His Rui

"You can't go there."

General Li said mercilessly.

Li Rui's eyes lowered silently as she licked her lips to hide the hurt in her eyes from her father.

Did he even know that she would feel guilty for whole her life because despite being capable of saving she could not save a child's life who was yet to see so many things in his life?

But what could she do?

At this moment, she felt the hand around her hand tightening its grip.

"Rui"

The deep voice fell in her ears. Only then did she remember that Xi Ying had been standing by her side all while. 

Did he also hear everything?

As she raised her head to look at her husband with an indifferent face that didn't show the thoughts inside her heart, she found him already looking at her, that too with a determined and intense look in his eyes.

"Do what your heart says. Don't fear anything. As your husband, I will always support your decisions."

Perhaps Xi Ying didn't know what effect his words had at such a moment.

These few words, at this moment, warmed Li Rui's heart like anything. She suddenly felt that she was not alone. The time when she is seeking her father's support, she didn't get any from him but she did it get from the man from whom she had never expected anything.

Rui doesn't blame her father. She knew that he must have some reasons behind his decisions but she would have been more understanding if he would have told her those reasons. Perhaps both of them could find a solution to that problem together.

But her father had never told her anything and she had never forced him to tell her anything.

"She will not go."

Came General Li's voice from her other side. Without even looking at his father, she knew that he must be looking at her husband this moment with a cold face but Xi Ying's face remained unmoved. He lazily glanced at General Li and said

"General Li, why do I feel like you do not understand your daughter at all?"

Li Rui's eyes flickered when she heard his words.

Did he understand her when even her own father couldn't?

As if Xi Ying read the question in her eyes, he nodded his head while stroking the soft hand in his own with his thumb gently.

How could he not? He did understand her that much if not fully.

She looked cold and indifferent towards anything…even more than him…sometimes even he can't read her thoughts.

But her heart was the softest he had ever seen. She can't see her people suffering but she doesn't want to see other people in pain also…at least not the innocent ones.

Everything affected her heart but she hid it very skillfully.

Even now when she clearly wants to save the young Prince she silently hid her hurt and thoughts just because her father refused.

Such a Rui made Xi Ying's heart hurt and stuffy.

He couldn't help but wonder just how many times she had done the same thing before….where she was not allowed to do what she wished and after that, she didn't complain but remained sensibly silent.

He doesn't want her to do the same now. When he was by her side, then she just needed to listen to her heart. He wants her to live a peaceful, carefree life by his side. And for that, Xi Ying knew that he would have to let Li Rui fly in her own sky…it was his choice what he wanted to do and he had chosen to fly by her side to protect her silently.

Rui was meant to be not to be restrained. 

Standing between her father and husband, now it was Li Rui's choice what she wanted to do. Should she listen to her father or should she do what her husband was saying…listen to her heart which was desperately urging her to go and save that child?

-----

"Have you ground everything in a proper amount, Sun Chao?"

Imperial Physician Xu asked his apprentice who nodded his head.

With a sight, Imperial Physician Xu couldn't help but think of Princess Consort who was crying hysterically to not let the young Prince go through this cure.

"She is actually right in her place. If it is my own child, then even after being a physician I would not have taken this risk, especially if I have the power of finding the best physician for my child."

Sun Chao looked at his master and then moved his eyes back to the pot in his hands in which he was grinding the herbs.

He knew what his master was talking about. He had been standing behind the crowd of people around the young prince but he had heard everything.

He could also feel the trace of loss inside his heart because among those people his eyes intentionally or unintentionally had searched for one woman whom he couldn't see.

"Then why did you tell Your Highness about the cure, Master?"

He asked his master to divert his mind somewhere else.

Imperial Physician Xu's face was very serious as he looked at his apprentice.

"That's my duty, Sun Chao. To tell everything about a disease and its cure is my duty. It is their choice what they will choose."

Although Imperial Physician Xu said those words. In the end, he also muttered under his breath.

'Another Prince ready to sacrifice his child just for a valueless title.'

Imperial Physician Xu's face was grim and upset as he rubbed his white beard and stared out of the window of the room.

Sun Chao clearly heard his words and knew that his master was upset but he couldn't say anything.

He glanced at his master's wrinkled forehead and upset face. It is difficult to understand as to why after working for so many years in the Imperial Palace, his master has not been used to seeing all this.

Even he had been used to seeing innocent ones being sacrificed for the power so now he didn't feel anything.

It was only one woman who could move his heart.

Only her sorrow had made him upset.

But unfortunately, she was out of his reach.