74 To Touch


    Li Hua’s sleep broke with a sudden jerk, and the first thing she saw was Lóng Wei beside her. His face was too close to her, so she moved slightly away from him.


    Last night, they conversed for a long time. She was troubled with the thought of her wedding night, but she was happy that nothing had happened between them. However, she vividly remembered Lóng Wei’sst words before he fell asleep.


    ‘We both will avenge the murder of the Xu Family.’


    For the first time in these two months, she felt so secure and safe. She could not believe the person, who everyone despised, had such a beautiful side.


    ‘When did I encounter His Highness? I am unable to recall anything,’ she thought and gazed at the sleeping face of Lóng Wei which appeared calm.


    At that moment, she recalled Feng Lao’s jade ring, which Lóng Wei had seized from her the previous night. She quietly got up and decided to search in the pockets of his robes.


    She moved slightly closer to him and brought her hands above his chest. She remembered seeing how he put the ring inside his pocket before carrying her to the bed. Her fingersnded on the cross neck of his dress. She slowly pushed it up and looked at his face, making sure he would not wake up.


    She gulped and found the cold sweat forming in the back of her neck. It seemed she was entering the lion’s den, and if, by any chance, he would wake up, she would be dead.


    Yet, she wanted to try it. She had to take that jade ring back despite the punishment that she would get from him in the morning. She loosened the sash on his waist, and the cross neck cors also got loose.


    .....


    She pressed her lips together and moved her hand inside, to his left side. She leaned down and almost reached the pocket.


    “I didn’t know you touch your husband in his sleep and act like a doe when he is awake.” His deep voice fell into her ears, and she immediately turned her head to look at him.


    “Your Highness!” She murmured and gradually pulled her hand back. Lóng Wei caught her wrist and pulled her down, circling his other arm around her waist.


    She twisted her hand and politely asked him to let her go.


    “Now, I will let you go when you kiss me,” Lóng Wei said and smiled. Li Hua shook her head and kept pulling herself away. Nheless, she found his grip kept tightening around her waist.


    “Why does His Highness ask for a kiss every time? He should not act immorally in the morning,” asserted Li Hua, and she again requested him to leave her.


    “Look who’s giving me the lesson! You were the one, who acted immorally in this early morning. You wanted to touch my chest. Don’t lie because it is written on your face,” he stated while grinning from ear to ear.


    “Your Highness, I never intended to do that. I was searching for the jade ring,” she told him the truth.


    “I threw it away,” Lóng Wei replied.


    “What? Why?” Li Hua got upset. “Why did His Highness throw my ring away without asking me?” She was angry at him. It was the first and thest gift that Feng Lao ever gifted her.


    “Do you like to make me jealous every moment? I told you not to bring it up.” Lóng Wei got annoyed at her. He moved his hand away, and Li Hua quickly shifted away from him. Her back touched the wall behind her.


    Lóng Wei sat up and looked at the head essories that were on the bedside table, which he had removed from her hairst night. At least, she allowed him to do it, else he had thought she would deny it.


    “Li Hua, get down from the bed,” Lóng Wei urged her.


    Li Hua held her heavy dress and climbed down from the bed. Lóng Wei threw the quilt away and looked at the sheets. “Court Lady Hong wille anytime soon,” he murmured, and Li Hua looked towards the door.


    “Why would shee, Your Highness?” Li Hua queried him.


    “To take the bedsheet away. She will check if we consummated or not,” Lóng Wei answered and went towards the table. He picked up the knife and came towards the bed.


    “Why did His Highness bring the knife?” Li Hua asked in confusion.


    “We need blood,” he replied. Before she could speak further, he cut his palm and blood, started to drip from it.


    “Your Highness!” Li Hua got worried and saw him leaning to the center of the bed. He brought his hand above the clean white sheet, and it was stained with blood.


    He put the knife back on the table and pressed his thumb on his palm. “Let it dry,” he told Li Hua, who walked to him and asked him why he did that.


    “To prevent the fingers pointing at you,” Lóng Wei answered and smiled.


    “How could His Highness cut his hand without thinking that it might be harmful?” Li Hua concerndly said. She found the blood had still not healed and she quickly grasped his hand.


    “The bleeding isn’t stopping, Your Highness. You weren’t supposed to act so recklessly,” she mumbled when Lóng Wei told her not to worry about.


    He pulled away from his hand and told her to remove her upper robe.


    “What?” She widened her eyes.


    “Do what I am telling you to,” he stated, “if you don’t want the real consummation tonight with tens of servants lining outside the manor.”


    “But-”


    “I am not telling you to be naked, My Princess. Just remove the upper robes andy in the bed,” Lóng Wei exined to her and found the cut had clotted.


    He turned to Li Hua and brought his hands to the buttons of the topmost robe.


    “I will do, Your Highness,” Li Hua said.


    “Let me do it. The Husband is supposed to do it on the wedding night,” he said and unbuttoned the topmost robe that she had put on. He pulled it down her arms, and her bare arms were visible to him. He put that on the bed and brought his hand on the sash around her waist.


    Once he removed it, the dress loosened, and her inner clothes were visible too. She turned her back to Lóng Wei and said, “I’ll do the rest.”


    “Sure. I am going to the bathhouse. I will wait for you. Get into the bed and wait for Court Lady Hong to arrive,” he said and left the chamber.


    Before Li Hua could ask him why he would wait for her, he was already gone.