Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“It is a private house. Father gifted me last year on my birthday,” Tianjie answered. The housekeeper had come to the main courtyard and greeted the Third Prince.

He looked at Song Jia, who bowed at him and he also did the same.

“This is Xiaobo. He looks after this private residence. You can stay here and ask him for anything if I am not around,” Tianjie informed her.

“I will show you the room, where you will stay,” Tianjie stated and took her inside. Xiaobo went to the kitchen to bring water for them.

Tianjie opened the door and asked Song Jia to come inside. She complied with him and got delighted to see the room.

“It looks like a luxurious room,” Song Jia said with a smile and touched the lantern lamp, which was on the table. The beautiful hand carvings on the wood could tell her how expensive it was.

“Song Jia,” Tianjie pronounced his name softly.

“Yes,” She turned to gaze at him, “Your Highness?”

.....

“Don’t leave me,” Tianjie said. Song Jia’s forehead creased when she saw him stepping up to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and then drew her for a warm hug.

“I don’t want to get married to another woman, but only you,” Tianjie said. It appeared that he was pleading with Song Jia to be with him. “Stay here until I convince my father. But I surely will make him agree,” he asserted.

“Your Highness, I can bring miseries to you. Will it be acceptable to you?” Song Jia inquired. She was still wary of his decision to pursue him.

“Song Jia, I have never acted the way I acted today. However, the words of the Crown Prince and the remarks of Prince Lóng Wei made me realize something,” Tianjie stated.

“All these years, I have been selfish, greedy, dishonest, and self-centered. All the evil qualities you can think of existed in me. Some of them still exist.” He remained honest with Song Jia.

“My father has seen a good proposal for me. I even met the woman, but then I cannot marry her. I ran to you. To see you, to embrace you, and to tell you what I feel for you. No woman affects me as much as you do. The restlessness in my heart ended after I got an answer from you,” Tianjie said and told her how desperate he was to be with her.

“I do not want to come in the way of His Highness’ ambitions. I dance in front of people. Many have seen me as a dancer only. All wanted me to be their mistress. I do not think I am the suitable woman for the Prince,” Song Jia said with a stoic look.

“But I do not want you to be my mistress or concubine. My mother is the King’s concubine. I have seen how deprived she felt in that position. I will never let that happen to a woman I love,” Tianjie said with a chuckle.

“The Crown Prince has also married a woman with no status. So, do not think about status anymore,” he enunciated.

“But the Crown Princess and I are different people. I am a dancer,” Song Jia replied and lowered her head.

Tianjie didn’t know how to elucidate her not to worry about it because his father would agree with him. He decided to end the conversation and asked her to take her meals before going to bed. “I will tell Xiaobo to send dinner for you. I will come to see you in the morning,” he asserted and hugged her.

His hand came to the back of her head and he caressed it. “Jianjun will not trouble you anymore. Do not worry about anything here. You will get anything you demand,” he said and he soon pulled away.

“Your Highness, ride the horse safely to the palace,” Song Jia said.

“I will,” Tianjie said and stepped back to leave.

However, he halted. Instead of turning back and leaving, he again approached her and brought his hands to the edges of her jaw. He drew her for a kiss. This time a longer kiss than before, full of passion and love for her.

Song Jia too fervently kissed him as she was unable to stop her this time.

A man she never dreamt of had come into her life. The love in his eyes for hee was evident. She didn’t want to think about the future anymore, but currently, she also needed it.

When they withdrew, they gasped for air and she felt a soft kiss on the middle of her forehead. “Song Jia, good night,” Tianjie said and grazed his thumb over her lips.

He then stepped back and left for the palace. Song Jia went to the door to watch him leave. She brought her hand to her chest. “I wish His Highness success,” she said.

Tianjie hopped on the horse and rode back to the palace. He felt a heavy weight lifted off his body. For the first time, he felt a different kind of satisfaction. He felt happy, to be honest with him.

When he reached the palace, the soldiers bowed to him.

He went to his chamber. However, on the way, he encountered Qiu Mu.

“Where was Brother Tianjie since the morning?” He inquired. “Were you in Minister Chen Lizhen’s house?”

Tianjie shook his head. “I do not want to marry his daughter,” he stated. “I will our father tomorrow morning.”

“What did Brother Tianjie say? Today the betrothal gifts were sent to your betrothed,” Qiu Mu opined.

“I know. But I do not want to marry her, Second Brother. How should I explain it?” He mumbled and pressed the fingers on the temple of his forehead.

“Explain what?” Qiu Mu arched his brows.

“In Qijiang Province, I ended up falling for a woman. I want her to be my wife,” Tianjie informed Qiu Mu.

“A woman? Who?” Qiu Mu queried. “Don’t tell me you are following the path of the Crown Prince,” he asserted.

“Don’t be a fool, Tianjie. The Crown Prince has larger support than you, but what about you? If the woman you love isn’t from the upper class, then do not marry her. I only want you to think about your future,” Qiu Mu advised Tianjie.

“I cannot live without her. I will see what I can do for my future later,” Tianjie said.

“I only want Brother Tianjie to secure his future. A woman should not affect him to this extent. Rest is up to him to decide,” Qiu Mu said.

“I will be unhappy if I don’t marry her,” Tianjie murmured. “It is not about getting stronger anymore, but finding pleasure in what I have till now. If I marry Minister Li’s daughter, then I will keep thinking about the other woman. If I will have kids in the future too, then also I will be unable to get happy with her. Brother Mu, I came to the decision after deep contemplation. If I stand in front of the mirror, I do not want to avert my gaze away from myself,” he asserted.

Qiu Mu hummed and told Tianjie that he respected his decision. “I wish for Brother Tianjie’s success in whatever step he wants to walk on,” Qiu Mu gave Tianjie his wishes and smiled at him.