While waiting for a 'no', Li Rui observed each and every expression on her husband's face.
On the other hand, Xi Ying was thinking about the announcement made by the Emperor in today's meeting.
The truth was he doesn't want Li Rui to know about it.
Why should his wangfei go to a place where she has been humiliated so much?
However, the other part of his heart also knew that it would be wrong. Going or not going to the Imperial Palace was solely her decision.
He doesn't want her to fear anyone. He wants her to know that he was always behind her to protect her.
He would not step back if she needs him.
.
After a lot of thoughts, Xi Ying whispered while taking Li Rui's hand in his
"The Emperor made an announcement today."
Li Rui raised her eyebrow, surprised that he was really telling her, and said
"Oh…what kind of announcement?"
"There will be a three days long banquet in the Imperial Palace on the coming Autumn Festival."
While continuing Xi Ying subconsciously looked into Li Rui's eyes and said
"He wants every noble family member to attend the banquet."
As soon he finished his words, Xi Ying could feel Li Rui's body stiffening under his hands. His heart clenched and he tightened his hold on her petite body. Caressing her back gently, he whispered
"Rui…If you don't wish to go then you don't need to."
It was only momentary shock and Li Rui soon composed herself.
When she heard Xi Ying's words, her eyes were filled with suspicion.
"Why will I not wish to attend the banquet?"
Now it was Xi Ying's turn to be surprised.
'Yes, General Li told him everything but Rui doesn't know that.'
But he didn't let it show to Rui and said
"I thought that the banquet four years ago might have left a shadow in your heart."
As he said this, he almost winced.
True that she doesn't have any good memories of the Imperial Palace but one of those bad memories was given by him to her.
But he was relieved when he saw Li Rui's eyes free of doubt.
She believed his words.
Now she was only thinking about the upcoming banquet. Should she attend it?
As she contemplated, Xi Ying remained silent. He just held her in his arms.
A few moments later, he finally heard her
"Since the Emperor had already announced that everyone should be in the banquet then Rui shouldn't defy the Imperial order."
The words made him close his eyes but he didn't say anything. It was her decision and he will support her.
Burying his nose in her hair, he kissed her head.
"Everything will be alright."
'I'll not let anyone raise their finger at you, Rui.
Because to reach you they will have to cross me first.'
---------
Looking around the entrance of the courtyard, Li Na sneaked inside the Courtyard carefully followed by two figures.
"Second Young Miss"
The maid bowed her head when she saw her. Without acknowledging her, Li Na ran further inside the courtyard.
Inside the room, she found Li Caihong eating leisurely and two maids were writing the scriptures that her father had asked her to copy fifty times.
Seeing her sister, Li Caihong only glanced once and then moved her eyes away indifferently.
Li Na rolled her eyes at her behavior. She, instead, walked towards the maid to check how much they have written.
"How many copies have you made already?"
"Twenty-five."
The maid answered and Li Na frowned.
"So slow"
The two maids looked at each other and then silently lowered their heads when they heard what Li Na said.
They are almost writing from the morning to the evening for a week and Second Young Miss is saying that they are slow.
They could only swallow bitterly and rub their painful wrists silently.
On the other hand, Li Caihong looked at her sister and sneered
"Why is elder sister here? To question my maids? If you are here to show your fake concern, then please leave my courtyard right now."
Li Na took a deep breath to calm down her irritation and walked to her younger sister with a smile.
"Caihong, I know you're angry but…"
But Li Caihong has been too much filled with anger to hear her sister's words. She didn't let her complete her sentence and spoke first.
"But what? But you couldn't save me? I had to bow down my head in front of that b***h and you were just standing there silently. Instead of helping me in that situation, you were just asking me to go with the flow."
"Ah…I can't forget the humiliation I felt when I kneeling in front of her. It makes me feel disgusted with myself. Do you even know…"
However, Li Na had heard enough.
"Shut up. Just shut up."
"You just know how to talk. Learn to listen to someone else also, Caihong. You're my sister. Do you think I would feel happy seeing you bowing in front of the person both of us don't like?"
Li Na said everything in one breath making Li Caihong shocked.
A moment later, Li Caihong got up from the bed and ran to hug her elder sister.
"Elder sister…Caihong apologizes to you. I was just angry because I really felt very alone that day."
Li Caihong said as she cried.
Releasing a sigh, Li Na hugged back her sister and said
"I can understand, Caihong but we didn't have any other way. Father was very angry. I can guarantee that he would have really disowned you if you wouldn't have apologized to Li Rui."
After comforting her sister for a few seconds, Li Na made her sit down and said
"Do not worry. I have a very good plan to humiliate her in front of everyone in the same way she humiliated you."
Li Caihong eyes brightened instantly.
"Really?"
Li Na nodded her head and said
"Yes, But for that, I need you with me and for that, you need to finish your punishment so that you can step out of your courtyard."
Li Caihong nodded her head and then looked at her maid and said
"You hurry up, I want all of this complete in next two days."
The maids almost stopped breathing after hearing her words.
Two days…even if they didn't sleep at night and continued to write down they would not be able to write the required number of copies to complete the punishment.
Li Na also knew this so she clapped and two maids entered the room.
"These two will also help you."
She looked at the maids and said
Then she looked back at her sister and said
"Just ask every maid in your courtyard who can read and write to make these copies and write one yourself. Father will only see one that will be placed on the top."
Both the sisters smiled and clapped each other hands.
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