Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

Chen Rui has already lost her calm seeing the blood-stained hand of Li Xue. Though she wasn't able to see the cut on her neck yet, the stink of the blood reaching her nostrils was enough to flare her temper up at the situation. When she planned to bring Li Xue here, she never thought that something like this could also happen under her nose. Li Xue could also get harmed with her around.

Right when she was about to lose the whole, Li Xue reached her, almost guessing her state. "Y-Your Highness. I am fine. It's just a small cut. I am sure. I will be better once the doctor has a look at it." She said and her words were also a reminder to the lady that in front of people she couldn't let go of her composure that's suited to her title.

Chen Rui was not convinced but still, since it was her request, she couldn't bring herself to reject it as well. Clenching her fist on her side, she closed her eyes to hold on for a moment. "Call the doctor." She ordered and as if from before someone has already taken the initiative to call one, the doctor appeared in his white coat, ready to look at Li Xue.

"Your Highness! I rushed here the moment I got the news." The doctor explained before looking at Li Xue lying on the floor. "We need to carry Ms. Li Xue first. It won't be appropriate to treat her on the floor." He added and the next moment, someone reached forward to help Li Xue on the bench at the side.

People moved accordingly and none at the moment noticed that the person who carried Li Xue in the arms was no other but Su Ce himself.

Li Xue herself was not in the state to realize it but when his voice rang near her ears, she jolted to see him so close to her.

"Someone bring the pillow for the princess' comfort." Su Ce ordered. His expression was all cold and indignant. Even though Li Xue felt comfortable in his arms, something in his aura was making her skin tingle. Especially that closeness that she was sharing with him was making her feel creepy, urging her to push him away as soon as possible.

"Prince Su, it's fine. You can keep me on the bench. I will be comfortable without even a pillow." Li Xue requested but it only earned her a glare from the man. Su Ce looked at her before looking at the people around.

"Do I have to repeat my words again?" He asked and his voice had a warning that instantly put wheels on the people's feet, asking them to rush instantly. As some of them rush to get the pillow, others rush to check the other things. But since things were getting delayed, Chen Rui could no longer take it anymore.

"Su Ce, give Xiao Xue to me. With me here, she won't feel any discomfort." Taking the seat on the bench herself, she asked Su Ce to bring Li Xue down on the bench, before looking at the doctor to come forward.

People were all dumbfounded. None realized what actually happened. Things were surprising without any doubt. But they couldn't tell what exactly stunned them more at the scene. Was it the rare cold stance of Su Ce that almost none has ever seen before? Or was it looking at Her Highness offering her lap as a pillow to a simple model, Li Xue?

Although both were rare sights to see in history, they still believe the latter one was more surprising. After all, after the Crown Prince, the royal queen has never shown this motherly concern for anyone.

Li Xue lied down on the bench, with her head on Chen Rui's lap. Though she was still in her consciousness, the pain she was feeling on her neck was almost blinding her. It felt like the sting was burning her skin little by little, piercing her muscles in agonizing pain. Her fingers clenched on the side of her fencing suit as she felt the doctor cleaning the wound.

Chen Rui looked at the girl like that and asked, "Doctor, is it serious? Do we have to take her to the hospital?"

The doctor didn't say anything spontaneously. He took his time to read the wound before shaking his head in denial. "It won't be necessary, Your Highness. Though the cut has gone a bit deep on Ms. Li Xue's neck, it would be better once gets bandaged. For the rest, the painkilling medicines would do." He said and Chen Rui looked at the girl.

"But she looks in pain and also her face looks so pale. How could it be simple?" As far as Chen Rui has guessed Li Xue's character, the girl would never fake pain.

"Your Highness, the cut on her neck is definitely not simple. Her life is spared just by a half inch. If the swords had slid slightly next to where it has actually been, then it might have become a bit tough for us to handle them by bandages. But since Ms. Li Xue has been lucky; she would recover soon." The doctor explained before slowly bandaging the region.

Li Xue slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the lady. All this while, though her eyes were closed she has heard well the concern in the voice of the lady. So as not to worry her more, she opened her eyes just to look at her. "Your Highness, it's okay. I am fine. As I said, it was just a small cut, nothing serious."

She said but in the middle of her words, Su Ce interrupted. "How could it be simple? Fencing has never been this offensive game. Bruises could still be understandable but an injury serious like this …" He paused before turning slightly on his side to look back at someone to continue. "I really want to ask Princess Shen, how exactly it became so serious?"

Shen Bingling was already feeling weak since the arrival of Chen Rui. Now that she has to face the question of Su Ce this bluntly, she didn't know how to answer it. "I … I don't know. W-We were just rehearsing and …"

"Rehearsing?" Su Ce chuckled, but his chuckle didn't hold any playfulness instead, it held an iciness that only turned Shen Bingling frozen at her stance. "Rehearsals has always been very easy going, Princess Shen. How come for you it turned so violent? Were you purposefully taking out some of your previous grudge on her? I remember someone saying that you haven't been too happy with this years' arrangements."

Shen Bingling shook her head as she turned around to look at everyone. Shaking her head, she tried to deny the accusation, but the gazes she felt from around were just too rigid to believe in her excuse. "P-Prince Su, believe me. It's not like that. I was just rehearsing and then …"

Su Ce smiled even before the woman could complete her defense. "Princess Shen, as far I have heard and learned from the basic classes, fencing weapons has always been blunt. Can I check yours? I have heard that you always carry your special equipment yourself. If not, your intention I am sure, we would definitely not find anything wrong in it."

He asked and Shen Bingling almost felt her knees weakening. After seeing the edged blades of her sword, who would believe that hurting Li Xue like this was not her intention in the first place?