Li Hua was perplexed to hear the words of Lóng Wei. She lifted her hand, and her fingers touched his face. She wiped the blood drops that earlier fell on his face. For some reason, she was thankful to him. The way he stood for her and called her his person gave him a sense of security.
Lóng Wei caught her hand and asked her what she was doing.
"Wiping the blood," Li Hua answered.
"Don't touch her filthy blood. I will wash my face later," Lóng Wei said and, put her hand down. His gaze again fixed on her cheek. "It must be hurting," he said worriedly.
"His Highness might get punished in the morning. He did not have to kill Senior Nuo for such a small mistake." Li Hua was concerned about what the King would think. For her, the Sixth Prince killed a servant. The King would definitely punish Lóng Wei severely. "His Highness should have let it go," she stated.
"I won't get punished for killing a servant. She made a grave mistake, not a minor one. You belong to me, and if anyone raises a hand on you or harms you, I can punish him or her," Lóng Wei said, with a stern tone. "Moreover, you will become my wife soon. I cannot tolerate if anyone harms you," he stated.
Li Hua felt strange. They were two unknown people, who had different destinies to fulfill. How could their paths get entangled? She wasn't supposed to be in his world, but the more she wanted to run away from him, the more he would attract her to him.
Lóng Wei embraced her and caressed her hair. "Forgive me," Lóng Wei said. He sounded low and guilty. He never felt apologetic to anyone. But for Li Hua, he was!
Li Hua should have pushed him away, but she did not. Her hands reached near the sash,and he held the edges of his hanfu dress. Tears poured down her cheeks. "I never got slapped, Your Highness," she said in a broken voice.
The last time she cried was two months ago. For more than a week, she mourned for her family. She usually stayed quiet, kept herself as low as possible, and never fell weak in front of anyone by crying. But she could not help herself today.
Li Hua missed her old days when she got treated no less than a princess. She was the most pampered child in her family.
Lóng Wei's grip around her tightened as he pulled her closer. "I know. I promise that I will never let you get hurt," he said. After a while, Li Hua stepped back from that hug and stood awkwardly.
A knock on the door grabbed their attention. "Your Highness, I have brought the dinner," Senior Court Lady Chu said, who gestured to the maidservant to keep the tray on the table.
"Replace all the servants, who were bothering Li Hua. I don't want to see them in the Palace, else I will kill you along with them," Lóng Wei openly threatened Court Lady Chu.
"I will talk with the Senior Eunuch in the morning, Your Highness. Please enjoy your dinner," Court Lady Chu said.
"You two may leave," Lóng Wei motioned his hand in the air. Senior Court Lady Chu left along with the maidservant, shutting the doors behind them.
"Does His Highness like to threaten everyone?" Li Hua asked curiously. "They are here to earn money. His Highness should not have asked the Senior Court Lady to suspend them from work," she opined.
Lóng Wei grasped her hand and took her to the table. Making her sit on the chair, he said, "I did what was right." He handed her the chopsticks and told her to finish her food. He walked out of the chamber. After a while, he returned in a new pair of clothes, and his face was also cleaned.
"You didn't start?" Lóng Wei was perplexed, and he walked to her.
"Will His Highness not eat?" Li Hua looked at the cuisines in front of her. "The food seems to be for the Sixth Prince," she stated.
"I had my meal with Yuze," Lóng Wei answered. "A big bowl of rice noodle soup," he said. He saw the inquisitive look on Li Hua's face.
"Ahh, I call him Yuze or oldie sometimes." Lóng Wei took the seat beside her.
"His Highness shall respect his elders. He is much older than the Sixth Prince. He looks like a grandpa. Shouldn't His Highness be considerate of Monk Yuze's age?" She complained and put the platter in front of him, which had grilled fish slices over it dipped in the specially prepared sauce.
Lóng Wei rested his elbow on the table surface and rested the temple of his calloused hand. "You have started to act like my wife," he remarked.
"No!" She promptly said and handed him the chopsticks. "His Highness shall eat first," she stated.
"Since you want me to, then I will not refuse," Lóng Wei said and asked her to start eating as well.
Suddenly, in the middle of the meal, Lóng Wei said, "Li Hua, this was the last time I let you get hurt. It won't ever happen. Trust me."
Li Hua blinked a few times when Lóng Wei averted his gaze from her. "You are not made to bear someone's torture. A woman like you deserves to be happy at all the time," he said.
Li Hua felt strange when those words came out of the Sixth Prince. "Why is His Highness so thoughtful of me?" She asked.
"If I don't, then who will?" He tilted his head as his brows arched.
Li Hua gradually downcasted her eyes and then focussed back on eating. She felt something strange in her heart upon hearing those words. Her fingers tightly gripped the chopsticks, and she started to eat quicker than before.
"I have answered you many times that I love you. You are mine, and that's why I am thoughtful of you." He cleared her confusion, who had slowed eating. Li Hua could feel the genuineness in those words, but she could not even react to those words.