Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

432 I will step down

Xiaoming had his head rested on Jin Yu’s lap and had his eyes closed. “Did you find anything about your father?” He asked.

“Not yet. Brother Mingquan investigated Kang Xi’s past, but he isn’t the one,” Jin Yu answered. “I asked Brother Mingquan to look into Li Zixuan’s past,” she affirmed.

“Hmm. I will also resume that work,” Xiaoming said.

“Sister Jingfei is getting married the next week. The Crown Prince should spend a day with his sister as she will leave soon,” Jin Yu advised Xiaoming, who opened his eyes.

“I cannot spend an entire day with Sister Jingfei. My duties do not permit me. I will have my lunch meals with her tomorrow,” Xiaoming stated. In the morning, when Eunuch Sun Fuguo informed him about it, he was happy. Also, he was astonished to find out that Jingfei herself refused to marry Huang Xi.

He held Jin Yu’s hand and brought it close to his mouth. She confusedly glanced at him when he kissed her knuckles and gradually opened his eyes.

He sat up on the mattress and then, turned to look at her. His fingers entangled in the locks of her hair as he brought his face closer to her. Their lips brushed and they parted their lips to kiss each other.

Xiaoming grabbed her hands and their fingers intertwined. His fingers moved sensually over hers and his lips were ever so gentle. He sucked on her bottom lip and a small moan escaped her mouth.

They stopped when Sun Fuguo called from outside and told Xiaoming an important matter has come.

.....

Jin Yu retreated and they slowly opened their eyes to look at each other. Jin Yu gestured for him to leave. Xiaoming got down from the bed and wore the shoes. “It is even difficult to get private time,” he asserted and walked away.

Sun Fuguo informed Xiaoming about the news that he received from the King’s manor. “What? Mother planned the attack on Li Hua?” Xiaoming was shocked to learn about that.

“Your Royal Highness, the Second Prince has brought the evidence with him. The assassin, who told the truth to the Second Prince before his death, has confirmed it. He was poisoned an hour ago,” Sun Fuguo informed Xiaoming.

The Crown Prince frowned. He had not expected that his mother would take such a step. Lóng Wei would not spare her and asked for stringent punishment for her. Soon, Xiaoming reached the King’s manor, wherein the main courtyard, he saw all the princes and princesses.

His mother was on her knees and he looked at his father, who was at the top of the five stairs. He glanced at Lóng Wei, who had his eyes on him. He took a step forward when the King’s two consorts and concubines walked past him.

“Is it true? Did Her Majesty try to kill Li Hua?” Noble Consort Xiuying asked.

“I heard that Prince Qiu Mu has the evidence of it,” Virtuous Consort Ruoxi stated and looked at the King.

Qiu Mu ascended the stairs and handed the letter that the Queen had given to Li Hua in her writing. Qiu Zedong opened it and read the message. “Her Majesty wanted the Princess Consort to come out of the palace so that she could kill her through the assassins that she had sent,” Qiu Mu affirmed.

A dark look appeared on the King’s face and he lowered his hand. “Why did the Queen do this?” He queried as he recognized the writing.

Zhu Liling stayed silent when Qiu Zedong raised his voice at her.

“Why is the Queen silent? She should answer me!” Qiu Zedong roared and it feared everyone present there. This anger of the King, hardly anyone had seen, especially the Queen.

“I-I di-did it,” Zhu Liling admitted her crime while keeping her head down.

Lóng Wei stepped up toward her and got on his knees in front of her. “You should not have done such foolishness. You left such a big clue behind,” he proclaimed. Zhu Liling looked into his eyes which were misty. She pleaded with him to help her, but it seemed almost an impossible thing now.

“I will take the punishment on my mother’s behalf,” Xiaoming said and stepped up. He got on his knees next to his mother and lowered his head.

Lóng Wei chuckled and stood up. He got aside and looked at the King, wondering what his decision would be. He wanted a death sentence for Zhu Liling for harming his wife.

“Son, do not do this,” Zhu Liling stated.

“It will be wrong if the Crown Prince takes up the punishment on his mother’s behalf,” Xiuying said. “The Queen tried to kill a royal family woman, which only has one punishment.” She looked at Ruoxi as both of them smiled.

“I will step down from the position of the Crown Prince, Royal Father. Since my mother did such a heinous act, I will take full responsibility for it,” Xiaoming pronounced. “I request the Royal Father to leave my mother and punish me for it,” he pleaded with Qiu Zedong. Jingfei started to cry seeing his brother on the knees, pleading for their mother’s life.

Xiuying turned happy to hear Xiaoming’s words. She looked at her son and felt so proud of him. Finally, he could the Crown Prince’s position.

Lóng Wei could not believe that Xiaoming would do such foolishness. He wanted to step down as the Crown Prince because of her mother’s crime. He could not let this happen, and he decided to speak.

“Royal Father, I would like to call my wife here. Since she is the one, who suffered from it, so she must get the right to decide on the Royal Mother’s punishment,” Lóng Wei stated.

Everyone looked at Lóng Wei with astonishment. Tianjie wondered why Lóng Wei had not asked for a death sentence for Zhu Liling. If he wanted, he could demand it. However, he asked something which was unexpected to all of them. What was exactly going on in his head?