His Rui

Chapter 364 – Li Rong’s Plans

When Li Qiang came back an hour later, he was surprised to see Li Rong sitting on the bed in a daze.

He frowned in displeasure because Li Rong's face now looked paler than before. She should be resting on the bed.

"Rong'er."

Li Rong flinched on hearing the voice while Li Qiang frowned at his reactions. Unnoticed from his eyes, Li Rong had a letter pressed under her hand that was placed on the bed.

However, seeing Li Qiang she hurriedly stuffed the letter inside her sleeves and tried to stay calm.   

The first thing that Li Qiang did after stepping closer to his wife was check her fever. A moment later, the frown on his forehead deepened and he said

"Your fever is very high now."

Saying this, he pushed Li Rong towards the bed and said

"Lie down. I will call for a physician."

Saying this, Li Qiang had just turned around when Li Rong suddenly held his hand and said

"Qiang, you know the reason behind my deteriorating health is something else. A physician cannot do anything about it."

Li Rong whispered in a low voice. 

Li Qiang's eyes dimmed for a moment. He obviously understood what Li Rong was trying to say. However, what could he even do?

He sat at the edge of the bed and held her hand. His face was serious as he continued 

"Rong'er, don't think about anything. Everything will be fine. Are you worried about Li Na? Do you think that I being a father will push her somewhere she can't get respect and love she deserved from her husband?"

Li Rong's eyes brightened a little when she heard her husband's words.

After reading the letter, she had hope inside her heart but that hope vanished instantly when she remembered just how loyal her husband was to Li Heng.

He would never go against him (General Li).

The hope vanished away as soon as it emerged. However, now hearing Li Qiang's words, she suddenly could see that he still had some affection for their children inside his heart.

Although he was angry with whatever they have done, he was still their father. How could he not worry and care for them?

"What do you want to say?"

Li Rong whispered suddenly and Li Qiang didn't hide anything.

Leaning down a little closer, he held her hand tightly and said in a low voice

"Lu Jianye really likes our Li Na. However, after coming to know that he wanted to take Li Na as his concubine in Lu Manor, I had strictly refused this proposal. However, that boy likes our Li Na a lot."

Li Rong's eyes dimmed again. All of this, she had been already told by Li Qiang so she only thought that he was trying to comfort her again. She tried to free her hand from his hold, however, Li Qiang didn't allow her and held her firmly as he continued

"He liked Li Na so much that he promised me that he will not marry any other woman than Li Na in his whole life."

Li Rong's eyes went wide when she finally registered Li Qiang's words in his mind.

"Never marry…"

She couldn't help but whisper.

"Yes"

Li Qiang immediately nodded his head as he said

"Lu Jianye said that he is working very hard and since he is the first one to reach the Imperial Palace without using any other means. He is respected a lot in his clan. Although they are not allowing him to take Li Na as his wife, they can't stop him from taking her as his concubine just because of this reason."

"He said that with time, his reputation would only increase and he is right. He had gotten first place in the Imperial exam this year and he is quite wise and active also. Anyone with such achievement and qualities can easily become a minister in the Imperial Palace in a few years. Slowly he will become so reputed and powerful that no one in his clan would be able to stop him even if he decided to make Li Na his wife from a concubine. Until then, he would never marry any other woman and not even after that."

Li Rong's eyes were a little wide as she registered everything Li Qiang told her.

"He really said that? Qiang…you are not just saying it to comfort me, right?"

Li Qiang firmly nodded his head and said

"Have I ever lied to you before?"

Li Rong immediately shook her head.

A moment later, she smiled slightly in relief. 

At least for one daughter of hers, there was a little hope.

However, Li Qiang seemed to have more to say.

"But there is something else also I need to tell you. Lu Jianye thinks that Li Na was completely innocent in the incident that happened during the Imperial banquet celebration of the Mid Autumn Festival. We can't let him know that Li Na was not really innocent."

Li Rong immediately nodded her head understanding Li Qiang's words completely.

No man would like it that a woman he loved plotted as Li Na did to sleep with some other man.

"We will not let him know then."

Li Rong repeated her husband's words. Relief was there inside her heart. She suddenly sat up on the bed and hugged Li Qiang tightly.

"Qiang, I was so afraid. I thought that you don't love our children like before."

Li Qiang sighed as he wrapped his arms around his wife. He stroked her hair and whispered

"You do forget every time that they are my children also."

Guilt flashed through Li Rong's eyes but it was only for a moment. She suddenly backed away and looked at Li Qiang.

"Qiang, what about Caihong and Chenchen."

Li Qiang's face hardened for a moment as he remembered how Li Caihong had thrown away the ointment and whatever Li Chen did just to get the position of the next general.

Li Rong saw it and she immediately held his face between her hands gently and said

"Qiang, Chenchen did something foolish. I know it."

Li Qiang's face softened a little on hearing these words. It was good of Li Rong knew. He doesn't want her to cover her eyes with this motherly love and then blind herself so that she could ignore their children's mistakes.

Li Rong was relieved inside her heart. After so many years, how could she not know what nerve of Li Qiang she had to pinch or stroke softly to anger him or make his heart soften. 

With this, she finally started to do what she had planned in this long and short one hour when Li Qiang was absent from the room.