30 CHAPTER 30 : I've told you, I didn’t hate you

The very next day, Li Xi Rui get on her white carriage and make her way to the Jian Palace. Jian Palace is a residence bestowed by the emperor to his 2nd son. The crown prince live in the main palace and all the other princes have their own residence.

Standing up in front of the palace she contemplating once more, 'Do I really have to do this?'. She knew she is just a mere human. She didn't have the power nor strength to keep the danger of her family. There is no guarantee Long Jie will help her.

There is no guarantee he will not be involved in a plot to take her family down. But still, she have to take this chance. It is better to ask the 2nd prince help than the crown prince. With a deep breath, she told Xiao Xi to knock on the door. Even when this is a palace, there is no guard guarding the entrance, thus, they have to knock the large wooden door.

Steward Wang opened the door and is greeted with the presence of a lady in white. Though the lady is wearing a veil, the pale ness of her hand and the slender body, indicate that this lady is a pampered young miss. Politely as he may, he asked for the name of the young miss.

"This is Miss Li Xi Rui, daughter of the Left prime minister", Xiao Xi announced. Her miss already banned all use of her conferred title.

Hearing the name, steward Wang become even more polite. How could he not known this miss. This is the miss who is able to provoke emotion from his highness, 2nd prince. Showing the way to the 2nd prince private quarters, he already send a servant to quickly tell the master of the palace.

Li Xi Rui would never imagine she will be politely received in the palace. She didn't even know that she is on her way to the prince private quarters. Looking at the scenery inside the palace, it is enough to calm her down. With many arranged stones, beautiful pagodas and a masterpiece garden, she is lost in the human-made world.

As it is still quite early in the morning, all the maids and servants are busy with the tasks in their hand. But when they saw a noble lady in the vicinity, they're almost forget their duty. In their mind, they are making speculation on who is this lady is and why is steward Wang is taking the lady to 2nd prince private quarters? Even the 8th princess have never stepped into that part of the palace. Is this lady more important that the prince's blood related sister?

As if knowing the mind of the maids, steward Wang glared at all the servants, making them shivered. Quickly they dropped their head and continue their tasks.

After stepping through a large black door, Li Xi Rui is greeted with a man in purple robe. She hadn't seen this man for 1 week but his face already look this haggard. 'Did that conversation really affected him that much?', she refused to feel sympathy. Though unconsciously in her heart, there is a bud of flower amongst the grass waiting to bloom.

'Why is this old man so strong? MISS! SAVE ME!', Xiao Xi could only try using the nonexistent telepathy. But as expected, telepathy is just a myth. Her miss doesn't even realize she already enters a tiger's den and her backer is being dragged by the tiger's steward.

"Xi Rui... what are you doing here?", Long Jie could only muttered that question after being lost in her presence. He couldn't believe it. She is now in front of him. In his private living quarters.

"I am here to make a deal with you, Long Jie", she woke up from their staring contest.

"If it can make you hate me less, anything is fine", he said that but still remain rooted in his original place.

"I've told you, I didn't hate you", she said.

His eyes seems to twinkle for a second and then resumed to it's original state before he closed their distance. Now standing in front of the girl he loves, he couldn't help but slip off the veil. He wants to see her eyes so he could see the truth in her word. He believes her but he also knew, once the heart is starting to hate, it is very difficult to forget.

Watching that pair of light brown eyes, finally he saw some emotions in them. 'She is telling the truth!', he is overwhelmed with his emotions. How could this be true? He already prepared to be let down. He already prepared of only watching her from afar. He wouldn't let any wolf beside her but if she really did fall in love with another, how could he watched her suffer? He will always be with her even just being a shadow. He is prepared to not crossing the thin line. But the lady in front of him shattered his world- Again.

Without much control of his body, he pull her in his embrace. "Xi Rui, just let me hold you for a while. Just a hug. I promise..", he said with a strained voice.

Li Xi Rui couldn't see his face but she understands this man doesn't want her to see his face. In her mind, she is confused! She is just standing there, wanting to make a deal and try to make him agree, suddenly she is being held in his arms. Instinctively she wanted to push the man, but after hearing that voice, she just let her arms fell at her sides and shut her lips tightly. Only this time would she let him manhandled her this way. She still need his cooperation. 'I'd just said I didn't hate him. Why does he suddenly clinging on me?'