His Rui

(The scene flashing in Xi Ying's mind continues)

Inside the room, Xi Ying saw a small figure lying on a beautifully furnished bed.

As he stepped forward, a very pale face came into his sight.

Xi Ying swallowed visibly as he sat on the edge of the bed and held the small hand of his son in his large hand.

"Xi Ling"

He called out very gently and Xi Ling immediately opened his eyes as if he was never sleeping deeply.

"Father"

His son's voice was low, weak, and hoarse making him press his lips in a thin line.

Very carefully and gently, he picked his son from the bed and made him sit on his lap. His small body was completely supported by him fearing that Xi Ling would fall.

It was only then he realized just how much weight his son has lost in the past few days. He felt his heart sinking suddenly.

However, when he looked in his son's clean black eyes that still looked very bright, Xi Ying forgot the restlessness inside his heart. 

"Father is looking for a good physician. You will be fine very soon."

Xi Ling didn't say anything. He just looked at his father with a small smile on his lips.

"Father never lies. Why is Father lying today?"

Xi Ling knew that now he won't live anymore.

The question almost made Xi Ying's heartbeat stop because of dread. He looked away from his son's eyes and smile.

Silence lingered inside the room until An San knocked on the door and Xi Ying permitted him to enter.

"Master."

An San just said this and Xi Ying understood that it was something that he didn't want to talk about in front of Xi Ling so he was ready to put Xi Ling back to the bed.

However, as he was about to do so, Xi Ling held his sleeve and whispered

"Father, don't leave Xi Ling alone."

The weak voice made Xi Ying's heart clench and he couldn't put down his son seeing his pleading eyes.

So with Xi Ling on his lap, he asked An San to say what he had wanted to say. 

"Master, An Si had to go and look for some capable physicians."

Xi Ying nodded his head completely knowing that this was not the matter An San had wanted to talk about.

However, he smiled gently in front of his son and said

"See Xi Ling, Father didn't lie to you. You will be fine very soon."

Xi Ying said but he could feel the restlessness inside his heart increasing as he saw the paleness on his son's face increasing with every passing moment.

Xi Ying suddenly looked at his shadow guard coldly and asked him

"An San…what happened in my absence? I just returned today only to see my son in this state. I had left him in your care. Why didn't you inform me if his state was deteriorating like this?"

An San immediately kneeled down on the ground and said 

"Master, Young Master started to remain sick two months ago. I had wanted to inform Master but then I came to know that Master was also injured unconscious so I didn't find any benefit to send the message. Please show mer…"

However, sitting on the bed, Xi Ying's eyes flashed suddenly as he looked at his shadow guard.

"How did you find out I was unconscious?"

An San immediately looked very nervous but since his head was lowered, Xi Ying couldn't see his face.

"My Brother…An Ping told me."

He lied with very difficulty while Xi Ying frowned more deeply.

He had to talk to An Ping.

Did he forget his promise of not having any brother when he had decided to become a shadow guard? The same needed to be told to An San also.

"Any doubt on anyone …who poisoned Xi Ling?"

Xi Ying asked his shadow guard.       

An San's fists were clenched and his eyes were red but then again Xi Ying could never see his expressions.

With his eyes closed, An San lied again.

"No Master. An San couldn't think of any such person."

Xi Ying sighed heavily and suddenly looked very depressed.

But he had to hide it when he felt his son looking at himself.

"What happened? What is Xi Ling thinking?"

He asked his son who had been looking at him constantly.

"Xi Ling has a wish? Will Father complete it?"

Xi Ling whispered softly and Xi Ying immediately nodded his head as he said 

"Of Course, whatever Xi Ling wants, Father will give him." Xi Ying promised his son.

Xi Ling seemed to be happy with this promise as Xi Ying saw a bright smile on his son's face that he had not seen since he had come back.

It made Xi Ying's will firmer to give whatever he would demand.

However, when Xi Ling opened his mouth and told him his wish, Xi Ying's body stilled completely.

"Father, Xi Ling wants to see mother once."

Xi Ling told his father with a hopeful pair of eyes and a bright smile on his lips.

Xi Ying looked away from them unable to find anything to say.

What could he say?

The woman residing in the Plum Courtyard was his son's mother but she never came to see him even once since his birth.

Could he tell his son this?

"Father"

Xi Ying looked at his son again when he heard calling him.

"Father has promised Xi Ling."

That was also true.

Xi Ying had promised his son and now he couldn't back out from his words. So he looked at An San and ordered coldly

"An San, Go to Plum Courtyard and ask Madam to come here at once."

Somewhere inside his heart, Xi Ying suddenly wondered how that woman looked like now.

Has there been any change in her loftiness or snobbishness? Does she still think of herself as the highest and the most important in this world?

Just like she did …when four years ago he had rejected her. Just because she couldn't accept his rejection, she drugged him.

Xi Ying's eyes went colder with every passing moment.

But for his son, he tried to suppress the weird restlessness inside his heart.

However, he suddenly noticed that An San has not moved from his place even a bit and frowned deeply.

"Why are you standing still? Go to Plum Courtyard instantly."

But An San still didn't move.

He just lowered his head and said respectfully.

"Requesting Master to come out and hear this servant once."