His Rui

Inside the Imperial residence, The Emperor, Zhao Wang Lei was leaning on a couch. Hearing the shadow guard's words, he sat up straight. His eyes were full of anger and disbelief and he exclaimed.

"You are telling Zhen that except you all other shadow guards died?"

The kneeling shadow guards had red eyes because of the despair of losing their companions. He answered with a choked voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The table placed beside the couch was suddenly kicked to the floor and Zhao Wang Lei shouted in rage.

"Who was it? Who killed Zhen's people?"

"Your Majesty…"

"Zhen demands an answer from you."

Hearing the authoritative voice, the shadow guard could only resign to his fate and said helplessly.

"This servant doesn't know. They were not soldiers, they were shadow guards. But this servant does not know who sent them?"

Zhao Wang Lei stood up and walked towards the kneeling shadow guard. The shadow guard bowed his head more as he knew that His Majesty was very angry.

His hair was suddenly pulled harshly making him raising his head. His red eyes went wide as he felt the immense pain suddenly.

Red blood soaked his black clothes.

Zhao Wang Lei had a cold and ruthless look in his eyes as he said.

"So why did you come? To tell Zhen that Zhen should submit in front of mere soldiers? The soldiers that Zhen should rule upon are now ruling on Zhen's head."

The murderous intent in his eyes increased with his each and every word and he stabbed the dagger deeper in the shadow guard's chest.

Soon his body fell on the floor and Zhao Wang Lei stood up from the ground after wiping his dagger with the shadow guard's clothes.

With his hands folded behind his back, Zhao Wang Lei watched indifferently as Eunuch Wang dragged the dead body away from the Imperial Chambers. His eyes flickered and a helpless smile emerged on his lips as he whispered

'The things that I have to do for you…'

-----------------

That evening, Xi Ying entered the Imperial Palace again because the Emperor summoned him again. Inside the Imperial Study room, the Crown Prince, Zhao Zhuang Chen was sitting at the same place as the previous day. He bowed his head in front of the Emperor and sat down on the chair with no emotion on his face.

It was Zhao Wang Lei who spoke first.

"Prime Minister Xi, Zhen called you because the Crown Prince here had found some evidence that showed that General Li intentionally left the battlefield at the critical time when the soldiers and commanders needed him there."

Xi Ying's eyes glinted with a cold gleam of light as he heard the Emperor's words. The Emperor was still putting all of his efforts in destroying the Li Clan. But while doing this, he was unable to notice that he was starting to reveal his real self sometimes. The one that was selfish and greedy. The one that could do anything for the power.

Fortunately, he had already expected this. 

Zhao Zhuang Chen smirked proudly and opened his mouth to say something. But Xi Ying didn't let him speak and said to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, May I ask from where did the Crown Prince collect these evidence?"

Zhao Zhaung Chen was already displeased with Minister Xi's behavior and the question confused him making him show dissatisfaction towards the indifferent Prime Minister on his face.

Still, feeling his father's eyes on himself he had to answer the question.

"Father Emperor, General Yun asked Commander Ji to send everything he could find against General Li to this Prince."

Zhao Zhuang Chen was ready to call the soldiers sent by Commander Ji who saw General Li exiting the battlefield but Xi Ying stopped him with a wave of his hand.

This gesture was arrogant and rude but Zhao Zhuang Chen saw that the Emperor watched it with no change of expression.

Without giving him any chance to create a new drama, Xi Ying spoke first looking at the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, those evidence are useless now."

"What rubbish..?" Zhao Zhuang Chen stood up in anger but Xi Ying ignored him and continued.

"Your Majesty might not know but after returning to Xi Manor, Xi Ying has already put his men to keep an eye on the soldiers' activities. It is unknown who spread the rumor among them but the soldiers are now starting to believe that it was General Yun who framed General Li. Since they have seen General Yun dislike for General Li before, all of them have their own reasons to believe this rumor."

"So these evidence are not enough to make those soldiers believe that General Li betrayed Xin unless someone from the enemy country produces the book that is claimed to be given to them and confirms that General Li gave it to them by himself.

From the corner of his eye, Xi Ying saw the ghastly pale face of the Crown Prince.

Since according to him, it was only him who knew that it was the truth, not a rumor.

Zhao Zhuang Chen was afraid. Who spread this rumor? It must be someone who already knows that it was him and General Yun who framed General Li.

If General Yun is exposed then would not he be exposed soon? How can the enemy country speak for them when they used them and betrayed them in the end?

"Father Emperor, this prince knows General Yun. He will not …"

Zhao Zhuang Chen's anger increased its peak when he was interrupted again.

"Your Majesty, how can one know anyone's heart after spending some time with them? In fact, Xi Ying also thinks that there is something that does not sit well in this whole matter. Your Majesty, try to think if the enemy country really had that book then do you think that we would be able to defeat them that too without General Li's support. Xi Ying thinks that someone stole the book and wants to frame General Li by using it."

His each and every word made Zhao Zhuang Chen's heart palpitate in fear. He felt like that the next second, the cunning Prime Minister will suddenly say that it was him who planned all this. He viciously looked at the man sitting beside him and said

"Don't know why but this Prince suddenly feels as if Minister Xi is trying to protect Li Clan since the beginning."

At his words, Zhao Wang Lei looked at Xi Ying's face with scrutinizing eyes. Without any change in his expression, Xi Ying for the first time turned to look at the Crown Prince and said with a strange smile on his face.

"Xi Ying is just protecting those who are innocent. No one who didn't commit any wrong deserves death especially in this way."

But there was no smile in Xi Ying's eyes. His eyes were icy cold and his fists were clenched under the table.

Yes he had planned to abduct General Li from the battlefield but he had never planned to kill a single person of Li Clan. Though he laid the plan, he also had his own principle.

  This was something that even the Emperor knew about.

Zhao Wang Lei face changed for a moment when he heard his words and then he said seriously.

"Minister Xi said wise words."

Zhao Zhuang Chen who was intimidated by Xi Ying suddenly stood up and said

"Father Emperor, the Imperial Son feels a little unwell and will take his leave now."

Saying this, Zhao Zhuang Chen exited the Imperial study room.

"So Minister Xi what have you thought? How will you deal with this matter now? Zhen thinks that soldiers will turn against General Yun now and this will create more chaos in Xin."

Xi Ying nodded his head and replied.

"Xi Ying have a plan if your Majesty would like to hear it."

"Continue."

-----------------------

It was very late when Xi Ying came out of the Imperial Study. While walking out of the Imperial residence, he saw the second Prince, Zhao Zhang Wei coming towards himself.

His eyes flickered and intentionally slowed down his steps. When Zhao Zhang Wei saw this, he stopped a few steps away from him and nodded his head with a polite smile on his lips. Xi Ying replied with the same.

"Minister Xi should visit Xinhe Palace some time."

'This servant saw some shadow guards that were not from our group. They were also protecting soldiers from the Imperial shadow guards.'

This was what Huang had told him before leaving for the borders. When he investigated, he had never expected the result he heard.

With not so smile on his lips, Xi Ying replied

"Sure."

As he walked away, Zhao Zhang Wei's smile disappeared and he looked at his back with a complicated expression in his eyes.

There was only one person who could change the wind of Xin like this. But Zhao Zhang Wei wondered what was the reason behind Prime Minister Xi's unexpected actions.

The man who was with the Emperor and schemed to destroy Li Clan until now, Why would he suddenly try to protect Li Clan?