206 Smarter than us
“I want Brother Lóng Wei to forgive me for the last time. I was angry at him because he blackmailed me that he would tell our royal father,” Qiu Mu said, and bowed before him. “Please forgive me,” he pleaded with him.
Lóng Wei chuckled and squinted his eyes. He had no intention of forgiving him, but he wanted to use Qiu Mu. He knew Qiu Mu would try to harm him again, and by that time, he would destroy the evidence too.
Xiaoming wondered what Lóng Wei’s decision would be.
“I will think about it and then tell you. Also, you didn’t need to call me Brother. We both know how much hate we have between us,” Lóng Wei said. Qiu Mu raised his head and gazed into the eyes of Lóng Wei.
“Brother Mu, why did you even think about that? I had told you to tell our father about the mistake you made,” Xiaoming said. “Brother Lóng Wei, Brother Mu didn’t force him on any of the female servants in his manor. It was with consent.” Xiaoming tried to defend Qiu Mu. He didn’t want the two of them to go against each other.
“It’s easy for us men to say that it was a mistake. However, I do not think it was a mistake. I can smell the crime from afar. The Second Prince made a mistake when he sent Chang Shi to kill me. I did not even possess any power before any of the princes, yet the Second Prince tried to kill me.”
With Lóng Wei’s words, it was clear that he didn’t want to forgive Qiu Mu.
“Fine. Then, Brother Lóng Wei can take his time. I will wait for his answer,” Qiu Mu said. Eunuch Shi Rang glanced at his master, but he refrained from saying anything.
Lóng Wei suddenly recalled something about Kang Huijuan, the son of the Prime Minister. He had made his decision and smiled. “I will let this matter go if the Second Prince agrees to stand for me in the Court when I’ll bring an important matter in front of the King and the other ministers.”
.....
Xiaoming pondered over Lóng Wei’s words. Was the matter related to Li Hua?
“Sure. I will stand with Brother Lóng Wei on whatever matter he brings to the court,” Qiu Mu said. Lóng Wei smiled broadly and thanked him for his cooperation. He took his leave. Lóng Wei’s image in the court was nil. The ministers hated him, and even if he brought the Kang Huijuan case to the king, they would not see him as the culprit.
However, if Qiu Mu and Xiaoming stood for him, then no one minister would dare to go against him. He wanted to weaken the prime minister and his entire family.
“Brother Mu, you took the right decision. Brother Lóng Wei isn’t the person that we used to think about,” Xiaoming said. Qiu Mu nodded and asked Shi Rang to bring his sword. Xiaoming left too, as he had to do the breakfast, and then he had to help his father.
“Will His Highness not have his breakfast?” Shi Rang concernedly asked as he handed the sword to Qiu Mu.
“No.” Qiu Mu said and left the chamber. He could not believe that he had asked for forgiveness from Lóng Wei and agreed to his condition. He realised that, being the youngest child, Lóng Wei had the upper hand on him. It was a big humiliation for him. He felt that Lóng Wei, despite having no power, was more powerful than him.
He clenched his fist around the sheath and continued to walk until he reached the barracks. He practised with his sword for over an hour, but the words of Lóng Wei still rang in his ears.
‘It is easy for us men to say that it was a mistake.’
Qiu Mu felt guilty for his actions. Though those female servants seduced him too, he felt wrong. He should not have let them make any advances toward him. Also, as a prince, he should not be involved with them. Lóng Wei took advantage of it today. He used to think that Lóng Wei killed him during his time in the palace. But he was wrong. He underestimated Lóng Wei.
“Here is the water, General Mu,” said Mingquan.
Qiu Mu turned to look and panted. He took the glass of water from Mingquan and drank it. Mingquan took the glass back and handed it to the soldier. Qiu Mu wiped the sweat with the handkerchief that Mingquan gave him.
“Brother Mu came to the barracks earlier than expected,” Mingquan said.
“Why did you side with Lóng Wei? Is it because he is smarter than us?” Qiu Mu asked him and put the sword inside the sheath.
“I won’t deny that the youngest brother is smarter than us. However, it doesn’t mean the rest of us are fools. Brother Lóng Wei’s hatred for us brothers can be disadvantageous for this family. I want him to feel that I am also his well-wisher,” he proclaimed.
“But who is he to lecture us when he committed the biggest crime?” Qiu Mu questioned Mingquan. “I had to bow to him because I am afraid of my father; I am afraid of losing this position. He killed his mother, yet he lives happily,” he complained and sighed in frustration.
“Brother Lóng Wei never told us the reason behind his mother’s death. So, we should not misjudge him,” Minquan opined.
Qiu Mu snickered and asked Mingquan, “He gave us the reason to misjudge him. He accepted that night in front of the Royal Father that he had killed his mother. I felt humiliated today,” Qiu Mu said.
Mingquan didn’t know what the conversation held between Lóng Wei and Qiu Mu was about, but he was curious now. Lóng Wei drew unwanted attention to himself by mocking the person in front of him at times. Mingquan decided to make him understand, or else in the future, Lóng Wei might have to pay the price for it.
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