Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

475 Better than dying

Tianjie looked at Song Jia’s hands when she asked him what he was looking for in her palms.

“Nothing,” Tianjie replied and looked into her eyes. “It is hard to believe that I followed my heart to be with you,” he stated and smiled at her.

Song Jia smiled back at him and lowered her eyes. “No man ever told me that he wants me to be his wife. All wanted me to be their mistress,” she said and lowered her eyes. “I am grateful to His Highness for not being like the other men. All my life, I have danced in front of people and gained their appreciation, but no one ever seemed genuine to me,” she stated.

“Why do you not tell me about your life till now?” Tianjie asked her.

“Will His Highness listen?” Song Jia asked.

“I want to know everything about you. I want to know the true Song Jia. I want to hear what she was and how she turn out to be such a graceful dancer,” Tianjie said earnestly. “Tell me about you,” he caressed her hands.

“I belonged to a poor family. We were so poor that sometimes we did not have a one-time meal. Father would do some chores in the landlord’s house sometimes while the other times, he would go to the village magistrate’s house for the work. My father was accused once of stealing a precious jewel from the magistrate’s house. Later, my Father and Mother were forcefully dragged to the village’s main ground, where they were beaten to death. I ran away as my mother told me to before dying and I joined a group of dancers. From that day, I became a dancer and performed at various events.”

She looked at him and told him how her dance swayed the hearts of men and it became her source of living. “It was better than dying in poverty or being thrown into a brothel house. I received many presents from all sections of people. Small or big never mattered to me, but I refused because if I accepted a present then, that man would have established authority over me,” Song Jia explained to him.

“His Highness must be thinking about why I accepted Lord Li’s residence and choose to stay there. That was not my choice, but it was what he donate in the name of Dragon’s Castle along with a good amount of money. The Dragon Castle manages the biggest group of dancers in the kingdom and since they took care of me, I did not refuse Lord Li not to give me that residence,” Song Jia answered Tianjie’s questions about which he was curious.

.....

“How could you be so different and so strong, Song Jia? It must be tough to survive when all those things happen to you. I cannot even imagine how many difficulties you underwent all these times,” Tianjie said and pulled her into a hug. His hand went to the back of her head and he caressed it.

Song Jia closed her eyes and after a while, when Tianjie pulled away, she peered into his eyes.

“Your Highness, if I am coming in the way of your ambitions, then you must think once again about being with me. I want His Highness’ growth. I will be happy to hear his success from the far,” Song Jia enunciated. She did not want Tianjie to forget his aim because of her.

“I told you already that I will only marry you. I will not let our love be unrequited. If I want something, I do anything to have it,” Tianjie asserted. “I could not talk with Father today because the First Princess is getting married. I will talk with Father tomorrow about us,” he informed Song Jia.

“Trust me. I will take you to the palace as my wife only,” Tianjie affirmed.

“Hmm.” Song Jia kept her faith in his. However, she was anxious thinking the King might punish Tianjie for marrying a dancer. She had the thought to run away too, but then, she did not want to hurt Tianjie’s feelings for her.

“His Highness should return to the palace before the rain falls,” Song Jia said as she saw the dark clouds gathering in the sky.

“I will go later,” Tianjie said.

Song Jia shook her head and told Tianjie to go. “It will be difficult to ride the horse once it rains,” she stated.

“Fine. I will leave if you kiss me here,” Tianjie brought his finger above his lips.

Song Jia shied to hear that. “His Highness’s request Song Jia cannot fulfill,” she said and lifted her eyelids.

“Then, I will spend the night here,” Tianjie stated.

Song Jia’s brows drew close and she pursed her lips tightly before opening her mouth to speak, “Everyone will look for the Third Prince if he does not go in the night.”

“No one will,” Tianjie lied to her.

Song Jia asked Tianjie to close his eyes.

“Why?” He asked in confusion. “Do not be shy. We already kissed twice,” Tianjie stated.

“Then, I will not do it,” Song Jia and moved her head away.

Tianjie grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. She gazed at him as he held her chin. “You left no way for me. I will take my kiss and then will leave,” Tianjie said and leaned down. Their noses touched and their lips were only a hair breadth away to be touched.

He looked at her eyes, then lips, and then again eyes. “You are so beautiful,” Tianjie tucked her hair behind her ear and his fingers remained tangled in those fringes before his lips met hers. He moved them slowly and the hand beneath her chin was now on her arm and then slowly reached her hand.

Their fingers intertwined together as the kiss intensified. His hand on her head pulled her closer as he deepened it. He gently pulled away while he kept stroking her hair. “That was one wonderful kiss, Song Jia,” Tianjie said and they both smiled together. They stayed that way for a few more minutes before Song Jia urged him to leave. The weather was turning darker and she wanted him to reach the palace without getting soaked in the rain.

“Take care of yourself. I will come tomorrow,” he stated and then left for the palace.

As soon as Tianjie reached the palace, the rain downpoured. “I got saved,” he said as he reached his manor’s corridor when Shi Rang quickly came to him.

“Where was His Highness?” Shi Rang asked worriedly while keeping his head low.

“What happened?” Tianjie was bewildered to see his reaction.

“The Crown Prince was searching for the Third Prince,” Shi Rang informed.

“Oh, why?” Tianjie questioned. “Where is the Crown Prince?” he inquired.

“The Crown Prince is in your chamber. He has been waiting for over two hours. I think His Royal Highness has an important matter to discuss with the Third Prince,” Shi Rang stated.

Tianjie frowned to hear that and rushed to his chamber. When he walked in, he found Xiaoming on the broad chair.

“Forgive me, Your Royal Highness. I was outside,” Tianjie said and lowered his eyes.

“Does Brother Tianjie know that Jianjun wanted to take Song Jia as his mistress?” The sudden question of Xiaoming shocked Tianjie. How did Xiaoming find out about it? Tianjie pondered.