Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

The confident smile of Li Xue pricked Shen Bingling's nerves. She wanted to wipe that smile off her face faster than anything else possible. Though she knew that Li Xue would never be able to match her skills in the game, she was still dying to pull on her top-notch fencing tactics to prove her superiority over her.

The rehearsal began with Shen Bingling's set of moves. Thrusting her sword, she compelled Li Xue to step back and defend. And she felt almost winning the first round when just at the right moment, Li Xue took over the show.

It was not like Li Xue gained the point, rather just when Shen Bingling's sword was about to touch Li Xue's torso, she saw her move and twisted her body, preventing the touch. And just when Shen Bingling was surprised with her defense, Li Xue's foot worked in the coordination of her sword before reaching out to touch the side of the princess.

Everyone around was dumbfounded at the turn of the events. It happened so quickly that it almost took a minute for the people to realize what actually happened. When realized people started cheering around that not just encouraged Li Xue but also made Shen Bingling's nerves clench.

From the inside of the fencing mask, Shen Bingling glared at Li Xue. She really has underestimated this girl. But she has been too eager to show her tricks. Now that she has shown, there would be no second chance she would be giving to her.

Without giving any movement to rest, Shen Bingling thrust her sword again on an attacking mode, and retreating her steps back, Li Xu again defended herself. As Li Xue has said earlier that maybe she was incapable to attack the moves of Shen Bingling, her basic learning has still taught her enough to defend herself in a way that no sword will be able to touch her until she permits.

Seeing her second stance getting failed, Shen Bingling's grip on the sword increased as filling her heart with contempt, she once again rushed to attack Li Xue. Everyone could feel the hostility of the woman in the moves but none held the power to stop the rehearsals, after all, neither the queen was present around, nor there were any senior members.

Xiao Meng found it getting out of hand and she immediately rushed to seek help. While on the other side, Li Xue not even for once shrunk back. For Shen Bingling's every attack, she had her defense ready. She could feel Shen Bingling getting outrageous in her moves and internally she smiled. This has been what she was asking all this while. For tomorrow, she needed to know her best so that she could prepare herself for it.

Keeping her eyes sharp, she dodged her every attack and it was not long before, Shen Bingling felt her control losing. Her eye saw red as she no longer remembered that fencing was called to be 'the gentleman's game'. Her eyes went to look at the edge of her sword that had slightly sharp edges. It might not be visible from the bare eyes that easily but if got a chance to look properly anyone would easily tell that there was a sharpness that could easily tear the flesh in one stroke.

Earlier Shen Bingling has not thought she would have to use it on Li Xue. But now that the woman was continuously provoking her, and getting on her nerves, she needs to show her position.

"Li Xue, don't blame me after. You asked it yourself." Shen Bingling grunted as without giving any second thought to her action, she rushed forward to attack.

Li Xue prevented the first slash that was about to fall on her arms but her eyes caught the slight sharpness of the sword blades. She was not surprised; she has already expected this to come when she has heard someone saying that Shen Bingling always brought her fencing equipment herself.

The second slash from Shen Bingling's sword didn't fall too late, Li Xue prevented it again but she has become sure that she wouldn't be able to carry it for long since with every move, Shen Bingling was only turning fierce and fiercer.

Now there was only one option left for her. To minimalize the damage. Taking the chance, for the first time, Li Xue attacked weakly. Though she was advancing her steps forward, compelling Shen Bingling to retreat in her stance, her attacks were not enough powerful to earn any points. Her aim was not to earn a point against the opponent but to split half the effects of the coming attacks.

Soon attacking like that, Li Xue reached her goal. Shen Bingling felt her energy getting drained. And to not keep it going for longer, she thought to finish it faster. She took a step back and next moment attacked her mover faster than expected. Li Xue could easily dodge it. But she knew if dodged this one, she might have to face something more fearsome.

So giving in to that attack, she let go of her defense taking a sharp slash. She planned to take it on her arms but did not know how exactly her foot twisted, resulting in her head to move upwards.

The sharp tip of Shen Bingling's sword, touched Li Xue's bare skin on the neck, almost blowing her back. Li Xue hissed as the next moment her hand went to hold the injured area. The blood gushed out almost scaring everyone on the spot. Li Xue held it hard but however she tried, she was still not able to prevent it.

People rushed to help her first, while Shen Bingling just stood there shocked with her own move. Though she has aimed it like that, she never thought to give a cut on her neck. She has formerly thought it to be on her arms but she didn't know how exactly the moves changed at the last moment.

Her face paled as she saw Li Xue losing her footing. She wanted to rush forwards to check with Li Xue but someone held her from back, halting her that concerned thought for a moment. "Sister Bingling, are you fine?"

It was Li Na who came to ask and looking at her, Shen Bingling nodded. "I am fine, but …" She gestured her to look at Li Xue. "I-I didn't want to hit her neck. I just wanted to bruise her a-arm. It was an accident."

Li Na was terrified. "But Sister Bingling how are we going to explain that. I saw her assistant rushing towards the royal chamber. I fear she has rushed to call the royal highness."

"But Li Na… I surely …"

"What's happening here?" Right at the moment, a voice traveled, silencing every other. The crowd split as someone rushed to greet the royal queen at the very moment. But before anyone could report the things, Chen Rui's eyes caught the sight of Li Xue lying weak and pale on the floor.

"Xiao Xue!" She called as without giving a glance at anything else, she rushed to the girl, all panicked for her situation.