562 Father was also my pride once
The next morning, Lóng Wei visited Qiu Zedong in prison. Huang Xi had followed Lóng Wei, but midway he left upon Lóng Weiâs command.
When the soldier opened the door to the prison, Lóng Wei asked him to leave. He walked inside and saw Qiu Zedong in white clothes. He had shackles around him and he was seated on the cold floor. The crown was no longer on his head.
âHow was the night?â Lóng Wei asked as he halted in front of Qiu Zedong.
He raised his head and looked at Lóng Wei. âIf I wanted I could have killed you at the very moment when you were born,â Qiu Zedong stated.
âI know,â Lóng Wei said and bent down. He got on his knees and looked into his eyes. âYou should not have brought me up,â he asserted.
Qiu Zedong chuckled. âIf only I had found out that Yuze was the mastermind, I would have done that long ago,â he affirmed.
âIf I hadnât killed Yuze, I would have never done this,â Lóng Wei said while gritting his teeth. He wanted Qiu Zedong to admit his crime.
âWhy donât you kill me? You have kept me alive and ordered the generals not to be harsh on me. Do you still consider me your father?â Qiu Zedong questioned him.
âNot anymore,â Lóng Wei replied. âI told you clearly that your death will not be easy,â he muttered.
.....
âIf I run away from prison, your wifeâs life will come in danger. If only Li Hua hadnât married you, you would have been in my control all your life. So, you should make sure to kill me,â Qiu Zedong proclaimed. Lóng Wei strangled him and the veins on Qiu Zedongâs forehead became visible.
âYou are not in a state to speak before me. Donât you think you should beg for forgiveness?â Lóng Wei shrieked at him and let go of Qiu Zedongâs neck. He gasped for air while coughing.
âWho told you that my mother is my fatherâs betrothed?â Lóng Wei asked.
Qiu Zedong chuckled and with an evil smile said, âI will not tell you about this. That person will become the key to your destruction. How will you save Li Hua then?â
Lóng Wei clenched his fists and punched Qiu Zedong. He grabbed Qiu Zedong by the collar of the thin white upper jacket that he had worn but stopped when Xiaoming asked him.
âI have found out who did it, Brother Lóng Wei,â Xiaoming said. Qiu Zedong frowned looking at his son. Lóng Wei pulled his hand back from his collar and stood up.
He turned to look at Xiaoming. âWho did it?â Lóng Wei asked.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIt was Brother Lóng Weiâs uncle. General Hei arrested him in the morning. Please come with me,â Xiaoming asserted and turned to leave.
âHow could you do this to your own father, Xiaoming? You were my pride. I did so much for you and you decided to betray me, your father?!â Qiu Zedong asked his son.
âFather was also my pride once. He should not have captivated a woman and forced her to hate her own child. I didnât betray my father. I only did what is right,â Xiaoming said and stepped out of the prison. Qiu Zedong clenched his fists in annoyance.
Lóng Wei followed Xiaoming while the soldier locked the door.
âWhich one informed your father about my mother?â Lóng Wei asked as he approached the Crown Prince.
âYu Wenyan, your first uncle,â Xiaoming replied.
Lóng Wei hastily walked past Xiaoming as soon as he heard the name and entered the prison in front of them, where he had seen Hei Chengxi.
Yu Wenyan was on his knees and as soon as he saw Lóng Wei he begged him for his life.
âWhy did you do it?â Lóng Wei asked.
Yu Wenyan lowered his head as he was embarrassed to answer.
âAnswer, Yu Wenyan!â Xiaoming said with a stern tone.
âR-reward,â Yu Wenyan said in a low voice.
âHow much did Qiu Zedong offer you?â Lóng Wei asked.
âA government official position with a good salary and other benefits,â Yu Wenyan replied.
âHow could you do this to your own sister!?â Xiaoming loudly said when Lóng Wei asked Hei Chengxi to give the sword to him.
Ye Wenyan swiftly grabbed Lóng Weiâs legs and started pleading with him to spare his life.
âDid you not hear me, General Hei?â Lóng Wei scrunched his brows and extended his hand out.
âMy nephew, please forgive me.â Yu Wenyan was crying and he didnât let go of Lóng Weiâs feet.
âPrince Lóng Wei cannot kill him,â Hei Chengxi said. âHis father doesnât want him to take anyoneâs life,â he asserted.
âTell your master not to order me,â Lóng Wei said in frustration. He glanced at the soldier behind Hei Chengxi and asked him to pass the sword to him. Since he was in anger, he kicked Yu Wenyan away. âDonât even come close to me!â He warned his first uncle.
Xiaoming placed his hand on Lóng Weiâs soldier and asked him to calm down. âI will give the execution order for Yu Wenyan,â Xiaoming stated.
âI want to kill him with my own hands,â Lóng Wei was desperate now. He yanked Xiaomingâs hand away and stepped toward the soldier when Xiaoming caught his arm.
He stood in front of Lóng Wei and held both of his arms.
âDid the Crown Prince not hear what his father said? Yu Wenyan was his loyal,â Lóng Wei asserted.
âYou will not want your maternal family to hate you more. We all are concerned for your future safety. Let me handle the matter from here. Yu Wenyan will be executed. Brother Lóng Wei should not get involved anymore. Let me do my duty as the Crown Prince,â Xiaoming said and succeeded in calming down Lóng Wei.
âGeneral Hei, send a messenger to the Yu Residence and tell them that Yu Wenyan will be executed in the central ground of the main market,â Xiaoming commanded. Hei Chengxi bowed and walked out of the prison.
Yu Wenyan didnât plead anymore and kept weeping.