His Rui

Chapter 79 - The Helpless Father

Silence hung at the dining table as the four Li family members ate their dinner. Except for the clattering of chopsticks and bowls, nothing else could be heard inside the dining room.

Yi Jie looked at Li Diu with a questioning look who shook his head signing that he doesn't know anything. So she could only pull her husband's sleeve and point towards her daughter.

General Li glanced at his daughter who was stuffing the food inside her mouth while sulking. He pursued his lips and then patted his wife's hand to comfort her as her face was full of worry.

Clearing his throat, General Li picked a plate and served something on Li Rui's plate.

"Rui, see this is your favorite. Father specially asked the cook to make it for you."

But Li Rui didn't raise her head. She didn't even pick anything her father served her.

Suddenly she seemed to have thought of something and stood up. When she stepped out of the dining room, Yi Jie stood up to chase her but General Li stopped his Wangfei.

"Let her be. She will be fine after a while."

"But…"

Just as Yi Jie was about to say something she saw her daughter entering the dining room. She held a few things in her hand and was walking slowly so that they don't fall down. Li Zhan, Li Hua, and Li Mei followed her inside with worried faces.

When she reached the dining table, she put everything in front of General Li.

A beautiful feather colored in different colors, a black stone, a few pieces of jewelry, and a beautiful hairpin.

"Rui will give all of this to Father. Will Father take her to the Imperial Palace now?"

The things placed on the table were very ordinary and worthless for General Li. But each and every person inside the room including General Li knew that Li Rui cherished these few things.

General Li had thought that his daughter would forget this matter in a few days.

But for her to give all these things, she must be very determined to go inside the Imperial Palace.

General Li sighed heavily and stroked his daughter's head gently.

"Rui, Imperial Palace is not a good place to go. Don't think about it, okay? Father will take you somewhere else, wherever you want to go."

General Li had thought it would make his daughter gave up her mind.

Li Rui raised her head and looked at her father sadly.

"Father, that's not a good place but she lives inside that Palace. "

When she saw that her father didn't say anything, she stepped back and shook her head.

"Rui does not wish to go anywhere else."

Saying this, she ran out of the dining room followed by her maids.

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Lying on the bed, General Li playing with his wangfei's hair. With her head leaning against his chest, Yi Jie looked at her husband and found him staring at the ceiling.

"Heng, are you thinking about Rui?"

Li Heng kissed his wangfei's forehead and hummed in agreement.

"Why don't' you just take her to the Imperial Palace once?"

"I don't want her to step inside that place."

Yi Jie chuckled and said

"I really don't understand your dislike towards the Imperial Palace. You go and attend the Imperial Court every morning despite your hatred for that place."

General Li sighed.

"I am helpless. It is what I must do; my duty and my responsibility."

After that, both of them were silent for a few moments till Yi Jie spoke again.

"Xiao Diu told me that she had promised that Princess that she will go to play with her. And you know how your daughter is."

"If you will not take her with yourself, she will find some other way to go there."

Of course, General Li knew that and that was the thing he was most worried about. He doesn't want his innocent daughter to step inside that vicious place. He doesn't want to stain her innocence.

However, it seemed like he has no other way.

That night, General Li didn't sleep for a long time. He continued to stare at the ceiling with his mind full of different thoughts.

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It was early morning. The sun was about to rise in the sky. Clad in blue colored robes, General Li stepped out of his courtyard.

Instead of going towards the entrance of Li Manor, he walked to Li Rui's courtyard. The maids and servants greeted him.

When he reached inside his daughter's room, he saw the cold food placed on the bedside table. He glanced at the maid.

Li Hua stepped forward and said

"This servant tried but Young Miss didn't eat anything."

He nodded his head and walked towards the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently uncovered her hidden face under the blanket.

He stroked her head for a few moments and then smiled

"Open your eyes now. Don't pretend to sleep anymore."

However, his stubborn daughter still didn't open her eyes.

"Get ready in half an hour if you wish to go with me otherwise don't blame me for leaving you alone here."

The words fell in her ears and Li Rui opened her eyes wide in shock. She looked at her father who was looking down at her with a smile.

"Father is not lying to Rui."

"Has Father lied to you before?"

Li Rui shook her head in 'no'.

"Then get up and eat something. We will leave soon."

A wide smile emerged on Li Rui's pink lips. She jumped up from her lying position and hugged her father with all her strength.

The whole courtyard echoed with her giggles as she shouted.

'Father is the best.'

'Father loves Rui very much.'

'Rui also loves Father the most.'

General Li heard his daughter's sugar-coated words silently.

Standing outside the room, Yi Jie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. The Li Manor became just like before. Alive with Li Rui's laughter.