His Rui

Xi Ying reached Xi Manor from the Imperial Palace almost a quarter of shichen later.

"My Lord"

An Si greeted Xi Ying as he took the reins of the horse from his master.

Xi Ying nodded his head in acknowledgment and he was about to step inside Xi Manor when An Si said suddenly.

"My Lord"

Xi Ying stopped and turned to look at his shadow guard questioningly.

An Si, on the other hand, stepped forward and said to his master in a low voice.

"An Si is here, My Lord."

Xi Ying's black eyes went as cold as ice and he asked coldly.

"Where is he?"

As soon as he finished his question, Xi Ying saw An San walking towards himself while An Si also felt his presence.

An Si stepped backward and said to his master

"My Lord, this servant had stopped him outside Xi Manor."

Xi Ying nodded his head in satisfaction as he looked at An San coldly.

"Greetings, My Lord."

An San bowed his head and greeted Xi Ying respectfully. Xi Ying didn't say anything for a long time and looked at An San's bowed head silently. 

"What are you doing here?"

An San went silent at this question.

'What was he doing here?' Why did his master ask him such a question?

After a moment of silence, An San said finally

"Is My Lord still angry with this servant? If it is so, then please do tell this servant what I should do to have My Lord forgive me. My Lord, this servant also wishes to work for My Lord like An Ping, An Si and others."

Xi Ying raised his eyebrow and his eyes were filled with mockery as he looked at his shadow guard.

"You wish to work for me?"

"Yes, My Lord."

An San said immediately unable to see the mockery in Xi Ying's eyes as his head was bowed.

"Alright!"

Xi Ying said lazily.

An San raised his head swiftly. His eyes were filled with shock as if he couldn't believe that Xi Ying has just accepted his request. 

However, the next words of Xi Ying made him freeze completely.

"Go and keep an eye on the princess."

"Princess?"

An San for a moment looked at Xi Ying with the same shock…until Xi Ying's eyes went sharp and he asked him.

"You don't wish to?"

An San lowered his head and immediately apologized for his insolent behavior. Though a moment later, he still asked a question that as a shadow guard he should not have.

"May this servant ask for what this servant needs to keep an eye on the princess?"

However, who had expected that Xi Ying would directly refuse to answer this question and say

"You may not and now you can leave."

After finishing his words, Xi Ying walked inside Xi Manor leaving An San standing out alone with a mind and heart that were full of conflicts.

-------

Xi Ying really wished to spend some time with Li Rui today and that's why he tried to return from the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. However, that long conversation of revelations still took him a long time in the Imperial Palace.

Still, he knew that he couldn't rush while talking to Qin Wenya. He had to make sure that Qin Wenya won't let out a single word in front of Zhao Wang Lei.

And even now, he knew that he just can't let Qin Wenya do anything openly.

He needed to keep an eye on Qin Wenya and it made Xi Ying feel that he needed more people again. With all this in his mind, Xi Ying had to leave Plum Courtyard again after finishing his dinner.

His eyes stayed on Li Rui for a few moments as he stood up from the dining table.

Li Rui noticed it and raised her head to look at Xi Ying from her son who was still eating.

Having her clean black eyes set on himself, Xi Ying felt very warm inside his heart. His heart felt very full and he couldn't help but lean down to plant a kiss on his wife's forehead.

"Ying…"

Xi Ying's action left Li Rui startled because she had not expected him to do something like this in front of Xi Ling.

She whispered his name in a strict voice and put her hand on his chest to stop him from doing any other act like this.

Unconsciously, she turned to look at her son and she was relieved to find that his head was lowered and he didn't seem to notice their actions at all. 

In the silent dining room, only the clattering of chopsticks could be heard that was being made by Xi Ling.

And then the small bun heard his father's voice.

"Don't raise your head otherwise you will be spanked."

The small bun who was about to raise his head

"…"

Xi Ling didn't raise his head. After all, he didn't want to get spanked. However, he felt very curious as to why his father said so to him.

So he asked.

"Why, Father?"

However, no answer came from the other side.

On the other hand, Xi Ying was looking at his wife who had gone speechless because of his actions. Holding the hand that was placed on his chest, he removed it from there and made her cup his face with the same hand as she pecked her lips softly.

"I need to go to the study room. It will take me time so sleep on time."

As he whispered this in a very low voice that was only audible to him and Li Rui, a soft sigh escaped his lips. The sigh was completely filled with helplessness.

"I really wanted to spend some time with you. I wanted to talk to you but I don't think I will be able to do it soon."

Xi Ying knew that by the time he will come, Li Rui will be asleep by then. During her pregnancy, she slept a lot.

Most of the time when he left and came back, he would find Li Rui asleep. Before he was worried but then the old physician had informed him that there was no need of getting worried over this.

The worry vanished slowly as he read a few books that said that it was quite normal during pregnancy in the case of some women. However, now he was missing spending some normal time with his wife.

With one last peck on Li Rui's lips, Xi Ying finally left the Plum Courtyard internally promising to himself that he needs to finish all this as soon as possible.