Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Xiuying was seated on the broad chair with her puffy eyes.

“Consort Xiuying, the Sixth Prince is here,” the court lady informed her and stepped back.

Xiuying lifted her head and found the two princes in front of her. Qiu Mu got worried when he looked at his mother’s face.

“Why does the respected Consort call me at this hour?” Lóng Wei asked with a sarcastic tone.

“Prince Lóng Wei, can you not forgive my husband? He kept you alive all these years, so he should live. Don’t you think? Please be kind to the person whom you once called father,” Xiuying pleaded with Lóng Wei and stood up from her place.

“Consort Xiuying is pleading in front of the wrong person,” Lóng Wei stated and turned to leave.

“Make your dear mother understand and tell her why her husband cannot be forgiven,” Lóng Wei told Qiu Mu.

“Lóng Wei, but you also committed so many crimes. Still, everyone forgave you,” Xiuying argued and stepped up.

.....

“Mother, please don’t say anything to Brother Lóng Wei,” Qiu Mu said and walked up to his mother.

Lóng Wei left the chamber as Xiuying started to curse him.

“Mother should not behave this way. Father was the one who manipulated Lóng Wei for a long time. Did you not hear how Father asked Lóng Wei’s mother to get killed with her son’s hands?” He questioned his mother and Xiuying started weeping profusely.

Qiu Mu caressed his mother’s arms and asked her to calm down. “How can I calm down? My husband will soon—” her voice choked when Qiu Mu asked the servant to hand him the water glass.

As he forwarded the glass to his mother, she threw it away. “You should have killed Lóng Wei instead of supporting him. He isn’t supposed to live. Because of him, I will lose my husband. Don’t you love your mother?” Xiuying asked and quickly took out a porcelain bottle that contained poison in it.

“Feed it to Lóng Wei. He must die and then—”

“Mother!” Qiu Mu shouted at her as he took a step back. The court lady was terrified to hear his voice, and so was the other servant. He snatched the bottle from her.

“Who gave you this? Where did you bring it?” Qiu Mu demanded answers from his mother.

“Is that important?” Xiuying queried him. “You always were afraid of Lóng Wei. We all were! See what he did today. Everyone is listening to him, but my son should not. It is the time you should prove to your father how loyal you are to him,” Xiuying elucidated Qiu Mu and rested her hand on his cheek. “Once your father is out of prison, he will surely make you the King,” she asserted.

Lóng Wei, who still was in the chamber because he wanted to say something to Xiuying, overheard their conversation. He remained hidden behind the pillar and wondered what Qiu Mu’s answer would be.

“Mother, how can you think this way?” Qiu Mu snickered.

“I despised Lóng Wei from the bottom of my heart. I once even tried to kill him. However, with time, that hatred started to diminish. Lóng Wei got on everyone’s nerves. But when he said that he didn’t want to expose the father’s truth because he always saw him as a father figure, I realized what kind of person he was. He didn’t want this royal family to break down. He even forgot his mother’s pain but Father exceeded the limits of his crime. He killed the Monk, who was the only person dear to Lóng Wei. If you and I were at his place, would we not want Father to be punished?”

Qiu Mu’s explanation silenced Xiuying. More tears rolled down her cheeks.

“The worst crime Father did was captivating a woman against her choice. I have many faults in me, but I will never support such a crime. I cannot, mother. This is the last time I let you go unpunished. Let Brother Lóng Wei experience his share of happiness. Also, think from a woman’s perspective. Empathize with the situation of Lóng Wei’s mother and let justice be served,” Qiu Mu affirmed and looked at the court lady. She came forward and took Xiuying to the bedchamber.

Qiu Mu turned around and saw Lóng Wei. “You didn’t leave!” He exclaimed in astonishment.

“I wanted to say something to Prince Mu’s mother,” Lóng Wei said.

“Forgive her. She is emotional,” Qiu Mu said. He was a little embarrassed that Lóng Wei heard his conversation with his mother.

“Should I call my mother?” Qiu Mu asked.

“It’s not needed anymore,” Lóng Wei replied. “Prince Mu already answered on my behalf,” he stated.

“Lóng Wei, are you alright?” Qiu Mu inquired. “I never asked you this before, but I would like to know. Why did you respect my father more than your mother? If I had been at your place, I would have killed him,” he stated.

“Because the truth was hidden from me. I found out the truth after Yuze died. My mother and I cannot share that bond of a mother and child, so I do not understand it either. Maybe that’s why I was always disobedient to her,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“All of us princes are with you. We will protect you. Forgive us for hurting you when you were already broken,” Qiu Mu said.

“Hmm.” Lóng Wei didn’t know what to say in that situation.

Qiu Mu walked up to him and hugged Lóng Wei, thus startling him. He patted his back and said, “Forgive me, Lóng Wei. I did so wrong to you. I always judged you and said some harsh words to you. Forgive me for everything wrong I did to you.”

Lóng Wei pulled away from the hug. “I have forgiven you. You don’t need to hug me,” he stated.

“I do not have any disease. Being your elder brother I thought to hug you,” Qiu Mu asserted and arched his left brow.

“I am not used to it,” Lóng Wei said, “I should take my leave,” and he left for his manor.