28 CHAPTER 28 : All the sin I've committed is in plain view of everyone

Long Jie is determined to have a heart to heart conversation with Li Xi Rui. So he flew to the Li Mansion and knock on the door.

"This prince need to see Miss Li", he commanded the Li steward. Bewildered, Li steward look at the Left Prime minister who is on his way out to the palace. When he heard Long Jie's somewhat rushing tone, he is stunned. The times he interacted with the 2nd prince, he had thought the prince is a calm and upright individual.

"Long Jie, what is the matter?", Left prime minister asked. Actually he wanted to ask why is he so anxious? But he changed his question.

"Teacher, I have an important matter to discuss with Miss Li. Could I have a moment with her?", Long Jie stared at the old man.

"Sure. Let steward Li show you the way", Left prime minister nod to Steward Li. As the left prime minister stood watching the disappearing back, he thought, "This 2nd prince had never showed that kind of expression. Maybe there is something really important to discuss with my daughter? Alas, they shouldn't be left alone by themselves. It is not proper afterall". Moving back inside his residence, he told his wife to keep an eye on Long Jie before he left to the palace full of worries.

Long Jie arrived at the kitchen while Li Xi Rui is busily writing her recipe in a piece of paper. Giving a sign to be left alone to the servants, he entered the perimeter of the kitchen.

The servants couldn't say anything to the prince. So they retreated and go to the Madam Li's quarter while panicking. "Madam, 2nd prince and Miss is alone in the kitchen!", Xiao Xi reported.

The madam seems to be contemplating for a moment before she slowly said, "Let us go to the kitchen".

In the kitchen~

"What are you doing here?", Li Xi Rui woke up from her trance after she heard her servants' retreating footsteps.

"I need to ask something", Long Jie sat in front of Li Xi Rui.

"Why would you need to question me here of all places? A prince shouldn't step in a kitchen", Li Xi Rui couldn't find a reason on why is this 2nd prince being so different.

"Because it's important. Be honest with me. Did you see me as a bad guy?", he asked. It's painful to him but he needed to know.

"Is that what is so important? Why would you care if I saw you as a bad or not a bad person? Surely I don't have that qualification", Li Xi Rui dodge the question.

"It's important to me. Just answered the question. Please", he pleaded. He might seems expressionless but his eyes showed how anxious he is at the moment.

Long Jie just sat there in silence. He didn't interrupt and he didn't move. He just sat there and look at her.

"In your mind Long Jie, how did you see me? Isn't it my right to voice out the injustices I faced from others? How could you just judge from one side of the story and persecute me based on that? Didn't I have my own right? I admit I'm not a good person nor I'm bad, but isn't that what makes us human? Say Long Jie, does everything Mu Jiu Jiu did is good in your eyes? When she seduced a man with a fiancee is that truly not a sin itself? When the capital had been running with rumors about me does she ever asked for forgiveness? Let say she didn't know, but is it the truth? Why is it she is painted as a good person and I'm bad? Did I truly deserves all these?", Li Xi Rui almost break down in front of him. She almost cry but held herself at the last minute.

"I already let him go. I don't wish for anything but a peaceful life with my family. Just remember Long Jie, be it unintentional or intentionally, our sin must be paid", she stand up and walk to the door.

When she is a step away from the door, Long Jie finally speaks, "It seems like I had committed many sins. This prince is truly sorry. It might not be much but I promise to correct all my wrong doings".

Li Xi Rui shrugged, she didn't have intention to talk like this to anyone. "Long Jie, human are not just bad or just good, even the so called 'good' people will commit the bad act itself. As for the 'bad' person, sometimes they're not just born bad but circumstances turned them that way. I admit I commit some sin myself but I never did it behind the said person. All the sin I committed is in plain view of everyone else. While the others scheme behind their back, I just did it in front of them. Say, which is better? Behind or in front?", she left Long Jie, before he could answer. She didn't have intention to hear the answers from his mouth anyway.

"Xi-er, where is the 2nd prince? Why are you alone?", out of nowhere, Madam Li asked. Li Xi Rui didn't expect her mother is coming to the kitchen.

Pointing at the kitchen, Li Xi Rui pulled her mother. But what greeted them is an empty kitchen. Long Jie is no where to be seen.

"...It seems like he already left", Li xi Rui said to her mother. 'His martial art is truly good', she thought.