642 Failed to find it earlier [Bonus chapter]
“Does Brother Lóng Wei know Lin Jiao?” Mingquan asked.
Lóng Wei looked at Lin Jiao and recalled how he once saw her drinking and laughing with another young lady.
Lin Jiao widened her eyes for a second to find that Lóng Wei was standing in front of her.
“I have seen her in a restaurant that sells the best noodles in the capital. She has been drinking there and created a huge commotion,” Lóng Wei said.
“When did the sixth Prince see me?” Lin Jiao asked with curiosity.
“The time before I went to the cold palace,” Lóng Wei replied.
Xu Zifan silently stood there and found out that Lin Jiao was a bit embarrassed. She bit her bottom lip in nervousness and saw Mingquan looking at her. Did the men only observe her while she got drunk?
“Brother Mingquan told me about you two,” Lóng Wei said and looked at the Fourth Prince. “I think Xu Zifan and I should leave,” he asserted and again looked at Lin Jiao. “It is nice to meet you, Lin Jiao,” he said with a smile and walked out after bowing to Mingquan. Xu Zifan also went behind Lóng Wei, leaving the two of them alone.
“Was he really the Sixth Prince?” Lin Jiao was surprised to see the way Lóng Wei spoke to her. She had heard he was a bit cold to people around him.
.....
“Yes,” Mingquan said and smiled at her. “Even Brother Lóng Wei saw you and Ye Xin drinking together,” he muttered.
“I feel bad now. I don’t know what the Sixth Prince had noticed at that time. I didn’t even know a prince used to come to that restaurant,” Lin Jiao said with a nervous gaze.
“Brother Lóng Wei would have said if he had noticed anything that time,” Mingquan asserted and made her feel relaxed. He walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“The Sixth Prince looks better. I hope Prince Mingquan is no longer anxious about him,” Lin Jiao stated.
Mingquan nodded at her. “You are right,” he lowered one arm and put another around her. “He has finally achieved the happiness and inner peace of mine that he sought for a long time,” he told her.
“Prince Lóng Wei seemed gentle to me. I thought he was intimidating. I have heard from my father and brother too how aggressive Prince Lóng Wei is,” Lin Jiao said.
“Well, in some matters he becomes aggressive. Brother Lóng Wei was mostly because of what happened between his mother and him. After sister-in-law, Li Hua came into his life, he was a bit better. He started to listen to us. He valued the people around him and became more vocal about his thoughts,” Mingquan explained to her.
“Prince Lóng Wei’s life was so tough. It must be difficult to live when the strings of your life were in someone’s hands,” Lin Jiao said.
“Hmm. But Monk Yuze always was there to hold Brother Lóng Wei,” Mingquan said.
“I could not even greet the Sixth Prince and the other person with him. He may think I am such an ill-mannered woman,” Lin Jiao muttered.
“Brother Lóng Wei would have said that at your face then if he had felt that way. The other person was Xu Zifan. He is Sister Jingfei’s husband,” Mingquan said and took her to the table near the window. He made her sit on the chair and sat across her.
“I would like to meet Princess Consort Li Hua. I have met everyone except her,” Lin Jiao stated.
“Sure,” Mingquan agreed to that.
~~~~~~~
“Feng Lao looks better than before, Prince Lóng Wei,” Xu Zifan said.
“He is also at peace, mentally stable,” Lóng Wei asserted.
“Jingfei and I will come to the palace tomorrow morning. She wants to see you both,” Xu Zifan informed Lóng Wei beforehand.
“Hmm,” was the reply from Lóng Wei.
“Is His Highness still upset with Jingfei?” Xu Zifan asked.
“I think my relationship with her be like this only,” Lóng Wei stated.
“That hurt me,” Xu Zifan said and they both stopped in the middle of the stairs.
“Hurt you? Why?” Lóng Wei arched his eyebrows.
“Umm... Jingfei is not like before. His Highness has forgiven everyone around him. Jingfei also deserves to be forgiven,” Xu Zifan said.
Lóng Wei resumed the walk. “I was never upset with her. It is just I cannot forgive her for one thing that she said to Li Hua. I forgave all those who used remarks on me,” he explained to Xu Zifan.
“I know Jingfei was harsh on Li Hua. But she truly regrets whatever she did in the past,” Xu Zifan tried to convince Lóng Wei.
“Xu Zifan, let it remain the way it is,” Lóng Wei said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. “Jingfei is a nice woman. No doubt. But I am unable to do that. You can come with her tomorrow morning. Li Hua is eager to see you both,” he said and patted Xu Zifan’s shoulder before taking his leave.
Lóng Wei got into the carriage and asked the chauffeur to drive to the palace.
Once he reached the palace, he didn’t go to his manor. Instead, he went to the hill where Yuze lived. After an hour’s walk, he finally reached the lake where he was seated after he returned from the cold palace.
He recalled Yuze’s words when he came to console him. “I still miss you, Yuze. I hope you finally found peace. If you would be here, you would have cooked for me. I miss the food made by your hands.”
Lóng Wei closed his eyes for a brief moment when he felt a hand over his shoulder. He opened his eyes and turned his head.
“Father,” Lóng Wei was surprised to see Qizhen there.
“I came here before you did,” Qizhen said and lowered his hand.
“There is something Monk Yuze has left for you in his writing. I think you failed to find it earlier,” Qizhen said.
Lóng Wei’s eyes glint and he looked at the yellowish paper in his father’s hand.
“I cleaned Monk Yuze’s place earlier,” Qizhen said and put it in Lóng Wei’s hand. He gazed at it and then at his father.
“I go back to the palace,” Qizhen said.
“Stay here. Let’s go back together,” Lóng Wei opined and looked at the folded paper in his hand.
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