Chapter 268 - I Will Support You Unconditionally
However, by being silent, Li Rong could not make her daughter escape her wrongs. Because Li Rui was no longer continue to remain silent.
"However, Rui didn't say anything back then because Rui was not left with any strength to fight with anyone."
Li Rui paused and her eyes had a lost look as she continued
"…I was so lost in grieving over what I had lost that I didn't even fight with those who make me lost my precious person."
General Li looked at his daughter but he couldn't do that for long. Yi Jie could only shed tears silently remembering how Li Zhan's death had affected her daughter.
It was only Xi Ying who had the power to look in Li Rui's lost eyes. He gulped the emotions rising inside his heart and his eyes were filled with unshed tears.
His hand rose to take her in his arms but he was forced to stop amidst his actions.
She was already sad and he didn't wish her to feel annoyed by touching her against her will.
"Rui"
Xi Ying whispered and Li Rui came out of her trance.
She looked at Xi Ying and Xi Ying saw that her eyes were same now…cold and calm. But he could also see a thin layer of moistness at the corners.
By touching her as less as he could, he wiped the corner of her eyes. He was relieved to see that she didn't resist. After he was done he didn't put his hand down. Looking into her eyes and he whispered
"You no longer need to be tolerant of anyone. I am with you. Whatever you want to do, I will support you unconditionally …even if you don't trust me."
Li Rui stared at Xi Ying silently. His words rang in her ears and her eyes were still very calm.
Xi Ying was unable to guess what was going on in her mind. He silently put down her hand and stood beside her.
"Rui"
Li Rui also turned around and looked at Li Qiang who was still looking at Li Na with a cold face.
"First Uncle"
Li Qiang turned to look at Li Rui and his eyes were unconsciously filled with shame and guilt.
"First Uncle, Rui has asked Elder Brother Yi Jinjie to investigate this matter, four years ago. If First Uncles wishes, then Li Rui can also present evidence. It is a document from a brothel of the Imperial City that clearly states that the drug aphrodisiac was bought on Li Na's name."
Li Rong's face went pale but she couldn't say anything after Li Rui seemed to be ready to present the evidence also.
Li Qiang again closed his eyes in anger when he heard the word 'brothel'.
When he opened them, his eyes had an apologetic expression and he said to Li Rui.
"Uncle believes you, Rui. You have suffered. Uncle can't pay back you in any form for what you have gone through but Uncle assures that Li Na and Li Caihong will surely get the punishment for what they have done."
"They would have to, Minister Li."
Said Xi Ying as soon as Li Qiang finished.
"Because if you didn't do what is needed then this Lord will make sure that everyone in the whole Xin knows about your daughter's deeds. If your punishment doesn't satisfy this Lord then I will make sure that everyone also come to know how your elder daughter is brave and characterless enough to drug me and think of sleeping with me."
Li Qiang froze when he heard Xi Ying's last words and Li Na who was still thinking of ways to save herself from her father's wrath was terrified on hearing Xi Ying's words.
She looked at the man she had liked enough to give herself to him…and saw a cold and ruthless smile on his lips as he looked at her father.
Seeing Li Qiang's confused face, Xi Ying generously told her.
"Your daughter, Minister Li is surely very brave. After drugging Li Rui and making my wife's life miserable for four years she was not satisfied at all. So during the Imperial banquet celebration of Mid Autumn Festival, she tried to drug this Lord and offer herself to me…just like a prostitute does."
Xi Ying said with a disgusted expression on his face while Li Rui looked at him with surprised eyes.
"If you want, then this Lord can present an evidence for this also."
Li Qiang could not recognize his daughter now. After hearing whatever Xi Ying said, even the sight of Li Na filled his heart with disgust, anger and shame.
How did he a birth such a pair of vicious daughters?
Li Na looked at Xi Ying with a pale face. She could only see a side of his face. Even that small sight of that beautiful face made her heart wild. But his words also rang in her ears.
"You knew…"
She whispered and everyone looked at her including Xi Ying with his cold eyes. A burning pain spread through her head as well as eyes as she started to remain the suppressed memories of that worst day of her life.
"It was not my hallucination…you were really there. I saw you … it was you who hit me right?"
Xi Ying didn't say anything and glanced away indifferently.
Li Na clutched her dress and whispered again.
"How did I reach inside that room?"
The question made a cold smile appear on Xi Ying's lips. He looked at Li Na with the same smile that made the hair on her neck stand as he said
"Are you still stupid to not know about this? Then let this Lord reveal this. It was my people who threw you inside that room. You just got what you deserved."
Li Na's pale face only went paler.
She looked away from Xi Ying and looked at Li Rui with hatred instead.
"It's you…it's you right?"
She shouted as she tried to get up.
However, the burning pain all over her body made her unable to stand again. So she could only point her finger at Li Rui and continued to scream in her shrill voice.
"B***h, it's you…who told him that I drugged you, right? I will kill you."
Moving her eyes again at Xi Ying, Li Na pleaded as she said
"Lord Xi…I didn't mean to drug you. Believe me. I am not a prostitute. It was my maid who had gone to the brothel to buy drugs. I never went there. This time also, I just wanted to drug this b***h."
She glared at Li Rui as she said her last words and looked at Xi Ying again.
"She doesn't deserve you …Lord Xi. You should accept me as your concubine. I will serv… ah…"
Li Na couldn't complete her words as she was heavily slapped by Li Qiang before she could do so.
Lying on the floor, she held her cheek as she raised her head to look at her father with wide eyes full of shock.
"One more word, Li Na…you will regret immensely for your whole life."
"Drag her away."
He shouted and two maids immediately entered the front hall dragging the silent Li Na away.
Li Rong could only look at her daughter with blank eyes. Li Na's words rang in her ears continuously.
How could she even fight for her daughter when she had accepted by herself that she really did all those shameful and humiliating deeds?