His Rui

With a tight smile on her lips, Princess Wenling continued what she was saying

"During that time, this princess had some conflicts with Li Rui. Today, this Princess wishes to befriend Li Rui again with a clean heart. Even though Li Rui pushed this one inside the pond, she had also saved me. And the one who saves is always bigger than the one who tries to kill.

Li Rui did both the things but this Princess is ready to forgive her for everything she has done wrong even if it is for stealing the hairpin given by Father Emperor."

"So Li Rui, will you become this princess' friend again?"

After finishing her words, Princess Wenling raised her heart and looked at Li Rui with eyes that were filled with expectation..

However, from the corner of her eyes, she was glancing at Xi Ying.

'Wouldn't he dislike Li Rui more after knowing all this? His heart would lean a bit towards her knowing that she had suffered so much from the woman who was sitting beside her, right?'

However, people couldn't see this. Their hearts were again filled with sympathy for the Princess.

'What is this? It was Li Rui who had a vicious heart and tried to kill Princess. It is she who should bow her head and do all this.'

'True, it is Li Rui who is supposed to do all this rather than the Princess.'

The women started talking and with every moment more and more people started to turn against Li Rui.

Xi Ying was hearing everything. With every word against Li Rui, his eyes were becoming colder and sharper.

'Forgive Li Rui and befriend her again… ha…'

His face was cold as he looked at the Princess for a moment but soon moved his eyes away indifferently. Princess Wenling who had been happy finally seeing his eyes on herself was left disappointed.

Xi Ying glanced at the Emperor who was sitting silently.

If all of them plan to do this then they shouldn't blame him when he will humiliate their dear Princess in front of everyone.

He was about to stand up but his hand was suddenly held by something soft. Xi Ying glanced under the table. It was Li Rui's hand. He raised his head to look at her but found her looking at the Princess.

A moment later, he saw her standing up from the chair.

Li Rui's face was very calm as she raised her dress and walked around the table elegantly. People could not move their eyes away from her when she stood in front of the Princess and bowed her head.

After completing the bow, she stood straight and said

"Many thanks for the proposal, Princess but Li Rui will have to disappoint you by not accepting it."

"Why? Do you have any problem with me, Rui?"

Princess Wenling whispered with tear-filled eyes pretending as if Li Rui's refusal has hurt her very much and everyone came out of their trance.

'So what if she was beautiful, her heart was still vicious.'

'Look at her how she is putting herself in airs. The Princess herself forwarded her hand and she is refusing it shamelessly even after knowing whatever she has done.'

'She should feel grateful that Princess is still ready to become her friend.'

A new round of whispers started making Xi Ying furious.

But he wants to respect Li Rui.

Xi Ying knew that if he tried to restrict Li Rui too much then he would only push her away from himself.

If she has stopped him and wants to deal with everything by herself, then he should give her a chance. 

Li Rui looked in Princess' eyes that were now teary. She could people's eyes on herself. She could hear them talking but she remained calm and composed as she continued

"Rui doesn't have any problem with Princess. Li Rui has the problem with the way Princess put forward the proposal of friendship."

"By accepting Princess' proposal, Li Rui will only accept that she was really at fault for whatever happened fourteen years ago which Li Rui is not ready to do.

Rui had never pushed Princess and had never stolen anything. Even Rui's maid was innocent fourteen years ago, however was never given any chance to prove herself right. So Rui would not take the blame for anything she has never done. Accepting punishment was Rui's respect towards the Imperial Clan and its decisions. Li Rui can't lower down Li Clan's respect by going against the Imperial Clan. However, Li Rui would never accept the accusations that had been put on her."

A proud smile emerged on Xi Ying's lips when Li Rui finished her words.

She was blunt and straightforward. She maintained her dignity and at the same time, she didn't disrespect anyone.

Princess Wenling was startled and silent when Li Rui finished.

'It was true. Rui really didn't steal anything neither her maid. Wasn't it her who had plotted everything to humiliate Rui.'

She had always known this but she only seemed to remember it today.

Rui was really innocent.

In the past fourteen years, the old nanny had manipulated Princess Wenling so much that now she had started to believe lies even after knowing that they were just lies.

As she remembered the scene of the bloodied maid being brought out from the large hall, Princess Wenling face suddenly went pale.   

Actually, she has felt guilty for many days knowing that Li Rui's maid lost her life but with time her guilt started to decrease because she started to believe that it was really the maid's and Li Rui's fault.

At this moment, a voice suddenly interrupted the lingering silence.

"Li Rui, what do you mean by your maid was not given any chance to prove herself innocent?"

Li Rui turned to look at Empress Qin Wenya.

Her calmness made Qin Wenya more furious and she asked more sharply.

"Everyone has seen that the hairpin had fallen from your maid's clothes that day. Your maid herself had accepted that day that she had stolen the hairpin. She had silently accepted the punishment. Why are you now trying to open up this matter? Do you want to say that the Emperor took the wrong decision and punished an innocent? Are you questioning His Majesty's decision? "

The banquet hall went silent at Empress' words.

Now everyone really looked forward to Li Rui's answer.

If she answered 'yes' then she would be going against the Emperor himself. But if she answered 'No' then she would have to accept that it was her maid who had stolen the hairpin.