His Rui

Chapter 698 The Place Where Noble Consort Shu Was Buried

　　After having dinner, Xi Ying called the old physician for a routine check-up on Li Rui. 

As the old physician checked Li Rui’s pulse, Xi Ying talked to his son about his long practice time in swordsmanship. 

He made his son understand that he was not allowed to spend more than a shichen in learning swordsmanship until he was five. 

Xi Ling was sad but agreed after his father told him that his mother was worried that he would get tired easily and this was the time when he should first learn words and read more. Afterward, he could start to learn other things.

By the time, the old physician had finished, Xi Ying was also finished. 

”How is everything?”

He asked the old physician.

”Everything is fine. Young man, this old man would suggest you look for some expert headmaids and momo who will help a lot later. Though there are still four months left, you should start looking for them now so that you will find good and experienced women.”

Xi Ying nodded his head. He had actually sent out a few shadow guards to look for experienced women who had some knowledge of medicines already.   

In normal circumstances, he would have asked the Emperor to send the old momo and an experienced head maid, however, his circumstances were not quite normal. 

He couldn’t risk calling anyone from the Imperial Palace and letting him in his Xi Manor. Zhao Wang Lei was merely looking for an opportunity …something he would not grant him even by mistake. 

He asked his shadow guards especially to not bring anyone from the Imperial City itself. 

After the old physician had left, Xi Ying gave a book to Xi Ling to read and then told Li Rui that he wanted to tell her something. 

Li Rui nodded her head calmly when he said that they needed to go to the study room for that. He couldn’t discuss such a thing out here.

Xi Ying helped Li Rui in wearing a thick robe before they stepped out of the Plum Courtyard. 

When he reached the study room, he ordered An Si not to let anyone inside the study room and then finally stepped inside the study room with Li Rui. 

After making her sit on the chair, he walked to the shelves and brought out a map from a book. 

He laid it on the table while Li Rui looked at him with confusion-filled eyes. 

”Rui, today Zhao Wang Lei called me to the Imperial Study room.”

Xi Ying spoke as he put something on the four corners of the map and Li Rui helped him by putting a book on the corner that was near her hand. 

”He wants to destroy Qin Wenya completely.”

That made Li Rui surprised. Though she had been told by Xi Ying that Zhao Wang Lei disliked Qin Wenya because of her frequent threats regarding Qin destroying Xin if he didn’t favor her or didn’t make Zhao Zhuang Chen the next Emperor, she had not thought he disliked her to this point.

”What did she do?”

She asked him.

Xi Ying paused. Because he couldn’t answer this question straight away. 

He looked at Li Rui and said calmly

”You remember I told Qin Wenya a secret?”

Li Rui nodded her head and Xi Ying continued.

”This secret is regarding  Zhao Wang Lei. If it comes out, then it will be a big stain on the reputation that he had built for all these years as an Emperor. The people will be disgusted whenever they would mention his name if it came out.”

Xi Ying smiled coldly as he told his wife while Li Rui had a serious face. 

She couldn’t help but feel curious about what kind of secret it was. At the same time, she wondered just how much disgusting it could be that could stain an Emperor’s reputation. 

”Since even Zhao Wang Lei is supporting us, I have thought of a very good plan. This plan will divert Zhao Wang Lei’s attention making him remember something he has done in the past. He will deal with these events and I will get enough time to find out what he is planning about Li and Yi Clan.”

Li Rui nodded her head and asked 

”What is the plan?”

At the same time, she remembered that her father had asked her to discuss with Xi Ying his plan to dethrone Zhao Wang Lei because according to him, it could put Xi Ying in great danger. She decided to ask him about that plan as well today.       

Xi Ying smiled mysteriously as he walked around the table to come and stand behind Li Rui. 

His one hand went to the back of her chair and the other he set on the table as he spoke.

”You remember what the old physician had told us.”

Li Rui nodded her head. Her lips were pressed in a thin line. She remembered very well. The old physician had said that it was Zhao Wang Lei who had killed Noble Consort Shu.

However, everyone believed that Noble Consort Shu had died a natural death. 

”I had investigated this matter further. Zhao Wang Lei killed Noble Consort Shu suddenly one night. He must have been worried about how could hide this matter. Though he could remove Noble Consort Shu using any reason, for example, by blaming her for adultery, there must have been some deep reason that he killed her so quickly.”

”Zhao Wang Lei declared the next morning that Noble Consort Shu died a natural death. He didn’t even let her see anyone her body because her body was buried straightaway after her death so that no physician would be called to examine the reason for her death. The people thought it was the Emperor’s love and possessiveness towards Noble Consort Shu that he didn’t want anyone to see her after her death …that he was full of despair and that’s why no one questioned his decision of burying a noble consort so quickly without the respect and possession she deserved.”

Li Rui nodded her head. 

And Xi Ying continued

”Zhao Wang Lei dealt with Noble Consort Shu’s body because he didn’t let anyone see her and buried it. Also, the old physician’s body…he didn’t get enough time to deal with it. The people in the Imperial Palace still think that the old physician who is dead already had resigned from the Imperial Palace suddenly one night. No one saw him after that.

Li Rui’s eyes flickered and she whispered

”Do you mean that the old physician was also buried inside the Imperial Palace the same night?”

Xi Ying smiled patting his wife’s head as he praised her. 

”My wife is so intelligent.”         

Li Rui, however, frowned in annoyance and threw his hand away. She was not a child.

Xi Ying chuckled and he didn’t tease her anymore. 

”You are right. The body was buried in the Imperial Palace. In fact, the old physician’s and Noble Consort Shu’s bodies were buried together.”

Li Ru’s eyes widened. Because it meant that Noble Consort Shu’s body was not buried where the other consorts and main wives in the Imperial Clans were buried.

”Do you know where was it buried?”

Li Rui looked at Xi Ying and then at his hand that stopped at a certain place on the map of the Imperial Palace. 

Her eyes flickered when she understood which place it was.