His Rui

Li Chen's face had a speechless expression while Li Qiang was frowning at his wife's words.

It was the first time she had something like this and he didn't like it even a bit…especially after knowing what Li Chen had done against Li Clan because of his immaturity.

In his eyes, Li Chen deserved whatever he was getting.

However, Li Rong didn't seem to realize the unhappy faces of her son and her husband and continued

"Qiang, did you know about this? Why will my son go to the border as an ordinary soldier when he is a son of Li Clan? Why should my son suffer? Go and ask your brother if he did this because he is angry with whatever Li Na and Li Caihong did to Li Rui…"

Li Rong started crying at the end of her words and continued

"If he says yes then I would go there and ask for forgiveness but ask him not to vent his anger on my son."

Li Rong continued to sob, however this time she never felt her husband's arms surrounding her. She didn't even hear a word of comfort. Confused, Li Rong raised her head only to find her husband looking at her with cold eyes.

Li Qiang was very angry with whatever Li Rong said about General Li and he couldn't stop himself from telling her even though he had promised General Li otherwise. 

"Your son had done something to deserve this, Li Rong. Li Heng didn't do anything wrong by punishing him like this."

When Li Rong was about to say something, he raised his hand indicating her to stay silent, and continued

"He stole our ancestors' books from the study room and then gave it to General Yun just because that damn General promised him that he would help Li Chen in becoming the next general."

Li Chen's head was lowered as he heard his father talking about him with a  disgusted expression on his face.

His heart was full of pain but he had to make himself understand that he deserved all this. He didn't have any right to pity himself. 

Li Rong was too shocked after hearing her husband's words.

It took her a very long time to register what he said.

In this short period of time, Li Qiang who could not even bear to see Li Chen's face waved his hand. In other words, he wanted him to get out of the room.

Li Chen understood and silently stepped out of the room without saying anything. 

He felt too shameful about staying there and seeing his mother's shocked face.

When Li Rong came out of her trance, she slowly slid down to the floor. Li Qiang immediately climbed down from the bed and held her body.

"Rong'er"

He whispered softly as he held his wife's body and tried to make her sit on the bed. Li Rong didn't try to stop Li Qiang.

After she was seated on the bed, she asked him in a daze.

"Was Second Younger Brother (Li Heng) angry at Li Chen?"

Li Rong was very scared. Li Qiang could tell it from her trembling hands.

Only now Li Rong remembered the wounds and cuts she had seen on her son's face. She had thought that it was just from the fight that he did for practice with soldiers. She would have scolded him for doing that, however, her attention got diverted from when she heard that her son was going to the borders.

It was Li Chen who stole the book and gave it to General Yun.

Li Rong felt her heart sinking inside her chest.

Her son did such a thing. She would not be surprised if General Li suddenly disowned his son from the Li Clan.

"Q..Qiang, Li Chen…what will he do?"

Li Rong thought that now even her son's future didn't have any aspects. Since he had done such a thing, who would dare to believe him with the clan's matters?

Li Rong didn't have any wish for Li Chen to become the next general but she wanted her son to be respected just like her husband was even if he was not the head of the clan like General Li.

"Those cuts on Li Chen's face …was it done by Second Younger Brother?"

Li Qiang looked away from his wife's face and answered stiffly

"They were done by me. I beat him after he confessed his deeds."

Li Rong eyes went wide and she held her husband's sleeves tightly as she whispered

"Qiang, how can you do this? He is your own son…how can you be so cruel to your own son?"

Li Qiang was now fed up. He suddenly stood up from his kneeling position and said firmly

"What Li Chen did was very wrong, Li Rong. Because of him, our clan would have been destroyed completely without leaving any trace if Prime Minister Xi had not helped us. He is alive because he is my son."

Li Rong had never seen her husband behaving like this so she was very scared. However, when she thought about her children her fear became less and she said fearlessly.

"Qiang, you …you need to understand. You said that Li Chen did all this because he wanted to become the next General. You should be happy that our son wants to take such a big responsibility. He wants to shoulder our clan's biggest responsibility. Shouldn't you as a father feel happy for him and support him?"

Li Qiang was left speechless by his wife's words.

He could now only see a mother who loved her children just too much …so much that it has now become a poison for her children.     

His children …they needed to stay away from Li Rong.

She could only see what they wanted but couldn't see if their wants are wrong or right.

He didn't know if he should admire Li Rong's motherly love or he should feel distressed seeing his wife's weak self. 

"Rong'er, from today on, every matter regarding our children will be taken by me only. I want you not to be involved in their matters unless you want to see my dead face."

Li Qiang could only announce this firmly.

Li Rong's face went pale. She couldn't accept this so she just said in anguish whatever came to her mind.

"It is because of you, Qiang.. It is because of you Li Chen did all that.