580 Lost the trust, the affection


    Wee to Huiying City.


    Lóng Wei read on the board of the city’s entrance, where they had finally arrived after traveling for three days. Their carriage was stopped by the soldiers at the city’s checkpoint.


    Lóng Wei handed his royal que to the chief inspection officer and he immediately bowed to him.


    “Are you really Prince Lóng Wei?” The Chief inspection officer asked with bewilderment.


    “Isn’t this que enough to prove that?” Lóng Wei asked.


    “Forgive me, Your Highness,” the chief inspection officer said with a smile and returned the que to Lóng Wei. “I am Wang Jin. It is my pleasure to meet Prince Lóng Wei,” he said and formally greeted Lóng Wei.


    “Hmm.”


    Wang Jin quickly turned to look ahead and told the soldiers to let the two carriages pass through the city gates.


    Lóng Wei put the que inside his pocket and thanked Wang Jin.


    .....


    “Your Highness, may I know why you are here?” Wang Jin was interested to find the reason.


    “You should do your work. There are many people waiting for you to check their identification,” Lóng Wei said. He didn’t tell the real reason for his presence in Huiying city to Wang Jin.


    “Yes, Your Highness,” Wang Jin said with a smile. Lóng Wei walked ahead and opened the door to get in. He closed it and the carriage moved forward.


    “Are we finally in the Huiying City?” Li Hua asked.


    “Yes,” Lóng Wei said and asked her not to open the window.


    “Why?” Li Hua asked.


    “Because people will find out that we are outsiders,” Lóng Wei said.


    “Aren’t we supposed to tell them?” Li Hua queried.


    “We are but we should not let unwanted attention,” Lóng Wei asserted.


    “Oh. But no one knows us. Does His Highness want us to keep our identities hidden?” Li Hua inquired.


    “I do not want that. I want people not to disturb us. Can you understand what I mean?” Lóng Wei asked. Li Hua shook her head and told him to borate.


    “Later,” Lóng Wei said and saw her eyes were puffy. “You could not sleep well thest night.” He was concerned for her.


    “It is my first time traveling such a long distance. That’s why I could not get a night of good sleep,” Li Hua stated. She could hear the street vendors shouting to sell their goods.


    “Soon, we will reach our destination,” Lóng Wei told her and opened the window behind him which directed his gaze at the carriage’s driver.


    “How long will it take to reach the residence?” Lóng Wei asked.


    “More than half an hour, Your Highness,” the carriage’s driver replied. Lóng Wei hummed and closed the window.


    “I am starving,” Li Hua said and rested her hands on her belly.


    “Wait for some time,” Lóng Wei said and looked to his left. The boxes of nuts that he had brought with him, he opened one of them. He took out the walnuts from it and closed the box. Breaking the walnuts’ outer shells, he handed them to Li Hua.


    She ate them with great interest and put one of them in Lóng Wei’s mouth. He chewed it and smiled at her.


    “Your Highness, I was thinking if we should keep our identity a secret. What if someone tries to attack us?” Li Hua raised a doubt.


    “Li Hua, nothing will happen. We don’t need to hide our identity. Also, the ce we will be living is beneath the hills of the great Shun mountains, the valley of peace,” Lóng Wei stated.


    “His Highness did not tell me about it,” Li Hua asserted.


    “I thought to tell you when we would be in the valley,” Lóng Wei said.


    “So, ahead of this city lies a valley where Monk Yuze was born and grew up,” Li Hua asked him to rify to her.


    “The valley is known for nature-loving people with a calm environment. You will like the ce,” Lóng Wei stated.


    “We do not have to worry about anything here. When I used to ask Yuze, he would tell me about his birthce. I had a dream toe with him someday, but I never fulfilled it,” Lóng Wei said and sighed.


    Li Hua rested her hand above his and caressed it. “Good people’s souls always watch us. Monk Yuze must be happy to see His Highness stepping in his birthce,” she asserted.


    “If that’s true, then Yuze will be proud of me,” Lóng Wei stated.


    ~~~~~~


    Xiaoming was standing at the pavilion of the royal garden. He had his gaze on the white lotuses in theke when he heard a voice.


    He tilted his head and saw Jin Yu. “What is His Majesty looking at?” She asked and turned her head to meet his gaze. She knew that Xiaoming was upset after Qiu Zedong passed away.


    No matter what crimes Qiu Zedongmitted, he was a father to Xiaoming. It was not easy to move on for him because from a young age, he looked up to his father.


    “When we first came to this pce, I was five. Father took me here and showed me the lotuses in theke. I remember vividly how happy he was!” Xiaoming stated.


    Jin Yu had no words. She remained silent and held his hand.


    “Jin Yu, my mother acts insanely. I didn’t expect this to happen. I cannot even face her because she has started to despise me,” Xiaoming expressed his thoughts which he kept hidden from Jin Yu after his father’s died.


    “What do you mean?” Jin Yu arched her eyebrows in concern. “Why would the Queen Dowager despise you?” She asked.


    “Because I did not support my father. I let him die. It is hard for me to exin to her,” Xiaoming said and tears formed in his eyes. He wanted to give justice to Lóng Wei and those numerous people who suffered because of Qiu Zedong. But in return, he had to pay a bigger price.


    He lost the trust, and affection of his mother.