Chapter 816: Xi Jia Gets The Title Of Princess
The old physician returned from the border soon. He had wanted to tell Gu Li that Xi Ying had disappeared with Li Rui.
However, on reaching Imperial City, he got to know that Xi Ying and Li Rui were in Xi Manor…and Li Rui was already well.
In hurry, he returned to Xi Manor and soon barged inside Plum Courtyard. When he saw a smiling Li Rui talking with Xi Ling and Xi Jia, his eyes unconsciously got red….especially when he saw Xi Ying.
The people inside the room soon noticed him.
"You have returned."
The old physician was angry at Xi Ying for not informing him of anything. However, he didn't want to waste his breath on him as he knew that Xi Ying would not be affected at all by his scolding.
He instead, moved towards the bed and immediately took Li Rui's pulse.
"Rui, you scared this old man. When I reached there you were in such a bad state, I was scared that you…" will leave all of us."
He couldn't finish his words.
His eyes went teary and he hurriedly wiped them with his sleeves.
"I am fine, Grandpa."
The old physician was touched hearing her call him Grandpa.
"Good, Good."
He whispered in a choking voice. Living in the isolated hut a year ago, he had never thought that one day he would have people for whom he would care so much.
The old physician stiffened when he heard Xi Ling's confused voice.
"But what happened to Mother?"
Xi Ying glanced at the old physician coldly while the latter smiled sheepishly. However, he also signed Xi Ying that he could manage it.
"That…your mother had a high fever a few days back. Brat, you better not tire her out and let her rest well."
Xi Ling's eyes were immediately filled with worry.
"That's why Mother looks so thin."
The child's eyes went teary and Li Rui coaxed him somehow while playing with Xi Jia. Xi Ying also stepped forward and stroked his son's head as he said firmly.
"Everything is fine now. Nothing like this will happen again."
Xi Ling announced that he wanted to go back to his room with Xi Jia as he wanted his mother to have a lot of rest.
Xi Ying picked up his daughter and held his son's hand to drop them to their son's room.
After they left, the old physician started asking Li Rui again about how she was feeling now. After this small conversation, he smiled warmly and told her.
"You should have seen your husband…the young man looked lifeless when you didn't open your eyes. Even the medicine didn't work on you. Physician Yun told me that he didn't leave your side even for a moment. He neither ate nor slept. Your body had that weird smell that no one could stay beside you but he did without even a frown on his forehead."
Li Rui sat there completely still as she heard the old physician say all this.
The old physician spoke again unable to notice her shock and surprise.
"Rui, though he is a little cold and rude sometimes, this old man thinks that he can do anything for you."
Xi Ying was that crazy for Rui.
The old man sighed and left soon.
When Xi Ying returned, Li Rui was seated in the same position as the old man had left her. She actually remembered how Xi Ying looked like when she woke up. He looked haggard, his eyes were black, and …he was crying.
Now that she looked at him carefully, she felt even he had lost weight like hers. Her heart ached.
"Rui, you didn't go to sleep?"
Xi Ying said as he walked towards the bed. However, he halted when he heard her say.
"I was waiting for you."
He looked at his wife who said these few words so calmly completely unaware of what chaos they created inside his heart.
He exhaled sharply and climbed on the bed.
Taking her in his arms, he kissed her forehead and put her head on his chest.
"Sleep." (f)reewebnovel.com
And Li Rui obediently closed her eyes. However, she could also feel her fast heartbeat which slowed down after a long time and she finally found sleep.
.
.
.
The next day, General Li, Yi Jie, Yi Junjie, and Li Diu came to see Li Rui.
General Li and Yi Jie were distressed when they saw how much weight Li Rui had lost. However, they were relieved that she was alive.
Yi Junjie only stayed for some time and then left.
When he returned to Yi Manor, his mother talked about the girl again she had chosen for him.
Yi Junjie sighed.
In the end, only god knew what came to his mind and he said 'yes' to the marriage.
He had decided to move on. Li Rui was happy.
She no longer needed him. He should also find someone else.
That evening, the Emperor announced a banquet in the Imperial Palace. However, this was not the big news.
The Emperor was specifically kept in the honor of Li Rui.
Li Rui was surprised and slightly overwhelmed when she came to know of this.
The banquet was kept a week later at Xi Ying's demand as he wanted Li Rui to rest before she would step out of Xi Manor.
The next week, Li Rui finally stepped out of the Manor. This time, she and Xi Ying attended the banquet with Xi Jia and Xi Ling.
Many ministers as well as the Emperor praised Li Rui.
When the banquet was at its peak, Zhao Zhang Wei suddenly asked Li Rui what she wanted. He would give her whatever she wanted.
Li Rui had not expected something like this. Xi Ying stood by her side.
She looked down at her daughter in her husband's arms and said respectfully.
"Rui is grateful for the honor Your Majesty had granted to Rui. Considering Your Majesty's big heart, Rui wishes for the title of a princess for Rui's daughter, Xi Jia."
Gasps sounded in the banquet hall. It had many years since anyone outside the Imperial Clan had been granted the title of princess.
The title of princess was not something that could be looked down upon. It could be seen how precious it was. Princess Wenling had done so many horrible acts but she was still granted mercy only because she was the princess.
If it had been someone else even if a noble family's daughter then she had been going through the fate of Li Na.
If Xi Jia was granted this title then she would never have had to suffer her whole life even if she didn't have Xi Clan's backing.
Zhao Zhang Wei only smiled and granted the title of Princess to Xi Jia.
After the banquet ended, Yi Huiqing was feeling restless. Zhao Zhang Wei knew very well the reason behind this. He smiled meaningfully and relished in the surprised expression on his wife's face when they reached inside her chambers.
Li Rui was there with Xi Jia and Xi Ling.
Knowing that the sisters must have a lot to talk about, he left the chambers very thoughtfully.
Yi Huiqing was very joyous to see Xi Jia as well as Xi Ling.
Li Rui looked at her silently and then said suddenly
"Is Jiejie happy?"
Yi Huiqing stopped playing with Xi Jia and looked at her sister. She went through her memories of the past few days and nodded her head
"Yes, Rui."
A moment later, she smiled and said
"I can't help but wonder if I had not stopped going behind him just as you told me, would he have ever realized his feelings for me?"
She had always wondered about this since the day Zhao Zhang Wei confessed to her.
Li Rui, however, had different thoughts.
"It is Jiejie's love that changed His Majesty."
Yi Huiqing only smiled and lowered her head again to play with Xi Jia.
Yes, she was happy with Zhao Zhang Wei. She was happy that he loved her, and cared for her …but there would always stay a knot inside her heart.
Yi Huiqing smiled sadly as she looked at the child inside her arms.
She felt scared to get pregnant again.
And she didn't know if she would ever be able to solve this knot.
When Li Rui returned to Xi Manor with Xi Ying and her children, An Shing told Xi Ying something, Xi Ying nodded his head and looked at his wife.
Li Rui nodded her head and moved towards the living room.
The Yantun valley physicians with Old shifu were waiting inside the living room for her. When the old shifu saw that Li Rui was fine, relief flashed in his eyes.
It didn't escape Li Rui and Xi Ying's eyes.
"I have decided to take more disciples inside the valley. I will train them and they will be free to treat any injured or sick person. From today on, my Yantun valley will never return a person who needs medical help."
The old shifu promised Li Rui. freeweb(n)ovel.com
He had wanted her to know about this. When Li Rui smiled and nodded her head, he felt as if he could finally lift his head out of the humiliation he had been feeling in the past few days.
He didn't stay in Xi Manor for long. However, before leaving, he asked Li Rui hesitantly.
"That…my Yantun valley would always be open for you."
As if realizing that his words could mean something else, he said hurriedly.
"If you ever want to visit for a few days, then don't ever hesitate."
Xi Ying took his cold gaze from the old shifu back when he heard this.
On the other hand, Li Rui agreed politely to visit the Yantun valley.
The old shifu left with his disciples.
At night, when Xi Ying lay down on the bed, he stiffened.
"Rui…"
A shaking whisper left his lips as he felt her arms around his waist. It was rare for her to take initiative to hug him.
However, he was stiff because she was only wearing her inner clothes.
Xi Ying's heart raced inside his chest as he whispered
"You will get cold."
However, Li Rui didn't hear him. She raised her head and kissed him on his lips. Xi Ying groaned and couldn't stop himself from kissing her back.
But after the kiss ended, he tried to persuade her gently.
"Rui, your body is still weak."
Though he was very shocked by her behavior, Xi Ying didn't think much about it. He was hardly controlling himself.
But he was more surprised when he heard her say
"You don't want me? I should have guessed it when you said you didn't want any more children."
Saying this, she was about to move away from him but in one swift move, Xi Ying pulled her back, and now he was hovering over her body
"You think I don't want you?"
He almost growled as he let her feel how much he wanted her. The next moment, he kissed her deeply.
That night, when he entered her he felt complete.
"Ying…don't cry."
He again didn't realize when he started to cry. But he didn't feel ashamed to cry in front of him.
Her soft hands wiped his eyes.
"I am here, Ying…always."
She whispered softly.
She hoped that it would alleviate his fears. He would no longer get up suddenly at night and check if she was breathing. If her body was still warm. She knew all this. She also knew about her fears.
As much as it moved her, it also made her heart ache for him.
"Rui, never leave me."
He almost pleaded as he embraced her tightly.
"I won't."
That was the thing she is supposed to say and do and he would do anything for her.
For His Rui.
The End
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