His Rui

Xi Ying got down from his horse and the Imperial guard took it away from him.

Coincidentally, Minister Xin seemed to have come at the same time. When the middle-aged minister nodded his head on seeing him, Xi Ying did the same.

Xi Ying saw Minister Xin standing at the same place as if he was waiting for him. After seeing that horse was in its place, he also walked to Minister Xin.

Minister Xin smiled politely and then started to walk inside with Xi Ying.

"Today's meeting might not include the two Imperial Princes."

Minister Xin said suddenly and Xi Ying raised his eyebrows questioningly. 

"And why so, Minister Xin?"

Minister Xin was surprised to hear the question from Xi Ying and looked at him. Seeing that he really looked confused, he told him. 

"Did Prime Minister Xi not hear what happened in the Imperial Palace the day before yesterday?"

  Xi Ying frowned as he didn't remember if his shadow guard told him anything related to the Imperial Palace.   

On the other hand, Minister Xin continued

"The First Prince and the Second Prince fought with each other …physically. The First Prince was beaten very badly by the Second Prince and hence the Empress was very angry with him. The Emperor asked the Second Prince to kneel outside the Delan Courtyard until the First Prince wakes up."

Xi Ying nodded his head.

He understood why his shadow guards didn't tell him anything about this matter. They knew that he would not be interested in this kind of fight between two Imperial Princes. 

Both the men reached inside the Imperial Court while talking on this matter. Actually, it was only Minister Xin who talked while Xi Ying listened silently.

Now Xi Ying knew that even Minister Xin had his people inside the Imperial Palace because this matter must not be known to many people.

The Empress as well as the Emperor would not let such news spread outside the place.

However, Minister Xin seemed to know everything about it.

Xi Ying didn't wish to expose the excited minister and heard everything silently.

As Minister Xin had said, both the Imperial princes really didn't attend today's meeting.

The Emperor also didn't talk about them and continued with other discussions.

The discussion was mostly about the situation on the borders and what kind of harvest did the Empire had this time.

To give a description of the situation of the borders, it was General Li who stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the new soldiers under the command of Commander Li Diu will leave the Imperial City today."

As General Li finished his words, Li Diu stepped forward and bowed in front of the Emperor expressing his loyalty.

This was how it was ensured in Xin that its borders always stay safe from the enemy's attack. After every few months, the soldiers staying on the borders will return to their house to meet their families and in their place will go the new soldiers who had returned after resting for a few months. However, these new soldiers will be trained for three months by Li Clan before they will be sent to the border under the command of one out of three brothers of the Li Clan.

*(Here the soldiers that are being trained for three months are the soldiers that had already been on the borders previously.)*   

To ensure that they always stay ready to fight against the enemy, it was very necessary to ensure that not only physically, but the soldiers are mentally well and this could only occur when a person doesn't have too much worry about his own family. Only then that person would be able to concentrate on any other thing than his family. 

Perhaps no one noticed but Xi Ying surely noticed the flicker in the Emperor's phoenix eyes after General Li completed his words.

He knew what the cunning Emperor must be thinking.

Here he was doing everything in his power to destroy Li Clan from its roots and there General Li was already spreading his roots by teaching everything he knew to his son.

There was no doubt that Li Diu must have already learned everything from General Li because only then the middle-aged General would really dare to send his son to the borders without him or any other elder from Li Clan being present there.

However, as if the Emperor didn't want to believe this, he asked

"General Li, Your son will go alone this time with these soldiers?"

In response, General Li bowed his head a little and said respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty. However, this one's Younger Brother Li Jiang will also go to borders in a few days, so that he can guide Commander Li Diu if there come any need to do that."

The last few words were perhaps an attempt from General Li to make the Emperor not feel so wary of him, however, General Li didn't know those few words were just like a drop to an ocean that amount to nothing.   

Li Diu was still going to borders alone with so many soldiers. There was no doubt that the next General from Li Clan was getting ready to take his responsibilities. 

The Emperor's face didn't have any emotion or perhaps he pretended very well to hide it as he praised Li Diu just like a normal Emperor should. 

"It is good to see a youth like Commander Li Diu coming forward and giving his all to protect Xin from its enemies. Zhen hopes that Commander Li Diu learns everything he needs to during this journey and then earns a special name for himself in Li Clan as well as Xin's history."

Everybody showed their agreement with the Emperor's words as they praised Li Diu for being so sensible and brave at a young age.

Amidst all this, Xi Ying fell on the boy who was standing behind Li Jiang. It was Li Chen. Dressed in the uniform of an ordinary soldier from Li Clan, he looked ready to leave with Li Diu.

'So First Madam Li really couldn't do anything.' Xi Ying thought inside his heart.

At the same time, he wondered if Minister Li Qiang will do wise things like this and will not dare to go against his own clan because of his children.           

However, it was not only Xi Ying who recognized Li Chen. 

Sitting on the throne, the Emperor also recognized the young boy when Li Diu walked back to his seat. His phoenix eyes flickered again and no one knew what he was thinking as he suddenly glanced at his old Eunuch and then back at Li Chen.

If only at this moment, Xi Ying had not been looking at Li Chen then perhaps he would have understood what was brewing inside the Emperor's mind and what exactly his next step would be.