Almost all of the country knew Chen Rui's nature of being all honest and righteous in concern of justice. That's why when earlier she supported Li Xue, there was no one to question her.
Their Queen was the woman to always encourage and support integrity, then there was no way they would ever take her supporting the wrong.
Li Xue never meant to lie to anyone so when she saw such belief, the woman was having on her conduct, she didn't stay silent rather confessed the things all honestly.
"Ma, that was not a lie. What Madam Li said about me harassing Wen Sying in the restroom was true. I did try to strangle her", Li Xue said, her ambers staring all confidently into the eyes of the Queen. "I have my reasons. But that doesn't mean I will try to justify my actions. People's perceptions vary and you can take me wrong too. I would not complain".
She said without hesitating in her stance. Her smile, never abandoning her lips.
"You …" Shin You Jun wanted to put forward a complaint but for some reasons, he was finding a lack of words. "See, Ma, I said to you. She was just tricking you and still has no guilt for her actions" He said.
Chen Rui looked at the girl. Her expressions were all blank, not giving away any thoughts running her mind. Li Xue felt a little scared looking at her like that. Though there was no accusation, no blame, no threat in the Queen's eyes, still somewhere she feared that maybe her confession could bring the pain to the lady. After all, she has supported her in front of so many people and has also claimed her as a goddaughter. Why would she want to support the wrong?
Li Xue didn't remove her eyes from the Queen, rather stayed looking at her, waiting to hear her words. The Royal Queen's lips pulled into a straight line when suddenly it curled to form an upward curve. "You know girl, what attracts me more to you?" Chen Rui suddenly asked.
And to her question, Li Xue just let out a sound of confusion. "Huh?"
"It's your straightforwardness and confidence. You don't need to let me know your reasons, neither do you need to justify anything. If you could accept your deeds with such honesty and confidence, it only meant that whatever you have done must not be wrong and your reasons must be right. Perceptions of different people might vary, but that variation would never make the right thing as wrong."
The Queen took a step forward towards Li Xue, getting close to her, raising her hands to lightly give the adoring pats on her cheeks and said, "So, I would give you no reason to complain because I am not going to blame you for anything. What you did was your right thing to do and what I did was my right thing to do. After all, taking a stand for your own daughter could never be wrong for any mother. And Godmothers are no less than real mothers. Consider me the same".
She said and Li Xue almost felt warm drops of emotions at the edge of her eyes. But she didn't let them fall off. Shaking her head, she denied, "Nope, I don't think so. As far as I have experienced, I feel like godmothers are better than real mothers. So, I can definitely not consider you the same"
Chen Rui could not help but laugh at her words. For a second, she was scared of her words. But then she realized the intentions behind her words.
Of course, she knew what type of motherly love she has got from her childhood. So, given that, she was not surprised to witness the tears in her shining blazing-coloured eyes.
Li Xue also accompanied her in that soft peal of laughter.
Behind them, Shin You Jun could only pout at the sight. He looked like that little puppy whose master had abandoned him after getting another good one.
"Madam!"
Li Xue turned when she heard Gao Fan's voice from behind.
"President Feng is here. He is asking if your shopping is over then, he would like to take you along with him"
The woman's brows wrinkled a little as she asked, "He is here?" Then pulling her wrists up, she looked at her watch. There was still an hour left to strike the time for him to leave his office. Then, how come he was here at this time? Did he again bunk his office hours for her?
But since he was already here to take her then it would only be right for her to leave with him. She turned to apologetically look at the Queen and the lady instantly understood the thing the girl was asking for.
"I have a condition. You can only go after promising me to visit the palace soon for lunch someday. We already have that pending. The last time when I sent our invite with our butler, you were not in the country. Although it's not needed to invite your daughter, still we will send it again. Please accept it and come." Chen Rui said and Li Xue readily nodded.
"Sure thing! But is it possible to have it the other week? This week we have …" she said with some agreement but right then Shin You Jun interrupted her a little stiffly.
"We are still the Royals. Are you asking us to arrange the plans as per your schedule? You know the King and Queens are much busier than you?"
Li Xue controlled her urge to roll her eyes. But then said, "Uh – oh! The Crown Prince is already growing older. Would it not be great if he could help his parents in making their schedule and work easy? I think seeing their children help them, overwhelms the parents with a great feeling as well as unburdens them with their worries. The help of the Crown Prince will serve the same purpose for His Majesty and Her Highness." Li Xue took a pause and then added a last blow, "And also, in that way at least I would have hope that you would become a man to keep promises in the future."
Chen Rui suppressed her laughter inside. She was liking the play of the two children. Looking at them like this was fun.
"You …" Shin You Jun would have almost jumped but before he could, he was mercilessly ignored. Li Xue turned to the Queen and simply said.
"Ma, I have to attend the debate competition of my daughter this week. So, it's kind of important to me. Hope you will understand and would not see this as some offence" She said with a polite, soft smile with respect in her eyes.