His Rui

That night, nothing much happened.

Li Rui slept between Xi Ying and Xi Ling just like she has been doing for the past few days. In the arms of her husband and her hand being held by her son, she was surrounded by both of them.

It was a peaceful and comforting scene for any woman.

Having her husband and child near her …especially when both of them loved her so much. What could a woman demand more than this!

However, even in this warm and peaceful scene, Li Rui's eyes didn't have any peace and sleep. 

On the contrary, Xi Ying slept quite deeply that night. His heart was feeling full at the same time very light after confessing what truly he thought inside his heart and mind to his wife.

The thing that gave the most peace to Xi Ying was that he didn't see any fear and disgust in Li Rui's eyes after he confessed to her just how possessive he was for her.

It hurt him that her eyes were blank as if she didn't know just how she should respond to his feelings but then he thought for now this much was also fine.

It was enough that she could hear him calmly without any fear or hatred.

Lying in Xi Ying's arms, the sleepless Li Rui slowly put away Xi Ling's hand and then turned around to look at Xi Ying.

He was really deeply asleep.

'I can't sleep without you these days.' 

She remembered the last words he had said to her before he closed his eyes and slept.

He didn't look bothered by her lack of response to his feelings but why is it that she was bothered?

She was very clear that she didn't love Xi Ying. The love that Xi Ying talked about was a very strong emotion …something she has not felt yet.

Then how did a cold and indifferent man like her feel it?

What makes him love her? She was nothing but a burden to him for now. She never asked him to save her clan but he was still doing that.

Was it also because of this so-called love?

The question might be a bit cruel …but Li Rui really didn't believe that Xi Ying loved her. Perhaps he cared for her, perhaps e was attracted to her…just like she was to him.

But he didn't love her, or that was what she thought.

She was so confused.

"Don't think so much."

The deep whisper startled her and she came out of her trance only to find a pair of intense black eyes staring at her in the dimly lit room.

Xi Ying raised his hand to caress Li Rui's cheek softly. A smile graced his lips as he continued 

"I didn't confess so that you will overthink, Rui. I just want you to know that I will always be there for you. You don't need to find anyone else if you want something. Just say a word and I will bring the world in your feet."

While saying these words, even Xi Ying couldn't help but feel a little ironic.

And her heart started to speed up again.

She could call them just the sweet words, Li Rui thought. However, how could she do that when she could feel that they were genuine!

Xi Ying sighed as he pulled her closer to himself.

Embracing her to his chest, he whispered in her ear in a reprimanding tone.

"Sleep! You don't care about yourself at all. It is not good for your body to wake up like this and think so much."

The manly scent invaded her senses and for those few moments, Li Rui really felt that strange comfort and a sense of security that Xi Ying was trying to bring to her through his words. 

She could feel him stroking her hair gently. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

--------

The next morning Xi Ying behaved as if the confession never happened on the last night. But it made Li easier for Li Rui to behave normally around him.

So flustered …Li Rui tried to remember if she had felt like this before someone else.

On the dining table during breakfast, Xi Ying would always try to hold her hand whenever he could and that morning he did the same.

But why did she feel a little flustered and strange under those touches? 

Perhaps because now they held a different meaning now.

He liked to touch her because he loved her.

If only Xi Ying knew what was going on inside his wife's mind, he would have been perhaps the happiest man in Xin or in the four Empires.

Was not this what he wanted?

Li Rui feeling something else other than pleasure in his touch…

However, the unfortunate thing for Xi Ying was that there was no way for him to find out Li Rui's thoughts.

So he left for the Imperial Palace just like any other normal day.

Standing at the gates of Plum Courtyard, Li Rui silently stared at his back until she couldn't see it any longer.

That day, the Imperial Assembly finished almost after two shichen.

Today, Zhao Zhuang Chen finally stepped inside the Imperial Court. Xi Ying's eyes flashed with mockery when he noticed that Zhao Zhuang Chen had hidden his scars and bruises with a layer of those things that were usually used by the woman in the noble families.

Was he scared that people will find out about him being beaten brutally by Zhao Zhang Wei?   

Well…it was reasonable for him to feel scared if he dreamt of becoming the Emperor.

After all, if his dream really came true, there would not be any shortage of people to mock Zhao Zhuang Chen if it was revealed to them.

After the Imperial Assembly ended, Xi Ying's eyes searched the place where Lu Jianye usually sits. Seeing the excitement to leave the assembly even though the Emperor has not left yet, Xi Ying felt amused and smiled coldly.

Perhaps it was first love for Lu Jianye …and so he lost his heart without even checking whether the other person was really deserved it or not.

Then again, Xi Ying thought.

Had not he also lost his heart for Li Rui just at first sight? Remembering those times would always make Xi Ying very confused.

He couldn't really find a true reason behind his behavior from four years ago. 

With a sigh, he noticed Lu Jianye getting up to leave as soon as the Emperor left. He shook his head as he hoped that after one or two meetings, the young man would find what kind of woman Li Na exactly was.

Because if he didn't, then he would have to do what he has planned.

Because he couldn't just let those people live happily who made Rui suffer so much.