Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

Yu Jun was seated on the floor mattress. She had the paintbrush in her hand and was making the peonies on the branches of the tree that she had drawn. It was to calm her mind from the turmoil that had begun to happen outside.

Qiu Zedong returned to Qinping after being victorious in the great war of the four kingdoms. In the past three years, Qiu Zedong had won many territories as the great General of the Kingdom and with that, he had also gained the support of many noble families.

“My Lady, the King has come to see you and your son,” the maidservant informed Yu Jun. She had stopped painting as she raised her head.

“I am not interested in meeting His Majesty,” Yu Jun stated and tilted her head to check on Lóng Wei, who was sleeping peacefully in the wooden cradle. It had been three months since Lóng Wei’s birth. Yu Jun was happy that she did not have to see the King for those three months because he had gone to lead a battle.

The maidservant had silently left and in a few seconds, Qiu Zedong entered the chamber.

“You are as rebellious as you were before,” Qiu Zedong’s voice fell in Yu Jun’s ears and she finally looked at him.

She did not greet him, instead, she continued the work that she was doing.

Qiu Zedong fisted his palms and walked up to the cradle. Yu Jun immediately stood up from her place and glared at the King. “Stay away from my child,” Yu Jun stated.

.....

“Yours?” Qiu Zedong chuckled.

He took a step toward Yu Jun and then grabbed a fistful of her hair.

“Ahh,” Yu Jun cried out as she grabbed the wrist of Qiu Zedong.

“Lóng Wei is alive because I let him. So, do not use such language with me,” Qiu Zedong said and let go of her hair. Yu Jun tried to stop him, but Qiu Zedong lifted Lóng Wei in his arms.

“His Majesty will wake the child up,” Yu Jun requested him to keep Lóng Wei down on the cradle.

“Let me see my son. Monk Yuze told me that Lóng Wei is the dragon’s son,” Qiu Zedong affirmed. After he beheld Lóng Wei well, he turned his gaze to Yu Jun, who looked terrified and anxious.

“Yu Jun, since you could not love me the way you loved my dear late elder brother, I want you to do something for Lóng Wei,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

Yu Jun was unable to read those strange facial expressions on Qiu Zedong’s face. She wanted to die the day Qizhen was killed, but because of Lóng Wei she survived. She had to live for Lóng Wei even though her will to stay alive had disappeared long ago. Now, Lóng Wei was born, Yu Jun had a fear that Qiu Zedong might attempt to kill him since he was not his son.

“Your Majesty, let us leave this palace. I promise you that Lóng Wei will live a commoner’s life with me. I will go to the countryside with my son, where nobody can find us. Lóng Wei is merely three months old, Your Majesty,” Yu Jun started to plead with Qiu Zedong.

“Now, you are acting like a submissive woman, Yu Jun,” Qiu Zedong said with an amusing smile.

“You both will live in this palace. Lóng Wei will grow up as my son, but on one condition,” he stated.

“A condition?” Yu Jun frowned and fidgeted with her fingers.

“Never show any affection towards Lóng Wei. You must hate him as much as you can. You must tell him that you never wanted him to get born,” Qiu Zedong pronounced.

“Your Majesty?” Tears rolled over Yu Jun’s cheeks and she looked at Lóng Wei.

“How can you come up with such a condition?” She questioned him.

“Because Qiu Qizhen is Lóng Wei’s father and not me. You are well aware of my hatred toward Qizhen. You should feel lucky that I let you two stay unharmed,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.

“Why did you even force me to be your concubine?” She first gets mad at the King. When she realized that her tone might infuriate the king, she apologized to him.

“I request His Majesty to let us leave this palace. I beg His Majesty not to do this to a mother and a child. You are a father to so many children. You must understand my pleading,” Yu Jun said while speaking informally with him.

“Yu Jun, I am being kind here,” Qiu Zedong said and rested his hand on his chest. “Your lover, Qiu Qizhen, did not care for you once and decided to die. I, on the other hand, gave you both the much-needed protection. Lóng Wei will grow as the prince in the palace. If you do not agree with me, unfortunately, your son has to lose his life today,” he asserted and then took the dagger out from his inner pocket.

Yu Jun felt vulnerable at that moment.

“I want Lóng Wei to hate his mother as he grows up. If Monk Yuze has not made the prophecy, then he would have been dead by now. However, I cannot bear the fact that Lóng Wei’s true father is Qizhen. Decide and tell me what you want for Lóng Wei: an early death or a life like a prince?” Qiu Zedong slowly pulled the dagger out.

Yu Jun grasped Qiu Zedong’s hands and then immediately withdrew them. “I will do what His Majesty wants. Let my son live,” Yu Jun said as tears kept pouring down her eyes.

Qiu Zedong smiled and put the dagger back into his inner pocket. “You made a wise decision, Yu Jun.” He appreciated her decision.

“This should remain a secret between us two. The moment Lóng Wei knew about this, I will kill him in front of your eyes. You must remain cold to him all the time. Your son must suffer because of his father and mother. I will make good use of Lóng Wei,” Qiu Zedong stated with an evil smile. He turned and walked out of the chamber while Yu Jun fell to the floor.

There was no end to Yu Jun’s never-ending pain, which had just begun. She had to live with that. If she had to see Lóng Wei live happily, she must act to hate him all the time.