373 Until I return

Lóng Wei looked at Mingquan and asked him why he was stepping back from helping him.

“Because security is high around this time. After the frequent terrible incidents, Father has increased the security,” Mingquan explained to Lóng Wei and advised him not to do anything for a while.

“Fine. After I return from Qijiang Province, I will do that work,” Lóng Wei stated. “Don’t refuse to help me at that time,” he added.

“I won’t,” Mingquan said with a smile.

“I have asked a few trustworthy servants to be on alert after I leave. However, I want the Fourth Brother to be on alert for Li Hua. It will never forget this help of his,” Lóng Wei asked for a favor.

“Sure, Brother Lóng Wei,” Mingquan said, and asked him to finish the work soon in Qijiang.

“I hope we find the enemy in Qijiang soon. Father should not have ordered me to go there. I am against his decision this time,” Lóng Wei said, shaking his head in frustration. “What if something happens to Li Hua behind my back? The thought itself is making me insane,” he said.

“Everything happens for a reason, Brother Lóng Wei. Sending you to Qijiang, will definitely bring changes in you. You will learn to tackle problems in the future. Also, no one will harm your wife. The security is high in the palace.” Mingquan’s words gave some relief to Lóng Wei, but he was still scared. Last time when Li Hua was attacked, his heart was restless until she woke up.

He took his leave and decided to see Feng Lao. At this vulnerable time, he needed Feng Lao’s help. He asked the gatekeeper to open it for him, but he refused.

.....

“Pardon me, Your Highness. But His Majesty has given strict instructions not to let the princes go out at night, especially the Sixth Prince,” the Gatekeeper informed him as he briefly glanced at Lóng Wei. He lowered his eyes when he saw Lóng Wei beaming at him.

“Father won’t find it. Open the gate before I take your life,” Lóng Wei said. The soldiers looked at Lóng Wei with terrified expressions on their faces and gestured to the gatekeeper to give instructions to open the gate.

“Please return in an hour, Your Highness. The chief guard will come to check,” the gatekeeper requested Lóng Wei.

“I will,” Lóng Wei said.

The gatekeeper asked the two soldiers to pull the chains. The gates opened and Lóng Wei left on his horse to meet Feng Lao.

He pulled the reins on the horse outside the residence where Xu Zifan and Feng Lao were staying. The night guard was astonished to see him when Lóng Wei asked him to take care of the horse and walked inside.

He found that Xu Zifan had slept early after he got a bad fever. Feng Lao requested Lóng Wei not to tell Li Hua about Xu Zifan.

“May I ask why did His Highness come at this hour?” Feng Lao asked.

“To talk to you,” Lóng Wei said.

“Me?” Feng Lao was stunned to find that. He wondered what Lóng Wei wanted to speak with him. They both went to the pavilion and stood at near its pillar.

“I am going to Qijiang Province tomorrow.”

Feng Lao tilted his head to look at the Prince.

“An important task has come, and my father has asked me to go with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. Li Hua will be alone in the palace. I don’t trust a few people, who try to harm her when I am away. So, I want you to guard her,” Lóng Wei said, and finally looked at him.

“Will you do it?” Lóng Wei waited for his response.

“Can I?” Feng Lao asked.

“Of course. I will appoint you as her personal guard,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I am ready to do it,” Feng Lao said.

“However, I want you to keep in mind that Li Hua is no longer the woman you knew once. So, don’t be informal with her, especially in front of the royal people. I don’t want her to cry behind my back,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“Your Highness, I will keep that in my mind too,” Feng Lao said. “I would like to ask something from His Highness, if he allows,” He asked for permission first.

“Ask,” Lóng Wei permitted him, and he sat on the railing’s flat surface.

“Is he not insecure anymore about me being around the Princess Consort?” Feng Lao queried.

“I suppose that Li Hua has already answered that question of yours,” Lóng Wei said.

Feng Lao was bewildered to hear him and shook his head in refusal. “She never answered me this question, nor did I ask her,” he stated.

“She loves me. I am her present and future. You were her past,” Lóng Wei replied.

Feng Lao recalled the same words that Li Hua had told him. “I remember these words,” he affirmed.

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“I have no reason to feel insecure because of you. Li Hua and I are two souls in one body. She has told you to move on from her memories and I want the same for you,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I understand, Your Highness. I will guard your wife,” Feng Lao assured him.

Lóng Wei thanked him and crossed his arms. “Why aren’t you asleep at this hour?” He asked curiously.

“I was unable to fall asleep,” Feng Lao replied. “Did His Highness get any clue about the enemy hidden in the palace?” He asked.

Lóng Wei made a shaky motion with his head. “Don’t look for it and do something which could bring harm to Li Hua. In the palace, you need to be careful of the King. Keep in mind if Li Hua asked you to do something which seems risky, then refuse. That’s my order to you. You don’t have to listen to Li Hua even if she requests you. If I find out that you do something stupid in my absence, I won’t hesitate to punish you.” Lóng Wei didn’t hesitate to threaten him.

“I understand, Your Highness. Thank you for trusting me,” Feng Lao said with a tiny smile.

“Until I return, you will stay in the palace. You can take a rest when Li Hua is with Liu Jin Yu. She is a trustable person and make sure no one knows much things about you and Li Hua,” Lóng Wei again advised him not to let out his feelings from past for Li Hua. “In the palace, information is used against each other,” he stated. Feng Lao nodded his head and assured Lóng Wei that he wouldn’t give him any opportunity to complain.