Chapter 365
“Hmm.” Lóng Wei breathed and then said, “I want the Crown Prince’s help,” he stated.
“Help for?” He queried.
“A work. Currently, I cannot tell him about it, but in the future, I may need your help,” Lóng Wei affirmed.
“I will do that. But I would like to know if it is related to the person who was the enemy of the Xu family?” he clasped his fingers as he rested them on the table before them.
“Umm... yes,” Lóng Wei replied. “I have some tasks to accomplish, so I may need his help from time to time,” he added.
“I am ready to help as long as it is for the good,” Xiaoming said.
“What?” Lóng Wei chuckled. “I do bad for the people too. Maybe there will be a time when you once again start to hate me. Aren’t you happy that I am not interested in the position of Crown Prince anymore? Isn’t that the main reason the Crown Prince started to help me?” He questioned. He was dubious of Xiaoming in various aspects. Xiaoming had an odd relationship with him since the beginning. He would be caring for him externally, but internally he was not. This was what Long Wei had thought about him.
“Brother Lóng Wei, it is not easy to be at my place. As much as I want it, I want to be away from it. My mind, my body, and my heart were trained from a young age that I am the King’s eldest son and I have to be him in the future. So, when the prophecy was out, after some years, I was told that I might be kicked out because the true ruler of this throne had been born. As a child, I only thought about one aspect of the prophecy. I admit that I feared and developed jealousy against you after I heard about the prophecy from the people around me.” Xiaoming gave the first answer to Lóng Wei about why there were differences between them.
.....
“However, the situation is different now. When I met Jin Yu, I understood what I wanted most in my life. It is not the throne, but happiness. I still fear expressing myself fully because I think I may hurt my mother or father. Brother Lóng Wei, if in future, I have to choose between this throne and happiness, I will go for happiness. You can take it if you want to. I have no problem with that. I will be able to enjoy freedom like Brother Lóng Wei,” he affirmed.
Lóng Wei was out of words to learn the thoughts of Xiaoming. So, in the end, the prophecy was the reason why many hated him.
“Brother Lóng Wei, do you remember the day when my coronation as the Crown Prince happened? You destroyed the robe, which was presented to me by your late mother.” Xiaoming wanted to tell Lóng Wei the first time he felt insecure about him.
“Yes, I do remember that day,” Lóng Wei replied.
“Why did you do that? You were the only person, who was not happy for me. That was the main reason why my heart developed hatred towards you,” Xiaoming said, making him aware of the truth behind his two-faced behavior.
“What?” Lóng Wei scrunched his brows and then chuckled. “Because she never made anything for me. When the robe was presented to you, I took out my anger on her not you. I was not even interested in that coronation ceremony. All I wanted was her attention,” Lóng Wei told him the truth. Xiaoming was stunned to hear his explanation. All these years, he had a wrong assumption about that day.
Lóng Wei did not blame Xiaoming for his thoughts. It was in his fate that people hated him and failed to understand him. When his own mother could not understand him, then what he could expect from others,
Xiaoming was unable to speak. Lóng Wei could have expressed those words easily, but he could see the pain behind those words. Earlier, he was never interested in why Lóng Wei was different from a normal royal person, nor was he curious to know why he was so disrespectful to his mother.
But now, he was!
“Forgive me for misunderstanding Brother Lóng Wei for a long time. Because of this, I troubled him too. I apologize sincerely to my brother,” Xiaoming stated.
“It never bothered me. So, there is no need to apologize,” he stated and told him that he would take his leave.
“I want to ask a question from Brother Lóng Wei, if he permits,” Xiaoming said.
“Sure.”
“Did his mother never give him her attention, love, and care?” Xiaoming asked.
“I wish she had done that,” Lóng Wei stated. “I will not answer any more doubts of the Crown Prince. It was a nice conversation with you,” Lóng Wei stated, and bowed at him before getting up.
He turned to leave when Xiaoming stopped him. “Brother Lóng Wei, I will help you with everything, whether it be good or bad. You can trust me fully. I am not the Xiaoming who was once envious of you,” he affirmed.
Lóng Wei told him not to take the decision in a hurry. “I am not a person to be handled easily. Maybe your opinions of me will change soon,” he stated, and turned to look at him. Xiaoming had risen to his feet as well.
“That will not happen. I assure you of it,” Xiaoming confidently said.
Lóng Wei smiled and then walked out of the chamber.
~~~~~
Liu Jin Yu asked Li Hua if she was walking well and also about her body posture. When Li Hua told her that her movements were perfect, Jin Yu felt relieved. She quickly sat next to Li Hua and hugged her tightly.
“You are such a nice friend, Li Hua. Thank you for giving your time to me,” Jin Yu stated. She pulled away and told her not to address her as the Crown Princess or other titles after she was married.
“That will not be appropriate to do. I will not feel good addressing you by your name,” Li Hua explained to her.
“You are such a well-mannered woman,” Jin Yu stated, and asked her how her training was going.
“I am unable to take out the time for my training,” Li Hua replied.
“Do not worry. After my marriage, I will give you an hour to train you.” Jin Yu assured her that she would be good with arrows, swords, and self-defense soon. Li Hua thanked her for thinking so much of her.
“Li Hua, when you got married to Prince Lóng Wei, were you nervous too?”
“I was. Every woman is nervous about her wedding,” Li Hua told her.
“You are right. Court Lady Hu told me that on the wedding night, many things are going to happen. I am scared. I think I am not terrified to this extent when I see any danger,” Jin Yu said and she rested her hand on her chest. “I think I have an arrhythmia. My heart palpitates whenever I think about it,” she stated with a worried expression.
“As I said, it is common in those who are going to marry. Do not think about that later, but in the beginning. The beginning of a wedding is beautiful,” Li Hua advised her.