Mama's Princess is Daddy's Beloved

Shen Bingling almost felt herself losing. Before she could say anything, her weapon was already brought forward by someone to check. Su Ce didn't hesitate even for one before moving his finger over the pointed edge and the next moment as expected, a cut oozing out blood appeared on his skin proving all of it in one go. 

Shen Bingling shook her head, still in denial. "I … I really didn't mean it. I was just …" 

"You still dare to deny it?" Chen Rui was no longer in her calm. Though her voice came all soft and slow, the severity it held was enough to make anyone crouch down in fear. Shen Bingling was still a girl who has never received any harsh comments. How could she take it? 

Downing her head, she immediately apologized, "Your Highness. I was wrong but believe me I really didn't intend to move my weapon like that. At that time, I was just…" 

"Didn't intend to move your weapon like that? Heh! Then were you planning to stab directly through her heart?" All this while, Chen Rui was trying her best to maintain her calm. But the more she was hearing the viciousness of the girl against Li Xue, the more she was feeling like she lacked in taking the right care of the girl. 

What if today something really has happened to her? How would she have compensated for her life?  No, she couldn't go easy on this issue. Not as a mother and even not as a queen. 

Chen Rui was ready to throw her judgment when a weak voice from her side interrupted. "Your Highness, Princess Shen is really not wrong. She has not intended it. A-at that moment, I don't know how but my footwork went in the wrong way making me turn at the wrong angle. It was completely not her fault." 

It was Li Xue who has come forward to explain on the behalf of Shen Bingling. Because whatever was the case, she was there on the stage herself and she knew the weapon moving on her neck was completely accidental. Shen Bingling, although had an intention to harm her, that intention was not as hazardous as it had turned out. 

Chen Rui looked down at Li Xue and for the first time wanted to chide her for something. She was already in such a state still she has got the nerve of protecting others. Did she really think that every time it would be easy for her to mold her decisions?

No, not every time. Especially not at the time when her safety, her kid's safety was at risk. 

Ignoring the look Li Xue was giving to her, Chen Rui turned to look at Shen Bingling. "Bingling, after what has happened, I don't care what was your intention in the first place. Bringing sharp weapons inside the fencing arena has been prohibited, yet you brought it. I don't have to tell you where you actually were wrong. Since you already know it, I will just say what I should say here." 

Shen Bingling didn't feel the right feeling. She knew something worst was coming her way, but she also knew she couldn't prevent it. 

"Shen Bingling, given your offense I, Chen Rui, the head of the association and also the Royal Highness of Chiboa suspend you completely for five years from all Royal Cultural Association programs." Chen Rui passed her judgment and people around all gaped in horror. Even in the toughest scenarios, they have never thought something this harsh could happen with the princess itself. After all cultural association was something under the jurisdiction of royals and suspending their own princess from it was a kind of insult to their own faces. 

But who could complain? Chen Rui has always been known for her unbiased judgment. And the one she had taken today could also be considered of the same kind. 

Chen Rui didn't give any further words after her judgment. She just turned to look at the people and ordered, "Make arrangements to shift Xiao Xue to the palace. She would need some rest first." She said and then some of them came forward to help Li Xue inside the palace. 

Li Xue wanted to say something but Chen Rui didn't turn even to give a glance to her until she was taken away. 

*** 

At some room in the royal palace, Li Xue was soon settled on the bed after she was changed into something comfortable. Xiao Meng was still around, running and asking the maids about everything. Only after she consulted about every simple thing, she came back to the side of Li Xue to ask, "Sister Xue, how are you feeling now? Is it still hurting? Should I call the doctor?"

Li Xue shook her head. She tried to smile but a slight stretch on her face was also causing the pain on her wound to burn her skin again, so refraining her smile she simply said, "I am fine, MengMeng. Don't worry. Didn't the doctor say that it was something simple and the wound would recover in just a few days?" 

Xiao Meng pouted as the corners of her eyes revealed the hints of tears. "Nope, Sister Xue. The doctor said that your life was spared just by a half-inch. It wasn't simple to say." She said and Li Xue shook her head, denying her worry. 

"Haha … what are you saying, Xiao Meng? The doctor was just scaring you there. If it had been really that risky, do you think I would have been lying here this easily? Wouldn't I have been put on a ventilator or life support instead?"  She said and Xiao Meng cried at her words. 

"Sister Xue, you are still joking like that? Do you think I don't understand it? I am just not capable to be by your side. If it had been someone else, he or she must have found a way to deal with Princess Shen before and …" 

Li Xue shook her head. "MengMeng, none could control what's bound to happen? So don't think it that way. You have done your best otherwise how do you think that Her Highness appeared on time? It has been you who has run to call her. So don't blame yourself. Just be happy that I am fine and will soon recover to perform well. It's just that I didn't want to lose the chance with Princess Shen on the fencing court. But sigh, she has been suspended and we can't do anything about it now." 

"But Sister Xue, don't you think that she deserved this?" Xiao Meng didn't understand. After all Princess Shen has deliberately tried to harm her, she deserved to be punished. 

Li Xue nodded. "Not completely, to say. Though she was wrong to bring that weapon in the fencing arena, it was completely not her fault. Something was there more than that didn't come to our vision. Like my shoes." She said as at a distance her gaze went to get locked on the shoes that were kept at the side. 

The assistant turned to look at the shoes as well. "Your shoes? What about them?" She asked as she walked to get it for Li Xue. 

Once Li Xue got it in her hands, she turned it over and as she has expected, it was truly not a complete fault of Shen Bingling. Someone else was involved in the tampering of the spikes of her shoes.. Otherwise, how did she lose the rhythm of her footwork in the arena? It was for this, of course.