His Rui

That morning, Li Chen was informed by a maid that a servant came from Xi Manor and he wanted to see him.

Li Chen was startled. At that time, he was having breakfast with his parents.

However, as soon as he heard the maid's words, he left everything and went to see the servant.

Li Rong and Li Qiang looked at each other before they stood up and followed their son.

As soon as they reached outside, they saw a servant standing in front of their son and forwarding him a small box.

"Second Young Master Li, this is some ointment that had been seen sent by Madam Xi. She hopes that you will apply on it the scar on your face."

Not only Li Chen but Li Rong was also blank for a few moments.

On the other hand, Li Qiang was smiling. He had actually expected something like this to happen soon.

Li Rui might not be his daughter by blood but he knew her enough to know that she would do something like this.

"Second Young Master…"

The servant called out again when he saw that Li Chen was not taking the box from his hands.

Then Li Rong stepped forward and took the box from his hands.

Li Chen looked at his mother calmly and then back at the servant. Though his face looked calm, his fingers were slightly trembling.

"Elder Sister…how is she doing?"

He had actually wanted to go and see her but he didn't know if she would like it or not.

The servant smiled politely when he heard Li Chen's question and said

"Madam Xi is doing well, Second Young Master."

Li Chen nodded his head unable to say anything. He looked at the box in his mother's hand and couldn't help but whisper

"She really gave it for me…"

Did she not hate him?

Li Rong had wanted to ask the same question. From the day she had promised her husband that she would not ever mention Li Na and Li Caihong, she had also put aside all her grudges and resentment for Li Rui.

Actually what Li Chen said seemed very reasonable to Li Rong and she now didn't feel anything toward Li Rui.

However, today this act of Li Rui amazed Li Rong and a corner of her heart actually went soft as she held the box in her hands.

The servant said a few words to take his leave, however, Li Rong suddenly stopped him.

She went inside her courtyard and then came back with a large box in her hands.

"This is something that she likes very much…especially made by me. Give it to her."

Li Rong said a little awkwardly and the servant took the box from her hands.

Li Qiang smiled seeing his wife's actions.

After the servant left, Li Rong gave the box to her son and said strictly.

"Chenchen…use it wisely. If you will use it, your scar will soon fade away like Yi Lei."

Li Chen looked at the box and clutched it tightly. However, it was not because it could heal his scar but it was because his sister sent it to him.

Inside her courtyard, Li Rui soon received the box that had been given to her by Li Rong.

Xi Ying looked at the box with suspicious eyes and said

"Rui, do you think it will be safe to eat it?"

Li Rui raised her head and looked at her husband who was looking at the box with narrowed eyes.

She sighed softly and said

"It is safe. Ying, Elder Aunt might not like me personally but her heart is not evil enough to do something to me and to my child."

Xi Ying looked at how confident his wife looked.

He nodded his head but still decided to send it to the old physician once his wife would not here.

Sure enough, Li Rui left once to check on their son.

Xi Ying didn't accompany her and signed Liu Lan to do so. When she left, he sent the box to the old physician and asked him to check if it was safe to eat it.

The box came back before Li Rui did and the old physician informed Xi Ying that the dish inside was safe to eat.

Xi Ying sighed in relief and finally went to find his wife. After that, he had to leave for the Imperial Palace.

.

.

.

In the Imperial Chambers of the Empress, Yi Huiqing was helping Zhao Zhang Wei in getting ready.

Zhao Zhang Wei's gaze was continuously on her face as he spread his hands and let her help him wear the robe.

She had not spoken even a single word to him since last evening.

He was completely unaware of what was going on inside her mind.

He wondered if he should let her be or try to know what she thought about his confession.

Confused, Zhao Zhang Wei licked his lips and decided to talk about something else.

"In the future, ignore the letters sent to you such as Minister Zhou's letters. You don't need to think about them."

Yi Huiqing paused for a moment and then whispered 'En'.

Zhao Zhang Wei sighed in relief.

At least, she was speaking to him.

He put down his hands seeing that she was done.

He held her shoulders again when she was in front of him. He felt how stiff she went at his touch but he didn't move his hands away.

"Qingqing…"

He whispered gently as he leaned closer to her.

Yi Huiqing lowered her head immediately.

"I don't know what you are thinking."

He said honestly.

"But I am willing to hear you …if you are willing to tell me. We might have a wrong starting Qingqing, but I want to have a good future with you."

Finishing his words, Zhao Zhang Wei leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.

Yi Huiqing didn't raise her head all this while.

Zhao Zhang Wei sighed and whispered gently.

"Take care."

After this, he left the chambers while Yi Huiqing continued to stand there in her own thoughts.

---------

In the Imperial Court, the ministers had many things to say but Minister Zhou didn't stand up to speak up about this matter anymore.

The latter had learned well in these two days. 𝑓re𝘦𝔀𝗲𝘣𝘯𝘰νℯ𝒍.c𝗼ｍ

However, a few others still didn't.

Since they couldn't speak in front of the Emperor, they decided to write a letter to the Empress.

When Zhao Zhang Wei received these letters and read them, his phoenix eyes were cold.

The letters were actually reprimanding his wife for not stopping him from doing all this.

One of the ministers even told Yi Huiqing that if she didn't persuade the Emperor which meant him to take the concubines then the ancestors will not forgive her.

The next morning, a few ministers in the Imperial Court were dismissed. Everyone was shocked but no one dared to say anything.

However, this incident confirmed that the Empress had a place in the Emperor's heart that couldn't be shaken so easily.

The moon festival was there and the Imperial City began preparing for it. Not much time had passed since the last Emperor's death and hence there was no celebration in the Imperial Palace.

That evening, sitting in his wife's chambers, Zhao Zhang Wei looked at his wife who was reading a book silently.

They were seated at the same table. Since his confession and the evening Shaolin left the Imperial Palace, Yi Huiqing rarely spoke to him.

It had only been three to four days but Zhao Zhang Wei felt as if eternity had passed.

"Qingqing…"

Yi Huiqing raised her head after a moment and looked at him.

"There is a fair in the city. Do you want to go and see it?"

Yi Huiqing knew about this fair. She used to go every year with her brothers before she had been married into the Imperial Palace.

It had been so many years since she last saw it.

Actually she had not stepped out of the Imperial Palace since her marriage.

Zhao Zhang Wei was aware of this and that's why he wanted to take her out. Yi Huiqing looked hesitant and then asked him

"Will it be alright?"

Zhao Zhang Wei understood what she was talking about and he smiled as he assured her.

"Yes. Don't worry no one will get to know that we visited the City."

He smiled widely when he saw confusion in his wife's eyes.

Almost half a shichen later, Yi Huiqing was ready to leave the Imperial Palace. She looked down at the simple dress she wore and bit her lips to stop the smile from spreading on her lips.

She remembered once when she was young, she and Li Rui had sneaked out of Yi Manor wearing such clothes.

The difference was that their clothes were so worn out that they looked like beggars.

When Zhao Zhang Wei came and saw the brightness in her eyes, he didn't walk forward as if he was afraid to disturb her.

It was only when Yi Huiqing herself noticed him did he step forward and looked at her closely.

Even in such a simple dress, she looked ethereal to him.

Yi Huiqing saw that he was also wearing very simple clothes. 𝘧𝔯e𝗲𝙬ℯ𝙗𝓷o𝘷e𝗹.𝐜𝑜𝒎

Like this, they left the Imperial Palace.