Mama's Princess is Daddy's Beloved

"Your Highness, sorry for interrupting like this and also for the sudden appearance. But instead of asking Ms. Li Xue, it would be better if you ask the culprit herself. I have brought her to you for the justice." Shen Bingling said as she walked inside the palace while tugging Li Na along. 

Li Xue turned to look and was not too surprised. She was expecting Shen Bingling to get a hold of the girl sooner or later. It was just that she didn't expect her to bring Li Na here all of a sudden. 

Shin Tingming and Chen Rui turned to look at the girl as well. Their gaze clearly got all threatening at the girl. 

"Shen Bingling, why did you only bring her today?" Chen Rui asked. Although Li Xue has informed her about the things only today, she knew that Shen Bingling must have known this much before. Then why was she only bringing her now? 

Shen Bingling glared at Li Na who stood there with her head low in fear. She so wanted to strangle her but at the time when her dignity as a princess has already been questioned, she can't do more damage to it. "Your Highness, the justice-related culture association is under your power. So instead of taking the wrong initiative from my side I feel it was better to bring her to you. I would have done this before but after making us suffer here, Li Na was enjoying the trip to the Maldives. It was only today she returned and I brought her here." 

She said and Li Na felt offended. Turning to look at Shen Bingling with a grudge, she opened her mouth to say something but nothing left her lips. Maybe for she was no longer sure of how to turn the situation in her own favor now that her previous deeds were blown out. 

"Sister Shen, believe me. What are you saying? Why do you think I would do that? I didn't do anything. This woman … this Li Xue must be bluffing you." When found that there was nothing more she could say in her favor, she thought to push the blame back on the head of Li Xue. After all, who was Li Xue in the first place? She was the daughter of the royal administrative minister. Preferring her would be a lot better than choosing a nobody like her. 

Thinking that way, Li Na gave a sharp accusing glare at Li Xue but before her glare could even touch the sight of the girl, Shin You Jun came to stand all protectively in front of her. "Lay your filthy eyes one more time on my Elder Sister and I make sure to gouge them out for you." 

Shin You Jun said and his words like that immediately made Li Na flinch in her stance. Her gaze instantly stiffened before moving away to trail down at the floor. "Cr-Crown Prince, I-I am saying the truth. Li Xue must have …" She paused, in her words when suddenly she realized what she has failed to realize in the previous words of the boy. Her eyes shot up to look in confusion. "El-Elder Sister?" 

From the side, Shen Bingling chuckled. Folding her arms over her chest, she laughed softly before closing to her in a whisper. "Li Na dear, since you were out on a Maldives trip, there is a lot of things you are unaware of in the family. , give up your façade when you already have a chance. Otherwise later you would suffer more." She said and Li Na's gaze turned all dreaded at her words. 

"Li Na, His Highness, Her Highness, and Crown Prince is still waiting to hear you. Were you saying something before?" Shen Bingling really felt satisfaction when she saw the girl like that. Although she was not able to strangle her with her own hands, looking at her in such a condition was also pleasing enough to her eyes. 

Li Xue wanted to feel bad for the girl, but at the time, looking at the back of her younger brother that was standing in front of her all rigid and protective, she had many more emotions inside her to feel. It's been decades since she last felt this sibling bond with someone but even now this feels all same as the last one, she felt. 

Li Na could no longer hold it anymore. Getting on her knees, she broke, "I am sorry. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't know the identity of Ms. Li Xue. I was just too ignorant. Please forgive me." She grieved in regret but there was no longer anything more she could do about it. 

Chen Rui looked at the girl and her fingers clenched on her sides. Only if she had just been a mother here, then would it have been more satisfying to take the decision of the girl. But since she was also the royal lady, her judgment should be the one representing her other responsibility as well, restraining her within the limits. 

"Li Na, was that all for your personal selfish motives?" She asked and the girl cried out nodding in acceptance. 

"Then there could be nothing better coming your way. You get the same punishment as I gave to Shen Bingling that day. You are suspended from participation in the cultural project for straight five years. And also, since you just not attacked Li Xue but also framed Shen Bingling into this, there would a team set to decide the further punishments for you. Just wait for the notice." Chen Rui said and, in her voice, the restrained anger could clearly be heard. 

Once done with her, Chen Rui turned to look at Shen Bingling to say. "Although you are proved to be not involved in all this Bingling, you did break the rules and brought the sharp weapon in the fencing arena. So, your punishments wouldn't be totally forgiven, instead, I will try to make some concessions to it." She said and to her orders like that Shen Bingling just gave a bow in respect. 

"Your Highness, I will look after my attitude from now on and will not let myself repeat the same again." She said and then straightening up, took the leave from the couple. Li Na as well followed the suit after her. 

Li Xue looked at them leaving and quickly typed a text on her phone before turning to look at her parents. 

Chen Rui also turned to look at the girl. "Xiao Xue, they were at fault so I gave them the punishment. But remember, you were also not right to hide things from us. If, the next time, something like this happens again, I expect you to inform us sooner. Okay?" 

Li Xue smiled and then nodded. "I will do that Ma, but for now, I think it's already late. I should make a move first. WeiWei and Shufen must be waiting for me." She asked for leave and even though Chen Rui wanted to stop her, she knew she could not. So, she only agreed to her, giving a nod. 

"Go then. I will let you know the date and time of grand meet later.." Chen Rui said as the girl came to wrap her arms around her in a goodbye.