His Rui

"Since His Majesty had said this himself, this Minister will respect him. However…"

Xi Ying said very seriously and politely and intentionally paused amidst his words making Zhao Zhang Wei look at him curiously. 

"…this minister will only step inside when His Majesty will take a right decision. Someone dared to slander this one's wangfei so easily. Today it was the princess; tomorrow it will be someone else. This is something that is intolerable. Going against this one's wangfei is going against this one… So this one hopes that the Emperor will take a wise decision."

Xi Ying could feel Li Rui's eyes on himself when he said these words. His hold on her waist became more firm as if he wanted to let her know that he was really standing with her and she was not alone in all this.

Zhao Zhang Wei nodded his head seriously, however, Xi Ying knew that the prince must be very happy inside his heart.

He must be happy more than anyone else seeing the Empress being humiliated in front of everyone after all reducing the Empress' power meant reducing the first Prince, Zhao Zhuang Chen's power.

In fact, the effect of today's events can be seen clearly from how the Emperor sent Zhao Zhang Wei to stop him instead of Zhao Zhuang Chen.

In the future, he was not obliged to help Zhao Zhuang Chen in anything else even if the Emperor asked him to do so; on account of whatever the Empress had done to Li Rui today.

"Then Minister Xi, why don't you take some rest in one of the Imperial Palace's abode until Benwang goes and talk everything out with His Majesty." 

"Sure."

With Xi Ying's agreement, Zhao Zhang Wei called a maid and asked her to show Xi Ying the way towards the guest abodes in the Imperial Palace.

The maid bowed her head and quietly led the way.

-------

After the farce inside the banquet hall, the banquet was suspended for a few hours and the noble families were provided rooms and servants so that they can rest for some time.

Inside the Luan He hall, Empress Qin Wenya stared at the fireplace while sitting on the couch. Her eyes were red and she was breathing heavily.

"Mother"

Zhao Wenling called out meekly seeing her mother's red face because of anger. Seeing that her mother didn't respond, she felt more scared and whispered

"Mother, Wenwen is sorry. It must be Wenwen who had done something wrong. Wenwen just spoiled everything."

Qin Wenya sighed softly when she heard her daughter's low voice and calmed down.

"It's not your fault. We have not expected Lord Xi to stand up for that girl."

It was obvious that the 'girl' in Qin Wenya's mouth was Li Rui.

Princess Wenling heard her mother's words and said immediately.

"Mother, that's also our fault. We should have known that he will not stay silent. After all, he is pretending to protect Rui."

Although she was quite hurt by whatever she had seen in the Imperial Court, Zhao Wenling soon comforted herself reminding again and again that Lord Xi was just pretending.

Qin Wenya stayed silent.

At this moment, it was difficult for her to decide anything.

After seeing how Xi Ying protected Li Rui, somewhere she felt that Lord Xi was not pretending at all. Things would be best if Lord Xi was really pretending.

That's the only thing that she was thinking at this time. 

At the same time, Zhao Zhuang Chen entered the chambers.

He sat in front of his mother on the couch with a black face.

Qin Wenya knew that something must not be right when she saw her son's face.

"Zhuang Chen, what happened?"

Zhao Zhuang Chen looked at his mother with pursed lips and said after a few moments jerking his sleeve in the air.

"Father Emperor sent that b****d to talk the things out with that Xi Ying. Mother Empress, why I am having a feeling that we are losing our influence? I am suddenly feeling that we will see the throne of Xin getting out of our reach with our own eyes."

  "Zhuang Chen."

Empress Qin Wenya's voice raised a bit stopping Zhao Zhuang Chen from saying anything further.

"Nothing like that will happen."

"But Mother Empress, Father Emperor is clearly showing whom he favors in comparison to the three of us. First is Lord Xi and now I can see that b****d brother of mine is also getting ahead of me."

Qin Wenya sighed and looked at her son's face somberly.

"Zhuang Chen, Your father is still with us. Because he wasn't then I would not have been sitting here with you and Wenling. He didn't isolate me and allowed you with me, is enough to show his favor. We can't demand anything more from him. In the end, he is an Emperor and has his own plans. And to complete those plans, he needs Minister Xi with him.

Zhao Zhuang Chen was silent because he knew that his mother was right.

However, Zhao Wenling didn't like his brother's silence and defended the man she loved.

"Brother, you see …we are still not facing any loss. By doing all this, we at least helped Lord Xi in some way. After whatever happened today, I am sure that Rui and Li Clan will start to believe Lord Xi more. Using their trust, Father Emperor and Lord Xi can destroy the Li Clan so easily. In end, it is you who will be befitted by Li Clan's destruction. Perhaps it will help you restore the title of Crown Prince."

Towards his sister, Zhao Zhuang Chen didn't have any hope.

Although he adored his sister very much, he knew that she was not much clever and intelligent. According to him, she has become so blind in Lord Xi's love that she can't see anything.   

Qin Wenya knew her son's thoughts and tried to smooth over the things.

"We can't waste time like this. We need to plan wisely what we will do ahead."

  Both the sibling sat straight hearing these words.

"It would not matter much if I can't attend the banquet but both of you must attend it. If both of you stayed here inside the chambers like me then we will lose a good opportunity."

Qin Wenya said with a sober face.

Zhao Wenling bit her lips and twisted the hem of her clothes while saying

"But Mother Empress, how will we do that? Father Emperor will not allow us."

Qin Wenya looked at her daughter and said

"That's why you'll go to your father Emperor and talk to him."

Both the siblings looked confused but when they heard what Qin Wenya said further their eyes brightened.

Zhao Zhuang Chen still had some doubts in her heart and said

"What if it didn't work?"

Qin Wenya shook her head and said firmly.

"It will. He is an Emperor. He sure can make any excuse to make you both of you stay. I don't think that Lord Xi will become so petty that he will go against His Majesty for such a small thing especially after I am already out of everything."