Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“How much did she drink?” Lóng Wei murmured and lifted her in his arms. He walked into the bedchamber and gently settled Li Hua on the bed. He leaned forward and lifted her head gently to remove the hair accessories from her head. After he was done, moved back and removed Li Hua’s shoes.

“Uh…mmm…” Li Hua let out a sound and tried to take off the dress.

Lóng Wei put the shoe down and grasped the knot on her dress. He untied the knot when she turned around, thus taking him by surprise. She was still uncomfortable and sat up. Her eyes gradually opened and Lóng Wei stared into them. He slowly shifted his gaze to her red cheeks.

“How did Prince Lóng Wei come here?” She asked.

“It is my chamber,” Lóng Wei replied.

Li Hua smiled while half-closing her eyes. “I think I am dreaming. I drank a lot today.” She spread her arms out and continued to smile.

Lóng Wei covered her with the blanket and found she was struggling to remove her upper robe. He leaned down and gently helped her remove it. Li Hua held his hand and then sat up on the bed.

She took a deep breath and again rested her head on his chest. “Your heart is beating fast,” Li Hua murmured and peered into his eyes. She kissed him and sucked his bottom lip gently. Lóng Wei got the wine’s taste when Li Hua withdrew. She dozed off and fell on the mattress.

.....

Lóng Wei could not help but chuckle at her. He caressed her cheek and covered her well with the blanket. “Will you be shy of your act tomorrow?” He muttered and prepared to go to the bed. He closed the doors first and then laid next to Li Hua. He gently stroked her hair for some time before drifting off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~

Chang Shi was going back to his place after giving out a piece of important information to Lóng Wei when he saw a woman on the stairs. He looked around and then walked towards the woman. He saw the woman drawing circles with a stone on the floor.

“Princess Ai Fen?” Chang Shi pronounced her name.

Ai Fen stopped drawing the circle on the floor and raised her head. Chang Shi was puzzled to find her dilated eyes and red cheeks.

“Who are you?” Ai Fen asked.

“I am Chang Shi. May I know what is the Second Princess doing at this hour here?” He inquired.

“I… I am drawing circles. I will make a big circle,” Ai Fen said.

Chang Shi was amused to hear that answer. “At this hour?” He arched his eyebrow.

“Yes,” Ai Fen replied.

“Princess Ai Fen must go back to her chamber,” Chang Shi said.

“But I want to play,” Ai Fen replied.

“It is not the right place to play,” Chang Shi stated.

“I played here yesterday too,” Ai Fen said and made another circle. “It looks bigger than this one,” she said with a bright smile and stood up. But she faltered when Chang Shi grabbed her by the elbows. He got the wine smell from her and realized that she was drunk.

“Thank you,” Ai Fen said and pulled her arms back. She turned to go up, but the edge of her long skirt came under her shoe. She narrowly escaped from falling again as Chang Shi caught her.

“Be careful, Princess Ai Fen. I will escort you to your chamber,” Chang Shi stated and helped her stand straight.

“I do not know you. My mother will scold me if I let an unknown man accompany me,” Ai Fen said.

“I am not a bad person. I am a friend of Prince Lóng Wei. The Second Princess can trust me,” Chang Shi asserted.

“Brother Lóng Wei?” A smile appeared on Ai Fen’s lips. “He does not consider me his elder sister. Is he doing good? I once made sweets for everyone, but Brother Lóng Wei refused to eat,” she stated. She sounded low while speaking so and it confused Chang Shi.

“Princess Ai Fen, let’s go to your chamber. Will you direct me where it is?” He inquired.

Ai Fen nodded at him. She pointed her finger to the left and told him to get down the stairs first. He worked upon Ai Fen’s instructions and somehow reached outside her chamber.

The servants outside Ai Fen’s chamber were in chaos as they were unable to find her for half an hour. When one of them saw Ai Fen with Chang Shi, she quickly ran to them.

“Princess Ai Fen was in the northern palace,” Chang Shi informed the maidservant. “She is a little drunk,” he said in a low voice.

The maidservant thanked Chang Shi. Other two servants also came there and helped Ai Fen.

“I will give you a reward, Chang Shi,” Ai Fen said with a smile.

Chang Shi amusedly glanced at her. Ai Fen told the servants to move away and stepped up to Chang Shi.

“What would you like to get from the princess?” Ai Fen asked.

“I do not need anything, Princess Ai Fen,” Chang Shi asserted.

“Why? The royals must reward the people who help them,” Ai Fen stated and looked at her hands. “Should I make sweets for you?” She inquired.

Chang Shi smiled to hear her. “Princess Ai Fen does not need to do anything. Please take a good rest. I should take my leave as it is late,” Chang Shi bowed.

Ai Fen forwarded her hand which had a tassel in it. “Take it. You cannot refuse it as I am the Princess,” Ai Fen said.

Chang Shi was hesitant at first when Ai Fen placed it in his hand and waved at him. “You should go to your house. You can sell it and purchase a lot of things,” she stated and turned. The servants held her arms and took her inside.

Chang Shi looked at the tassel and left the palace.