His Rui

Since the moment Xi Ying had entered the banquet hall again, everyone was secretly glancing at him with different emotions inside their hearts. So when he stood up from his seat, he naturally became the center of attention inside the banquet hall instead of the large and beautifully designed crossbow placed in the center of the hall.

The first Prince Zhao Zhuang Chen has been very happy with whatever the messenger sent from the north said but seeing Xi Ying walking towards the crossbow, his smile faltered.

Now he was already very sure inside his heart that Xi Ying was protecting Li Clan regardless of what his reasons were he didn't care ….so he was not fool enough to think that Xi Ying would let the messenger do what he had come here for.

An irritated and annoyed sigh escaped from Zhao Zhuang Chen's lips and he looked towards his father who still looked very calm.

Zhao Zhuang Chen scoffed.

Of course, he would look calm because his father still trusted his favorite minister blindly.

Zhao Zhuang Chen has always admired his father's intelligence but he didn't know when but he had suddenly started to think that his father was not so intelligent.

Even he could see the true face of Xi Ying then why his father Emperor could not see it?

Still, knowing everything would not give him any benefit because as long as his father trusted Xi Ying no one would be able to do anything to Xi Ying.

That's why the first Prince could only continue to sit on his seat silently with his stifled heart.

On the other hand, Xi Yong stepped in front of the crossbow making the messenger standing by its side look at him. The messenger soon recognized and bowed his head in respect and fear.

Xi Ying pretended as if he didn't see the messenger greeting him and walked past him as he walked around the pedestal above which the crossbow was placed. 

There was no change in his expression as he stretched out his hand to pick it up. However, the messenger's eyes widened when he saw this.

"Minister Xi."

The messenger called out hurriedly and signed Xi Ying not to touch the bow.

Xi Ying stopped but didn't take his hand back. He looked at the messenger with raised eyebrows and his cold eyes.

The messenger gulped and answered the unasked question.

"Prime Minister Xi might not know but no one from Xin is allowed to touch this precious crossbow until His Majesty, the Emperor is ready to accept our requests. Please forgive this one if I am being rude."

The messenger bowed his head again with an apologetic face.

"Not allowed to touch it?"

The messenger heard the cold deep voice from the above of his head and didn't dare to raise his head. He had already expected the arrogant Prime Minister to get angry because he stopped him from touching the crossbow.

However, the next moment he heard the sound of loud laughter which made him surprised and he raised his head to look at Xi Ying.

In front of him, Xi Ying was laughing but when he carefully looked at his face he found that the young Prime Minister's face didn't have any expression of amusement or humor.

Xi Ying stopped after a whole minute and looked at the confused and humiliated messenger with ridicule filled eyes.

Releasing a sigh, he glanced at the crossbow and then back at the messenger as he said

"Either your people and you are stupid or all of you think that the whole Xin had gone stupid just like you.

You present a crossbow that only looked a bit more beautiful than the crossbows Xin already has and you expect us to complete some of your rubbish demands to get the design of making this crossbow from you. Let this Lord ask you, what is so special about your crossbow that we should compromise with the safety of whole Xin by shifting such a large army from some responsible hands to some other hands which we are still not very certain of?"

The messenger was left speechless by Xi Ying's words but he didn't need to worry for now because Xi Ying still had something to say so didn't give him any chance to speak.

"From what this Lord sees, there is nothing special about your crossbow. However, the orders passed by the Imperial Clans are very special. Once passed, they can't be taken back. Let's just say that His Majesty really accepted your demands in the disguise of your so-called requests, who is there to guarantee that your crossbow had so special qualities that it can really improve the strength of our army.

What if it broke just after lifting…then will it be you who will kowtow here and beg His Majesty to take his order back. However even if you do so it will be of no benefit because an Emperor's words can't be taken back."

As soon as Xi Ying finished, the ministers sitting inside the banquet hall showed their agreement with his words.

In fact, everyone in the banquet hall knew this was just a different way for the people from the north to show that it was them who are more favorable in the court.

In the past two years, even though the people from the north had discovered many useful weapons, they have always demanded something in order to give the technique of making those weapons to Xin.

However, this time their demand was totally ridiculous. 

After the last two brief discussions about Li Clan in the Imperial Court, now almost all the ministers knew about Li Clan's sacrifices in all the past years so they really respected Li Clan and General Li.

Also, after hearing the clear geographical and political description of what can happen by the second prince if Xin was not protected by responsible hands, no one wanted to put himself and his family in some dangerous situation.

That's why they greatly opposed the demands raised by the messenger from the north and spoke in favor of Xi Ying.