47 Second Name of Trouble

“Does His Majesty believe me now? The Youngest Prince is no lesser than the other ones. He only needs time to get onto his destined path,” Monk Yuze stated. “But it is amusing to see that someone from the family tried to send Prince Lóng Wei to the Cold Palace,” he said with skepticism.

Both Qiu Zedong and Yuze were on the pavilion of the King’s Quarters, surrounded by a lake.

“Monk Yuze, I also found it strange. I used to think only Lóng Wei could kill anyone mercilessly. But this mass murder was something unusual,” Qiu Zedong stated and his brows furrowed.

“That’s why the Sixth Prince asked for the authorization from His Majesty. When the King suspended his power being the Prince, he did not feel any particular emotion. He was never interested to have even power or authority as a Prince. However, today the spark inside him was different.”

Qiu Zedong hummed. He liked that his son was ready to serve everyone around him. Was it because of Li Hua? For a second, the King could only think of her. Lóng Wei would have never thought of becoming serious if it was not for Li Hua. The girl was different indeed.

“Why is the King smiling?” Monk Yuze was curious to know.

“I have never thought that Lóng Wei would ever be asked me to give him the authority back. It has been five years, but he never once asked until today. Li Hua must be important to him. The girl did the work which no one was able to do,” Qiu Zedong remarked and chuckled in astonishment.

“When destiny plays its game, the outcome is indeed full of surprise,” Monk Yuze stated and looked at the lake. “It takes two years to grow a lotus from seed to a flower. Prince Lóng Wei will also take time to grow and will bloom into a beautiful flower,” asserted Yuze. Qiu Zedong agreed with his words. The King’s faith in Lóng Wei had suddenly built after today’s incident.

“Your Majesty, I will be out for a few weeks from the Kingdom,” Monk Yuze informed the King.

.....

“Why, Monk Yuze?” Qiu Zedong asked.

“I need to visit the shrine, Your Majesty. At this time of year, I usually go to the shrine,” Monk Yuze reminded the King.

“Ah, forgive me for not remembering it. I think I am getting old. My memory isn’t sharp anymore as it used to be, Monk Yuze,” Qiu Zedong said with an apologetic look. “I will miss Monk Yuze’s presence in the Palace. I wonder if my son will remain in control or not.”

Qiu Zedong again expressed his concern toward Lóng Wei. Usually, around Yuze, Lóng Wei used to stay quiet. One reason was that Yuze had looked after Lóng Wei since he was a child.

“Your Majesty, Li Hua will end your worries. The girl will definitely change your son. Prince Lóng Wei will not create any more trouble because his soon-to-be wife will be affected the most by his actions. Prince Lóng Wei’s affection for Li Hua will never let him do something that can separate them.” Monk Yuze assured Qiu Zedong, who was relieved to hear him.

Far from the pavilion, Tianjie and Zhang Xi looked at their father, who was with Monk Yuze.

“What does the Third Brother think that those two are talking about?” Zhang Xi looked at Tianjie, who had a scroll in his hand. “Is it about Lóng Wei?” He arched his brow.

“Yuze always talks about the Sixth Brother. Yuze is the one, who prevents Lóng Wei from getting punished. He always reminds our father about that rubbish prophecy,” Tianjie said as his jaw clenched and his grip around the scroll tightened.

“A Dragon is a holy symbol. Its association with a person like Lóng Wei is in itself a sinful act. His mother had also disowned him even after that prophecy, then what can we expect from the others,” Tianjie chuckled as he mocked the prophecy.

“It seems Monk Yuze wants to make an important position of himself,” Zhang Xi pronounced. Tianjie hummed and lifted his hand which was holding the scroll.

“Let’s get the approval of this new work from the Royal Father. At the moment, it is more important,” Tianjie suggested to him and they walked towards the pavilion.

Gao Bing stopped the two Princes and politely apologized to them.

“Forgive me, Prince Tianjie, Prince Zhang Xi for stopping you two from going further ahead. His Majesty has given the clear instructions that no one shall come to the pavilion.” Gao Bing kept his head low.

Tianjie looked at Zhang Xi and the two left the King’s manor. As they entered the main corridor of the palace, they both got frightened when an arrow passed across them and hit the large wooden pillar beside them.

“Who’s this shooting the arrows in the palace?” Tianjie shouted and saw Lóng Wei, who was on the left side of the corridor. He came to them and took out the arrow from the pillar.

“When did you learn it?” Zhang Xi asked him.

“Why shall I tell the Fifth Prince?” Lóng Wei questioned him and looked at the scroll in Tianjie’s hand.

“So, the Third Brother will ask the Royal Father to allow the construction of the new bureau office. It is a nice way to embezzle the funds of the Kingdom’s treasury,” Lóng Wei said and grinned.

“Brother Lóng Wei shall not trouble us,” Tianjie said.

“I am the second name of Trouble,” Lóng Wei smirked, “how could the Third Prince forget about it?”

“Earlier, Brother Lóng Wei made big promises in front of the Royal Father. Now, he is again into his old annoying tricks to annoy others,” Tianjie affirmed.

“Third Prince, if I want,” Lóng Wei took further steps towards Tianjie and halted in front of him, “I can bring his hidden work for the people out. Royal Father will surely love to see his great works.”

Zhang Xi gulped and looked at Tianjie. Lóng Wei bore his gaze at Tianjie and after a while, stepped back, wearing a broad smile on his lips. “Sadly, I am busy with other work. I want to find out, who was so desperate among the Princes, who hired an assassin to kill 30 innocent servants,” Lóng Wei stated and stepped aside. “Please go-ahead to complete your evil works.” He taunted them and walked away.

“How did he find out?” Tianjie asked.

“How would I know, Third Brother?” Zhang Xi was himself confused.

historical

“He looks like a hungry lion, who is left open in the forest after days,” Tianjie stated and knitted his brows together.

~~~~~~

Li Hua lifted her hand, and her fingers touched her lips. A tingle ran across her spine as she recalled the kiss that she gave to Lóng Wei.

“He is clever,” she murmured.

“Who is clever, Miss Hua?” Court Lady Hong asked her, who was standing behind her.

Li Hua lifted her head and looked at the mirror to see Court Lady Hong’s reflection. “No one,” she replied and looked at how the maidservant was applying hair oil to her roots. After two days, she had to marry Lóng Wei, and the preparation had started already.

The exquisite hair oil which only royals used was given by the Queen to her. The hair was considered the most important beauty symbol of any woman. To make the hair softer and scented such an exquisite oil was applied to her hair.

When she was the young miss in Xu Family, her personal attendant, Zhi Hui used to give her a massage oil. She missed it badly today. Her dead body flashed in front of her eyes, and Li Hua closed her eyes in fear. Her breathing suddenly became ragged, and she asked the maidservant to stop.

“What happened, Miss Hua?” Court Lady Hong asked her.

“It’s enough,” Li Hua answered. “I am allergic to the scented oil.” She made an excuse because that massage made her recall Zhu Hui.

Court Lady Hong gestured to the maidservant to stop. “Miss Hua should have told me earlier. After two hours, she has to wash the hair,” Court Lady Hong stated. Li Hua nodded her head and felt that her vision was getting blurrier. She shook her head and fiddled with her fingers.

“I need water,” Li Hua mumbled and stood up. She looked for the water jar. Court Lady Hong told her that she would give her water, but Li Hua didn’t listen to her. She was unable to walk straight and somehow reached the table.

With a trembling hand, she poured the water into the glass and drank it. Some of the water fell onto her clothes and before she could put the glass down, it fell off her head.

The falling sound of glass made her shut her ears with her palms. “Ahhhhhhh!” She screamed because she started to hear the screams of the men and women.

“Miss Hua! Miss Hua!” Court Lady Hong ran to her when Li Hua fell to the floor.