His Rui

Sitting in the front hall of Plum Courtyard, Li Rui watched Li Chen as he shed tears in front of her just like he used to do whenever he hurt himself or he was scared in childhood.

 "Jiejie… I ..am stupid, right?"

No answer came but he didn't need the answer as he himself knew it.

A few minutes passed as Li Chen continued to cry.

Li Rui glanced at the sky that was light blue in the early morning.

"Did you come here only to cry? If this is the thing then you should leave unless you want those Imperial Guards to find out that you're not in the Li Manor."

Li Chen was startled by these words but soon a bitter smile played on his lips as he remembered whatever he had done.

Not once he had done it many times.

His Jiejie would no longer coax him as she used to do in his childhood.

But it was only him who had earned her indifference. He deserved this. He no longer has any right to whine in front of her anymore.

So he wiped his tears and composed himself.

"Jiejie, First Uncle has been framed."

Li Rui's expression didn't change a bit at his words. Seeing her looking at himself calmly and waiting for him to continue, Li Chen hesitated.

Would his Jiejie dislike him more if he told her?

But he didn't have any other way. First Uncle and Elder Brother, both of them are not here. He can't tell all this to his father also. At least not for now. 

In this situation, he could only think of his First Sister.

"I ….I ...…I stole the book of War strategies from First Uncle's study and gave it to the Crown Prince and General Yun. I was angry at First Uncle so I ..."

He felt ashamed now saying whatever he had done.

An expression of contemplation and then realization dawned on Li Rui's face.

Silence lingered in the front hall for a few moments and then Li Rui asked him.

"Can you take me inside the Imperial Palace?"

Li Chen was surprised by her question. What he had expected was the scolding from his First Sister but he couldn't even find any hatred or dislike towards him from Li Rui's expression.

He just nodded dumbly.

"Yes, Jiejie."

--------------------------

"You have not informed anyone that I was to reach Imperial City, right?"

"Reporting to My Lord, No. This servant didn't inform anyone about My Lord's arrival as My Lord has ordered this servant."

"Did An San send you any news about Xi Manor in the past three months?"

Sitting on his horse, Xi Ying looked at the approaching gates of Imperial City and asked An Ping.

"No, My Lord."

Xi Ying's eyes shone with a cold glint of light when he remembered whatever had transpired in Xi Manor in the past three months.

His son Xi Ling was ill and he was not sent any news.

Not only this, he had been deceived for four years.

"An Ping, what will you do if you ever come to know that An San deceived this Lord?"

It took a moment for An Ping to register his master's words in his mind. He looked at his master's face but could not find anything from his cold and indifferent expression.

His voice was solemn as he replied.

"This servant will naturally inform My Lord about this. If it is necessary then this servant will even kill An San with my own hands."

The answer was perfect. It expressed a shadow guard's loyalty towards his master. But Xi Ying could not believe those words.

After All, An Ping was An San's brother.

Seeing An San's deception with his own eyes, Xi Ying knew that now he would not be able to trust any of his shadow guards or any servant in Xi Manor.

While undoing everything that had gone wrong, he also has to find out who else had taken advantage of his trust in the past years.

It was not an easy thing but he would do anything to protect his Wangfei and his son.

"Gather all the shadow guards."

"Yes, My Lord."

------------------

"Jiejie what are we doing here? The Crown Prince's courtyard is in the opposite direction."

Li Chen whispered to Li Rui as they crossed the several rooms and gates on their way. Li Chen had thought that his First Sister wanted to sneak inside the Delan Courtyard but they were going in the opposite direction completely that's why he stopped her.

But Li Rui just turned around and put her index finger on her lips. This was an indication for him to shut his mouth.

So Li Chen shut his mouth and followed her sister silently.

Somehow her sister's calmness had reduced his fear. It made him think that she would handle everything and save the Li and Yi Clan.

"Stay outside and wait for me."

Li Chen paused and then looked in front of him. His eyes went wide when he saw where he was standing.

He wanted to stop his First Sister from going inside but before he could do that Li Rui had already stepped inside.

He could only sigh restlessly and pray that his elder sister will come out unscathed or else he will kill the person residing in this courtyard with his own hands.

Inside the beautifully furnished chambers, Princess Wenling held the brush in her hands as she practiced calligraphy on the rice paper.

The maid who was grinding ink suddenly dropped the ink stick on the floor as she stood with her mouth parted with shock looking towards the door.

She wanted to scream but couldn't, seeing those calm black eyes.

Princess Wenling raised her head at the noise and frowned when she saw the mess on the floor.

"What are you doing? Pay attention."

But the maid didn't reply and raised her hand pointing towards the door.

With a frown on her forehead, Princess Wenling turned around to look in the direction the maid was pointing.

However, she laughed lightly when she saw what or should she say who scared the maid. She turned to complete the incomplete word and said to the maid.

"Go outside."

The maid saw that the Princess didn't seem to mind the sudden arrival of the unwelcome person in her chambers. She hesitated for a few moments but knowing her mistress' anger she hurriedly left the chambers.

As soon as the maid left, Princess Wenling put down the brush in her hands. A soft smile played on her pink lips as she looked at the finished words.

She stood up from the chair holding the rice paper in her hands and turned to welcome the unwelcomed person in her chambers.

"Welcome Welcome, My dear friend. To what do I owe a pleasure to see Lord Xi's Wangfei here in my humble chambers?"

Standing in front of her, Li Rui didn't look amused at all with her words.

However, it didn't lessen her happiness and she continued

"Anyway, you choose a very right moment to come here. See this."

She walked to stand by Li Rui's side and with a wide and bright smile on her face, she spread the white sheet in her hands. Looking at the sheet she said

"This Princess was preparing the first Invitation Letter to her marriage."

Then she raised her head to look into Li Rui's eyes and said with the same smile

"With your husband."

A pout formed at the Princess' lips when she didn't see any change of expression on Li Rui's face.

"What happened? You don't look happy at all hearing about your best friend's marriage."

"Or does this Invitation card lack something?"

Princess Wenling read the words she had written again and as if realizing something she walked to the table. She picked the brush again and wrote down a few more words.

After that, she hummed to herself in acknowledgment she read those words again and walked to Li Rui again.

"Rui, see this! How silly I am. How can I forget to add 'Soon to be Wangfei'."

 She emphasized her last words. A dreamy look could be seen in Princess' beautiful eyes.

"I am so excited. Rui as my best friend, you also have to be there for …"

"Your Highness."

Li Rui interrupted Princess Wenling's one-sided conversation.

"I'm here to discuss something with you."

Princess Wenling seemed to be confused at her words and said

"Oh, what is it?"

When Li Rui was about to open her mouth, she didn't let her and said leaning closer to her ear.

"I suddenly seem to know what are you here for."

Then she walked around Li Rui in circles and with an expression of contemplation.

"This Princess can help you but what will you give me in exchange for my help?"

"Anything."

The answer was free of any hesitation.

Hearing the expected answer, Princess Wenling was not surprised but faked it.

"Really!"

She smirked looking into Li Rui's eyes and told her.

"Then, alright. Your work will be done as soon as you complete my wish."