Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Can I accompany the Crown Prince?” Jin Yu asked as she buttoned the overcoat for Xiaoming. “I wonder what kind of trouble Xu Zifan fell into that he had to send a message through Commander Huang Xi. Li Hua is also not around,” she asserted.

“You can accompany me, Jin Yu,” Xiaoming allowed her. Jin Yu thanked him as she would once again step out of the palace. She asked Xiaoming if they would ride the horses or would go in the palanquin.

“Palanquin,” Xiaoming replied and held Jin Yu’s hand.

Eunuch Sun Fuguo walked in and bowed before them. “Your Royal Highness, there is good news that has come from the King’s manor.” Xiaoming and Jin Yu looked at each other, wondering what it could be.

“The First Princess will get married to Minister Li’s eldest son tomorrow in the day,” Sun Fuguo delivered the good news to them.

“That is indeed good news,” Xiaoming said and smiled. He wanted to see Jingfei, but then he had to meet Xu Zifan as well.

“Were Princess Jingfei and Li Jianjun not supposed to marry the following week? Why this sudden change in date? Prince Lóng Wei and Princess Consort Li Hua are still not here,” Jin Yu asserted.

“Your Royal Highness, the royal astrologer found out that tomorrow is the most auspicious day of the month, so he told His Majesty to make his daughter marry tomorrow only,” Sun Fuguo answered to the query of the Crown Princess.

.....

“Hmm. That is why Father agreed to tomorrow’s day,” Xiaoming stated.

“There is one more thing that the Crown Prince must know,” Sun Fuguo said.

“Speak,” Xiaoming told the eunuch.

“Her Majesty is pardoned for two days since the First Princess will be wedded off tomorrow. She wanted to see the Crown Prince in the morning, but she did not say it,” Sun Fuguo said.

“Did you meet my mother?” Xiaoming asked while frowning.

“Her Majesty has come here earlier. But she did not tell me anything. However, Her Majesty’s expressions were enough to tell that she wanted to see her son,” Sun Fuguo expressed his thoughts.

“The Crown Princess and I are going out,” Xiaoming informed the eunuch while ignoring the fact that Zhu Liling wanted to see him. Sun Fuguo did not say anything further and went after them. While they both left, the eunuch closed the chamber’s door and walked away.

Xiaoming had stepped his foot inside to get into the large palanquin when he heard Li Jianjun’s voice. Huang Xi saw him coming and wondered if he would stop Xiaoming from leaving.

‘I had made sure that no one would find out that the Crown Prince would meet Xu Zifan.’ Huang Xi thought in his mind and saw Li Jianjun had approached them.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince,” Li Jianjun said and raised his head. “I thought that I would converse with the Crown Prince for some time, but it seems he is going out.” Jianjun glanced at the palanquin, in which Jin Yu was seated.

“Forgive me, Li Jianjun. I will return soon, then we can have a conversation,” Xiaoming stated.

Jianjun nodded his head and apologized for suddenly stopping him from leaving. Huang Xi took a breath of relief as Xiaoming did not tell Jianjun where they were heading to.

“Why do you not head home? You also need to prepare for tomorrow,” Xiaoming suggested to him.

“I wanted to have an important conversation with the Crown Prince. I will leave then,” Jianjun asserted.

“What do you want to speak about?” Xiaoming questioned.

Jianjun looked at Huang Xi and asked him to give them privacy.

“Commander Huang Xi will not leave. Tell me what you want to speak about,” Xiaoming pronounced.

“I will later, Your Royal Highness,” Jianjun replied and bowed.

Xiaoming stepped into the palanquin while Huang Xi asked the porters to lift it. Jianjun lifted his head and watched them leave. “I need to wait for the Crown Prince to return. Hopefully, he gives me what I want,” he murmured with a smirk and walked away.

Xiaoming and Jin Yu stepped out of the palanquin outside Xu Zifan’s house. Xu Zifan wanted Jianjun to know about it so that he could become desperate and himself confess the wrong he was supposed to commit.

Xu Zifan and Feng Lao bowed to see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. “Please this way, Your Royal Highness,” Xu Zifan said as he looked at Xiaoming. They both followed him while Feng Lao walked behind them.

Once Xiaoming and Jin Yu took their seats, Xu Zifan asked them if they would take water. Xiaoming refused and asked Xu Zifan why he did not come to the palace for the matter he wanted to discuss.

“Firstly, I thank the Crown Prince for coming here. I had a reason for not being able to come to the palace,” Xu Zifan replied.

“Did anyone stop Xu Zifan from coming to the palace?” Jin Yu asked him.

Xu Zifan shook his head. “That did not happen. The reason I could not meet the Crown Prince in the palace was Li Jianjun,” Xu Zifan’s answer bewildered Xiaoming and Jin Yu both.

“What does Xu Zifan mean?” Xiaoming asked.

“Your Royal Highness, Li Jianjun is not a good person. He is betraying the royal family, especially the First Princess,” Xu Zifan informed them.

“Pardon me?” Xiaoming was stunned to hear about it.

“How does Xu Zifan know about it?” Jin Yu asked. “What did Jianjun do that Xu Zifan thinks that he is betraying the royal family?” she inquired.

“Li Jianjun visits the brothel house and she wanted to take a woman as his mistress. However, the woman refused to be his mistress. Also, this marriage is merely to gain benefits. Jianjun wants to become the governor after he marries the First Princess,” Xu Zifan narrated the entire matter to them.

“That night I was present in the restaurant and I ended up hearing their conversation. I even visited the First Princess in the morning to tell her about it, but Jianjun somehow found out that I know his truth. He threatened me not to open my mouth. If I do that, he said that he would burn me, Feng Lao, and Li Hua alive,” Xu Zifan stated.

Jin Yu brought her hand near her mouth in worry and looked at Xiaoming.

“I do not have any evidence that can prove that I am not lying, Your Royal Highness,” Xu Zifan asserted.

“Who is the woman whom he wanted to be his mistress?” Xiaoming asked.

“Her name was…” Xu Zifan paused as he tried to recall the name. “It was Song Jia,” he stated.

“Song Jia?” Xiaoming questioned.

“Yes. I think she works in a brothel house,” Xu Zifan replied.

“No,” Xiaoming replied. “She is the woman whom Tianjie loves. Does he also know about it?” Xiaoming mumbled and decided to meet Tianjie to get the real evidence.

“Prince Tianjie loves Song Jia?” Jin Yu arched her eyebrow. “How does the Crown Prince know that Song Jia does not work in the brothel house?” She asked.

“She is a dancer from Qijiang Province. I need to confirm with Brother Tianjie. I think that Brother Tianjie can help us give the evidence,” Xiaoming stated.