His Rui

Kneeling in front of the Delan Palace, Zhao Zhang Wei suddenly heard a commotion and turned his head to look sideways where Eunuch Zhang was having an argument with someone.

His emotionless eyes flashed with surprise when he recognized the maid.

The maid was Yi Huiqing's personal maidservant.

A flicker of brightness flashed through his eyes. After that night when he had heard from Yi Huiqing that she doesn't want to see his face, he never dared to go to Lantai Courtyard.

Even if he tried, the pain-filled eyes of his wife would always stop him.

So neither Yi Huiqing tried to approach him nor did he go to meet her. All in all, he had not seen her for these few days now. Few days…these few days have been like years for Zhao Zhang Wei.

"Eunuch Zhang, let her pass." 

He said to Eunuch Zhang.

However, Eunuch Zhang looked at him and asked the maidservant to stand at the same spot. After that, he walked to the kneeling Zhao Zhang Wei.

"Your Highness, Wangfei sent a physician and food with her maid. How can this servant allow this? What if His Majesty gets to know? His Majesty will think that Your Highness is disrespecting him by not following the punishment. Not only that, even Wangfei will be talked about if this servant allowed all of this."

Eunuch Zhang tried to make Zhao Zhang Wei understand.

"Why would His Majesty think like that?"

Lin Daiyu who had followed Eunuch Zhang said as soon as he finished. Looking into young Eunuch Zhang's eyes with her narrowed ones, she continued

"Wangfei said that His Majesty never ordered that His Highness can't eat or get treated by an Imperial Physician so there is nothing wrong with what Wangfei is doing."

Eunuch Zhang had an incredulous expression on his face after hearing the maid's words.

'Who orders something like this? Was not it obvious to everyone that it was a punishment and hence Second Prince can't be given anything that can give him comfort in any way?'

He was worried that it will only harm Zhao Zhang Wei.   

"Hahaha…"

A deep chuckle vibrated through the air and Eunuch Zhang and Lin Daiyu turned to look at the kneeling second Prince who was currently laughing while clutching his stomach.

Eunuch Zhang's eyes flashed with panic, as he signed Zhao Zhang Wei to control his laughter. He could already see the servants of the Delan Palace looking in their direction.

What if one of them reported to the Emperor?

Although his master doesn't have any guilt and regret he could at least pretend to save himself from more punishment.         

A few moments later, Zhao Zhang Wei finally stopped but there was still a small smile on his lips. The heaviness he was feeling since morning also seemed to have vanished away for this small moment.

"Did your mistress say this?"

He asked the maid with a smile present on his lips.

"Yes, Your Highness"

Lin Daiyu said respectfully.

"Let the Imperial Physician come and check me. Give the food you have brought to Eunuch Zhang."

Zhao Zhang Wei told the maid. After pausing for a moment, he looked at Eunuch Zhang and said

"If someone asks you who sent all this, just tell them that I ordered the wangfei to send everything for him."

Eunuch Zhang knitted his brows in distress as he knew that the prince was trying to take all the blame on himself. But seeing the firm phoenix eyes, he could only sigh and obey his master.

On the other hand, Lin Daiyu who felt happy seeing how the prince cared for her mistress suddenly remembered just how much pain her mistress looked in whenever she talked about Wangye.

Somehow Daiyu had a feeling that the prince must have done something very worse to make her mistress like this.

So she said indifferently as she passed the things to Eunuch Zhang.

"My mistress only sent them because she thought that she would not be taking the responsibility of a wangfei seriously if she didn't send anything and His Highness and she will be talked about all over the Imperial Palace."

Lin Daiyu left after saying what she wanted to say but she was very afraid as she had shown this kind of boldness for the first time.

The words obviously meant to be heard by Zhao Zhang Wei and he heard them.

The brightness in his eyes dimmed a little bit but then he smiled bitterly.

What could he expect after giving her so much pain? He should be grateful that she still cared for his reputation in the Imperial Palace.

However, he still ate the food sent by his wangfei with a small smile on his lips.

---------

"Come to Li Manor after every few days if it is possible."

In front hall of the Li Manor, Yi Jie whispered in her daughter's ear as she hugged her tightly. Her eyes unconsciously moistened as she thought of whatever her daughter had gone through because of her own people.

Li Rui patted her mother's back gently. After a few moments, the mother and daughter parted away.

General Li stroked his daughter's hair and smiled tightly.

His eyes still unconsciously went to Xi Ying who was standing beside Li Rui as he remembered whatever Xi Ying said in the study room.

He had not been able to make Xi Ying put a full stop to his plans against Imperial Plan.

General Li looked at his daughter who was also looking at him with knowing eyes. She blinked her eyes in assurance as if she knew that what he was worried about.

Such a sensible daughter…General Li's heart could not help but go soft as well fill with guilt seeing Li Rui.

Somewhere perhaps Xi Ying was right. He should have told Li Rui the truth …because if she comes to know about the truth now then she will just think what Xi Ying was thinking about him.

He was using his daughter. However, it was never something he wanted to do.. He just didn't have any choice.