84: The Envious Princess

The Envious Princess

Since it was the fourth day of the week, Li Rui didn't enter the Imperial Palace. But the most surprising thing was that Princess Wenling didn't come to Li Manor this week.1

Li Rui also found it weird but didn't think much about it.

Inside her chambers, Princess Wenling was sitting on the bed as the words she had heard two days ago from the maid's mouth revolved in her mind.

"When Young Miss Li stands with Princess Wenling, I can't even differentiate who is the real Imperial Princess."

"True. Young Miss Li is not lesser than an Imperial Princess in any way. So beautiful, so intelligent and so lively."

The humiliation that she had felt when she had forgotten poetry was suppressed by the Princess. But after she heard the nanny's words, then the maid's words, everything suddenly started to nag her heart continuously.

'This servant is afraid that having friends like Miss Li; Princess will regret it in the future.'

All of this was not letting her forget that she an Imperial Princess was being compared to Li Rui who was merely a daughter of the Li Clan.

Was Rui really snatching everything that should have belonged to her from the beginning?

The young Princess was now confused and the nanny saw this. She benefited from Li Rui's absence for four days and filled Princess' mind with her talks against Li Rui.

The next week when Li Rui entered the Imperial Palace with her maids, she was told that Princess Wenling was not feeling well and hence she should leave.

Li Rui frowned. Instead of leaving the Princess courtyard, she sneaked inside Princess' chambers when no one was noticing.

Inside the chambers, she saw Princess lying on the bed with her back facing her. Li Rui walked towards the bed with silent steps as she was afraid that she would disturb Princess' sleep.

But the Princess was already awake and was staring at the opposite wall. However, Li Rui couldn't see this. Very carefully, she stretched out her hand and put it on the Princess' forehead.

The sudden touch startled the Princess and she turned around.

Seeing her awake, Li Rui took back her hand and whispered

"Wenwen, the maids outside told Rui that you're feeling unwell. What happened?"

When Wenling saw Li Rui's innocent eyes, she really couldn't believe that Li Rui can try to do something like that.

In a daze, she shook her head and muttered

"I lied."

"Huh?"

Li Rui was surprised and then laughed suddenly.

"Are you trying to skip today's class with Teacher Wu?"

Princess Wenling got up from the bed and smiled when she saw her laughing. She nodded her head gently and then said

"Let's go."

Li Rui and Princess Wenling attended classes together. Teacher Wen read something aloud and then explained its meaning. He then asked a few questions which both girls answered very well.

Teacher Wen was very satisfied and praised them but today Zhao Wenling felt as if the teacher praised Li Rui more. His eyes when he looked at Li Rui were more gentle.

Whenever Li Rui answered the question he asked, they will brighten with joy and approval.

Li Rui was very intelligent. Even more than her. Princess Wenling knew it. She could remember the things she once read. She could also think of any solution when Teacher Wen would give them a political situation. 

But could Li Rui gain all this without her? It was she who had given her all this.

'Young Miss Li is nothing without Princess but Princess how long will it remain that way? The way the things are going right now, this servant fears that soon Miss Li will overshadow the Princess.'

Zhao Wenling couldn't concentrate on what Teacher Wen was saying. Her head was starting to hurt with the thoughts that were not ready to leave her mind.

She got reprimanded by Teacher Wen many times during the class.

After the class, Li Rui and Princess Wenling were passing through the Imperial garden while going to Princess' chambers when the second Princess suddenly stopped them.

The second Princess, Zhao Xiuming was one year younger than Princess Wenling. She has always been envious of Princess Wenling since Li Rui had become her companion.

Zhao Xiuming liked Li Rui's liveliness as it was something that no other girl could compare to. She glanced at Li Rui. Clutching the hem of her dress, she asked Zhao Wenling.

"Elder sister, will you like to play with Xiuming and her friends?"

Princess Wenling saw the other girls standing behind Zhao Xiuming and had to nod her head or else she will look arrogant in other's eyes.

The girls started playing. Whoever lost would be punished to do anything. When it was Li Rui's turn to get punishment, Zhao Xiuming suddenly exclaimed.

"Rui, can you recite a poem?"

Li Rui nodded her head with a smile and recited the lines she had just learnt in today's class. When she finished, someone's clap sounded in the garden.

"Remarkable."

The Emperor, Zhao Wang Lei who was passing by heard Li Rui's soft voice and stopped. He stood there and heard the whole poem recited by the young girl.

As he walked forward, everyone bowed their head and greeted him.

Li Rui glanced at him for a few moments and then bowed her head as she remembered her father's words.

"Li Rui, do you remember any other poem?"

Li Rui nodded her head at the Emperor's question and told the names of a few poems.

"That's quite a lot."

Zhao Wang Lei chuckled. He then asked her to recite a few of the poems and she recited everything without any problem.

The ministers standing behind the Emperor looked at the young girl with admiration. Such a young girl and could remember so much. Even the boys of her age couldn't do that.

The Emperor looked very happy and praised Li Rui which she heard silently and in the end, thanked the emperor.

Standing amidst all other girls, Princess Wenling saw all of this and she felt very irritated.

She didn't like how her father and the ministers were praising Li Rui. She stepped forward and clutched his father's sleeve in her hands interrupting him when he was about to shower Li Rui with another string of praising words.

"Father Emperor, Wenwen also learned a few poems. Would  Father Emperor hear them from Wenwen?"

Zhao Wenling asked in a spoiled manner. She saw Zhao Xiuming envious eyes as she did this and felt a little satisfied. Only she can behave with Father Emperor in this manner.

Zhao Wang Lei patted his daughter's head but his words made Zhao Wenling's smile disappear.

"Wenwen should also learn from Li Rui. Father will hear them from you some other time."

Saying this, Zhao Wang Lei left the Imperial garden.

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