His Rui

That day, Li Rui didn't resist when her maids brought medicine and meal for her. She ate everything without any resistance. She didn't deny anything.

If they asked her to sleep, she will sleep. If they asked her to wear more clothes, she would wear them. When she was not sleeping, she would stand in front of the window of her room and look at the tree silently.

Two days later, the physician told General Li that Li Rui was completely fine now.

It was good news. However, no one had a smile on their faces.

Because they could feel something, something that they didn't want to accept; something they will never be ready to accept.

General Li turned around to look at the bed. He found that Li Rui was also looking at him.

In the past, seeing her eyes would bring a smile to his lips but now he felt he couldn't bear to look in them.

Because he felt someone pinching his heart mercilessly seeing her calm but blank black eyes.

"Father"

He swiftly raised his head when he heard her voice.

"Can Rui visit Li Zhan now?"

He nodded his head with a grim face.

This was not his daughter, General Li Knew at this moment.

Because if she was, then she would have already sneaked out of her courtyard to see Li Zhan.

In the evening, Li Rui went to visit L Zhan's grave with Li Hua and Li Mei.

'Li Zhan, do you feel alone here? Don't worry, I'll come here to accompany you whenever Father would allow me.

She sat there for a long time until General Li came and scolded her maids that it was cold and they should take their Young Miss inside.

Li Hua and Li Mei were guilty but what could they do?

They also wanted to sit there where their Zhan Jiejie was buried.

Li Rui didn't say anything; she stood up and went inside her courtyard obediently with her maids.

General Li followed her.

When she suddenly turned around at the doors of her room, his heart lifted with some happiness. However, she didn't jump to embrace him as he had expected, instead, she bowed his head and asked him.

"Father, can Rui study? Can Father find a teacher for Rui?"

Every teacher who was brought to teach Li Rui in the Li Manor ran away after one or two days. It was only in the Imperial Palace, Li Rui studied seriously.? Even General Li was surprised to see this.

When he had asked her the reason she told him that the Princess would study only if she studied with her.

Li Rui never studied because she liked it. It was the first time she was asking General Li for something like this.

However, General Li didn't like her request.

But he couldn't refuse it. So with clenched fists, General Li said in a low voice.

"Yes."

And then he left Li Rui's courtyard.

Li Rui lost Li Zhan who was a friend and sister to her more than a maid..

But who said he didn't lose anything?

He lost his lively daughter in those vicious schemes.

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At Present

"After that, she never refused anything I asked her. She obeyed my every wish. Shouldn't I be happy as a Father that my daughter was so obedient?"

General Li chuckled humorlessly.

"But I never felt happy."

"Sometimes, I regretted that I told her everything. If I hadn't…."

Bangggg…

The chair Xi Ying was sitting on was kicked down as he stood up from it.

"You should General, You should regret whatever you have done."

His eyes were red. General Li was startled when he saw them.

"Xi Ying…"

General Li wanted to hold Xi Ying's shoulder but Xi Ying avoided his hand while glaring at him coldly.

He took deep breaths to calm down his wavering emotions but whenever he closed his eyes, he could see the young Li Rui just as General Li described her.

Xi Ying felt he was stabbed by a sword again and again in his heart when he thought how Li Rui was now compared to her childhood.

"You killed your own daughter, General."

Xi Ying whispered with trembling lips.

Just how lively she must be to become like this now.

General Li face held no emotion as he replied to Xi Ying's words.

"I had no other way, Minister Xi."

Xi Ying's eyes were cold and sharp as he raised his head to look at General Li.

"Really? You didn't have any other way? As much as I know General Li, your wangfei doesn't know anything. I am sure that you were capable enough to hide from your daughter."

According to him, General Li was at fault. He taught Li Rui to not explain herself to the Princess.

She chose the same method for him.

That's why she never tried to tell him the truth of that evening when he thought that she drugged him.

"So, you know everything."

General Li smiled a little and continued.

"But at least my that one step made my daughter what she is today. She is strong and is capab…"

Xi Ying was controlling the burning rage inside his heart.

"Strong? Do you think you have made her strong?"

Xi Ying clapped his hand in front of General Li and laughed humorlessly. His eyes were red and his lips held a smile as he continued

"Then wake up General Li. You made her strong but hollow. She is so hollow that she fears showing her emotions in front of others now. Because she thinks that everyone will use them to make her weak."

Just like she doesn't show any emotion in front of him. Because she is scared that he will use her emotions to make her weak.

Like the First Princess did.

Xi Ying remembered how Li Rui was crying alone inside the dark room before he had got his body back.

So much happened with her that she changed completely.

Would he ever be able to bring that Li Rui back?

Who he really wished to see!

Who was lively!

Who was real!