Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Chapter 643  Candied fruit stick [Bonus chapter]

Qizhen asked Lóng Wei to read the message left by Yuze for him. However, seeing the silence on Lóng Wei's face, he decided not to pressure him.

"Did Father read what is inside it?" Lóng Wei asked Qizhen.

"Only the first line," Qizhen replied. "It addresses you," he said and sat down on the deck. He found Lóng Wei standing silent.

"Why don't you read it?" Qizhen inquired him. He took out the bamboo flute from the waistband and traced his fingers over it.

"I wonder what Yuze has written in it. I am curious and at the same time, I fear the pain it will give me after I read it," Lóng Wei said and shifted his gaze at his father.

"Did you not always want to know Monk Yuze's last thoughts for you? There is not a single day when you have not missed him. You may tell everyone you are doing better, but only I know how much it hurts you," Qizhen said and lifted his head to look at Lóng Wei.

He averted his gaze from Qizhen and decided to check the last message from Yuze.

"Lóng Wei,

I hope after I leave this world, you will understand everything. The meaning of your destiny and the path you are meant to walk on. You will get the answers to every question. As a monk, I was taught and trained to detach myself from the world. However, with you, an emotional attachment was somewhere involved. Yuze will always be by your side and he knows you will keep fulfilling your duties.

Always remember you are the Dragon's Son. I wish for your happiness ahead."

Lóng Wei folded the paper and smiled a little. Qizhen noticed that smile and brought the flute close to his mouth.

"Do you want to listen to your father playing ths flute?" Qizhen asked.

"Yes."

Qizhen startes playing the flute while Lóng Wei looked at his father.

After Lóng Wei put the folded paper in the inner pocket of his robe, he sat next to his father and listened to him.

'I am finally happy, Yuze. I am the Dragon's Son,' Lóng Wei told himself in his mind.

~~~~~~~

Chang Shi looked at Ai Fen, who was going through the corridor of the palace with the Third Princess. He had a bamboo slip in his hand, which he got from Qiu Mu earlier.

Ai Fen's eyes fell on him and she slowed down her steps. She passed a smile to Chang Shi and told Xiaolian she would see her later.

Quickly descending the stairs, Ai Fen reached the ground. A few servants walked in between them while holding the large baskets in their hands.

After the way got cleared, Ai Fen walked up to Chang Shi, who bowed to her.

"How are you? You came to the palace after a long time," Ai Fen said.

"I came last week, Your Highness. It wasn't a long time," Chang Shi affirmed. "How is Her Highness doing?" He asked.

"I am well," Ai Fen replied and asked him where he was.

"I had some work," Chang Shi replied. He didn't go into details about his work.

"So, are you free? I didn't go outside for a week. Do you have to pick medicinal herbs today?" Ai Fen inquired him.

"I picked up yesterday morning," Chang Shi answered.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you," Ai Fen said.

"Princess Ai Fen got injured the last time she went with me," Chang Shi asserted.

"It was such a minor bruise," Ai Fen said. "Take me to the market. I have not gone there for a long time," she expressed her desire.

"Princess Ai Fen should inform her mother first," Chang Shi advised her.

"Mother will not say anything. She knows if you'll accompany me, I will be safe," Ai Fen asserted and her eyes landed on the bamboo slip in Chang Shi's hand.

"Do you have work to do?" Her eyes met his gaze again.

"Not today. My work is over," Chang Shi replied. He told Ai Fen that they should go before the night fell. Ai Fen hummed and left with him to the market.

Huang Xi, who was heading to his home, ended up seeing them getting into the carriage. He curled his fingers and his brows furrowed together.

Upon reaching the market, Chang Shi extended his hand out for Ai Fen to get out of the carriage. She held his hand and stepped down.

Her eyes shimmered to see the decorations, mostly the red, and yellow lanterns hanging. The market looked crowded because the mid-autumn festival was near.

Ai Fen saw many groups of ladies walking to the shops to purchase dresses and other accessories for them. However, she already had those things in the palace.

Chang Shi noticed how she was glancing at the stalls, contemplating something. He asked her if she would like to buy anything.

"I have all those things in the palace," Ai Fen stated.

"Princess Ai Fen should try those Tanghulu, the red candied fruit stick," Chang Shi said.

"Is that safe to eat?" Ai Fen asked.

"Of course. So many people eat that," Chang Shi stated.

Ai Fen looked at the stall and the people surrounding it. "I would like to eat then," she said and looked at Chang Shi. They went ahead and he bought two sticks for them.

Ai Fen thanked him and started eating. The taste was heavenly and she quickly finished one stick. She asked Chang Shi if he could buy one more. He bought another fruit candied stick for Ai Fen.

After eating it, they both reached the river bridge, which had a lot of movement on it. In the evening, the lantern yellow light illuminated the bridge.

They both stopped at the center of the bridge on the right side. Ai Fen looked at the riverboat in which many people were seated. A smile appeared on her lips to see that.

They ended up hearing the conversation of a group of young women, discussing their marriages when Ai Fen recalled the proposal, which she rejected last week.

"The King had seen a proposal for me, but I refused," Ai Fen told Chang Shi and looked at him.

Chang Shi didn't get the right words to say to her.

Ai Fen had hoped he would say something to her. She thought they had chemistry between them. But his silence didn't give her enough courage to speak up and ask him.

"What kind of husband does Her Highness want?" Chang Shi kept his voice low.

"Like you," Ai Fen answered.

Chang Shi stopped blinking for a few seconds. He recalled Lóng Wei's advice and decided to tell her what he thought of her. But he could not tell about his feelings in front of so many people. So, he politely asked Ai Fen to follow him.