His Rui

Fifteen minutes later, The Emperor, Zhao Wang Lei sat on the throne as he looked down on the empty seats in the Imperial Court.

Noticing his gaze, one of the ministers stood up and said

"Your Majesty, the rest of the ministers could not attend because of the soldiers roaming the streets of the Imperial City. The soldiers didn't let them out from their manors. Only those who were in the Imperial Palace or those who were successful in hiding themselves from the soldiers could come."

Zhao Wang Lei's eyes were cold hearing whatever the minister said.

General Yun saw this and gloated inside his heart. The Crown Prince, Zhao Zhuang Chen lowered his head to hide his smirk when he saw General Yun standing to say something. 

"Your Majesty, this one can only say that it is the only thing which can be expected from the soldiers trained by General Li. This one suggests executing all those soldiers who are going against His Majesty's decision."

General Yun didn't notice how the Emperor's eyes went colder at his suggestion. He only heard a chuckle as soon as he finished his words.

The ministers were surprised when they saw that it was the Second Prince, Zhao Zhang Wei who was laughing while General Yun frowned in displeasure

With a mocking smile, Zhao Zhang Wei looked at General Yun and said

"General Yun surely is joking. Does General Yun even know how many soldiers are roaming on those streets? If you don't then let this Prince inform you, thirty thousand soldiers. It is foolishness to kill so many soldiers especially when they are just asking His Majesty to investigate the matter carefully before announcing Li Clan and General Li as a traitor."

"And This Prince didn't see anything wrong in this. Those soldiers didn't kill anyone. Leaving aside all this, they are even helping those who are in any difficulty. They themselves are providing a physician to the sick's home and many other things this Prince and General Yun doesn't even know yet."

"All in all, they are still doing their duty which is protecting Xin's people. Do you know why General Yun? Because they are the soldiers trained by General Li."

It was the first time the second Prince spoke in the Imperial Court for that long. Before this, the prince never included himself in the discussion of the Imperial Court and no one tried to include him. The Imperial Court went silent after his words. General Yun opened and close his mouth many times but could not let out a single word. The second's prince each and every word was irrefutable.

However, no one wondered how did the second Prince get so much information remaining inside the Imperial Palace when they who were outside didn't even know anything.

Zhao Zhang Wei saw Zhao Zhaung Chen looking at himself with sharp eyes. This time he didn't lower his head as he used to do in the past. Instead, he smiled provocatively.

He knew it was not the time to hide. He had to come out and fight for the woman he loves.

----------------

Xi Manor

The Plum Courtyard now looked much different from before. The weeds in the garden just outside the Courtyard were cut down by the servants. The Courtyard was being cleaned by the maids thoroughly. The new Steward Shui Cao did everything he could do as a steward to make the Plum Courtyard look decent.

Inside the living room, Xi Ying was currently sitting on the couch with Li Rui. Her fingers were entwined with his as he held her hand. Li Rui glanced at their joined hands for a moment and then took back her gaze as if it was nothing.

She was just tolerating all this because of the words he said last night.

"What did Minister Xi wish to show me by telling me to wait till the morning?"

Xi Ying hid his smile when she finally opened her mouth to talk to him.

"An Shing."

As soon as his voice fell, a young man in black clothes appeared inside the living room.

"An Shing greets My Lord and My Lady."

Although Li Rui was a bit startled that the shadow guard greeted her, she nodded calmly in acknowledgment while Xi Ying's gaze was full of approval seeing this as he looked at his shadow guard.

"How is everything going?"

An Shing bowed his head and said respectfully.

"Reporting to My Lord, more than thirty thousand soldiers are on the streets closing down the whole Imperial City, villages, and towns in Xin. Every soldier whether retired or handicapped as long as he is trained by General Li is on the street and demanding justice for Li and Yi Clan. "

Li Rui who heard each and every word of the shadow guard was shocked. Thirty thousand soldiers, all trained by her father, were fighting for her clan. She couldn't believe it.

One day ago, she was thinking that she was alone in this fight and now so many people were fighting for her father.

Her eyes were moist and she blinked them vigorously.

Xi Ying felt her hand tightening around his own hand. He could feel the change in her emotions. 

"Leave."

An Shing disappeared instantly.

His voice brought Li Rui out of her thoughts and she turned to look at him.

"You are behind all this?"

With a gentle smile, he wiped the corner of her eyes. He didn't answer her question and continued rubbing her hand in circles to soothe her emotions.

But she never needed the answer. She knew that it was him who did all this. But why?

Before she could ask her question, the door of the living room was knocked.

  A maid came running inside the living room.

"This servant apologizes for disturbing Mu Lord and My Lady but it was an important matter."

"Continue."

"My Lord, a Eunuch came from the Imperial Palace. His Majesty summoned My Lord to the Imperial Palace."

Hearing the maid's words, Xi Ying smiled coldly.

'Of course, I will be remembered now."