Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Li Hua looked around and found the servants were still two feet behind them.

“Your Highness, how can I be happy? I lost everything in that town. We must start from the palace. Nothing has left in Xinshui.” She kept her voice as low as possible.

“Li Hua, we will not find an answer here,” Lóng Wei’s tone turned into a serious one. “Also, the Royal Father can never ask to assassinate the Xu Family. Your father was one of the reputed ministers in the Kingdom,” Lóng Wei affirmed and wrapped his arm around Li Hua’s shoulder.

She stiffened at her place when Lóng Wei leaned close to her.

“Your Highness, please be within your limits,” Li Hua urged him and tilted her head to look at his hand, which was firmly holding her shoulder.

“You shall call me Husband, Wifey,” Lóng Wei stated. “We are newlyweds, so we need to be more affectionate to each other. When you talk formally with me, it seems to me that I am conversing with an unknown person,” he explained to her.

“I must remain formal with the Sixth Prince,” Li Hua said. She put her hand on his, which was on her shoulder. Putting it away, she took a step away. “This is the appropriate distance between us,” she affirmed.

“I have seen couples holding hands. They call each other: Dear Husband, Dear Wife. Isn’t that more romantic and affectionate? Why can Li Hua not call me Dear Husband?” He complained to her.

.....

“The Sixth Prince can get the woman, who will call him ‘Dear Husband’,” Li Hua remarked when she realized that she should not have said it.

“When I already have you, then I don’t need to bring another. You may get jealous if your husband brings another one,” Lóng Wei affirmed and walked ahead.

“I won’t be,” Li Hua said and walked after him.

“Do you even know the meaning of jealousy?” Lóng Wei asked her and slowed down to match her steps. “You may be ready to kill me if I will use my charms on the other women,” he said confidently.

“His Highness can woo the other women,” she challenged him.

“Then, I should begin with you, Wifey,” he affirmed and quickly closed the distance between them. His arm wrapped around her waist, and he drew her close.

“Your Highness!” Li Hua was startled for a second. He took out the folding fan that was on the one side of the sash, and brought its one end under her chin.

Turning her face to look at him, he said, “Call me husband if you don’t want to be kissed openly.”

Court Lady Hong ended up hearing Lóng Wei and smiled. “The Youngest Prince is very romantic,” she murmured and pursed her lips together.

Li Hua scrunched her brows and took it as a joke. “His Highness must not joke like this. Take off your arm, Your Highness,” she urged him and yanked away from the folding fan which Lóng Wei had held.

“Did my words sound like a joke?” Lóng Wei tilted his head to narrowly gaze at Court Lady Hong and the servants, before peering back into Li Hua’s eyes. “Answer truthfully,” he added.

“His Highness’ words did not sound like a joke,” Court Lady Hong replied. The handmaidens’ agreed with her.

“Call me husband, or I will kiss you,” Lóng Wei cleared her, “many eyes are on us. Your Senior Brother Xiwan will also go from this route to the King’s Manor. In a few minutes, he will be here. Would you like us to kiss before him?”

The never-ending smirk made Li Hua gulp. He was not only shameless, but also a good blackmailer.

Lóng Wei put the folding fan back inside his sash.

“Dear Husband, please take your arm away from my waist.” Li Hua finally titled him ‘Dear Husband’ and made a humble request to him.

“Wifey, can you say it a little loud? These days I am unable to hear well,” Lóng Wei stated and grinned.

Li Hua bit her bottom lip and faked a smile.

“How long are you going to make me wait, Wifey? My patience is running out and I might,” this time Lóng Wei put his calloused fingers under her chin, “kiss you.”

Li Hua put her palms on his chest to push him away, but Lóng Wei didn’t let her go.

“My Wife is so adamant!” Lóng Wei clicked his tongue and ducked his head down while his arm pulled her up. Li Hua tightly shut her eyes when felt the pad of Lóng Wei’s index finger on the bridge of her nose.

“I am surprised to see that you are so eager to kiss me,” Lóng Wei’s words fell in her ears. “Wifey, you make me go crazy,” he said and pulled back his arm. He saw the tint of red on her cheeks which had spread till her ears.

“You are blushing,” he remarked and smiled again.

Li Hua promptly opened her eyes and found him smiling at her. For that brief moment, her heart raced wildly and she quickly averted her gaze from him.

“I didn’t blush. It was the heat that turned my cheeks red,” Li Hua reasoned.

“Strange!” Lóng Wei didn’t believe her statement. “I made you blush. You should accept it,” he whispered and turned to look at Court Lady Hong.

“Court Lady Hong, take the Princess to the manor. Make sure she takes her breakfast,” Lóng Wei commanded her.

“Does His Highness not want to take the breakfast?” She queried him.

“Already missing your husband.” Lóng Wei arched his brow in amusement.

“No.” Li Hua shook her head and bowed her head before walking away. Court Lady Hong and the servants behind her bowed before the Sixth Prince, before running after Li Hua.

Lóng Wei placed his right hand on his chest. “It will take a lot of effort to open her heart for me,” he murmured and walked ahead.