Chapter 117 - Lord Xi Wants To Help
The sun was about to rise in the Imperial City.
After so many days, the Imperial City was welcoming a peaceful morning. The soldier has now gone back to their villages after General Li had assured them that Li Clan would not face any injustice and that he believed that the Emperor would not wrong anyone.
This was General Li's loyalty to the Emperor.
Everyone praised the Li Clan and their belief was more firm that someone framed General Li.
The Xi Manor was also very lively today.
It didn't take long before everyone in the manor knew what happened in Plum Courtyard yesternight.
Lord Xi spent the whole night in Wangfei's room. Although it was not a new occurrence but this time Young Master was not in the room.
And he also asked for warm water at midnight.
What all of these things indicated, a wise person could understand it very easily.
Everyone sighed.
Who had thought that things would turn like this?
Who had thought that Lady Li would be favored by Prime Minister Xi one day? The same minister who has not stepped inside her courtyard for four years was now spending his every night in the same courtyard.
Only in a single night, the news affected maids and servants so much that some ridiculous rumors started to emerge slowly.
'Lady Li must have done some black magic on Prime Minister Xi.'
Early morning, Shui Cao heard this rumor from a servant's mouth, he swiftly took action. He found the origin of the rumor and dismissed a few servants.
A few servants who were a bit suspicious and fell in the criteria Lord Xi had told him, he just warned them and wrote their names on a separate paper.
They were to be reported to Lord Xi personally.
After that, no one talked uselessly and if someone tried to the other person would walk away from there.
Hence, the peacefulness of Xi Manor was also back after these events.
.
.
.
Inside the Plum Courtyard, the two young maids had sent Mi Xian to rest inside her room and were waiting outside Li Rui's room.
The sun has risen but the doors had not opened yet.
Inside the room, a blanket covered the two figures lying on the bed.
Behind the translucent curtains, Xi Ying was looking down at the woman in his arms with a smile on his lips.
He caressed her face or sometimes stroked her hair carefully.
Remembering the last night, there was a strange satisfaction inside his heart.
He kissed Li Rui's forehead and whispered
"Ruiā¦ my wangfei"
Seeing that, she still didn't wake up, he chuckled.
He didn't want to disturb her peaceful sleep but she had not eaten anything for a long time now.
In her sleep, Li Rui suddenly felt something wet on her lips. After that, something hot invaded her mouth making her open her eyes slowly in confusion.
Seeing the face in front of her, the last night events rushed to her mind and she closed her eyes again calmly and let him do what he wanted.
However, moments later, she couldn't remain calm as she felt the deep kiss making her mind blank.
She was left breathless when those lips finally left her.
She could feel him caressing her waist and murmuring her name which made her feel a strange sensation inside her heart.
Does every man behave like this on a first night with a woman? Rui wondered.
But then she remembered that it was not her first night.
"What are you thinking?"
She raised her eyes to look at the man who was looking down at her with so much gentleness that it confused her.
"Nothing." She whispered.
Although Xi Ying had expected this answer he was still a little sad. But he no longer pondered over this sad feeling because today he didn't want to remain sad.
"I'll ask the maids to prepare bath." He said pecking her forehead.
Li Rui nodded her head and saw him going out of the bed.
Xi Ying came back a few moments later and climbed on the bed again. But when he was about to raise the blanket and get inside, he found that Li Rui was clutching it tightly.
He looked at Li Rui in confusion who has turned her back towards him.
Xi Ying's heart sank suddenly.
Did he do something wrong?
"Rui, what happened?"
He called out worried and panicked. Only Rui could make the cold minister feel these weird emotions.
"Can you go out?"
He heard her low and soft voice which was also a bit hoarse now.
Xi Ying raised his hand and put it on Li Rui's shoulder that was covered with the blanket. Seeing her not pushing it away, he sighed and said
"Did I do something wrong?"
Facing the other side, Li Rui heard his question and felt a little weird suddenly.
Was it fear she could hear in Minister Xi's voice?
Shrugging her thoughts away, she answered his question awkwardly and tightening the blanket around her body.
"I want to wear my clothes."
Behind her, Xi Ying sighed in relief.
Suddenly his eyes caught Li Rui's red earlobes and he chuckled silently.
Was she shy?
He felt his heart softened.
The words that 'he had already seen everything and there was no need to hide' were swallowed down.
He leaned down and kissed her temple.
"I'll go outside then. "
He whispered and then left the room.
After going outside, Xi Ying was about to ask the maids to help Li Rui but suddenly didn't like this thought.
He disliked the thought of her being seen by anyone even if the other person was of the same gender. But she would need some help.
After pondering for a few moments, Xi Ying opened the door and went back inside.
Li Rui who was amidst lowering the blanket looked at the door with wide eyes. When she saw Xi Ying, she covered her body and looked at him in confusion.
Didn't he go inside?
Xi Ying cleared his throat seeing her questioning eyes and said
"I want to help you."