tone. Li Hua didn’t want Lóng Wei to involve himself in any such crime, so she refused to agree with him.

“Your Highness, this is my revenge. I will learn to use the weapon. I will start practicing from tomorrow,” Li Hua stated.

“It will take you years to become good with swords and arrows. It will take you years to kill the person behind it. Allow me to take your revenge. However, I need something in return.” Lóng Wei suggested to her and also put forward a condition.

“What does His Highness need?” Li Hua was perplexed.

“You,” Lóng Wei answered. “I want you to trust me, love me and not stop me from what I will do to the person. I will keep teaching you the art of usage of weapons,” he proclaimed.

“Does His Highness know about him?” She asked.

Lóng Wei refused and shook his head. Since Xu Zifan told her not to speak about Feng Lao this soon, he decided to remain quiet.

The maidservant came and set the table for them. Lóng Wei asked her to leave. They both started to eat while a silence persisted between them. After finishing their meals, the same servant cleaned the table and left.

“Li Hua, have you heard that famous saying: Sometimes the most loving person to you can betray you?” Lóng Wei asked her.

“Why would someone who loves you will betray you?” Li Hua posed another question.

“There are many reasons,” Lóng Wei replied. However, he refrained from telling her. “You must prepare for the worst too,” he advised her.

“It seems His Highness knows a lot. I think he has the knowledge of who planned all this,” Li Hua deduced.

Lóng Wei smiled. “If I had, then I would not have even delayed cutting that person’s head and presenting it to you,” he said and smirked, “after taking your permission if I can take your revenge.” He clarified her.

“Is His Highness serious?” She bit her lower lip.

“Hmm.”

“I will allow His Highness to kill the person if,” she paused and stared into his eyes.

“If?” Lóng Wei leaned forward and kept his gaze intact on hers.

“If he tells me why he killed his mother. The day he tells me, His Highness is free to kill the person,” Li Hua stated.

Lóng Wei snickered. He had not expected Li Hua would ask this from him. “Are you sure you can kill the person if I don’t agree to your condition?” Lóng Wei posed his question differently this time.

“His Highness is underestimating me,” Li Hua said. She was confident that she would kill the person. After all, it was her revenge.

“Fine. You are free to kill the person. I would love to see how you will do it.” He leaned back and smiled. “However, if you fail, then I will take the lead. I will kill the person for you,” he proclaimed.

“I will do it. His Highness doesn’t need to take the lead,” she opined.