His Rui

That night, after Xi Ying came out of his study room with Li Rui, she suddenly asked him

"Ying, That physician…did you find out more about him?"

Xi Ying paused amidst his steps and shook his head lightly as he said.

"The only thing that An Si had found out until now is that he had been an Imperial Physician in the Imperial Palace and he had left the Imperial Palace by his own will."

They continued walking as Xi Ying held Li Rui's hand.

"But why did you suddenly ask this?"

He asked Li Rui curiously.

Li Rui licked her lips lightly and Xi Ying swallowed before looking away. His wife didn't know how her small actions aroused him and he fears to tell her sometimes fearing that she would think there always goes on one thing inside his mind.

"I feel that he can tell us something Important …especially when his leaving the Imperial Palace almost coincides with the time when Noble Consort Shu had died."

A sweet smile graced Xi Ying's lips as he heard his wife continuing.

Their minds worked in sync. What Li Rui was telling him now, he had thought the same when An Si had told him everything.

"The Second Prince seemed to hate the Emperor very much. I noticed the sheer contempt and hatred in his eyes today when you mentioned the Emperor's name. I wonder what the reason is behind this hate. Could it be…ah…"

Li Rui couldn't complete her words.

During her last sentence, a hand suddenly grabbed her waist and she was picked gently from the ground. The next moment, she found herself standing under the shed.

It was the shed of one of the courtyards inside the Xi Manor.

She looked around curiously thinking that Xi Ying must have brought her here for some reason. However, her misunderstanding got cleared very soon when Xi Ying pinched her chin softly and made her look at himself.

The intensity of those black eyes whenever they looked at her always made Li Rui's heartbeat fast unconsciously.

When Xi Ying leaned down and she felt his warm breath on her earlobe, a shiver ran down her spine and she trembled unconsciously.

It was cold …very cold but the only thing that she could feel all over her body was hot.

"My wife is so intelligent. I should reward her for her hard work."

The simple praise felt so seductive in his husky voice that Li Rui felt as if he was saying something else completely. Li Rui's cheek burnt red and she swallowed audibly.

Her hand that was on his chest tried to push him away from a little as she whispered softly.

"Out…we are out…side."

Li Rui closed her eyes in annoyance. Even her voice was trembling and coming out so breathless as if they were doing something else...

"Rui"

When Xi Ying leaned back feeling the push on his chest, Li Rui could see a kind of innocence in his eyes that she had seen in Xi Ling's eyes only.

His eyes had a little pain as he asked her huskily.

"You don't want a reward?"

Caressing her cheek softly, he whispered in a deep voice.

"But I want to give it to you so badly."

"Yes…"

Li Rui was shocked when she heard her own 'Yes'.

This…how did she say it? She looked at the beautiful face in front of her eyes with a shocked face.

However, the brightness in those dark eyes was more enticing than anything. She couldn't even resist anymore as Xi Ying leaned down and smashed his lips on hers.

"Haa…"

A sigh escaped from both of their mouths as if they were just waiting for this moment.     

This time the different thing from the past was that none of them closed their eyes as the kiss continued. They just didn't want to.

It was such a strange yet exciting feeling as they saw so many emotions passing in each other's eyes during these precious moments.

"Mmph…"

A sweet moan escaped from her lips when Xi Ying invaded her mouth and Xi Ying in response could only tighten his arms around her waist as he gently treasured the woman in his arms.

It was difficult not to treasure her. Every time he looked at her, he could feel the love inside his heart increasing for her.

She was so strong, so independent, so intelligent yet so delicate.

Just like her name.

Strong yet delicate. A person whom he always wants to protect and keep beside him.

"Rui…"

Xi Ying ended the sweet kiss with a whisper.

One of his hands was around Li Rui's waist while the other caressed her stomach. His eyes were so soft and gentle that Li Rui herself could not help but feel that softness melting her heart little by little.

Their child… he really loved him.

As she felt the tingling on her lips, she felt a little shy remembering the last few moments.

These feelings were strange.   

A different kind of nervousness, excitement, and anticipation would start to spread all over her heart. The feeling would make her want to take a step back but at the same time trust the man in front of her.

He could never harm her.

But why? 

Why would he not harm her?

The question suddenly aroused inside her heart.

Was it because he was guilty?

Her quick heartbeat suddenly slowed down and she felt calmness spreading all over her mind and heart. 

The question made her mind calm making her ponder over its answer …something that she didn't know yet.

However, the confusion inside her mind ended when she heard the deep voice of the man again in whose arms she was.

"I love you so much, Rui."

A few words stopped everything for Li Rui…even her heartbeat for that small moment. 

As if that was not enough, Xi Ying spoke again.

"My Rui, I love you more than anything in this world."

However, the second time didn't make her heart skip. She was calmer than before.

Li Rui couldn't help but raised her head a little to look at Xi Ying. His eyes were closed as he rested his forehead on hers. It was his face that couldn't catch anyone's eyes.

Such a peaceful expression on his face as if he already had everything he wanted from this world.

As if he could not wish for anything else.

Such peace she remembered that she had seen on her father's face when he used to embrace her mother and she used to peek sometimes from her covered eyes in her childhood.

However, the difference between that scene and this scene was too much.

Her mother used to wear a smile on her face.

But Li Rui didn't look happy from anywhere.

Her body was completely stilled and she had a shocked expression on her face.

"How…why…"

Those were the only words that escaped from her lips.