209 Such an evil husband he is!
For some reason, Lóng Weiâs penetrating gaze was terrifying for Li Hua.
âSpeak!â Lóng Wei demanded an answer from her.
âI wanted to check whatâs inside the cupboards,â Li Hua replied.
âAlas! You wonât find anything that can be helpful to answer your questions,â Lóng Wei said. He had heard her conversation with Court Lady Hong and knew she was up to something.
He let go of her and went straight to the door. He opened the doors, which surprised Court Lady Hong.
âYou will no longer serve Li Hua. You can return to the Queenâs manor,â Lóng Wei dismissed Court Lady Hong from Li Huaâs service.
âPardon me, Your Highness? Did I make a mistake?â She inquired. Li Hua came there and heard them.
âDid you tell Li Hua about her?â Lóng Wei inquired.
Court Lady Hong lowered her head and wondered how he found out. She apologized to him and said, âPrincess Consort was curious, so I thought to tell her.â
.....
âDid I tell you to tell her?â Lóng Wei yelled at her. Li Hua was terrified to see the burst of his anger.
âForgive me, Your Highness,â Court Lady Hong apologized, keeping her tone as humble as possible.
âLeave before I kill you,â Lóng Wei said. Court Lady Hong bowed and walked away. The maidservants behind her were shivering in fear. They didnât dare look at Lóng Wei and kept their heads down.
âThe deal is off,â Lóng Wei said.
âBut, why?â Li Hua asked.
Lóng Wei looked at her. âDonât ask me, Li Hua. Who told you to lie to me? Who told you to look into something which I donât permit you to? It is my past. You are the last one to look into that.â
His words brought tears to Li Huaâs eyes.
Lóng Wei dashed out of the chamber in anger, while Li Hua started crying.
âYou are working on the Kingâs command. You asked someone who acts on the Queenâs command. You want to know why I killed my mother? Then, you will tell my father about it. Do I look like a fool to you?! I understand everything, Li Hua.â He became calmer than before.
Li Hua walked up to Lóng Wei and said, âI only wanted to find any memory of His Highness with his mother. Court Lady Hong is indeed from the Queenâs Manor, but she isnât an enemy. Fine, I understand. His Highness can know anything about me, but I donât have to. I have to just listen to him, obey his commands, and do what he feels is right for me.â
Lóng Weiâs eyebrows furrowed. âI didnât mean that, Li Hua. I was supposed to tell you. I donât want you to find out things from a third person. Because that is my past. Canât you be patient with me? It isnât something which I can tell easily,â Lóng Wei said, and extended his hands to hold her hands, but she didnât let him.
She left her chamber and closed the doors from inside.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and she went to bed. She pulled the blanket over her and sobbed inside it.
âLi Hua, open the door!â Lóng Wei slammed his hand against the door.âOpen, Li Hua. Fine. Letâs have a conversation. Forgive me for losing my temper. I should not have gotten angry,â he said.
Li Hua didnât listen to him this time. Why should she? He didnât want her to know anything about him. She would not bother about him anymore.
Lóng Wei cursed himself internally for losing his temper. Li Hua had the right to know about him. Why did he always forget this? If he hadnât been reluctant to tell her, she would not have asked Court Lady Hong.
Li Hua found that Lóng Wei turned quiet after a while.
âDid he leave? He doesnât care for me. Such an evil husband he is!â She murmured and wiped the tears from her eyes. âI wonât talk to him nor will I see him,â she mumbled and put away the blanket.
She heard the creak and looked around the chamber when her eyes fell on the window through which Lóng Wei entered. She recalled how she left the window open in the morning. She quickly covered herself with the blanket and hid her face in it.
âLi Hua, forgive me,â Lóng Wei apologized to her while gasping for air. âDonât be angry with me,â he said.
When Li Hua didnât respond, he quietly sat next to her on the mattress. Li Hua moved away from him and turned her back to him. Her face was still inside the blanket. She felt his hand on her arm and yanked it away.
âLi Hua, I have kept no memory of her with me. You could have asked me instead of searching for it in the room. I asked you twice and you lied both times. I know it is my fault not to converse with you about all this,â he asserted.
âWhen I ask His Highness, he also lies to me. But I never get angry in this way.â She said this and again broke into tears. âHis Highness has told me that he doesnât permit us to know anything about him. I will do that. I donât want to know anymore,â she somehow managed to say those words to him.
Lóng Wei felt terrible for causing her pain.
âI was wrong to care about him, to feel anxious about him,â she said while sobbing. Her grip on the blanket loosened, which Lóng Wei noticed. He pulled it away and hugged her from behind.
âLi Hua, I said that in anger. I didnât mean that,â he said, and caressed her head.
âThe Queen also wants to know the reason behind my motherâs death. Court Lady Hong works for her and she is more loyal to the Queen. The point is that I did wrong to you by raising my voice at you. Forgive me for that,â Lóng Wei affirmed.