58 Stolen the Heart of this Prince


    Mingquan was practicing with the sword when a maidservant disturbed him. “Your Highness, forgive me for intruding on your practice. The Sixth Prince is here,” she informed while keeping her head low.


    Mingquan put his hand, which had the sword in it. He was surprised to hear that Lóng Wei hade to meet him. He put the sword into the sheath and handed it to the servant, who brought a clean towel for him. Mingquan wiped the sweat from his forehead. He went to wash his face and hands before going into his chamber.


    Once entered, he found Lóng Wei seated around the floor table.


    “Would the Sixth Brother like to have tea?” Mingquan asked humbly, before taking the seat in front of him.


    Lóng Wei shook his head. “I don’t drink tea in the evening,” he answered.


    “Why has Brother Lóng Wei decided to see me?” Mingquan was curious to know.


    “I want a favor from the Fourth Prince,” Lóng Wei answered. “I helped him once, and now, he shall repay me,” he asserted.


    Mingquan was amused to hear his youngest brother’s words. He recalled the help that Lóng Wei provided him two years ago. However, at that time, he told Mingquan that one day he would ask for repayment for the help.


    “Sure, Sixth Brother. I am ready to repay him.” Mingquan agreed to return the favor that Lóng Wei did once to him. “What does the Sixth Brother want?” He asked.


    .....


    “I want him to keep the Crown Prince busy in the morning after we will have tea in the greeting hall,” said Lóng Wei and noticed the inquisitive gaze on Mingquan’s face.


    “How long do I need to do it?” Mingquan did not ask Lóng Wei the reason why he had to keep Xiaoming busy and readily epted to help him.


    “Fifteen minutes,” Lóng Wei replied. “The Fourth Prince didn’t ask why I wanted him to keep the Crown Prince busy,” he stated and kept his gaze fixed on him.


    “If I ask, I will not get any answer,” Mingquan reasoned. He was right. Lóng Wei would never tell him what he was up to.


    Lóng Wei stood up and was ready to leave when Mingquan stopped him. “Brother Lóng Wei shall thank me before leaving,” he suggested.


    “The Fourth Prince will return my favor because I did a favor to him once. There is no room for thank you,” Lóng Wei affirmed and left the chamber.


    He was hungry, so he went to the royal kitchen to ask Xiwan to send some snacks to his chamber. To his surprise, he saw Li Hua on the same route to the kitchen where he was, looking happy. The only difference was that he came from the direction opposite to her.


    “What made her happy in my absence?” Lóng Wei murmured. “Her smile is beautiful.” He smiled and advanced to her.


    Li Hua halted when her forehead hit something hard, and she immediately apologized. But when she lifted her eyes, she was shocked to see Lóng Wei in front of her.


    She promptly turned her back to him and walked straight on the route from where she hade. Li Hua lifted the edges of her skirt and started to run. At the moment, she was more eager to reach the chamber because if Lóng Wei would catch her, he might ask her hundreds of questions.


    More than the punishment from the Queen, she was intimidated by Lóng Wei’s kind of punishment. She slowed down at the top of the stairs. She saw a line of servants ascending the stairs, who had bamboo baskets in their hands. As they came closer, she found that the baskets carried roses, peonies, and water lilies inside them. The servants at the front had baskets filled with rose petals.


    “Why did you run away from me?” A familiar, deep voice fell into her ear. She turned and, because of the shock, stepped back.


    “Ahh,” she screamed as her foot slipped off the top stair and her hand hit the basket that one servant had carried, who was on the top of the stairs. He staggered, and the basket in his hand eventually fell into the air in an attempt to save himself from falling.


    Li Hua, oppositely, dipped backward. Lóng Wei grasped her wrist tightly and fiercely pulled her up, securely wrapping his arm around her waist.


    The flowers from the basket fell, and the petals of the roses fell over them. Their eyes met, leading to an intense eyelock between the two. Lóng Wei’s hold was firm on her waist, and the smile on his lips widened.


    With the thud sound of the basket on the ground, their eyelock broke. Li Hua realized how close they both were! She could feel his breath and even could hear her racing heart. Her eyes fluttered as she was dazed by it.


    Lóng Wei gently straightened her while keeping his gaze fixed on her face. That was the least romantic thing that he had ever expected to happen in the evening. Li Hua was in his arms while the petals fell over them! Truly a dream for him. The smile didn’t fade even for a second from his lips and he picked the rose petal from the top of her head.


    “I almost fell because of His Highness,” Li Hua said while pulling her hand back.


    “And I love to save you every time you fall,” Lóng Wei replied in his deep voice. His thumb traced the edge of her lips, and once again, they peered into each other’s eyes.


    Li Hua yanked his hand off her face and took a step back. To her surprise, Lóng Wei’s other hand was still on her waist.


    “Why did you run away?” Lóng Wei asked her as he leaned down to her ear. She gulped but kept a normal expression on her face.


    “Only two people run away: one, who has stolen something; second, whomitted a crime,” Lóng Wei whispered in her ear. “Which one are you?” He queried.


    “Neither I steal anything, nor did Imit any crime,” Li Hua answered without getting scared and pushing him away. Her palms were still on his shoulders.


    “Wrong!” Lóng Wei took another step to close the remaining distance between them. Li Hua wondered if he found out why she was outside. But how? She didn’t even discuss it with Court Lady Hong.


    “You have already stolen the heart of this Prince,” he corrected her and smirked.