504 In my evilest form [Bonus chapter]
After three days of mourning in the Kingdom on the occasion of Yuze’s death, finally, the kingdom’s work started and people returned to their work. However, Lóng Wei didn’t. He would stay in his chamber for long hours, not speaking with anyone.
Li Hua was worried for Lóng Wei since he wasn’t properly taking his meals. He would not even come to her or let her enter the chamber. Qiu Zedong also sent a message through Gao Bing that he wanted to see Lóng Wei, but he refused every time.
Mingquan advised Li Hua to give time to Lóng Wei, but she was anxious not only as his wife but as a companion too. Lóng Wei never acted this way. At least, not with her.
“Brother Mingquan, Prince Lóng Wei came to me whenever he was troubled. However, it has been the fifth day. He isn’t speaking with me. I want to listen to him and hold him. He eats little and sits by the window all the time,” Li Hua said and began crying. She wiped the tears from the handkerchief in her hand and apologized to Mingquan for losing her control.
“It is normal to cry and get worried upon seeing your husband staying quiet, not eating or talking with anyone. I can only tell my sister-in-law to wait for Brother Lóng Wei to come to her. Let him organize his thoughts,” Mingquan said and passed her a tiny smile.
Li Hua lowered her head and nodded at him.
“I should take my leave. I will come in the evening,” Mingquan said and left the pavilion. Li Hua stood up from the chair and went to check on Lóng Wei.
As she reached outside Lóng Wei’s chamber, she again found the doors were closed. “Your Highness, Li Hua is here. Can I come in?” She asked.
Like the other days, she got no response and it hurt her badly. Did she not matter in his life? She thought for a while and turned to leave after being disappointed when she heard the door open.
.....
“Li Hua.” She heard her name from Lóng Wei’s mouth after five days and tears trailed down her cheeks. Before she could turn to him to hug him tightly, he embraced her from behind.
His right arm was around her neck and held her shoulder while his left hand was on her waist. He closed his eyes and they stayed like that for a few minutes.
As soon as Lóng Wei withdrew his arms, Li Hua turned to face him. She looked at his face, and his hands and again returned her gaze to his face. Lóng Wei was dressed in a white Hanfu dress and it appeared as if he was ready to go somewhere.
Li Hua cupped his face and asked him how he was.
“How do I look?” Lóng Wei asked and held her palms. He lowered them slowly and apologized to her for making her worried for days.
“I do not know what’s going on in His Highness’ mind. I do not know whether he is feeling well inside or not. Li Hua has failed to understand her husband,” she said with a disappointed look.
The back of Lóng Wei’s fingers traced Li Hua’s cheeks as he wiped those tears. “Don’t cry anymore. You know Lóng Wei well. He wanted time to bring his mad thoughts to one place,” he asserted and smiled at her.
“I am fine now. It was necessary for me to be alone because I wanted to think about what I have to do next,” Lóng Wei stated.
Li Hua furrowed her brows together.
“Why don’t we have breakfast first? We didn’t eat well for five days,” Lóng Wei suggested to her.
“When did His Highness bathe and get ready? I didn’t see him at all,” Li Hua asked.
“You forgot that there is a hot water center in my manor too,” Lóng Wei replied and smiled at her. He stood next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. The maidservant had come to greet Lóng Wei when he told her to bring breakfast for them.
While eating breakfast, Li Hua kept observing Lóng Wei. She was more focused on him than on eating her meals.
“I am alright, Li Hua,” Lóng Wei finally spoke and peered at her. “Yuze’s death had shaken me. So, I needed to isolate myself. I wasn’t in my right mind, so I didn’t respond to anyone. Thank you for sending me the meals. Even in that vulnerable phase of my life, you were present with me. However, I was in no condition to talk to you or anyone else.” He picked up the cooked seaweed and placed it in the bowl from which Li Hua was eating.
“Eat well. It won’t happen again. Yuze was the last person I lost to my foolishness and stubbornness,” Lóng Wei stated while he kept a tiny smile on his lips.
Li Hua ate that and said, “Monk Yuze was old. His Highness knew well. I know that—”
“Yuze was murdered,” Lóng Wei interrupted Li Hua and revealed the truth to her.
Li Hua stopped blinking her eyes.
“Yuze would not have died if I had listened to him. He might be old but it wasn’t the time for his death. I would not have mourned this way if it was a natural death,” Lóng Wei stated.
“Who murdered Monk Yuze?” Li Hua asked.
“I have only a suspicion, so I cannot tell you now. Once I confirm it, I will inform you first,” Lóng Wei replied and placed the chopsticks on the saucer.
“I will wait for His Highness’s answer,” Li Hua stated.
“Yuze wanted to follow my destiny. It is the time when the King should pay the price. It is the time when Qizhen should return. Li Hua, be ready to see the bloodshed. Don’t be scared of me because I am now in my evilest form,” Lóng Wei pronounced.
Li Hua blinked a few times and nodded at him.
“I am with Prince Lóng Wei,” Li Hua said and passed a warm smile to him.
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