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Xiaoming understood his mother’s concern. Eunuch Lishi was right: to become politically stronger Xiaoming needed a strong minister’s support. However, he didn’t want multiple women in his life. He could never share bed with many women.

“Eunuch Lishi, I would love to marry a simple woman with a simple background rather than a woman from a noble family,” Xiaoming announced.

Eunuch Lishi was bewildered to hear his words. “Pardon me, Your Royal Highness. The Crown Prince needs to think about his future,” Eunuch Lishi said.

“I know what I need in the future, Eunuch Lishi. I don’t want to see myself not being able to love any of the women I take. I want love. I want someone who will support me without any greed. Keeping too many women is a headache for me. I don’t want that,” Xiaoming clarified to Eunuch Lishi.

“Your Royal Highness, being the Crown Prince you cannot deny this fate. You need to choose at least one concubine and an official wife. The Crown Prince will be considered inappropriate for this position, if he keeps refusing it.” Eunuch Lishi attempted to make Xiaoming understand. If such a thing would fall in Qiu Zedong’s ear, he might replace Xiaoming.

“Eunuch Lishi, this is the last time I heard this from you. I will not tolerate it next time. The Royal Father will never replace me. You don’t need to put stress on my marriage. I will find a suitable woman for myself,” Xiaoming sternly said. Eunuch Lishi apologized to him for speaking that way.

“I will sleep late. Eunuch Lishi is dismissed,” Xiaoming said, thus ending the conversation between them.

Eunuch Lishi bowed and left the chamber, closing the doors behind him.

.....

“They won’t let me survive if I don’t get married within this month,” he muttered.

~~~~~

Li Hua placed her hand on Lóng Wei’s palm and rested her right foot on the footplate. Lóng Wei helped her get down and brushed the fringes behind her ear. Mingquan looked at them and smiled.

“A man becomes soft around his wife,” Huang Xi whispered near Mingquan’s ear, who agreed with him. He looked at the largest main building in the cold palace and then gazed at Lóng Wei, who was busy admiring Li Hua in the moonlight.

“Brother Lóng Wei, we shall head inside,” Mingquan said, who hummed.

Li Hua’s heart was racing because it was restless. She was going to see Xu Zifan, her first brother. When Lóng Wei’s warm palm held her hand, she turned a little stable.

The cold palace keeper, Eunuch Qian He, was waiting for them at the top of the stairs. Behind him, four palace servants were standing with lanterns in their respective hands.

Qian He bowed before them. “Show Prince Mingquan his chamber,” he instructed one of the servants, who came forward. He asked Mingquan humbly to follow him.

Mingquan looked at Lóng Wei and then left with the servant.

Once he left, Lóng Wei asked Qian He to show the chamber to Huang Xi and the other soldiers, the chaffeur, who were more tired than them. Qian He nodded. He asked Huang Xi and the others to follow him.

Huang Xi bid the goodnight to Lóng Wei and left.

Lóng Wei turned to look at Li Hua. “Calm down,” he said and started to walk, dragging her along with him. The large corridor seemed a never-ending way to Li Hua. After taking many turns, they finally stopped outside a room. Outside it, two fire torches were hung on the walls.

“Is Xu Zifan awake?” Lóng Wei asked the servant, who was standing outside the room.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You all are dismissed,” Lóng Wei said. The servant bowed and left their sight.

Lóng Wei pushed the door, and it opened. “Come,” he said, and Li Hua stepped inside the room. He closed the door and asked her to go ahead. Li Hua didn’t even stop for a second and ran inside to see her brother.

Her feet halted as she saw Xu Zifan in front of him. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she ran to him. She tightly hugged Xu Zifan and started to weep like a baby.

“Elder First Brother,” she said softly and tightly shut her eyes. She could not express this feeling. She found peace in her brother’s embrace.

“Li Hua,” Xu Zifan called out her name and put his left arm around her back. He patted her back and smiled.

Lóng Wei also reached the main chamber and sat on the chaise lounge silently, letting the brother-sister enjoy each other’s company.

Li Hua sobbed as she gradually withdrew from the hug. She looked at her brother, who had a tiny smile on his lips. She looked at his right arm, which was no more. “I thought I lost everyone,” Li Hua said and she again started to cry.

Xu Zifan caressed Li Hua’s head. “I survived thanks to Prince Lóng Wei,” he said and looked at Lóng Wei. “I don’t know how to express my sincere gratitude towards Prince Lóng Wei. However, I know, life is dedicated to him,” Xu Zifan said.

Lóng Wei chuckled. “Watch your words, Xu Zifan. I am too greedy for people’s lives,” he asserted.

Li Hua wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Elder First Brother, you lost your arm. Isn’t it painful? I can see that you have also lost weight,” Li Hua said with a concerned look. “Why did it happen?” She again turned emotional while looking at her brother’s right sleeve, which was hanging loosely.

“It has been over two months. The pain has gone,” Xu Zifan replied. “Now, that I have seen my sister, I will gain weight,” he said and smiled.

“Elder First Brother still loves to joke,” Li Hua said with a tiny smile.

“Li Hua looks beautiful. I am glad, you married Prince Lóng Wei,” Xu Zifan said. “He adores you a lot,” he kept smiling. Li Hua wondered if Lóng Wei had planned all this long ago.

“Sadly, your sister still doesn’t feel anything for me. If I say ‘I love you’, to her, she doesn’t respond,” Lóng Wei complained.

Li Hua’s jaw dropped down. She gaped at him, who grinned at her. Xu Zifan smiled upon hearing Lóng Wei.

“Women are usually shy to express their feelings, Your Highness. Their actions speak louder,” Xu Zifan pronounced. Li Hua felt awkward. Lóng Wei didn’t even hesitate to speak about such things in front of her brother.

“Umm... actions?” Lóng Wei smirked and for some reason, it made Li Hua blush which he noticed.

He rose to his feet. “We shall head back to our chamber. You both can resume your conversation in the morning. We are hungry and tired,” Lóng Wei pronounced.

“Can we not have our dinner with my Elder First Brother?” Li Hua requested him.

“I had my dinner earlier,” Xu Zifan lied. He knew that Lóng Wei wanted to spend his time with Li Hua and he didn’t want to become a bone of contention between them. “We can have breakfast together in the morning,” Xu Zifan opined.

“Oh.” Li Hua again hugged him. “It feels so unreal, Elder Brother. I can’t express my happiness,” she said and pulled away.

“Li Hua, I never knew you would become this strong. Your brother is proud of you,” Xu Zifan said as his eyes filled with tears. “Have a good night’s sleep. I will see you in the morning,” Xu Zifan told her and stroked her hair. Li Hua hummed and walked to Lóng Wei.

Lóng Wei turned and left the room while Li Hua followed him. He closed the doors behind him and took Li Hua with him.