His Rui

"Here"

Li Rui stared at the spoon that was forwarded to her lips for a few seconds and then opened her mouth to drink the medicinal soup. The spoon was taken back after a few moments.

She then looked at the man who was stirring the warm soup with concentration. Only when he was sure that the soup filled in the spoon was not hot he forwarded it to her lips and she opened her mouth again.

Since the physician had left, he didn't leave her side even once. He sat down there by her side forcing her to lie down pressing her head gently.

It felt weird to her and at the same time, somehow also made her confused and uncomfortable.

After Li Zhan's death, Li Rui forgot to show her weakness to anyone.

In the past fourteen years, she had only learned whatever she could.. Even if she was sick, she would drink the medicine and then would sit down to read books or practice some other skill.

She learned about medicines, she learned about politics as much as she could then she learned how to run a good business.

In all this, she forgot herself.

Her mind would always think if one day her Clan really lost everything they had then does she have everything that would help her give them a good life?

It was her priority, not herself.

It was difficult for her seven years old mind to go through that phase where she would wonder for how many days they had all this.

For how many days they were safe.

It was scary sometimes.

One day, she had asked her father

'Why do you not give the Emperor what he wants? Why don't all of us leave from here to somewhere else?'

'No, we can't.'

Her father had said just these few words and then asked her to get out of his study.

She was confused at the same time she was scared.

Scared that there was much more to everything than she knew.

She had thought that even if they lost all the military power they would be able to live a good life but seeing how her father refused it so indecisively, she felt that the things were not as simple as she thought.

So she worked harder.

But somewhere in her heart, from that day, she knew that her father could also not be trusted because he was hiding something from her.

She could see it.

'My Rui can sense other person's intentions.' Her father used to say this.

So she believed that her father was really hiding something but he didn't have any bad intentions. Perhaps it was only for her well-being.

She didn't try to dig out anything, she just did what she should do.

Protecting her clan silently.

However, she never showed her weakness even to her father from that day.

Her heart had become like this.

From trusting everyone to not being able to trust anyone.

It was a scary change but she lived through that phase also.

However, going through all this, Li Rui didn't get to know where she lost herself.

Now being cared for by someone like this felt weird. Especially when that someone was her so-called husband.

The change in him was something that she couldn't digest.

Then how could she trust him? But she couldn't not trust him also because she herself had given this marriage a chance and her putting trust in him was fair.

"Rui can do it by herself."

She stretched out her hand to take the bowl from his hand, however, he avoided her hand.

"It's hot, Rui."

He said strictly.

So what if it was hot?

"My Lord, Rui is not that delicate."

Perhaps it was her frustration from her thoughts that forced out the words from her mouth but she soon realized that she was being rude, especially when her maid was still present in the room.

She looked towards Li Hua who was standing in the corner looking at Lord Xi skeptically from time to time.

Li Rui knew that even Li Hua was feeling weird on seeing Lord Xi's behavior.

Looking back at her husband, she opened her mouth to apologize however her mouth was stuffed by another spoon of soup.

"I know you aren't. But I just want to make sure that you are comfortable."

He didn't seem to mind her harsh words. The discovery again made her suspicious.

Why can't he behave like the man whose actions she predicted in her mind? Because if he did, then it would be easier to trust him.

So the soup was finished like this only.

When Li Hua stepped out of the room with the empty bowl, she wanted to leave the door opened but she couldn't do so.

"Close the door."

She heard Lord Xi's cold voice from the room before she could run away. Huffing a sigh, she could only close the door.

While inside the room, Xi Ying lied down on the bed and gathered Li Rui's small body in his arms.

Her head was on his arm and he was still stroking her forehead gently.

The position made Li Rui think about what she should do. Today it was not her back that was facing him. She could feel his eyes on her face and she unconsciously lowered down hers.

Unknown that her action brought a warm smile on Xi Ying's lips.

"Sleep."

The deep voice fell in her ears.

"Rui is not sleepy."

She really wasn't. There was still some time before the sun would set and she doesn't have any habit of sleeping during the daytime.

Xi Ying sighed which was heard by Li Rui.

She raised her head for the first time in the last few minutes to look at him. She continued looking at him for the next few seconds and then said

"Why don't you tell me what is going on in the Imperial Court?"

She didn't have any expectation that he would really answer her question. But she couldn't stop herself from asking.

Perhaps she really wanted to hear something from his mouth that was within her expectation.