Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

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 Wei’s 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.

“How was the night?” Lóng Wei asked as he halted in front of Qiu Zedong.

He raised his head and looked at Lóng Wei. “If I wanted I could have killed you at the very moment when you were born,” Qiu Zedong stated.

“I know,” Lóng Wei said and bent down. He got on his knees and looked into his eyes. “You should not have brought me up,” he asserted.

Qiu Zedong chuckled. “If only I had found out that Yuze was the mastermind, I would have done that long ago,” he affirmed.

“If I hadn’t killed Yuze, I would have never done this,” Lóng Wei said while gritting his teeth. He wanted Qiu Zedong to admit his crime.

“Why don’t 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?” Qiu Zedong questioned him.

“Not anymore,” Lóng Wei replied. “I told you clearly that your death will not be easy,” he muttered.

.....

“If I run away from prison, your wife’s life will come in danger. If only Li Hua hadn’t married you, you would have been in my control all your life. So, you should make sure to kill me,” Qiu Zedong proclaimed. Lóng Wei strangled him and the veins on Qiu Zedong’s forehead became visible.

“You are not in a state to speak before me. Don’t you think you should beg for forgiveness?” Lóng Wei shrieked at him and let go of Qiu Zedong’s neck. He gasped for air while coughing.

“Who told you that my mother is my father’s betrothed?” Lóng Wei asked.

Qiu Zedong chuckled and with an evil smile said, “I will not tell you about this. That person will become the key to your destruction. How will you save Li Hua then?”

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.

“I have found out who did it, Brother Lóng Wei,” 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. “Who did it?” Lóng Wei asked.

“It was Brother Lóng Wei’s uncle. General Hei arrested him in the morning. Please come with me,” Xiaoming asserted and turned to leave.

“How 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?!” Qiu Zedong asked his son.

“Father was also my pride once. He should not have captivated a woman and forced her to hate her own child. I didn’t betray my father. I only did what is right,” 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.

“Which one informed your father about my mother?” Lóng Wei asked as he approached the Crown Prince.

“Yu Wenyan, your first uncle,” 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.

“Why did you do it?” Lóng Wei asked.

Yu Wenyan lowered his head as he was embarrassed to answer.

“Answer, Yu Wenyan!” Xiaoming said with a stern tone.

“R-reward,” Yu Wenyan said in a low voice.

“How much did Qiu Zedong offer you?” Lóng Wei asked.

“A government official position with a good salary and other benefits,” Yu Wenyan replied.

“How could you do this to your own sister!?” Xiaoming loudly said when Lóng Wei asked Hei Chengxi to give the sword to him.

Ye Wenyan swiftly grabbed Lóng Wei’s legs and started pleading with him to spare his life.

“Did you not hear me, General Hei?” Lóng Wei scrunched his brows and extended his hand out.

“My nephew, please forgive me.” Yu Wenyan was crying and he didn’t let go of Lóng Wei’s feet.

“Prince Lóng Wei cannot kill him,” Hei Chengxi said. “His father doesn’t want him to take anyone’s life,” he asserted.

“Tell your master not to order me,” 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. “Don’t even come close to me!” He warned his first uncle.

Xiaoming placed his hand on Lóng Wei’s soldier and asked him to calm down. “I will give the execution order for Yu Wenyan,” Xiaoming stated.

“I want to kill him with my own hands,” Lóng Wei was desperate now. He yanked Xiaoming’s 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.

“Did the Crown Prince not hear what his father said? Yu Wenyan was his loyal,” Lóng Wei asserted.

“You 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,” Xiaoming said and succeeded in calming down Lóng Wei.

“General 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,” Xiaoming commanded. Hei Chengxi bowed and walked out of the prison.

Yu Wenyan didn’t plead anymore and kept weeping.