Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“No,” she refused and shook her head.

“You were brave. Since the day I met you, you have always been brave. You were that lamp in my life, which I always needed. You told me that I am the Crown Prince who holds the highest power after the King in the Kingdom. I always suppressed my desires and this is the first time I am adamant about having something. ” He brought her hands to his chest and rested them on his left side.

Liu Jin Yu curled her fingers as she felt those intense heartbeats. It appeared to be the same as hers.

Liu Jin Yu pulled away her hands and stepped back. “My Master must be looking for me. I will return. The Crown Prince shall go back to the palace,” she said and lowered her eyes. She stepped towards his left to walk ahead when Xiaoming caught her arm.

Liu Jin Yu tilted her head while he did the same. Their eyes again met when he pulled her towards his front. Deep frowns appeared on his forehead as he continued to watch her eyes.

“Don’t force me to use the other way to make you marry me,” Xiaoming said.

“The Crown Prince shall think rationally and be pragmatic. If we marry, then he may remain happy, but I never will,” Liu Jin Yu’s eyes turned misty and soon tears fell down them.

“I will die every second while serving the Crown Prince as his wife. The Crown Prince said he would have only one wife, but that’s not possible for him. He has to choose more than two concubines and share the bed with them too. At least if I marry a commoner, he will be my only man. The Crown Prince is under the illusion that his father will keep his promise. You should forget me.” Liu Jin Yu calmly explained the situation to him which Xiaoming wasn’t ready to see.

.....

“If the Crown Prince loves me, then he should think about my happiness rather than be selfish. I love this life. I hate higher-up officials, ministers, and even royals.” Liu Jin Yu gulped the lump that had formed in her throat.

Xiaoming’s eyes were filled with tears. He shook his head. “I will choose to be selfish rather than regret it later. I will give up being the Crown Prince if they try to make me marry another woman. A promise is a promise, and my father will never step back from his words. Your current life will remain in the future too.” He wasn’t ready to let go of her. He remembered Yuze’s words. He could not give up in any way because he would regret lifetime if he let her go.

“Jin Yu, if I walk away from your life, your heart will never be at peace. We will both suffer individually. You also know this,” he asserted. He gradually lowered his hand and rested it on her waist.

Liu Jin Yu looked down for a brief moment when Xiaoming drew her close. She gaped at him, not wanting him to do what she was thinking. To her surprise, he kissed the top of her forehead. It was a soft kiss, yet she shut her eyes tightly.

Xiaoming looked down at her face and a smile appeared on his lips. He wiped the tears from her cheeks using his thumbs. She opened her eyes and peered at him.

“I will talk with your master about myself. He is a father figure for you and I must ask your hand from him since you have accepted me,” Xiaoming stated.

Liu Jin Yu remained silent for a while. “I need a day to think about it, Your Royal Highness. I am still in a dilemma.” Liu Jin Yu didn’t agree with his proposal. Instead, she asked for some time from him. “I will meet the Crown Prince tomorrow evening in the palace to give him my answer,” she stated.

“Fine. I will wait for your response.” Xiaoming agreed with her and gave her a day to think.

“The Crown Prince shall return,” Liu Jin Yu said, looking up at the sky. “The sky is still red. Don’t get hurt in the way,” she said. Xiaoming hummed and again wore the fake mustache. He adjusted the conical hat around his head and turned to go to his horse.

However, he halted in the middle. Liu Jin Yu wondered why he stopped when he again walked up to her.

“Jin Yu, I don’t know what your answer will be, but I want you to remember this,” Xiaoming said.

“Eh?” Liu Jin Yu was puzzled to hear him.

Xiaoming brought his hand to the side of her left cheek and leaned down. He kissed her and closed his eyes while Liu Jin Yu’s eyes grew bigger. She was ready to push him away, but something inside her stopped her from doing so.

Xiaoming pulled away and lowered his hand. “I want you to cherish our first kiss and remember it. Don’t make a decision based on the things you have seen in the palace. Just think about us and the first kiss between us. My true feelings lie there. I will wait for you tomorrow,” Xiaoming said with a smile.

He went back to his horse, opened the rope around the trunk and hopped on it. He felt better and relieved. He was pleased that, unlike the other times, he didn’t hesitate to speak his heart. He gave her a smile and soon vanished from her sight.

Liu Jin Yu was still in shock. Xiaoming kissed her! She clenched her fists and returned to her place, still reeling from what Xiaoming had done to her.

Her heart was hammering against her chest. Wu Jin shouted her name many times, but she didn’t hear him. She reached her tiny room, shut the door behind her and sat down on the floor.

“What should I do?” She mumbled.