Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

Li Xue looked up at Zhang Xiaotong. Her eyes getting squinted slightly to read the meaning behind the words she has just heard the woman say. Was she the one behind the thing that happened in the palace?

"Were you the one to …?" She thought to ask and confirm directly but before she could make anything confident out of it, a voice interrupted from behind garnering her attention.

"Madam!"

Li Xue turned to look at Gao Fan who appeared all out of nowhere at the moment. Though his expressions looked stoic and natural, something still in his demeanor was out of normal.

"Mr. Secretary, you are here like this. Anything serious?" She asked and Gao Fan just glance towards Zhang Xiaotong before turning his eyes back to Li Xue to say.

"Madam, President Feng has been looking for you for quite some time now. So, he sent me over to check on you and your safety." He said and again turned to glance meaningfully at the other woman standing there.

Li Xue followed his gaze and intention as well. She turned to look at Zhang Xiaotong and then shook her head, "Ah, I am fine. Nothing serious. I was taking a stroll in the garden and when I thought of returning inside, Ms. Zhang stopped me for talking." She said before nonchalantly, waving the topic off. "But our talk is almost over. We can go."

She said and was ready to walk away, but someone on the side was offended. Just when they were about to leave, Zhang Xiaotong interjected with a sense of offense, "How dare you accuse me of something like that? Did you think I am some kind of crazy woman who would try to harm her amidst so many people around?"

Li Xue turned around and eyed the woman before looking at Gao Fan on her side. His expression was all calm and nonchalant. Though those words might have aggrieved someone, on the stance of the secretary, there was nothing but nonchalance.

"Ms. Zhang, I didn't intend to offend you nor did I blame anything on you. I was just concerned about Madam and that's all. I hope you would understand." Gao Fan said and, on the side, Li Xue let him handle on his own. She believed that he might have his own way of dealing with things and her interruption in between might not be right.

Zhang Xiaotong looked at Li Xue and the ease on her face at the situation only irked her nerves more. Her silence only felt like a mock that she was unable to stand. So, clenching her jaws, she thought to vent it all out at the man who has come to become the obedient puppy to the woman. After all, for the sake of a mere secretary, she was sure that Li Xue would not come forward and lose her face.

"You dare to offend me on my face but still say that you haven't intended it. Do you know who I am?" She said as turning slightly she looked at Li Xue with some meaning before adding, "I am the one whom a mere secretary like you shouldn't dare to offend. Because even if today I slap you here, you won't hold the power to retaliate. Want to see?"

Though her words were directed to Gao Fan, the meaning was clearly intended for Li Xue. With her words like that, she wanted to let her know that in front of her neither this secretary nor Li Xue stood an upper chance.

Gao Fan looked at her uninterested. But he agreed to one thing. If the woman really tried something on him, he would not be able to retaliate given her position until he receives an order to do so. So, his priority at the moment was not to infuriate her, but rather wind-up things fast.

"Ms. Zhang, I was here to look for Madam. President Feng has been waiting for her. If there is nothing important, I will ask your leave first." He said and then turned to leave, ready to escort Li Xue safely. But right at the moment, when he thought that he winded things up, a tug on his arms proved him wrong.

Although being alert in all situations was a kind of nature for him, for an odd reason today that habit of his took a small break. He didn't notice the slap coming his way and was ready to take it. But just when that hand of Zhang Xiaotong could strike his face, a swish of swift moment paused everything around, very hard and natural.

"Ms. Zhang, what do you think you are doing? Do you think you are capable to do that?" Li Xue said as again her eyes turned all sharp at the woman, carrying some disbelief about the woman's character. Her hands held Zhang Xiaotong's charged hand in the air in a tight grip that will definitely be inflicting the pain later. "Daring to hit our people when you are yourself here as a guest. Do you think you have the right and authority of that?"

Gao Fan was taken aback. But seeing the lady at the front, taking a stand for him, filled his heart with the warmth that he never felt before. The feeling of one family that he never had before.

"You dare to stop me?" Zhang Xiaotong seethed as she tried to pull her hands back. But however, she tried, the intense grip on her wrist didn't help.

Li Xue smiled with obviousness as her hold only tightened more on the wrist of the woman. "Why shouldn't I? After all, I won't stand idly if you try to bully my people in front of my eyes. Especially when I know that he was not at the fault."

Zhang Xiaotong winced in pain, but still didn't allow herself to bend "Heh! Not at fault? Will you decide that? He accused me of being a threat to your life. Do you think, your life is that precious that I could come after it?"

Li Xue shook her head. "I never heard him taking your name, Ms. Zhang. You just misinterpreted him, given his handsome, stoic face. But anyway, even if you misunderstood him, that doesn't give you the right to raise your hand to prove your illogical point." She said and then thinking for a moment, she pulled her closer slightly to draw close to her ears to whisper, "Also, if seen from one side, I don't think even if Mr. Secretary accused you, it was wrong. After all, didn't you pull the strings to get me to death in the fencing arena?"

She said and then pulled away to notice the changing expression on the woman's face. And just with that, it was confirmed that whatever happened was in her plans. Li Xue let go of her hands and step back to stare at Zhang Xiaotong. "Ms. Zhang, if you don't want me to decide. Fine, I don't have a problem. Let me call the elders of the family and Shufen here, they would decide it for you, while I would just stay here as the witness."

"Will that be good for you?" Li Xue challenged and Zhang Xiaotong didn't dare. Though her jaws were clenched in front of Li Xue standing so firm and confident, she looked like a paper tiger whose strength and power were all pretension.

Li Xue smirked. "Since you know what's best in favor of you, I will take the leave first. Shufen must be waiting for me and it wouldn't be good to keep him like that." She said before turning on her heels and walking away. But that was not before she gave a warning gaze to the woman. "Mr. Secretary, things are settled here. Since Ms. Zhang is our guest; let's not embarrass her by asking for an apology. Let's go."

She said and Gao Fan followed her after.

Today, the secretary was all awestruck by the charm of the lady. Though he had long ago accepted her to be someone befitting his Master, today another wider horizon was added to it. No doubt she was the princess, her attitude speaks out the authority she was born with. And also, no doubt that in the streams of so many women around, His President chose her to share his feelings with.