Chapter 108 - A Mother's Distrust Is The Biggest Hurt
Chapter 108 – A Mother’s Distrust Is The Biggest Hurt
Li Hong's face burned with shame as she felt everyone's gaze on herself.
Xi Ying had indirectly said in front of everyone that she was forcing Li Rui to forgive Li Caihong. Although she was ashamed, seeing her daughter's pitiful face, Li Hong courage her heart and spoke
"What is Minister Xi saying? Rui and Caihong are sisters. It is natural in a family to forgive each other's mistakes instead of pulling the matter long. This one was just trying to end this matter. Minister Xi is here for the first time and it is not every day Rui comes to Li Manor so why waste precious time on such things instead of having a good time with the whole family."
She frowned when she saw Xi Ying smiling at her words mockingly.
He, of course, understood what she was implying.
He had just come to Li Manor for the first time and hence he shouldn't speak in Li family's matters.
He raised Li Rui's hand and pressed his lips on her knuckles. After that, he caressed her palm when he felt her body stiffening under his touch.
Looking at the shocked face of few people, Xi Ying smirked.
'They believe that he doesn't favor Rui so they can do anything to her. Let them wake up today.'
He then looked at Li Hong and said
"Second Madam Li, if you don't play these womanly tricks on this Lord, then it would be better. This Lord doesn't talk like you. Saying the words that have an altogether different meaning."
"I will only say it once. Either your daughter will kowtow in front of my Wangfei or General Li as the head of Li Clan will disown her right now."
Everyone was shocked by Xi Ying's words.
"Disown?"
Li Caihong and Li Hong muttered in disbelief at the same time.
Li Hong wanted to say something but when she looked at Xi Ying she thought that it would be of no benefit.
So she turned towards General Li and said
"Second Brother, what is going on? Li Caihong did wrong because she couldn't control her emotions that day. She was very scared after hearing the Imperial decree. She is ready to apologize then what is the need of all this?"
Then she looked at Xi Ying and said
"And when did Li Clan start to follow rules set by others?"
Li Qiang frowned at Wangfei's tone.
Does she even know whom she was talking about?
Xi Ying just ignored as if she was nothing but air. He only looked at General Li to hear what he will decide.
If the General didn't make a satisfactory decision then he would take Li Rui back to Xi Manor right now. He would send the carriage for General Li and anyone whom she wants to meet. They can come to Xi Manor.
But his wangfei will not step inside the place where she is not respected.
General Li's face was somber and he answered Li Hong seriously
"Elder Sister in Law, every child in this Manor is equal for me. If Rui had done such an act, then I would have already punished her severely. Li Caihong also needs to face punishment if she had done anything wrong. And what is wrong with bowing your head in front of elders? Even today, I bow my head in front of Elder brother and I don't feel any humiliation in this."
As soon as General Li finished his words, Li Qiang also spoke.
"Li Heng said right. It's you who is speaking wrong and thinking about only to save your daughter instead of correcting her mistake."
He scolded his wangfei making her shut her mouth.
Li Qiang then looked at his daughter and said
"Now apologize to Rui sincerely or else don't shout when Li Heng will disown you from the Li Clan. Even I will not stop your Second Uncle from doing that."
Li Caihong cried hearing the cold words of her father. She looked at her mother who was silent and standing with her head lowered, then at her sister who signed her to do what Father was saying.
Left with no other way, she cried feeling humiliation as she kneeled down and kowtowed.
Her heart was only filled with more hatred towards Li Rui thinking that she faced all this humiliation just because of her.
After performing the bow, she stood up and ran to her room while sobbing.
When Li Hong was about to run behind her daughter, Li Qiang held her hand and said
"There is no need to go behind her. She should remain alone and reflects on herself."
Helpless, Li Hong could only stand there with everyone.
Xi Ying was still smiling as if nothing happened.
As he did this, Li Na couldn't help but look at his every action. She had thought that Minister Xi didn't favor Li Rui. Not only she but the whole Imperial City thinks this.
But seeing with her own eyes how gently he treated Li Rui, Li Na suddenly felt jealous of her.
If only she was in Li Rui's place.
Xi Ying caressed Li Rui's hand and said attracting everyone's attention
"Was it only she who wronged you?"
Li Rui who was silent all the while didn't know what to say.
On the other hand, General Li frowned when he saw Xi Ying's cold glance at his Wangfei. He held Yi Jei close by her waist and glared at the Young Minister but it was not only he who had noticed Xi Ying's glance, but Yi Jei had also seen it.
Now she knew that her husband had told her that he was framed by General Yun. Her daughter had no fault and she felt guilty for blaming her.
Although she didn't say it directly that day, she didn't even stop Li Caihong when she hit her daughter.
The guilt inside her heart increased more when she heard Xi Ying's question.
No longer able to bear this feeling of distance between herself and her daughter, she removed General Li's hands from her waist and walked towards Li Rui.
Standing in front of Li Rui, she looked at her daughter's joined hands with her husband.
Yi Jie was happy. She was happy to see that Lord Xi supported her daughter and asked justice for her.
Looking at her daughter's calm eyes, hot tears rolled down from her eyes when she remembered how she had also moved her eyes away when she had looked at her questioningly whether her mother also believed that she was the reason behind her father's disappearance.
A mother's distrust was the biggest hurt a person could get.
"Rui, will you forgive Mother?"