Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“I do not know if I made it—” Jianjun could not finish his words as Jingfei cut him in the middle.

“It is beautiful, Li Jianjun. It is perfect,” she could not stop herself from admiring the painting. He had drawn the features so well that it looked exact copy of Jingfei.

“I am glad that the First Princess liked it,” Jianjun said with a smile. “Since Princess Jingfei liked my present, then she shall reward me,” he asserted.

“A reward?” Jingfei arched her eyebrow.

“Hmm.”

“What should I give to Li Jianjun?” She inquired.

“There are a lot of things she can give me,” Jianjun said and turned to her. Her heart thumped against her chest when he held her hands.

“Princess Jingfei,” he called her name, “you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

.....

“Really?” She queried.

“Hmm. Your beauty is unmatched. I will be blessed to be your husband,” Jianjun said and brought his right hand to her cheek. His knuckles grazed over her cheek. Jingfei clutched the edges of her dress tightly and the blush on her cheeks turned prominent.

She lowered her eyelids, savoring that warm touch and at the same time, she felt nervous.

“May I have the pleasure to kiss Princess Jingfei? I will consider it as my reward,” Jianjun asked.

“A kiss?” Jingfei met his gaze and realized his face was so close to hers. She shied to hear that and again lowered her eyes.

Jianjun brought his finger under her chin and lifted it. “Do not shy away, Princess Jingfei,” he said. His thumb grazed over her lips and leaned down to kiss her.

Their lips were a hair breadth’s away and she could feel his breath falling over her lips. She could hear her heartbeats and she closed her eyes, ready for the kiss from the man for whom she had developed a likeness.

However, she thought not to kiss him before the marriage. Before his lips could land above hers, she placed a finger between them. Her eyes opened and she slowly lowered her finger.

Jianjun had an inquisitive gaze at her. “What happened?” He asked.

“Let’s keep it for after marriage, Li Jianjun. I do not want to be physical before the marriage,” she affirmed.

Jianjun hummed and took a step back. “Forgive me if my request made you feel uncomfortable,” he stated.

“Not at all,” Jingfei said. “I am not ready for a kiss yet,” Jingfei said and again looked at the painting. “I am thankful to Jianjun for adoring me to this extent. I am overwhelmed by his feelings. I will soon reward him.” She smiled to look at her painting.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Did he say that?” Feng Lao frowned.

“Yes.”

Xu Zifan looked at Li Hua and told her that he was terrified after Li Jianjun’s threat. He could not tell the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess about it.

“The marriage is late. By that time, Prince Lóng Wei will be here. We have to wait till then,” Li Hua asserted.

“You are right. However, before that we need to shift you somewhere safe,” Xu Zifan asserted.

“Where can I possibly go? I don’t think that Jianjun will do anything like this. He merely wants us to stay quiet,” Li Hua affirmed.

“Li Hua, we cannot take a risk. Jianjun may harm you. He wants to clean the evidence, and he knows that we three know this,” Xu Zifan stated. “He will try to attack us in the night. That’s why I must escort you somewhere safe,” Xu Zifan worriedly said.

“We can ask General Hei to keep Li Hua with them for a while,” Feng Lao suggested.

Xu Zifan shook his head.

“The place is far from here. The informant who is around us can tell Jianjun about it. We need to be careful before escorting Li Hua out safely,” Xu Zifan opined.

“What about Chang Shi’s house?” Feng Lao asked him. “He is not far from here. Also, he stays low, so no one knows about him,” he suggested.

“Feng Lao, go and talk to Chang Shi about it. His house will be safer,” Xu Zifan liked the suggestion and decided to keep Li Hua there.

Li Hua let them handle everything, but she was worried thinking what would happen to her brother. He fell into trouble for no reason. When Feng Lao left, Li Hua asked Xu Zifan if he would continue to stay in the current house.

“What do you mean?” Xu Zifan asked.

“Li Jianjun threatened that he would burn us alive tonight if his truth is revealed. However, he may do that even if we stay quiet,” Li Hua stated. “Elder Brother must also stay with me in Chang Shi’s house,” he said.

“Nothing will happen to me,” Xu Zifan assured her.

“How can I trust my elder brother’s words?” Li Hua did not believe him. “Elder Brother is the only person left from my family. I cannot lose him,” she turned emotional.

“I want Elder Brother to tell Commander Huang Xi to make him meet the Crown Prince. We have to do everything quickly before the night. Prince Lóng Wei will not return early and we cannot wait too long,” she advised her brother.

“I cannot tell anyone, Li Hua. And if I meet Huang Xi and somehow Li Jianjun finds out about it, then he will also fall in danger,” Xu Zifan enunciated.

“The Hei Family has high security. We need to meet the Crown Prince through Commander Huang Xi for your and Feng Lao’s safety. I will stay at Chang Shi’s house. The Crown Prince will not find out that I am here. Your and Feng Lao’s lives are precious to me,” Li Hua urged him.

Xu Zifan told her that he would talk with the Crown Prince after sending her to Chang Shi’s house.

“Sure, Elder Brother,” Li Hua agreed to him and told him that they would bring Li Jianjun down.