655 Occupied with your thoughts [Bonus chapter]
Li Hua placed her hands on Lóng Wei's back. "It's alright. I know that person must have said wrong about the late mother. Prince Lóng Wei did right. If I had been there, I would have done the same," she said.
Lóng Wei pulled away and looked at her. "You aren't angry at me," he was puzzled.
"Why does His Highness want me to be angry at him?" Li Hua asked.
"I don't want to. I was merely asking," Lóng Wei replied and again hugged her. "Comfort me more," he urged her.
"How?" Li Hua seemed confused about it.
"You should find out," Lóng Wei said.
"His Highness is acting like a kid," Li Hua remarked.
"Am I?" He pulled away and peered into her eyes.
"Yes. Ahh, I almost forgot to tell a piece of good news to His Highness," Li Hua pronounced.
"What is it?"
"Brother Chang Shi has come earlier. He asked for Princess Ai Fen's hand in the marriage," Li Hua said with glistening eyes.
"I heard it from Chang Shi. We met earlier," Lóng Wei said.
"Oh. His Highness already knew," Li Hua murmured.
"He was waiting for me to return to share the news with me," Lóng Wei affirmed. "Xiwan and Chang Shi will soon be married probably by the next week," he added.
"I didn't meet Brother Xiwan's betrothed. I only heard that she was the one who proposed to Brother Xiwan first," Li Hua stated.
"Yes. Do you want to meet her? I have to ask Xiwan about it," Lóng Wei said. He hung his arm around her shoulder and they both turned to face the rock garden outside the patio.
"What about Commander Huang Xi? Is he alright? I hope he doesn't get upset upon getting the news about Brother Chang Shi and Princess Ai Fen," she stated.
"Chang Shi and Huang Xi have already talked about it. Huang Xi is happy for his friend," Lóng Wei said.
"Leave everyone aside. What about us? When will you give me the good news?" He asked and the two tilted their heads to gaze at each other.
"I don't know," Li Hua replied. "I got checked with Physician Peng as the court lady asked me to. Everything is fine with me, but I do not know when it will happen," she asserted.
"Am I making His Highness wait for too long?" Li Hua asked.
"No. I was curious to get that feeling. When I meet the King, he tells me about a lot of things, so it has made me curious," Lóng Wei stated.
"It will be the most beautiful feeling in the world, Prince Lóng Wei. Having our child in our arms will give us immense happiness. Just think about it," Li Hua said.
"What if our child hates me for the wrongs I've committed? I get anxious to think about that," Lóng Wei said.
"It will never happen," Li Hua said.
"My past can never be changed, Li Hua," Lóng Wei stated.
"But your present has changed. That's what the prince wanted. He wanted to live happily. That's what he always desired. Our future kids will be the strength of their father," Li Hua affirmed and smiled at that thought.
"Since you say this, I believe you." Lóng Wei drew her close and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
~~~~~~
Chang Shi sipped the tea and looked around the chamber. He saw many handicraft works used as showpieces and he asked Ai Fen about them.
"I have crafted them in my leisure time," Ai Fen replied and put the teacup on the table.
"Those are beautiful crafts. I hardly got attracted toward such art and crafts, but these unique crafts grabbed my attention," Chang Shi said and he sipped the remaining tea. He put the teacup on the table and saw Ai Fen had picked up the teapot.
"I won't take more tea, Princess," Chang Shi said.
Ai Fen nodded and put the teapot down.
"Thank you for fulfilling your promise," Ai Fen said and asked him to wait for a minute.
"What?" He exclaimed and saw Ai Fen going to the inner chamber.
After a minute, Ai Fen returned with a robe in her hand. Chang Shi stood up from his place and looked at her in astonishment.
"This I made for Chang Shi in the workshop of the palace. I hope he will like the design," Ai Fen said and forwarded the robe to him. Chang Shi was mesmerized by the feeling that Ai Fen made something for him with her hands.
He accepted the round-collared robe and opened it. It was off-white in shade with golden patterns all over it. He scanned his eyes all over the robe when Ai Fen told him he could check the fitting.
"Here?"
"Yes. Why are you shy?" She then chuckled. "I didn't ask you to undress completely," she mumbled and reached out her hands to the top of his left shoulder.
Chang Shi had stopped blinking. His gaze remained fixed on Ai Fen's face, who had unbuttoned the robe from his shoulder. "I believe I have enough right to do this," he heard her say.
"Of course," Chang Shi said and again blinked. He tried the robe that Ai Fen made for him and didn't hook the buttons.
"It looks fit to me," Chang Shi said with a smile. His hands roamed over the robe. "Thank you for this beautiful present, Princess Ai Fen," he said with a warm smile on his lips.
"When did the princess design it? It must have taken a lot of time for her," Chang Shi said.
"I started at the beginning of the last week. The workers also helped me, so the robe got ready faster than usual ones," Ai Fen replied and again brought her hands to his shoulders. "May I?" She asked for permission first to remove the robe.
"Hmm."
Ai Fen pulled it out of his sleeves and folded it. Chang Shi put on the original robe and again thanked Ai Fen to make such a robe for him.
"I can make a lot of things for you," Ai Fen said and looked at the button which was loose on his shoulder.
She placed the robe in her hand on the table and then hooked the button on his shoulder. "Now, it is perfect," Ai Fen said and looked into his eyes. "You should not call me princess anymore. I would like to hear my name from your mouth," she expressed her desire and smiled at him.
"Sure, Ai Fen," Chang Shi said.
"That shows the affinity between us," Ai Fen remarked and lowered her eyes for a brief moment.
She again gazed at him when his hand rested on her jawline and his fingers grazed over her smooth skin. "I cannot wait to have you as my wife. You truly filled my monotonous days with something exciting. When I am alone at home, I think of you only. My mind is occupied with your thoughts all the time," he asserted.
"Take me your home soon, then. You will see me in front of you all the time," Ai Fen said and showed a white-teeth smile to him.
"I will," Chang Shi said and looked at her lips. He shook his head and slowly moved her hand back when Ai Fen grabbed it. She took a step forward to close the remaining small distance between them. She lifted her weight on her toes and lightly kissed his lips before landing her feet on the floor.
Chang Shi again rested his hand on her jaw and ducked his head to claim her lips. They closed their eyes and kissed each other to their heart's content. When they withdrew, Chang Shi brought his other hand to her another cheek and said, "I love you, Ai Fen."
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