His Rui

Standing just a step away from the table, Zhao Zhang Wei looked at the scene in front of him.

As a capable martial artist, he could obviously hear what Xi Ying had just said to the young man.

He was speechless!

This…what was going on?

Looking at the gentleness and doting love in Xi Ying's eyes, he didn't know what he should think or conclude.

Just at this moment, Xi Ying's eyes also fell on Zhao Zhang Wei's eyes. As if he understood the meaning behind Zhao Zhang, his face went black.

However, he didn't say anything as he straightened his body and sat on the chair beside Li Rui. 

Zhao Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes as he sat on the chair placed in front of the two people. Xi Ying didn't say anything intentionally…he understood it.

But he was not going to let it go.

"Who is he?"

He asked Xi Ying emotionlessly.

His eyes had a lazy and indifferent look as he picked the cup of tea from the table and sipped some tea from it. 

"Why does Your Highness needs to know?"

Xi Ying's eyes had the same look as he put his hand on Li Rui's chair's headrest and said indifferently.

"Maybe to have a cent percent belief in Prime Minister Xi's words."

Zhao Zhang Wei answered without any hesitation. He expressed very clearly that he didn't trust Xi Ying fully yet. 

Li Rui calmly looked at the two men not liking the fact that they were talking about her as if she was never present there.

She glanced at Xi Ying who was staring at Zhao Zhang Wei and suddenly introduced herself.

"Li Rui greets Your Highness."

Zhao Zhang Wei almost dropped the cup in his hands in shock after hearing the young man's words. He would have thought it was a lie if it was not for the soft voice.

So he was …oh… she was Lady Li.   

Zhao Zhang Wei concluded inside his heart. The atmosphere became a little awkward for a few moments until both the men cleared their throats.

It was Xi Ying who spoke first and his voice was too cold …colder than usual.

"If Your Highness doesn't trust this Lord, why did you even come here in the first place to hear what conditions this Lord has for this deal?"

Zhao Zhang Wei was startled to hear this question as the question was very logical. After a few moments of silence, he said finally

"Benwang said that Benwang doesn't trust Prime Minister Xi completely and it should be understandable for Prime Minister Xi."

Now it was Xi Ying's turn to go silent.

It was actually reasonable for Zhao Zhang Wei not to trust him. For so many years, he had been on Zhao Wang Lei's side and now when he had suddenly changed the side, it was obviously difficult for him to believe his intentions. 

However, Xi Ying didn't care at all whether Zhao Zhang Wei trusted him or not. The only person he cared about was Li Rui. The only thing that mattered to him was whether Li Rui trusted him or not.

If Zhao Zhang Wei didn't trust him then he could go to hell for all he cared! He will find another way to give Yi Huiqing a secured and safe position in the Imperial Palace. 

He suddenly stood up from his chair and said coldly

"Since Your Highness doesn't trust this minister, there is no need of proceeding this already non-existent deal. Your Highness can always forget whatever this Lord had said that day."

Xi Ying had just finished his words when he felt a soft touch on his hand. His cold eye softened a little on feeling the familiar touch and he looked down at Li Rui who was also looking at him.

"Ying, sit down."

The name from those sweet lips filled his heart with sweetness. So when Li Rui pulled him down to sit on the chair back, he didn't even resist and sat obediently. 

Zhao Zhang Wei's eyes flickered with relief …something that he didn't let show on his face. Truthfully, he was panicked inside his heart when Xi Ying suddenly stood up to leave.

There was no doubt in the fact that to win this fight he needed Xi Ying on his side. Even if he couldn't make him come to his side, he would never want an intelligent man and strategist like Xi Ying against him and make his already difficult battle more difficult.

So when Li Rui looked at him and said calmly

"Your Highness can always step back from completing the conditions we want Your Highness to complete if we broke your trust."

Zhao Zhang nodded his head in agreement.

Li Rui was actually also trying to understand the current situation. She just said whatever she understood from Xi Ying's already said words.

So they were here to make a deal with Zhao Zhang Wei and Xi Ying wanted her to know about this deal. That could be the only reason he made her sit with them.

What kind of deal!

Li Rui had wondered when she had heard Xi Ying's words. However, if Xi Ying could put some conditions to make this deal then he must be giving something in exchange.

But what she had thought that this deal must be important. Otherwise, why would Xi Ying really bother to come here and meet Zhao Zhang Wei?

So it was better to hear everything first with a calm mind.       

"What conditions does Prime Minister have?"

Zhao Zhang Wei asked without delaying for a moment. The most important concern for him was this at this moment.

Xi Ying's conditions …only they could decide whether this deal could really be made between them or not.

Xi Ying too relaxed on his chair. His back rested on the chair's headrest and his hand held Li Rui's hand. Caressing the soft skin under his thumb, he looked at Zhao Zhang Wei and told him his conditions.

"This Lord will help Your Highness in becoming the next Emperor.. However…Your Highness will have to promise this Lord that Princess Consort Yi Huiqing will be the next Empress and if she births a son in the future then he will be the sole heir for the throne."