393 Feelings were not the same [Bonus chapter]
Li Hua anticipated knowing if Jin Yu would be able to defeat Feng Lao. She looked at them, who were motioning around a circle before Jin Yu launched an attack on Feng Lao. He lifted his arm and slashed the attack easily. The two swords clanked. Jin Yu speedily moved her right foot, her back faced Feng Lao for mere a second and her elbow almost hit his abdomen.
Feng Lao’s quick reflex saved him from getting a blow as his feet moved him back, and he swiped the sword at her. Jin Yu blocked the attack as she lifted the sword’s blade. Feng Lao pushed her several meters away from her.
“You are good at it,” Jin Yu said.
She again attacked him. This time with a greater force. He moved right and defended himself as the blades met again. He pushed her for the second time in the other direction. Jin Yu promptly turned and found he had attacked her. She brought the blade to the front and got a push as the attack was fiercer than the last time. While defending herself from his attack, she was forced to step back. Finally, he hit her palm and her grip on the sword loosened. With a flash of light, he took her sword and also pointed the sword’s top at her neck.
Li Hua clapped for them. Feng Lao turned to Li Hua, who had the same smile on her lips that he always used to see when he would sword fight with Xu Zifan. But one thing had changed. Her eyes were not the same. The feelings that she carried for him at that time were not the same. However, he was not upset about it. He was happy that Li Hua had forgiven him and at least, treated him as a friend.
“The Crown Princess fought well,” Li Hua praised Jin Yu.
“Did I?” Jin Yu panted as she looked at Feng Lao. “You are great. It was my pleasure to have a friendly match with you,” Jin Yu stated.
Feng Lao returned the same words to her and apologized if he had hurt her. Li Hua took Jin Yu to the chamber while Feng Lao went to take a rest. Li Hua went to the bedchamber to wear the jade ring that Lóng Wei had gifted her. She wore it and turned to leave when her eyes landed on the envelope that was on the bed. She picked it up and opened it. She read the message and put it inside the envelope. “Her Majesty is so adamant to kill me,” Li Hua murmured and decided to discuss it later with her allies. She hid the envelope beneath the mattress and walked out to see Jin Yu in the pavilion.
They drank hibiscus tea together when Jin Yu told Li Hua much she was missing Xiaoming’s presence. “I did not even get the time to be with the Crown Prince,” she said and pouted her lips.
.....
“What about you, Li Hua? Are you not missing Prince Lóng Wei?” Jin Yu asked.
“I do, but I divert my mind to other works. I do embroidery sometimes to keep myself busy,” Li Hua stated.
“Pardon me for intruding in the conversation. The First Princess wants to see the Princess Consort,” the maidservant informed Li Hua.
Jin Yu told Li Hua not to meet her. “She might blame you again,” Jin Yu advised Li Hua.
“Please bring Princess Jingfei,” Li Hua told the maidservant, who left the pavilion.
“Why did you do it?” Jin Yu questioned Li Hua in bewilderment.
“She is an elder. If she has come here, then I must listen to her,” Li Hua replied.
Jin Yu picked up the teacup and told Li Hua that she would not tolerate it today if Jingfei tried to say anything wrong to them. Li Hua smiled to hear her. They both turned quiet as their gazes fell on Jingfei.
Jingfei halted a few meters away from them and bowed at Jin Yu. The Crown Princess averted her gaze from her while Li Hua asked Jingfei to take a seat. Jingfei thanked Li Hua and sat next to her on the chair around the circular table.
“Thank you for allowing me to meet you,” Jingfei said.
“If you are here to accuse Li Hua, then you should leave,” Jin Yu proclaimed.
“I am not here to accuse anyone here, Your Royal Highness,” Jingfei answered. Jin Yu chuckled at her statement as it was tough for her to believe her.
“I am here to apologize to Li Hua,” Jingfei said. “Li Hua, you know what it means to fall in love with someone. I have admired Huang Xi for a long time. I wanted to be in his eyes. I wanted him to see me once, but he never once did,” she stated with a heavy voice. “That day many misunderstandings happened and I ended up thinking wrong about you. Li Hua, I sincerely apologize to you for doing so wrong to you. Also, I am grateful that you have always helped me. I hope you will forgive me,” Jingfei said.
“I forgave Princess Jingfei,” Li Hua said.
Jin Yu confusedly glanced at Li Hua. How could she easily forgive the person because of whom she was on the verge to get punished?
“Really?” Jingfei was unable to believe her ears until Li Hu repeated her previous words. She found Li Hua was indeed a kind lady and her heart finally was uplifted by such a huge burden. She thanked Li Hua as tears formed in her eyes. “Li Hua, thank you,” Jingfei said and lowered her head.
After a few seconds, Jingfei looked at Jin Yu and apologized to her too. “That day I crossed my boundary. I should have not disrespected the Crown Princess. I know that Her Royal Highness will not forgive me easily, but still, I want her to consider forgiving me. I will get married soon, and I do not want Her Royal Highness to keep her anger against me,” Jingfei said.
“Is the First Princess getting married?” Jin Yu asked and looked at her.
“Yes. I will be married off within this month,” Jingfei said. Li Hua noticed how unhappy Jingfei was and wondered whom she would marry. Before she could ask Jingfei, Jin Yu asked her the same question.
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