His Rui

"Li Rui wants separation from Minister Xi."

The robe in Xi Ying's hands fell on the floor. His body froze.

"No."

His answer was firm, without any lack of hesitation.

For a moment, Xi Ying felt angry. Separation. He never even thought of this word in the past four years. Was it that easy for her to say these words?

His heart ached.

But then the next moment, Xi Ying thought why would Li Rui suddenly want to separate from him?

She didn't have any feelings for him, he knew, but he also knew that she would never leave Xi Ling.

Then why would she…..

The answer was somewhat easy. Unless someone forced her to. She could do anything to save her loved ones. He had already witnessed this in the past three months.

The anger and pain subsided at this thought. Looking at the thin figure in front of himself, his eyes flickered with warmth and gentleness. 

He didn't pick that robe instead he went to his table again and opened a drawer not knowing how Li Rui's eyes were cold after hearing his 'No'. Inside one of the drawers was a purple robe and he took it out. As he crossed the table, her soft voice again fell in his ears.

"Minister Xi, Li Rui is just here to tell her decision about this marriage. Li Rui n…."

The words remained incomplete when Li Rui felt something covering her whole body. A manly scent invaded her nostrils and she looked at the purple robe that was somewhat large and long for her. Since there was only one person except her inside the room, it was obvious who put the robe on her body.

She was confused at the sudden gesture but her confused state didn't last long as she remembered the purpose of coming here. So she continued

"Li Rui no longer wants to continue this mar..mmm."

Before she could even complete her words, her chin was suddenly held. Her whole body froze and she looked wide-eyed at the man whose warm but soft lips were placed on her cold ones.

His eyes were closed. It was a gentle touch but it was something that she had never done before so for a moment she couldn't even understand what was happening.

When she was still in trance, the warmness left her cold lips.

Xi Ying controlled his heart that was fluttering wildly after seeing his robe on her small body. He saw her confused eyes that softened his heart. The image of Xi Ling when he had worn his robe flashed in his mind and his eyes were filled with smiles.

She looked more cute than Xi Ling.

He caressed her chin gently and said in a deep voice.

"Well, Minister Xi does not wish to separate from his Wangfei. Not Now. Not forever."

Previously, he didn't want to startle her with his behavior. He wanted to enter her heart step by step. But after she mentioned separation, Xi Ying knew that he can't go slowly because if he did then he would lose her forever.

So Rui please fall in love with me as soon as possible because I won't let you go.

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

"Ah… stop it. How dare you hit me? Do you even know who I am?"

"Of course. A thief."

The broom hit Li Chen again and he almost screamed but covered his mouth knowing that he would attract attention if he screamed.

"Woman, Can you stop for a moment? I am not a thief."

Liu Lan laughed humorlessly at his words and said

"Do you think that I am stupid? I don't know any thief who will admit that he is a thief."

Then she continued to chase him with her broom.

When Li Chen glanced at the door, he felt like he had seen her savior.

"Jiejie, save me from this crazy girl."

Hiding behind Li Rui, he glared at Liu Lan who didn't show any fear, and answered with another ferocious glare.

"My Lady, he is a thief. This servant saw him in your courtyard when I brought lunch for My Lady. He ate almost everything. But My Lady does not need to be afraid of anything. This servant has castrated many boys like him."

"Whaaat?"

Hearing the supposed thief's scream, Liu Lan smirked and thought she had been successful in scaring him. But Li Rui's next words made her smile falter.

"He is not thief, Liu Lan. He is the second and youngest son of Li Clan."

Li Chen's eyes dimmed a little when he heard her elder sister introducing him.

'He is my young brother.'

That was how her elder sister used to introduce him to anyone.

"What?"

This time it was her turn to scream. The broom in her hands fell on the floor and she shivered seeing Li Chen's cold glare.

Ignoring the duo, Li Rui walked to her room and closed the doors. Sitting on the bed, she tried to comprehend whatever happened in the past few hours.

"I want you to leave Xi Manor. I want you to separate from Lord Xi."

That's what Princess Wenling had asked Li Rui to do in exchange for her help. Li Rui was calm. The demand was something she could complete without any hesitation. But…

What about her child?

It was predictable that Princess Wenling would marry Lord Xi after Li Rui separated from him. How could she leave her child in Xi Manor in such a situation?

In the past four years, there were only two reasons for her not leaving the Xi Manor.

One was the promise her father had taken from her.

'Rui, promise me that you will not divorce Prime Minister Xi.'

The other was her Xiao Ling. Her three-year-old child.

She was confused. Li Clan and Xiao Ling were equally important to her. So what should she do?

"What you won't do it?"

Princess Wenling asked her.

"It is not that I don't want to do it. Your demand is not just when he is not even here."

However, Princess Wenling had just smiled coldly at her words and said

"Do you really think that this Princess cares? I don't care what you do to complete my wish."

The hope that she could buy some time was destroyed by these words. She knew that only Princess Wenling can stop those who want to harm Li Clan. So she could only say

"Your wish will be fulfilled. But I have a request."

"Say it."

"Not only Xi Manor, but I shall also leave the Imperial City and never step here again. My marriage with Lord Xi shall automatically be considered over according to Imperial Laws. I just want you to not harm Xi Ling for a few days. I shall take him away with me after a few days."

"Granted."

Li Rui's hanging heart was finally relieved. At least Li Clan and Xi Ling were safe for now. About her father and her elder brother... she will also find them.

However, when she reached Xi Manor with Li Chen she came to know that Lord Xi was back.

At that moment, she had thought that it will be easy for her to complete Princess Wenling's wish. After All, she had heard from so many mouths that Minister Xi and Princess Wenling always wanted to marry each other but because of her, they couldn't do so.

So Li Rui went to meet Minister Xi and just as she expected, different from the past, he allowed her to enter this time.

When he said 'No', her heart was very cold.

'Both of them (Lord Xi and Princess Wenling) were playing some sick game with her.' That's what she had thought.

But what happened after that was something she had not predicted.

'Minister Xi doesn't wish to separate from his Wangfei…'

His eyes were so soft and gentle that for a moment she truly felt that he can never harm her and her family. She couldn't read his thoughts and find out what he was hiding behind his mask of gentleness.

Her mind was in a mess. It was something that never happened before.

'Wangfei should wear more clothes in this weather.'

There was a frown on his face when he had said that.

'We shall talk about this later.'

He had said gently when she tried to talk again. She couldn't find any fault in his acting.

And she left the study with her muddled mind.

Li Rui's lips curved upward in a cold smile when she gathered her thoughts. Why didn't she think about this before?

They will not let her leave so simply. They want her to disgrace in front of everyone.

She had to leave the Imperial City regardless he agrees to separate or not. It will make her a characterless woman in other's eyes if she left her husband like this. But since this was something she is doing to save her family, she will not fear anything.

She was already so infamous in people's eyes so how does it matter if they got one more thing to add in her disparagement.