His Rui

An Si heard his master's words as he continued to look at the woman with wide eyes slowly recognizing the familiar face from the supposedly unfamiliar face. 

"Huh?"

An Ju said with a dumb look on her face.

This expression was instantly recognized by An Si. 

When realization dawned on him, he almost screamed with excitement but he also realized that they were in his mater's presence so he bit his lips to stop himself from speaking.

Seeing the stupid look on her face, his eyes shone with laughter and he stood up from his kneeling position while saying.

"Master, I can find out the menu of the next day and tell An Ju."

Xi Ying stayed silent and turned to leave.

An Si understood that his master has passed the order so how An Ju does it now depends on her. 

But he suddenly remembered for what he had come here and stopped his master.

"Master."

Xi Ying just turned his face sideways indicating him to continue and An Si said

"An San is also in the Palace…in the disguise of a Eunuch."

Xi Ying's face didn't have much of an expression while An Ju remembered how her master had already predicted it.

"Did he see you?"

Xi Ying asked An Si

An Si shook his head vigorously and said immediately.

"No Master, before he could, An Si ran away from there."

"Good."

With that, Xi Ying used qingqong and jumped down from the roof.

On the roof, only An Si and An Ju were left where the latter had an expression of utter despair on her face.

As soon as his master disappeared, An Si turned to look at her. She was in a maid's clothes.

His eyes softened when he saw her sorrowful face and asked

"So, you're a girl."

It was a statement rather than a question. If it had been a normal situation then An Ju would have enjoyed this moment and then mocked him that she made a fool of him for three years but it was not.

So she ignored An Si and continued to think just how she could change the food secretly in a hall where so many people were present.

Eyes filled with mirth, An Si patted her head just as he used to before. He didn't know why there seemed to be a relief in his heart after he had found out that she was a girl.

"Leave it to me. Is there anyone else who had come with you?"

Hearing his words, An Ju looked at him with wide eyes. She even tolerated silently when he patted he head and answered

"An Su and An Zhi."

An Si nodded and said

"Just tell him to meet me here every night, I'll tell him what is the menu for the next day and then he can go back to Xi Manor and tell the steward to be ready with those dishes."

"Alright."

An Ju pondered over his words and nodded her head. A moment later, she moved her eyeballs upward while staring at his hand that was still patting her head as if he would not stop until she was buried down at the same spot because of his constant patting.

She slapped away his hand and asked.

"How will you change it?"

An Si didn't mind being slapped away. Perhaps he was very happy so he answered her question with a smile.

"Just know that the tray of dishes that you will get will only have the food from Xi Manor."

An Ju frowned at his incomplete explanation. She wanted to ask him more but cursed when An Si flew away with a meaningful smile on his lips leaving a few words

"Ask An Su to come here half a shichen later." 

'B****d'.

Cursing An Si, she also flew away from the roof.

------

Xi Ying stepped inside the hall. He felt another presence inside the hall but didn't pause. Sure enough, when he was outside his room he heard the annoying and familiar voice.

"What is Prime Minister Xi doing outside? Don't tell me that my daughter threw you out of the room."

Xi Ying's lips twitched. He thought of ignoring General Li and going inside the room when General Li's voice came again.

"Minister Xi, this General is thinking of asking Li Rui to stay in Li Manor with Xi Ling for a few days as soon as the banquet finishes. Everyone misses her a lot in Li Manor. What does Minister Xi think?"

How could Xi Ying not understand the threat disguised in the sweet words?

In simple words, the General was sweetly threatening him.

'I dare you to ignore me. If you did then I will take your wife and your son to Li Manor leaving you alone in Xi Manor.'

The sweet sickening voice filled with a smile irritated Xi Ying so much that he really wished to use his fist and change the map of the annoying General's face but he controlled.

His hands were itching because unfortunately, the owner of that annoying face was the father of the woman he loves.

With a cold and indifferent face, he turned around to hear what the annoying General had to say at midnight.

General Li was very satisfied with his attitude. There was an evil smile on his lips.

However, before he could annoy his dear son-in-law more, he heard a soft voice from behind that made his smile stiffen.

"What are you doing here, Heng?"

"Yi Jie."

General Li turned around and looked at his wife with a sweet smile.

"Wife, what are you doing here?"

He stepped forward and gently held his wife's hand who jerked his hand away mercilessly and moved her eyes to Xi Ying.

"Lord Xi, I apologize for my husband's inconsiderate behavior. Lord Xi must be tired and should take some rest."

"That's alright, Second Madam Li. This Lord is used to having some annoying flies around himself sometimes."

Saying this, Xi Ying turned around to step inside the room with a smirk on his lips.

General Li was furious when he heard his words. He wanted to show him who was the master but Yi Jie held her husband's hand and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Heng, what problem do you have with Lord Xi? Why do you always look so ready to argue with him? He is your daughter's husband. The more you will respect him, the more he will treat Rui well."

General Li almost rolled his eyes at his wife's words.

It was in fact the opposite. The more he will threaten the young minister, the more he will find Rui precious.

"Why do you look so bothered? Your father also used to do the same with me. I didn't see you so bothered at that time…hmm"

General Li said as he looked at his wife with narrowed eyes.

Yi Jie was speechless. Indeed her father was a bit too much and used to argue with her husband a lot but it was because he had never liked Li Heng as her husband but had to get her married to him in the end. 

"So you're just taking revenge from Lord Xi for that. And you're also blaming me for not stopping my father. Who had said before the marriage that he is ready to bear anything just to marry me? You…"

She pointed her finger at General Li's face who gulped seeing her angered face. But the next words of his wife made General Li's world collapse. 

"I don't want to share my bed with you. Just go to Li Chen's room and sleep there."

With these words, she walked away there, leaving pale-faced General Li.