Mama's Princess is Daddy's Beloved

On the other side, soon Li Xe was allowed inside the royal palace without any hassle. "Madam, we are here. Give me a moment, I will open the door for you." Du Fan announced, soon getting out to push the door for the lady.

Li Xue was about to reject such a gesture, but before she could say anything, the man was already out to open the door for her with a smile. 

Li Xue reciprocated back to his smile with hers and didn't put much brain into his attitude. But for the driver, he just wanted to treat the lady with the best. Especially when she was there within the royal premises. 

"Thank you, Mr. Driver. You can take the rest; I will go in first." Li Xue said and then soon made her way inside the palace. 

Earlier she had not found it necessary to give the call to the butler about her arrival, but seeing him still standing at the entrance for her welcome made her lips tug up in a smile. 

"Good …" She paused to check the time on her watch before greeting with confidence, "afternoon, Mr. Cao. I hope I didn't disturb your work schedule of today." 

The old butler smiled and then shook his head. "Not at all, Young Miss. It's my duty. Please come in." He said before politely gesturing her to come along.

But Li Xue was long struck behind with surprise. As if she has heard something that was hard to comprehend. Did she hear him wrong? Or has she … Being all confused about the things, she stayed back looking at the butler proceeding ahead in his steps. 

While at the front Mr. Cao paused as well in his steps when felt the girl not following behind. Turning, he looked back only to find Li Xue still standing at the entrance, looking all confused at him. "Young Miss, is there a problem?" He asked politely. 

And just his words confirmed the things Li Xue was seeking for all this while. Taking her steps closer to him at once, she asked in perplexity, "Mr. Cao, you have changed the way of addressing me. I feel like you have mis …" 

Before she could call it a mistake, a voice from the distance interrupted to clarify, "He has not mistaken to call you Young Miss. That's your rightful title here and later everyone would be addressing you with the same, so there is no need of you getting surprised about it." 

"Your Majesty!" Turning to face Shin Tinming at a distance, Butler Cao was the first to bow and greet. While Li Xue was too confused to even remember her side of greeting. But she didn't remain forgetful for long. 

The moment she found the man smiling at her, her trance of perplexity broke as she greeted quickly giving a slight bow, "Your Majesty!" 

Shin Tinming nodded before walking closer with his hands tucked inside his pocket. "You still seem a bit confused. Is there something you are thinking of?" 

Li Xue was no longer sure of what she was actually confused about. Earlier it was just for the addressing title from Mr. Cao. But now even the changed attitude of the king was making her go confused. This was the first time she felt like His Majesty was beginning the conversation with her. 

It was not like she was scared of talking with him. But more like she had not expected that ever she would be having a conversation like this with him. All the time whenever she has met him, it was like around the man, there felt a strong wall that kept her at a distance from him. Not allowing any of them to have the ease. 

But today, it seemed different. He has himself come to talk to her and was even giving her smiles. And she must say his smile was kind of very soothing to her eyes. Like she has always longed to see it on his face, but never got the chance to. 

"You can ask me if there is anything" When didn't find Li Xue responding for a good moment, Shin Tinming assured again with his words and Li Xue immediately shook her head, to say. 

"Your smile looks better." She said and her words paused everything around for a moment. Not just the butler and the king but also Li Xue was surprised with her own words. Though those words had been in her heart, she didn't mean to say it in front. 

Shin Tinming raised his brows at her words but soon another smile covered his lips as if he was following the demand of the girl. 

Li Xue was ready to apologize for crossing her line, but right at that time, Chen Rui's voice came from behind as if already guessing her move. "Don't apologize for that, dear. You didn't say anything wrong. I fell for him just after I saw him smile. So indeed, his smile is special. And very much like you." 

She said before coming forward with a curl of lips. As always, the lady looked beautiful but there was something looking odd in her complexion. Li Xue didn't fail to notice that and getting concerned, she asked, "Ma, you look pale. Are you not well?" 

Chen Rui's smile paused as her eyes moved to exchange a gaze with her husband before pulling up her lips in a smile. "You noticed the wrong thing, dear. See, I got the chance to wear your gifted beautiful cashmere scarf. Tell me, how am I looking? Is it looking good on me?" She asked as she twirled lightly around to make the girl see her wrapped in the scarf. 

But it didn't change Li Xue's serious expression a bit. Instead, her eyes grew small at her as she pursed her lips to ask again, "Are you not well, Ma?" And in her tone, the warm threat coming from the daughter was very much evident. 

Hearing her like that, Chen Rui couldn't help but pout like an over-pampered mother who was getting spoiled by her children's care and concern. "It's just a bit cough and cold. I am fine. There is nothing to worry about." Her tone came out clear, but her eyes felt a bit wet in emotions. 

Li Xue didn't know what more to say. She could see the edge of the lady's eyes watery, but she never had learned to cajole the crying. So, she simply went with the simple lines. "Is it from the changing weather? Have you seen the doctor?" She asked, while subconsciously looking at the butler, who was almost ready to answer. 

But right at the moment, someone else came to reply to her. "You really know how to act innocent." 

  Li Xue at once turned to look. She was not surprised to find that it was no other but the little Crown Prince of the palace. Chen Rui also had the same usual smile as if she knew that no matter what she says her kid won't get changed at any cost.

"You Jun!" Like a stressed mother, Chen Rui called but her son couldn't get obedient that easily. 

"Ma, don't threaten me today. I am not telling a lie against her. Haven't you gotten like this because you were stressed out for her that day? You even skipped your mealtime. And everyone in the palace knows if you ever skip your mealtime, you would get sick sooner or later. The same thing happened. How am I wrong to inform her that?" 

Pouting his lips out like an enraged kid, Shin You Jun said. And his words only made Li Xue turn to look at the lady with tugged brows. Though she has not known much about the lady, she has known one thing very well for sure that she cares for her a lot. And if the boy was telling her that she skipped her mealtime in the worry of her, she could blindly believe it. 

"Ma, you were worried for me? Why?" She asked, frowning a bit, not understanding the reason that could be responsible. 

Shin You Jun tapped his feet. Then looking uninterestedly at Li Xue, he said, "Though I never thought to come on the same page with you. But here, for this topic, I as well want to know what exactly happened to you that made my mother worried like that. Do you even know I have never seen her worried like that for me? Not even when I have temperature issues." 

He said before turning to look at her mother for the reply who was piercing him with her glares. The last day when he has asked her, she just dodged the topic giving vague answers. But today, he was sure that she would answer since it wouldn't be him asking her rather her precious new daughter.

Thinking like that he wanted to hmph at the thought of getting replaced but finding his father looking at him straight, he couldn't dare. 

While on the other side, Li Xue kept her gaze at the lady, as if telling her that she won't get easy until she gets to hear what she was asking about. 

In the end, feeling defeated Chen Rui could only reveal in a wrongful tone. "I was worried when I got to hear that you were drugged at the party before going missing." She said and it didn't require any more words to let Li Xue understand about which incident the lady was talking about. 

She was about to explain it to ease her worries, but before she could, a very loud enraged voice rang beside her that almost put her into surprise. Not just for the high pitch Shin You Jun used but also for the anger she felt in his tone.. "She was drugged! Who dared to do that? Aren't they afraid to offend us?" And that voice really sounded genuine.