His Rui

Facing Zhao Zhang Wei’s seat, Xi Ying saw Zhao Zhuang Chen sitting in his own seat. 

Zhao Zhuang Chen’s gaze was still eager when he looked at Xi Ying and hence Xi Ying believed that the prince was again going to stop him after the Imperial Court. 

The Imperial Assembly started soon after the Emperor entered the Imperial Court. 

Before discussing the matters that were to be discussed, Zhao Wang Lei again mentioned the banquet that was to be held tomorrow in the presence of the convoy of the neighboring country. 

Xi Ying pretended as if he didn’t see Zhao Wang Lei’s gaze lingering on himself while the man said that everyone was to be present in tomorrow’s banquet with their family. 

Perhaps Zhao Wang Lei was again planning something against Li Rui. 

Xi Ying’s fists clenched when he thought this. 

Even after so many threats of his, Zhao Wang Lei was still daring enough to think about attacking his wife. 

This made the young prime minister wonder what purpose he exactly holds behind this aim of his. 

However, whatever purpose Zhao Wang Lie had, Xi Ying had an intuition that it would be something crazier than all of his purposes before. 

In his eyes, Zhao Wang Lei was now nothing but a crazy emperor who couldn’t see anything in his selfishness. 

For what he wanted, he could do anything to get it. 

And hence Xi Ying felt that his decision of not bringing Li Rui to the banquet was again very right. 

He imagine Zhao Wang Lei’s shock when the crazy Emperor would come to know that Li Rui never attended the banquet. 

All his plans would go in vain. 

After this, some matters regarding the borders and the policies that were in process to hold the people of Xin during the winter were discussed. 

A few parts of Xin suffered from the intense cold. In these areas, people would have no choice but to stay in their houses during the winter. 

Even if they would have money, they would have no source of buying the meals that would stay only for a few days in winter. 

It was the Imperial Palace’s responsibility to provide food and proper shelter to these people. 

After the long discussion, a few ministers were asked to visit these places and Minister Xin was chosen to be the head of this small team of ministers. 

The Imperial Court meeting ended like this. 

After Zhao Wang Lei left the court, ministers started to leave one by one. 

A few of them again saw Zhao Zhuang Chen walking towards Xi Ying. 

This has become a common occurrence since the past few days and hence almost everyone has stopped paying attention to this thing anymore. 

In fact, a few wise ministers had made a conclusion of themselves. In their eyes, the two princes are trying to win Xi Ying’s favor so that the young prime minister would help them in ascending the throne after the current Emperor. 

Others also followed the same conclusion and stopped putting their nose in these matters.

No one was daring enough to participate in the process until it was clear who exactly would win. 

Because if you help one prince and he would not ascend the throne then it would only mean doom for them when the other would ascend the throne. 

And hence everyone was waiting for the right moment. 

The moment where they would come to know that the Emperor favoured this prince or what Xi Ying wanted. 

However, no one seemed to think what they would do, if Xi Ying’s choice came out to be different from the Emperor.

Perhaps they never thought of this possibility. 

Because in their eyes Xi Ying, in the end, was nothing but the Emperor’s servant. 

Or that was what they thought. 

”Prime Minister Xi”

Zhao Zhuang Chen greeted Xi Ying politely and in response, Xi Ying did the same.

Inside his heart, he couldn’t help but laugh at the prince’s change. 

When did Xi Ying think that the arrogant first prince who thinks that no one is better than him in this world would greet him so politely one day!

”Benwang wanted to talk to Prime Minister Xi about something.”

Xi Ying nodded his head. 

His black eyes looked behind Zhao Zhuang Chen at Zhao Zhang Wei who was now leaving the Imperial Court silently. 

Xi Ying could notice that Zhao Zhang Wei didn’t look well even now. 

It could be said that the prince didn’t have a proper rest in these two days. He sighed and looked at the first prince again as he said 

”This Minister had also wanted to talk to Your Highness about something.”

Zhao Zhuang Chen’s eyes brightened. 

”Then Benwang invites Prime Minister Xi to Delan Palace.”

Xi Ying mocked Zhao Zhuang Chen internally seeing his eagerness that he was trying to hide. 

Did Zhao Zhuang Chen even know that he was inviting his own doom! He didn’t perhaps. 

Because he was too confident in himself. 

”Sure!”

Happy that he agreed, Zhao Zhaung Chen immediately took Xi Ying to Delan Palace. 

A few minutes later, Xi Ying and Zhao Zhuang Chen were seated in front of each other in Zhao Zhuang Chen’s chambers.

Zhao Zhuang Chen served the tea for Xi Ying himself as he said 

”Prime Minister Xi, Benwang had come to know in these few days that Prime Minister Xi likes to talk about important matters quite directly so Benwang will be direct.”

”What does Prime Minister Xi want in exchange for being with Benwang in the fight for the throne?”

Xi Ying raised his eyebrows. 

What did he want! 

Zhao Zhuang Chen could give him nothing and Xi Ying would never let him ascend the throne. 

He didn’t want a greedy and self-centered Emperor to rule Xin. 

He smiled a little as he avoided to prime anything to Zhao Zhuang Chen and said 

”Your Highness…do you remember that you promised this Lord to give anything yesterday?”

Zhao Zhuang Chen frowned as he remembered that it was indeed so. 

So he nodded his head and waited for Xi Ying to continue 

”Your Highness, This Lord wants you to investigate the convoy from the neighboring country.” 

Zhao Zhuang Chen frowned and wanted to ask Xi Ying as to why he wanted him to do that. 

However, Xi Ying stopped him before that and said 

”This Lord will appreciate it if Your Highness does this without asking any questions.”

So Zhao Zhuang Chen had to shut his mouth and nod his head silently. 

And Xi Ying left Delan Palace after this. 

The fight that Xi Ying was fighting was a very difficult fight. Even an intelligent and experienced person could do mistakes in such a battle. 

And Xi Ying did the same. 

This was his first mistake…mistake that will make the young prime minister learn anoter lesson.