Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“He could not live. I tried to save him,” Xu Zifan said. He was on the verge of crying, but for Li Hua, he didn’t want to. “There were hundreds of assassins that day. I failed to save our mother and second brother too,” Xu Zifan said.

Li Hua lowered her head. Tears rolled over her cheeks and fell on her hands. “We never did anyone wrong. Then why did it happen?” She bawled and shut her eyes tightly. “Father always helped people. Who could become his enemy and plan such a thing?”

Xu Zifan stood up and walked to her. He put his hand on her head and stroked it. He didn’t want to tell her that it was the Shui Family. They had planned all this.

After a while, she became stable. Using her long sleeves she wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks. Xu Zifan settled beside her and patted her back.

“Did the Elder Brother find Feng Lao? Is he-” she paused as a lump formed in her throat.

Xu Zifan found himself stuck. “I do not know,” he lied to her.

“It means the Shui Family is also wiped out,” Li Hua mumbled and took a deep breath in before pursing her lips tightly.

“Li Hua, Prince Lóng Wei buried the bodies of our family members, and the people working in the residence outside the cold palace,” Xu Zifan said.

.....

“But the assassins had set the residence on fire, right after they left,” Li Hua said.

“Since that day most of the people were outside, so His Highness was able to retrieve their bodies,” Xu Zifan cleared her confusion.

“I could not find anything in the palace. There was hardly any conversation that happened among the royals. I served the Queen, for almost a month before the Sixth Prince returned,” Li Hua briefed him. “The servants talked about it, but not many were interested,” she added.

“Father was a rank 3rd official. So, it is understandable that no one bothered to discuss such a matter related to the Xu Family. It must have been tough for you. I wanted to come to take you, but Prince Lóng Wei stopped me,” Xu Zifan stated.

“Why did His Highness stop my elder brother?”

“You would be beheaded. No one knows your real identity in the palace,” Xu Zifan replied. “They had considered you as a spy, who fabricated her identity to enter the palace,” he pronounced and pulled his hand back.

“I wanted to marry Feng Lao. I dreamed of my entire life with him. I think it was my bad luck that it all happened. If I hadn’t told the Elder Brother to talk with our father regarding my feelings towards Feng Lao, it would not have happened.” Li Hua blamed herself. Her eyes once again turned misty.

“Li Hua, it was never your fault. Do not blame yourself. It was all planned. Maybe it was bound to happen this way,” Xu Zifan said.

“When you were born, a famous monk visited Xinshui. I was six years old at that time. I forgot the monk’s name, but he predicted a beautiful future of yours,” Xu Zifan said.

Li Hua, with inquisitiveness glanced at him.

“The monk said that you were chosen as the dragon’s bride,” Xu Zifan proclaimed.

“Pardon me?” Li Hua got perplexed. “Father and Mother never said such a thing to me. Why is the Elder Brother revealing it today?” Her puzzled expressions were comprehensible to Xu Zifan.

“Li Hua, since you resided in the palace for over two months, you must have found out the prophecy about Prince Lóng Wei,” Xu Zifan said.

“Yes. It is said that he is the son of the dragon,” Li Hua answered.

“I am talking about this prophecy only. Prince Lóng Wei and you are chosen pairs from heaven,” he affirmed. His lips curled up into a tiny smile.

“Father and Mother never revealed it to you for a reason. Xu Zuwen was four at that time, so he also didn’t know about it.” When Xu Zifan started to recover from the injuries, Lóng Wei confessed in front of him that he would marry Li Hua as he loved her. That’s when he recalled the words of the monk.

“Why did they hide it from me?”

“As I said, our Father was Rank 3rd official. It means you were supposed to be the concubine of the prince instead of the official wife. He did not want you to suffer. That’s why he decided to hide it from you. Also, there was no way to believe that one day you would marry Prince Lóng Wei and become his official wife,” Xu Zifan revealed the truth to her, which stunned Li Hua.

She already had comprehended that Lóng Wei’s and her meeting was more than a mere coincidence. However, she never had imagined that it would already be destined. She recalled Monk Yuze, who told her the day when she visited his place: ‘Destiny has brought you to Prince Lóng Wei.’

Still, her heart sometimes asked her not to forget Feng Lao. The person who saved her without thinking about his life.

“Is Elder Brother telling me to forget my memories about Feng Lao? That night he gave me a jade ring. He told me that he would come and I must remember his love. I am in a dilemma, Elder First Brother,” Li Hua said.

Xu Zifan totally understood the dilemma of Li Hua. She always saw herself with Feng Lao. However, the troublesome thought was why he saved her. Why did he pretend that he loved her?

“What happened, Elder First Brother?” Li Hua saw the frowns on Xu Zifan’s forehead.

“Li Hua, you must look at the present. Now, Prince Lóng Wei is your husband,” Xu Zifan said. Despite Lóng Wei’s warning, he decided to make Li Hua understand.

“If mother would be alive, she would have told you one thing: serve your husband well and love him with all your heart. Prince Lóng Wei’s affection for you cannot be described in a few words. You must see him as your everything. You are married to him. Looking at your past, clinging to it, will not do anything good,” Xu Zifan stated.