Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“He wants to divert his mind, Your Highness,” Xu Zifan replied. “Moreover, he got appointed as the third-rank royal inspector which was always his work of interest, so he decided to join it,” he explained to Lóng Wei.

“That is good. At least, he will be away from the thoughts of his past,” Lóng Wei said. He read the scroll and the report on it. “I have a work for Feng Lao. Tell him to see me tomorrow morning,” he gave the message to Xu Zifan.

“I will deliver the message,” Xu Zifan replied and asked Lóng Wei if he would not leave for the palace for lunch.

“No. I am thinking to finish some of the important work today. You should go home as you are newly married,” Lóng Wei said with a smirk.

“His Highness should not tease me,” Xu Zifan said with a tiny smile. “He also knows in what circumstances I married,” he added.

“In whatever circumstance you married, you must enjoy your married life. Look at me. My life is full of problems, but I do not ignore my married life. I find comfort whenever I am with Li Hua. It is the time you should find happiness too. You need to find your comfort in your wife’s company,” Lóng Wei advised him.

Xu Zifan slowly nodded his head. “May I ask a question from His Highness?”

“Ask quickly.”

.....

“Prince Lóng Wei does not like Jingfei. He did not have a good equation with her, yet he wants me to start a great married life with her. I thought the Prince would be angry at me.” Xu Zifan was curious to know Lóng Wei’s answer to that.

“Her odd relationship with me has nothing to do with her relationship with you. She is hot-headed like me in certain matters. Many wanted me to be dead, so her wanting it was nothing new to me. I want you to be happy. You have already suffered a lot. Li Hua and I cannot be together with you all the time. Jingfei can be as she is your wife. I have no right to say against your wife. One thing I want to tell is that she will definitely be a great wife to you since princesses are taught well to serve their husbands. I am impressed with her because she stood for you when no one dared to raise their voices.”

Xu Zifan was overwhelmed to hear Lóng Wei’s words of advice. He was such a great well-wisher and friend to Xu Zifan. “Thank you, Your Highness. I really want to be happy. I really want to come out of those horrific memories. I will definitely do my best to make this marriage a happy one.”

Xu Zifan took his leave while Lóng Wei called Zhai Liang inside.

When Xu Zifan left for his house, he got the urge to buy something for Jingfei. He headed to the market and after searching in a few shops, he decided to buy a hairpin and a silk dress for Jingfei.

When he reached home, Lin Jie saw him and she rushed to inform Jingfei about it.

“What? He is back!” Jingfei looked at her hands which were covered in flour. She wanted to cook something sweet for Xu Zifan for the evening, but he returned too early. Lin Jie helped her wash her hands. Jingfei did not wipe them and ran to the room to see Xu Zifan.

She took a deep breath in when she reached outside the room and then walked in. She found Xu Zifan opening the knot of the hat that was under his chin. His eyes landed on her and he lowered his hand while keeping the hat in his one hand.

“You returned early,” Jingfei said.

“Yes. Prince Lóng Wei gave me off,” Xu Zifan replied and put the hat on the round table.

“Has Brother Lóng Wei returned? I thought they would return next week,” Jingfei said and walked up to the table.

“Yes, Prince Lóng Wei and Li Hua have returned,” Xu Zifan replied.

“Are they good?” Jingfei asked. “Are they happy with our marriage?” She looked forward to his answer and gulped.

“They are. Li Hua will come to see us tomorrow with Prince Lóng Wei. She was asking me to marry for a long time, but—” he paused as he recalled the woman whom he loved once.

“I forced you into this marriage. You must be looking for a better woman,” Jingfei said.

“Better woman? Are you not a better woman for me?” Xu Zifan asked.

She picked up the hat from the table as she thought to place it in the dressing room.

Upon hearing that question, Jingfei said, “I created many troubles for Li Hua and I also had fights with Brother Lóng Wei. Since Xu Zifan is close to them, he might not see me in the category of a better woman.”

Xu Zifan took a step toward Jingfei and brought his left hand to her cheek. She stopped blinking when the pad of Xu Zifan’s fingers touched her cheek and her grip on the hat tightened.

“Jingfei, that was the past. I believe that Li Hua and I forgave you for all those things. You did not force this marriage on me. I agreed to marry you in my right mind. Prince Lóng Wei is happy with my decision. They both are!” Xu Zifan clarified to her and shifted his hand to the other cheek.

“I have told you not to work. You should have told the servants to do the cooking,” Xu Zifan said and rubbed the flour off her cheek, and peered into her eyes.

“I wanted to cook something delicious for you. I thought that you are still angry with me, so I wanted to cheer you up. I know cooking,” Jingfei said and smiled.

Xu Zifan lowered his hand and hummed. Jingfei turned to go away when Xu Zifan asked her to stop.

“I have something for you,” he said and went to the other table. He picked up the hanfu dress and the wooden box in which a gold hairpin was present. Jingfei looked at him with inquisitiveness when he placed those materials in her hands.

“I bought them for you. I hope you like them. I am still unaware of your choice,” Xu Zifan said with a smile. Jingfei looked at the silk hanfu dress and the wooden box. She placed them on the round table beside them and quickly checked the box.

“It is pretty,” Jingfei moved her fingers over the hairpin.

She took it out and her eyes glistened. She then gazed at Xu Zifan and forwarded it to him. He arched his eyebrow when she said, “Place it in my hair.”

Xu Zifan grabbed the hairpin from her hand, and she quickly turned to him. He gently moved the hairpin from the middle of her hair bun. Jingfei smiled and again turned to face him.

“I like it,” Jingfei said and hit Xu Zifan’s arm lightly before covering her cheeks with her hands. Xu Zifan looked at her in astonishment and ended up smiling.

~~~~~~

Happy Holiday Season and Merry Christmas ??