266 Remain in everyone’s Memory

“What about Crown Prince Xiaoming?” Yuze questioned him.

“That’s tough to say. He seems confused to me. He has suddenly turned nicer to me. He even admitted the crime that he had committed. He apologized to me, but I still do not trust him fully,” Lóng Wei said, and recalled the words that Xiaoming told him when he was eight years old.

“‘You must stay out of the palace matters, if you want to live’ – these were the words of the Crown Prince when I was young,” Lóng Wei said and glanced at Yuze. “I know he loves his throne more than anything,” he affirmed.

“Because if the Crown Prince fails to keep the throne to himself, then his life will only be a laughing stock to the people,” Yuze stated. He wanted Lóng Wei to turn his relationship with Xiaoming into a healthier one.

“Yuze, I don’t want to become the King. But I want to become someone who will remain in everyone’s memory. I want to prove the words of my mother wrong, which she told me,” Lóng Wei pronounced. He looked more determined than before, and he had also turned calmer.

“Prince Lóng Wei looks alright to me. He must go back and take a rest. He should not get hurt as it’s dangerous for him. He already lost his blood a few days ago and then today, he got hurt,” he concernedly said.

Lóng Wei stood up and thanked Yuze for conversing with him. “I shall return then,” he said, and smiled at him.

“I have something for Prince Lóng Wei,” Yuze said, and she went towards the third room adjacent to the present one. He returned after a few minutes with a basket in his hand.

Lóng Wei looked inside it and found fruit inside it. “I plucked some red bayberries earlier in the morning. Li Hua will like them,” he opined. Lóng Wei thanked him and took the bamboo basket from him. He walked ahead, but then he stopped and turned to him.

.....

Hugging Yuze tightly he said, “Your name should not have been dragged. I cannot bear if someone insults you and lie about you. I will surely take my revenge on him.” He pulled away and thanked Yuze for treating his wound on the neck. He waved at him and left the hut.

Before returning to the palace, Lóng Wei took a bundle of flowers for Li Hua. The look in her eyes was flashing in front of him, and he knew that he had hurt her.

He inhaled the scent of the flowers that he had picked. “Hopefully, she will forgive me soon,” he mumbled and went towards the palace.

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Jingfei handed the glass of water to Li Hua and asked her to drink it. She shook her head. “The Prince left in anger. I wonder, if he is alright. His neck was bleeding too,” Li Hua said with a worried look.

“Brother Lóng Wei will return soon, Li Hua. You should drink water,” Ai Fen told her, and finally convinced her to drink the water.

“Eunuch Lianying was always around us. However, none expected that he would plan to attack the Crown Prince,” Xiaolian stated. “I am glad that the Crown Prince was saved by that girl that day.”

“Indeed. Eunuch Lianying was around us all the time,” Jingfei said, and she sat next to Li Hua. “Brother Lóng Wei is smarter than he portrays himself. Did he ask Commander Huang Xi to help him beforehand?” She curiously awaited Li Hua’s response.

“Yes. Commander Huang Xi safely rescued the wife of Yi Xinze,” she replied.

“That’s great,” Jingfei said.

“Li Hua!” Xu Zifan’s voice made her lift her head.

Xu Zifan, upon seeing the Princesses lowered his eyes and asked for forgiveness. “I will come later,” he humbly said and decided to leave when Ai Fen asked him to stay.

“Li Hua may need her brother more than us. We will come later to her,” Ai Fen told Xu Zifan. He didn’t raise his head and thanked her for understanding.

“Li Hua, take care of yourself. Do thank Brother Lóng Wei and Commander Huang Xi on my behalf,” Jingfei said while keeping a tiny smile on her lips. Li Hua nodded at her and they stood up. Li Hua bowed as the three princesses left the chamber.

Once they left, Xu Zifan asked Li Hua about Lóng Wei. “Elder Brother, His Highness left the hall. He looked dejected. Lianying accused Prince Lóng Wei and Monk Yuze wrongly.” She narrated everything that happened in the hall.

“Lianying tried to demean Prince Lóng Wei. He wanted to create suspicions among the regal family members about the Prince,” Xu Zifan affirmed.

“Yes. Fortunately, His Majesty didn’t believe Eunuch Lianying’s words, or else it would have been difficult for the Prince,” Li Hua said and wiped the tears from the edges of her eyes.

“His Highness’s life is already so difficult and then some people leave no chance to humiliate him,” Li Hua said. Xu Zifan walked up to her and caressed her hair.

“People will understand him soon, as we both did. I also carried prejudices about Prince Lóng Wei, but after knowing him, I found him blunt yet straightforward. He is indeed sharper than many of the people that we have encountered with a good reach,” he started to count good sides about Lóng Wei and didn’t let Li Hua cry.

“Elder Brother, I want to protect him. I want to become physically strong. I want to get trained. I have been learning archery, but I don’t know if I am doing well or not. Will my elder brother help me?” Li Hua requested him.

historical

The old Xu Zifan would have refused her, but the present Xu Zifan agreed to her request. “We will both do it. I am learning to use a sword using my left hand. We both can practice daily. However, I may soon leave the palace,” he informed Li Hua.

“Where is the Elder Brother going?” She questioned her.

“To the residence which the King has given me. His Majesty called me yesterday and bestowed the title on me as well. Since I have qualified for the civil services exam with good score, I will work as a fourth-rank official in the bureau,” he told Li Hua. She was delighted to hear that.

“If the brother and sister are done talking, then can I have some private moments with my wife?” Suddenly, they both heard the familiar voice and looked towards the door.

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