586 Could not see her smile
Lóng Wei looked at the knife which Li Hua handed him earlier. âWhat to do with it?â He asked and then looked at the kitchenâs slab on which spring onions and some vegetables were placed.
âDoes His Highness know how to cut the spring onions?â Li Hua asked.
âI never did this kind of task, but I can try,â Lóng Wei stated and looked at the knife once more when Li Hua took it from him.
âHis Highness should not do it if he doesnât know. He can rest in the room. I will prepare the dinner,â Li Hua opined.
âBut if you do not let me try, how will I know? You can show me once,â Lóng Wei suggested to him.
âPrince Lóng Wei, it will take a lot of time then. We all are hungry,â Feng Lao said, who had come to the kitchen a minute ago.
He stepped up and picked up the apron from the shelf. He wore it and took the knife from Li Hua. âYour Highness, why donât you watch me and learn?â Feng Lao asked. Li Hua liked his suggestion and told them she would cook another main dish while they should cook the noodles.
âDo you know cooking?â Lóng Wei asked Feng Lao.
âHe knows. My second brother and he always used to cook together if we would gather in their house,â Li Hua answered in excitement as she reminisced about the good old days.
.....
Lóng Wei didnât like that Feng Lao knew about cooking while he didnât even know the basics. He saw Li Hua going to the other side.
Feng Lao told Lóng Wei how to cut the vegetables, and it appeared tiring for him. He didnât listen to any of his explanations. His entire focus was on Li Hua, whom a servant was helping.
Feng Lao noticed that Lóng Wei didnât listen to him and looked in the direction where he gazed at.
âYour Highness!â Feng Lao pronounced. Lóng Wei looked at him. âCan His Highness fill the cauldron with water?â He inquired.
âDo it yourself. I will see you at dinner. I am not made for this work,â Lóng Wei said and left the kitchen.
âDid he get angry at me?â Feng Lao murmured.
Lóng Wei went to see his father in his room. He pushed the door in lightly and walked in. He saw him standing in front of the large window and looking outside.
Qizhen heard the footsteps and turned slightly to check. âLóng Wei!â A smile appeared on his lips to see his son. Lóng Wei walked up to him and stood next to his father.
âDid your tiredness go away?â Lóng Wei asked.
âYes.â âI recalled my youthful days when I came here on my fatherâs order,â Qizhen said and smiled.
âWhy didnât Father fight against Qiu Zedong? Why did he accept his defeat so easily?â Lóng Wei asked.
âThe disciples of Yuze turned out to be strong. Xiwan and I were trained by Yuze. Father was also one of his disciples, so how did he get defeated so easily?â
Qizhen fidgeted with her fingers and then looked out of the window. âI failed to understand Qiu Zedongâs might. I didnât know he would conspire against me. As you said to me many times, I acted naively and my kindness to him destroyed everything. By the time when I asked Hei Chengxi to give Zedong my location, Yu Junâs life was already in danger. Even if I wanted to kill Zedong, I could not.â
Qizhen took a deep breath of regret. All his knowledge went to waste. âI met your mother at a fair in the market. There was no verbal communication. I saw her looking at some silk ribbons with her friends,â Qizhen said and smiled.
âWhy did Father not reveal to the officials, the ministers, and to the people that you had a woman?â Lóng Wei asked. âI heard from Hei Chengxi how they were suspicious of you not taking a woman from a noble class,â he asserted.
âLóng Wei, two months I spent with your mother. I wanted to reveal it, but I was unaware of the schemings waiting for me. Then my priority changed to save you two. I had married her privately as well, but because the situation wasnât right I couldnât tell anyone about it. I regret my decision of not announcing it the day I saw her,â Qiu Qizhen said and his eyes turned misty.
âEverything happens for a reason,â Lóng Wei stated. âIf it was revealed who your wife would be, then I would not be standing in front of you.â
He lifted his hand and rested it on his fatherâs shoulder. âI was curious to know, thatâs why I asked. It must be painful for Father,â Lóng Wei said and patted Qizhenâs shoulder.
He lowered his hand and continued, âWhat was my motherâs reaction when she found out she was pregnant?â Lóng Wei asked.
âShe was above the clouds and told me what she would do if it were a boy or a girl. She loved you more than her life and decided to bear that painful life in the palace,â Qizhen said.
âSadly, I could not see her smile in happiness. She had the most beautiful smile in the world. I always wanted to say it to her, but I could never. Probably because of my ego,â Lóng Wei said, and tears appeared at the edges of his eyes. He used his thumb to wipe them.
Lóng Wei took a deep breath and challenged his father to a sword fight. Qizhen amusedly glanced at him. âI want to experience how a son learns things from his father. I never had that experience,â Lóng Wei stated. âAlso, I want to have fun sword fighting with Father.â
His bright smile was enough to show his zeal for it.
âFather, donât get defeated by your son tomorrow,â Lóng Wei said.
âI didnât pick up the sword for years. So, I may lose,â Qizhen stated.
âDonât say that. Who knows you are still better at it,â Lóng Wei said.