Chapter 156
156 Return the money that I’ve lost
Liu Jin Yu kept struggling while being tied to the ropes. But her efforts went in vain. Eunuch Lishi had his eyes fixed on her all the time while two other bodyguards were also present in the chamber.
But why did they bring her here? Did any of the Princes want to share a night with her!? She widened her eyes and gulped in fear. It all happened because of that man, who chased her in the broad daylight.
“There is no use to struggle, Young Lady,” Eunuch Lishi told her, who glared into her eyes. A maidservant came inside and informed Eunuch Lishi about the Crown Prince. Liu Jin Yu didn’t hear them because of the distance.
Eunuch Lishi turned to look and waited for the Crown Prince to enter. Liu Jin Yu heard the door sliding and realized that the Prince had entered. She was unable to see her face because he was near the pillar and only his left arm was visible to her.
Eunuch Lishi walked to Xiaoming and told her that he kept his eyes on the woman whom he asked to bring to the chamber. Xiaoming praised him and asked him to leave along with the two bodyguards.
“Your Royal Highness, but what do you want to do with her?” Eunuch Lishi whispered.
“I have to investigate her,” Xiaoming replied and asked Eunuch Lishi not to let this out. Eunuch Lishi assured the Crown Prince. He blew off the majority of the candles and lanterns in the chamber before leaving with the bodyguards.
Liu Jin Yu found the lights got dimmed in the chamber. She got tense and weird thoughts started to appear in her mind. She was strong enough to fight with ten men at once, but if she would fight in the palace, then only she would be harmed.
Her eyes darted to the silhouette of the Crown Prince, who still had not come to her side. She saw his shadow and found him removing his clothes. It was a dead-end for her. For the first time in her life, she felt like crying. No, even if she would have to die, she would not let anything happen to her body. She would accept the death with dignity instead of sharing a bed with an unknown man.
.....
She slightly rose her head as the Crown Prince approached her. Shock prevailed in her mouth when she recognized that face from the night two days ago.
She had robbed a Prince!
Wait! The man who was chasing her earlier was the same Prince. He had this mustache over his lips and the bamboo hat on his head that she was unable to recognize him. But now, when he was so close to her, she easily recognized him.
Xiaoming got on his knees and brought his hands behind her head. She stiffened at her place. Xiaoming removed the cloth from her mouth which prevented her from speaking earlier.
Xiaoming finally got to see her face without the mask. He found this strange expression on her face as if she was curious about something.
Xiaoming lowered his hand and grasped her arm to turn her away. He started to untie the rope from her hands.
“Did you recognize me?” Xiaoming asked.
“Yes, Yo-your H-h-high-highness.” Liu Jin Yu found her voice trembling in fear. Xiaoming chuckled and freed her hands from the rope. She twisted her hands and brought them to the front. Her wrists had turned red and deep marks had formed because of the rope.
She quickly brought her feet closer and untied the rope from them. Xiaoming still stayed on his knee. His right hand rested on his right knee as he peered into her eyes.
Liu Jin Yu immediately got on her both knees and bowed before him. “Forgive me, Your Highness, for that day. I beg for His Highness mercy,” Liu Jin Yu started to apologize. It was the only way in her eyes to prevent herself from getting punished. Her hair clip loosened in her hair and it fell to the floor.
Xiaoming smiled and stood up. He asked her to get up. She immediately complied with his demand and kept her gaze low. Xiaoming settled on the broad chair and rested his hands on the bolsters on the two sides.
“Liu Jin Yu robbed the Crown Prince of the Kingdom that night,” Xiaoming finally revealed the truth to her. She gaped at him and was stunned to find that she was in front of the Crown Prince.
“Your Royal Highness, I beg for his kind mercy on me,” Liu Jin Yu again apologized and bowed. Her forehead again hit the floor. “I will return His Royal Highness’s belongings to him,” she said.
“How will you return them to me? Even if you work for hundred years, you won’t be able to give me the price of those precious jewels,” Xiaoming stated. He decided to play with her. “It is better for you to accept the death,” he tried to intimidate her.
“Your Royal Highness, I will return them to you. I promise,” Liu Jin Yu said with a confident tone.
“I already brought them back from Muchén,” Xiaoming said which shocked Liu Jin Yu. “The cost rose because of the amount I paid to him,” he asserted.
“Also, you committed another grave crime, Liu Jin Yu. You pushed me away in front of so many people. You tried to ridicule my strength,” Xiaoming affirmed.
“Never! I can never do this with His Royal Highness. That time I was too scared of being caught. Please forgive me this time, Your Royal Highness. I will do anything that His Royal Highness tells me to do. But please don’t punish me to death,” Liu Jin Yu requested again.
“What will you do for me?” Xiaoming asked.
Liu Jin Yu lifted her head to look at him. “Anything, Your Royal Highness,” Liu Jin Yu said.
Xiaoming rose to his feet and again walked to her. He asked her to get up, and immediately, Liu Jin Yu complied with his command.
“Return the money that I’ve lost while taking back my precious jewel,” Xiaoming said, and he amusingly smiled at her.