Chapter 1039 - Outsider.
Chapter 1039 – Outsider.
As per need, Chen Rui has not once hesitated in introducing Li Xue to almost every important member of the team. Though it wasn't needed actually, she has still taken initiative to walk all by herself with Li Xue around. Only after she was satisfied that she has introduced Li Xue to everyone perfectly, they come to pause at an empty table.
"Xiao Xue, have you met them well. Always remember how I introduced them to you and use them when the time comes, okay? Don't always stay there letting those girls play around." Chen Rui said like the concerned mother who was encouraging her kid to not get bullied by other kids.
When Li Xue felt the same, she couldn't help but suppress her chuckle. Then nodding, she agreed, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I have memorized all the listed strengths and weaknesses of the people. When the situation appears in the future, I would definitely not disappoint you."
She assured and Chen Rui was satisfied. Her lips curled but then not making it too obvious for others, she returned back to her composure.
"Umm … Your Highness, you introduced me to everyone in the association except one." Li Xue realized as she gestured the lady to look at the corner where an old lady was sitting all separately, enjoying her time alone. "Is it because I have really been audacious earlier?"
She added and Chen Rui followed the gaze of the girl to look at the distance where she was indicating. "Ah, that's Mrs. Zhao. The oldest one on our cultural association team and also the dearest aunt to your father." She said and Li Xue turned to look at the woman raising her brows with strangeness.
But to her raised brows, Chen Rui remained all nonchalant. "What? I didn't expect you to look at me like that. Referring your father, I mean my husband and the king of the royals, Shin Tinming. Don't say that you forgot it again." She said in a murmur that was only audible to Li Xue.
Li Xue scratched the corners of her brows but then shook her head. "No, I didn't forget. I was just a bit surprised, nothing else."
Chen Rui didn't mind. She knew it would take time and she was willing to give that to Li Xue as well. But even giving her the time, who said that she wouldn't remind the girl of it again and again. She would remind her always until one day she finally accepts them as her own.
"Don't we have to greet her? Especially when earlier, she supported us." Li Xue asked again and Chen Rui shook her head in rejection.
"You are mistaken, dear. Mrs. Zhao never supports anything unless it really has the potential. Since she has believed you, it only means that she must have seen your potential." The royal queen corrected, taking a small sip of the soft drink before adding, "Furthermore, she doesn't like to socialize too much. So, don't disturb her until she asks you to."
She said and Li Xue nodded, before casually reaching out to take away the glass of soft drink from the lady. Chen Rui wanted to question her about her action, but it was already too late. Asking the waiter at the table, Li Xue had asked him to take away the glass.
"Here, please take this away. A few days back Her Highness was having cough and cold. Drinking something this chilled is not good for her health. Instead, ask someone to bring her some chamomile tea." Li Xue ordered, and nodding to her the waiter walked away to fulfill it.
Chen Rui looked at her and wanted to sulk but right before she could do, Li Xue turned to her to say, "It's not good for your health, Ma. Please follow the doctors say while having all this." She said, meaningfully adding the address of 'Ma' in her words to make the lady easily agree.
And it seemed to work because the moment Li Xue called that, Chen Rui smiled before nodding. "Fine, I will do since my daughter is requesting so." She said; when right at that moment, a waiter came to relay the message.
"Your Highness, Mrs. Zhao has been requesting you to her table, if you have some time."
Chen Rui looked at the table where the old lady was sitting and then nodded. "Fine, tell her that I will be there soon." She said, before asking the waiter to leave. If it has been any other then the person wouldn't have held the courage to call the royal queen like this. But since it was Shin Tinming's dearest aunt, even Chen Rui couldn't reject it.
"Fine, Xiao Xue. You can either stand here or walk around to talk to others. I will leave to meet Mrs. Zhao first." She said and understanding her, Li Xue nodded.
"Please. Don't bother about me. I am all comfortable." She assured and Chen Rui accepted before leaving her there alone.
When Chen Rui walked away to get to the corner table of the old lady, she could almost guess for what the woman would have called her. All this while she has both seen and felt her gaze coming into their ways.
"Aunt Zhao, you asked me here? Is there something that I did wrong?" Reaching the table, Chen Rui asked, looking at the lady with a smile.
Zhao Lingyue looked at the woman before trailing her gaze to Li Xue. "Rui, I could never imagine you doing anything wrong since you are the student I have trained. But today, I have called you here just to ask, if you have forgotten the lesson, I have taught you back in days."
Chen Rui frowned subtly. "I don't know what are you talking about, Aunt Zhao. I could never forget any lesson you have taught me."
"Rui, the people around might just have a suspicion, but I can already see it clearly. Don't forget that bringing some outsider too close to yourself or the family will only bring trouble. To maintain the order in royals, it's necessary to maintain the power in the hands of Tinming. Otherwise, everything will just vanish. Do you get that?" Raising a serious concern, the old lady looked worried. In her aged eyes, there was already the seriousness that none could belittle or forsake.
But to her worry, Chen Rui remained all nonchalant, as if she was all confident that she wasn't the one at the wrong place. Keeping all calm in her demeanor, she asked, "Outsider? Aunt Zhao, can I ask who exactly are you referring to?"
Zhao Lingyu didn't take long and at once gestured the indication towards Li Xue, to which Chen Rui simply smiled.
"You have mistaken to think like that. What if I say, that Li Xue is not an outsider to us? What if I say that, to us, she is just like You Jun?"
Chen Rui said, carefully measuring her words and the consequences they might bring. She was taking a risk to reveal the things. But was not completely sure how it would be turning out. After all, maybe the old lady was the dearest aunt of Shin Tinming, but she was more biased towards her.. So she wasn't sure how the lady would be taking the reality of Li Xue's birth and existence.