Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“Li Hua wanted her brother to get married for a long time. It doesn’t matter to her who the woman I agreed to marry is. All she wants me to be happy,” Xu Zifan replied. Jingfei placed the last dish before him on the table.

“I will surely keep you happy,” Jingfei stated.

Xu Zifan smiled and asked her if she would not take breakfast.

“Later. First, you should eat,” Jingfei answered.

“Have breakfast with me,” Xu Zifan said. Jingfei could not put down her request and nod at him.

Xu Zifan noticed that Jingfei wore the dress which he had gifted her yesterday. “Did you like the outfit?” Xu Zifan asked.

“I did,” Jingfei said and looked at her dress. “Li Hua even complimented me. I told her that you gifted it to me.” She could not hide her happiness.

A silence fell between them and they soon finished their breakfast. Lin Jie and another servant came inside to clean the table.

.....

“Xu Zifan, you know a lot of things about me. However, I know nothing about you,” Jingfei asserted.

“There is nothing particular to know about me,” Xu Zifan stated. “Also, I do not know either about you. Those few things I found out because of my sister,” he explained to her.

“Then, why don’t we share things about each other?” Jingfei opined. Xu Zifan could see the enthusiasm on her face and it amused him.

“What do you want to know about? Ask me anything and I will answer,” Xu Zifan said.

“I want to know about your family,” Jingfei said.

Xu Zifan was a bit hesitant to talk about it, but Jingfei had the right to know about the Xu family.

“My Father was Xu Guang Li, who was a known acupuncturist and was a fifth-ranked official. Li Hua and I had a brother too, who, unfortunately, died that night. He was the middle child. Li Hua is the youngest sibling among us three,” Xu Zifan briefed her. He took a deep breath in and continued, “It will only bring painful memories if we talk more about my family.”

“I’m sorry for reminding you about the past,” Jingfei said and lowered her head.

After a few seconds, she raised her head and asked him if he wasn’t getting late for work.

“I took two days off from work,” Xu Zifan replied.

“Really?” Jingfei was happy to hear that and smiled.

“Xu Zifan, Brother Lóng Wei said that someone from the palace was after the Xu Family. Is it true? Did he find out who it was?” Jingfei asked curiously.

Xu Zifan shook his head. “We failed to find out. Also, upon His Majesty’s instructions, the investigation is closed. Li Hua also urged Prince Lóng Wei not to make any investigation. We didn’t want Prince Lóng Wei’s life to fall in danger,” Xu Zifan explained to her.

“Hmm. You both have suffered a lot because of all this. I think Brother Lóng Wei will find out the culprit. He doesn’t listen to anybody, so there is a probability that he is still investigating,” Jingfei asserted.

“It will be good if the culprit is caught and punished severely,” she muttered.

“It’s not easy to find the culprit. Feng Lao also lost his family because of all this. I don’t think Prince Lóng Wei is investigating it anymore,” Xu Zifan said.

“Oh. Father should not have closed the investigation,” Jingfei mumbled.

“Sometimes it’s necessary to let the past be buried,” Xu Zifan stated.

“Xu Zifan, Qiqiao Festival is near. I heard from the lady of the next house that there is a competition on needlework under low-light conditions. I want to participate too. I thought to ask you first,” Jingfei said.

“You didn’t have to ask or take my permission on such matters. You are free to do everything you want,” Xu Zifan said.

“As a dutiful wife, I must inform everything to my husband first,” Jingfei stated. “What are your likes? I would love to know them,” she asserted.

“My likes,” Xu Zifan took a pause and realized after a long time, somebody asked him such a question.

“Hmm. Your likes,” Jingfei repeated.

“I have not thought about them in a long time. I think I like almost everything,” Xu Zifan gave a vague reply to Jingfei.

“What about you?” Xu Zifan asked the same question from her.

“I like to do cooking and needlework. Also, I love gardening too. I love to sing as well and play the zither. I will play zither for you someday,” Jingfei stated while keeping a smile on her lips.

“That’s great. I would love to hear the songs you play on zither,” Xu Zifan said. He looked at Jingfei’s hands which were above the table. Slowly, he brought his left hand above hers and she glanced at him with a strange expression.

“Thank you for choosing me as your husband. After I lost my right arm, I have been insecure. The chief reason why I agreed to marry you was my fear that no one would ever like to marry me and Li Hua would always be worried for me,” Xu Zifan truthfully told Jingfei. He wanted to express this gratitude the day they got married, but his mind wasn’t in the right place.

“Xu Zifan, you underestimate yourself. Yesterday when I went to the neighborhood, I heard young ladies speaking to me about how lucky I am. You are quite popular among young women. I got jealous for a moment, but then, no one can have you except me since we are married,” Jingfei said with a bright smile.

Xu Zifan had not expected that response from Jingfei. He recalled Lóng Wei’s words when he told him that Jingfei liked his personality.

He slowly moved his hand back when Jingfei caught it. He looked down and then at her.

Jingfei lifted her body a little and leaned forward. Before Xu Zifan could understand her next move, she kissed him, leaving him stunned.