His Rui

Inside his study room when his father had declared Li Heng as the winner after a few days, Li Qiang was baffled.

Li Jiang was happy as he didn't mind which elder brother of his won while Li Heng just stupidly stared at his father not even knowing how he won.

However, when his father gave him a paper, he could only obediently take it from him.

It was after Li Heng and Li Jiang left the study room, Li Qiang finally asked his father as to why he chose Li Heng as his heir. 

He was not envious of Li Heng. He was just worried.

At the age of nineteen, Li Qiang knew just how many sacrifices the one who become the head of the clan needs to do. He had seen his father doing all this for so many years. He had seen his m9ther constantly worrying about his father's safety. He had even seen his father on the brink of death many times and he had also missed him during his childhood when he was on the borders fighting to save the country.

After being married, Li Qiang knew actually that it was not something that only he, his brother and his mother tolerated but even his father must have gone through it.

It was just that he never expressed it.

He also missed his wife and children but he had no choice but to put his responsibilities at the first place.

After marrying Li Rong, Li Qiang understood it.

His wife is traumatized by whatever happened with her in her paternal home. Li Qiang doesn't touch her but he slowly and slowly fell in love with her.

He knew that she needs time and he was ready to give it all to her. He missed her whenever he went to the battlefield …sometimes so much that he wished to run back to the Imperial City.

His father also loved his mother and them…sp he must have gone through all that.

It made him realized that just because his father was the head of the clan, he would have to make all these sacrifices.

And he doesn't want his younger brothers go to through the same.

Li Qiang wished to become the head of the clan so that he would never see his brothers at the brink of death before him.

He wouldn't be able to bear that.

But he did not have what the heir of Li Clan needed.

The same words that Li Heng said to Li Chen were said to Li Qiang by his father.

He had understood them at that time and had felt indignant also. 

How was he any less intelligent than his younger brother? 

However, Li Qiang respected his father and his decisions a lot. In his eyes, if his father thought that Li Heng was more capable than him then he was.

There was no doubt in this.

So when at that time, his father made him promise that he would never think of going against his brother for the sake of power, he had promised it without any hesitation.

Now looking at his son, Li Qiang suddenly didn't know what he should say.

He was very disappointed in his children and there was no doubt in that. However, whatever Li Chen had experienced, he had also felt it at some time in his life.

Li Heng becoming the head of the Li Clan despite being the second son brought a lot of mockery to him also.

He remembered how his peers used to make fun of him…pointing their fingers at him how he was less capable than his younger brother and hence lost the right over the inheritance despite being the eldest.

However, he had chosen to shut all of them out of his world.

His world only included his family, his clan, his brothers and he should only be affected by what they thought about him.

Li Qiang had said to himself this many times.

And fortunately, after a lot of his efforts, he really became able to remain indifferent in front of all those pointing fingers at him.

However, his children couldn't do that.

He didn't need to think just who pushed all these thoughts inside his daughters' mind. His wife could never do any such thing.

Li Qiang knew that Li Rong never cared about all these things. Before birthing any of their children, her only wish was to live peacefully with him after their children, it was to give their children a happy life.

It was those people who liked to put nose in others business, who liked to point their fingers and mock him. It was them who made his children like this.

However, he had been successful to avoid all them.

Could he expect his children also to do that?

"How did you even know where the book was?"

Li Qiang was brought out of his trance when he heard Li Heng asking this question to Li Chen.

His pale face also had confusion as he looked at the badly beaten Li Chen.

Yes, how did he get to know where the book was!

Except Li Heng, Li Qiang and Li Jiang no one else knew where this book of war strategies was placed and the three of them knew the importance of this book.

Li Qiang was sure that he never told Li Chen about it and he also knew that his brothers would also not do that.

So could it be that some other person also knew about this?

However, contrary to his expectations, Li Chen didn't say any name. He instead, moved his eyes away from General Li and then glanced at his father.

His red eyes were full of fear and tears.

Li Chen perhaps knew what he did was shameful so he lowered his head and revealed

"Father might not remember this incident. Four nights before the decree of execution was announced, I had come to Father's courtyard and we had drunk wine together."

Li Qiang frowned. He, in fact, seemed to remember this incident. It was strange for Li Chen to ake such a request but he had not refused his son.

What was wrong in drinking some wine with his son?

However as they drunk, Li Chen kept requesting him to accompany, saying that he was missing his all time partner …his elder brother, Li Diu.  So he obliged.

A bad premonition suddenly rose inside his heart as he looked at his son.

Li Chen's shoulders again started to shake and he found himself unable to continue but he had to say.