Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

207 Thank you for Loving me

Today, Li Hua was able to shoot at the tree trunk. But, the force with which she shot arrows, was weak.

“Li Hua, what are you fearing of? Your grip on the string must be strong,” Lóng Wei scolded her.

Li Hua nodded and did what Lóng Wei told her to. This time she used strong force and the string of the bow broke. “Ah, it broke,” she said, and turned to take another bow.

She held another bow and put the arrow on it when Lóng Wei stood behind her and held her hands.

“How many times do I need to tell you that you need only adequate force on the string? If you use a strong force, then the string will surely break. Your enemy may attack at that moment,” he whispered.

“I am trying, Your Highness,” Li Hua said.

“You aren’t,” Lóng Wei stated. “You are not interested in learning. You need to become a shield for your brother and me. I want you to be a great shooter,” he said, and it encouraged Li Hua.

“I will do, Your Highness. Please step back. Let me do it myself,” Li Hua said. Lóng Wei took a step back and let her do it.He watched her and realized that she lacked stamina too.

“Do you know how to run?” Lóng Wei asked.

.....

“What is His Highness talking about in the middle of my practice?” She questioned him and released the arrow from her hand. This time it hit the center of the trunk and a smile appeared on her lips. She turned to look at Lóng Wei.

“In the evening, we will go to the hidden valley of flowers. You must win against me. Because if you lose, then I will punish you,” Lóng Wei threatened her.

“Punish me? How?” Li Hua asked.

“The punishment will not be the way you want,” Lóng Wei said and smirked. “I won’t let you eat for a day,” he stated.

“That’s so cruel of His Highness. Which husband tortures his wife this way? Look at the husbands who pamper their wives, but His Highness is making me burn in this sun. Even the servant’s work was easier than this,” Li Hua grumbled, picking up the arrow. She shot it towards the tree and it again hit its center, but a little away from the first one.

Lóng Wei smiled to see that.

“If I fall in danger in the future, then I would like you to rescue me. I have many enemies. At the moment, I have not claimed any power, but now I am very much interested in it,” Lóng Wei said.

“His Highness shall not make enemies then,” Li Hua stated.

“Did your father know that Shui Xiaoqing would be his enemy?” Lóng Wei’s question hit Li Hua hard. She lowered her hands after aiming the third arrow toward the tree. She turned to look at Lóng Wei, wondering what he had to say.

“Enemies aren’t made, they just appear,” he stated. “In my case, the prophecy is enough to invite hundreds of enemies towards me. Why do you think I act rebellious? Even if I wanted to be good, I could not remain one,” he affirmed.

“But His Highness does good for the people,” Li Hua asserted. “He saved my brother, he saved the life of the woman from Kang Huijuan, and many other good deeds he did, which I am unaware of,” Li Hua stated, giving him a small smile.

“I killed her, and that’s a sin. Probably, to remove the burden of that sin, I am doing good for people,” Lóng Wei reasoned.

Li Hua was stunned to hear him. He never talked with her about his mother, and it was the first time he did.

“That day, in the lake, His Highness wanted to die. Am I right?” Li Hua asked him. “His Highness is good at fooling people. My eyes saw clearly that your body looked like a corpse in the water. His Highness wanted to experience what death felt like. Am I right?” Li Hua didn’t take the name of his father because he would again refrain from telling his thoughts to his father.

“If I win in today’s race, then His Highness will tell me what I will ask him. If he tries to run away from my question, then I will not talk to him, nor will I take a single grain of food.” Li Hua agreed to run with him to the top of the hill while putting forward her condition.

“If I lose, I won’t eat for a day. However, if I win, then His Highness must fulfill the condition which I put forward.” Li Hua walked up to him and lifted her hand, showing him her pinky finger. “Prince Lóng Wei, let’s make a promise,” she said and held his right hand.

“Fine,” Lóng Wei said, and locked his pinky finger with hers. “I do want you to win,” he affirmed.

“I will do my best, Prince Lóng Wei,” Li Hua said with an assuring smile. They withdrew their hands and lowered them.

Lóng Wei took out the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from Li Hua’s forehead.

“Forgive your husband for giving you such hard training,” he said, and gently dabbed the handkerchief across her face.

“I understand my husband. He is right. If my loved ones ever fall into danger, then I have to save them,” Li Hua proclaimed.

Lóng Wei stopped by. “Wait! Am I also your loved one?” He inquired.

“Do I need to answer this?” She asked and walked back to her place to practice more.

“I love you,” Lóng Wei said with a bright smile. He waited for Li Hua’s response.

“Thank you for loving me,” Li Hua said, and picked up the arrow to shoot.

“This wasn’t what I wanted to hear,” Lóng Wei said, with an upset look.

Li Hua shot the arrow which hit the spot that Lóng Wei had marked on the trunk. She jumped in happiness and asked Lóng Wei if she had crossed stage one.

“Will I receive a present for my achievement?” She was curious to know.

“Currently I have,” Lóng Wei walked up to her, lowered his head, “only this as a present,” and kissed her lips.