His Rui

Chapter 507 This Banquet Doesn’t Deserve Precious Rui

When Xi Ying opened his mouth, almost everyone sitting in the banquet hall listened to him silently and very patiently. 

After hearing all those rumours, who in the Imperial City was not curious to know whether the young prime minister who seemed to be so doting to Li Rui during the last banquet was still the same towards his wife. 

Although in their hearts, everyone had already decided that Xi Ying didn’t like Li Rui any longer and that was the only reason that he didn’t bring her to today’s banquet. 

Sitting on his seat, even Lu Jianye was looking at Xi Ying with a pair of sharp and cold eyes. After seeing how Li Na was begging to Xi Ying to take her as his concubine, his male ego was definitely hurt and he didn’t like Xi Ying at all. 

So seeing how his wife was being humiliated in the Imperial City and how his clan was being shamed, he didn’t feel any bad for him. 

Instead, he wondered whether Xi Ying would really leave his wife’s side just because of these rumours. 

Then Lu Jianye thought that he was much better. 

Regardless of how people of the Imperial City saw Li Na, he still wanted to marry her because he knew that she was not that kind of person. 

The comparison was very wrong but Lu Jianye didn’t know this. 

”This Minister thanks Your Majesty for his concern.”

Xi Ying said respectfully and then continued 

”This minister’s wife is not here…”

He intentionally dragged these words as he suddenly looked towards his seat that was huge enough for him and Li Rui to sit down together. In fact, the seat was made for husband and main wife only but since Li Rui was not here, he was sitting alone there. 

Xi Ying’s eyes seemed to flash with regret and longing. 

Everyone saw this because he allowed them to see. However, they merely took his regret as his regret of favouring Li Rui because she didn’t deserve it. 

Looking back at Zhao Wang Lei again, whose face didn’t have any emotion but he was also awaiting  Xi Ying’s answer, Xi Ying completed his words. 

”Because this minister didn’t feel that this banquet’s atmosphere would be good for her.”

Another long silence lingered in the banquet hall until everyone suddenly started to whisper to each other. 

Indirectly, Xi Ying just said that it was not that Li Rui didn’t reserve to come to this banquet. 

But the reality was that this banquet didn’t deserve to be attended by Li Rui. 

Saying such words  in front of the Emperor, only Xi Ying had that courage. 

Still, his words created doubts inside everyone’s mind. 

Even Zhao Wang Lei’s face didn’t look good after Xi Ying’s words. 

”What does Prime Minister Xi mean by those words? Is Lady Li so precious and is this banquet so casual that this banquet didn’t deserve Lady Li’s presence?”

The banquet hall went silent again. 

The Emperor’s voice was too cold just now when he spoke so everyone thought he was unhappy with what Xi Ying said. Now they wondered how Xi Ying would handle this situation. 

  However, the young prime minister’s face still didn’t have any trace of fear. His face instead had a thoughtful expression as he answered slowly. 

”This minister doesn’t know if this banquet is casual or not…”

Then Xi Ying slowly nodded his head with a deep smile on his lips as he continued 

”But this minister’s wife is indeed very precious.”

The maidens suddenly inhaled sharply seeing the smile on Xi Ying’s face. Hearing his words and the smile on his lips made him seem to be so doting to Li Rui that their heart couldn’t help but melt seeing this. 

A few suddenly took Xi Ying and Li Rui as a power couple while others were envious of Li Rui. 

At the same time, these maidens wondered again what exactly Li Rui did to make Xi Ying love her so much. 

However, their attention soon went to the Emperor only to see that the Emperor’s face didn’t have any emotion and he was silently staring at Xi Ying. 

Most of the people thought that the Emperor was very angry with Xi Ying’s words this time. 

However, they were left surprised when Zhao Wang Lei suddenly laughed loudly. 

Amidst the silence of the banquet hall, only Zhao Wang Lei’s laughter could be heard…until all the ministers also tried to laugh with the Emperor or at least smile.

”Only Prime Minister Xi can behave like this in front of Zhen…”

Zhao Wang Lei said as he laughed again while others also laughed with Zhao Wang Lei. 

Xi Ying smiled merely as he saw everyone’s smile. 

A few looked confused but they were still trying their best to smile. 

Silently, he focused his attention on Zhao Wang Lei. 

Hidden behind the mirth in his eyes, he could see the anger that he covered with his laughter. 

Zhao Wang Lie was indeed very angry but he didn’t show it and chose to hide it. 

After all, what other choice did he have!

Xi Ying smirked coldly. 

Inside his heart, he was very disgusted with Zhao Wang Lei. 

In his eyes, Zhao Wang Lei didn’t have any self respect. If it had been Zhao Zhang Wei in his place then by now, the prince had already started an argument with him. 

Though Zhao Zhang Wei also wanted the throne and his help in getting it, he never compromised with his self respect for that. 

And Xi Ying respected the second prince for that. 

At least he was much better than Zhao Wang Lei who could give up on his self respect. 

A moment later, he suddenly looked towards the seats where Li family’s members were seated and then without waiting for the Emperor to stop laughing, he asked 

”Your Majesty, this minister gave his reason but why is Third Young Miss Li missing from today’s banquet? Wouldn’t Your Majesty ask  this question to Minister Li?”

And the banquet hall went silent again …as Zhao Wang Lei stopped laughing.