Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

She knitted her brows to see a large tent house and called for the old lady. Cha Ying went to the grandmother’s room and asked her about the tent, and three horses.

“Three merchants have come and they wanted to rest for a night here. Since the city is a little far, and they were tired, they requested me to let them stay here for a night,” the old lady asserted and again started to sew.

“Grandma, what if they harm us? Why did you let strangers put their tent here? They could have stayed somewhere else,” Cha Ying scolded the old lady.

“They didn’t look dangerous to me. They are young, handsome men. We didn’t have to be scared of them,” the old lady said and asked Cha Ying to wash her face. “How much did you work today?” She worriedly asked.

“Nothing much. Didn’t Grandma find out I returned early today? I go and wash up. I will take a rest for some time,” Cha Ying said. The old lady nodded her head and told her she would place the water bucket in the bathhouse.

“I will do it,” Cha Ying said and asked her to continue her work. Before leaving, she handed the old lady the money she earned today.

“Ayee. You should not give your money to me,” the old lady refused to take them.

Cha Ying got on her knees and put the thirty teals on the small circular floor table. “Grandma has let me live with her. She is like my family,” Cha Ying said with a tiny smile. She caressed the hands of the old lady and found how rough her hands were.

.....

The struggle to survive when you had nothing, she never understood it. She was filled with arrogance as well. Cha Ying clearly remembered how she made fun of Liu Jin Yu, who was also a poor woman. However, one thing that she realized was the happiness she got while living this way.

There was no one who would restrict her, question her, and remind her to act like a gentle lady. She stood up and left for the kitchen to heat the water.

After the water heated up, Jin Yu shifted the hot water into the wooden bucket and took it to the bathhouse. She brought a clean pair of clothes from her room before taking a bath.

Cha Ying returned to her room which was not spacious enough. It had one tiny cupboard at one end and a small floor table. She dried her hair using the towel and picked up the mirror from the table to look at her face.

Being a woman, it wasn’t easy for Cha Ying to find work in the city. So, she used to go to work dressed up as a man. Thanks to the physical workout she did for years, she was easily carrying the weights on her back.

Initially, her body had sored, but within a few days, she got used to it. Cha Ying realized how far she had come, but there was one thing that she started to miss in her life.

It was Qiu Mu. The person, who was ready to do anything for her. That day Cha Ying could have gone to him, but she didn’t do that.

If Cha Ying wanted she could have returned to Qinping, but she didn’t. Again the reason was her family. She placed the mirror on the table when heard the sound of the door sliding.

Cha Ying stood straight and turned to look when her eyes widened. The towel from her hand dropped to the floor and she looked at the person before her.

“Prince—”

Before she could have spoken further, Qiu Mu walked up to her. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her hard. Cha Ying placed her hands on his chest to push him away.

But he didn’t let her go. Qiu Mu had gone crazy for her for days. He looked for her everywhere and his restlessness would keep increasing with each passing day.

Qiu Mu longed for her. He regretted not expressing his love properly earlier for her. He blamed himself for letting her leave and didn’t understand what turmoil she was going through in her house.

Cha Ying had surrendered in front of his kisses which showed his yearning for her. Her hands didn’t push him away anymore.

Qiu Mu’s right hand lowered down her cheek and went to her waist. He pulled her up while burying the fingers of his left hand in the curls of her hair. He slowed the movement of his lips when she reciprocated him.

Withdrawing their lips slowly, they gasped for air. Their foreheads touched and their noses rubbed against each other.

“Prince Mu,” Cha Ying finally called his name.

“How could you leave me?” Qiu Mu frowned. His hand again moved to her cheek and he stroked it.

“I missed you, Cha Ying. I cannot express you how much I suffered when I found you had left,” he whispered.

He again captured her lips and this time kissed her gently. Cha Ying gently pushed him away to stop him and peered into his eyes.

“How did Prince Mu find me?” Cha Ying asked.

“I have some smart people, who traced your whereabouts,” Qiu Mu said. “Lóng Wei had seen you running away in a male outfit. How could you do that to me? Did you not think of me for once? I am not blaming you, but I am angry at myself. I should have married you earlier,” he stated.

Cha Ying’s eyes filled with tears. The love of Qiu Mu for her fluttered her heart. She rested her head just below his shoulder. “I did not want to trouble Prince Mu. I thought my father would take advantage of it. Forgive me,” Cha Ying said and started weeping.