His Rui

The silence in the banquet hall was deafeningwith every passing moment.

Sitting on his seat, Xi Ying looked at his silent wangfei. His fist was clenched on his thigh as he wondered whether he should stand up to support her or not.

As much as he liked Li Rui to rely on himself, he wants to give her this chance to say the truth of side in front of everyone.

For fourteen years, she had tolerated down all the accusations and their burden silently. So, today when she was ready to speak for herself, he doesn't want to snatch this opportunity away from her.

Although he knew that today she might not be able to prove herself right but at the very least she could tell everyone the story of her side. It didn't matter whether anyone would believe it or not.

It was about relieving one's heart and then moving on from the past.

.

His plans to make them suffer will take time but Rui shouldn't carry everything in her heart until then.

He really doesn't care even if she questioned the Emperor's decision.

Just let her say whatever she wants. Let her empty her heart.

They won't be able to do anything to her. He wouldn't let anyone touch even a single finger of hers.

A few steps away on the left side of him, Yi Junjie was sitting on his seat. His thoughts were no different from Xi Ying's.

Since he had seen the lively Rui changing to a cold and calm Rui, he also knew that Rui's heart was still affected by the past.

As he thought this, he suddenly regretted that he didn't bring his shadow guards to the Imperial Palace.

However, he was still ready to fight against the Emperor himself if it was needed.

As much as both the man wanted to help her, they couldn't.

This was something that Rui had to do herself.

Li Rui looked at the Empress with her calm black eyes.

Despite the tense atmosphere in the banquet hall, she didn't seem to be nervous or scared at all.

Xi Ying's shadow guards who were hiding in the banquet hall couldn't help but admire this quality of Li Rui.

"Your Majesty"

Li Rui turned to look at the Emperor and asked while looking straight.

"To answer the Empress' question, Li Rui might need to step out her boundaries and say some things. Is Li Rui allowed to do that?"

The Emperor was silent for a few moments neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He started at Li Rui who didn't look away and look at him in the eye.

People watched her standing straight like this with wide eyes. Their trace was broken when they heard the deep voice of the Emperor.

"Lady Li is allowed to say her thoughts as long as she doesn't disrespect the Imperial Clan in any way."

Offending after taking the permission. It was the safest way in such a situation.

What could the Emperor do? Could he refuse?

No. Because it would have only shown his pettiness to not let people present their thoughts freely in front of everyone in Xin.

It would have only created trouble for him.

So he could only agree.

General Li, Xi Ying, and Yi Junjie praised Li Rui inside their hearts.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty."

Getting the needed permission, Li Rui humbly lowered her head once showing her respect, and then moved his eyes to the Empress again.

"Your Majesty said that Rui's maid had accepted by herself that she had stolen Princess' hairpin."

"But Rui doesn't know whether Your Majesty remembers that Rui's maid had said many other things that day. In fact, Rui thinks that everyone sitting here who was present that day might not remember what else she had said."

"Li Zhan had also said that her mistress which means me, Li Rui, was never involved in stealing Princess' hairpin. But everyone very easily ignored those words. That truth was buried since that day by everyone. Till today, Rui has to bear the tag of a thief in the whole Imperial City."

"It's very contradictory that Li Zhan's only one claim was assumed to be a truth while other a lie. Rui really doesn't know how anyone decided that it was supposed to be like that only."

Her soft voice was neither too loud nor too low but everyone could hear it very clearly. As they heard everything, they couldn't help but agree with her words.

"My maid was emotionally shaken after she had seen the hairpin falling from my other maid who was like a younger sister to her. To save her, she sacrificed her own life. Perhaps she already knew that the slaves like her do not get any chance to prove herself innocent in the Imperial Palace."

"Li Rui"

The Emperor's cold voice stopped Li Rui from saying anything further.

"You are indirectly saying that Zhen punished your maid wrongly."

Li Rui looked at the Emperor without any fear and said

"No, Your Majesty, Rui doesn't know how to play with words. Rui will only say everything directly. Fourteen years ago, Li Zhan was punished wrongly."

"Every the biggest sinner in the Imperial Palace had been given a chance always to prove her innocence. Why was she not given any?"

While saying her last words, Li Rui's lips trembled and she lowered her head swiftly. Her eyes were getting blurry because of tears and she vigorously blinked them.

If only Li Zhan was given any such chance, then maybe, just maybe…she would have found any way to save her.

The thought only made her heart more painful. Her heart felt cold and heavier.

At this moment, she suddenly felt a familiar warmth engulfing her small body. A pair of firm arms surrounded her waist and her face was buried in the familiar manly scent.

Warm breath fell on her ears followed by a gentle whisper

"Ssshh…you can cry if you want. I will not tell anyone neither I will let anyone see."