His Rui

"Rui…"

"Ha…"

Inside the cave, lying on the bed made of stone, Xi Ying panted heavily.

His eyes were wide and red as he stared at the ceiling of the cave.

Was that a dream?

Xi Ying's red eyes immediately looked around the cave but it was not long before he heard a soft voice telling him.

"Don't move."

Feeling the soft touch on his chest, he looked down and finally raised his head to look at the woman he was trying to get a glance of so crazily.

"Rui…"

"I am here."

Li Rui whispered calmly as she applied the paste on the wound that she could see was going to bleed again.

But she didn't know these few words from her make Xi Yung's restless heart a little relaxed.

He wanted to say a few more things but he couldn't do so because soon the darkness enveloped him again and he went unconscious again.

--------

It was after two shichens later, Zhao Zhang Wei who was still kneeling in front of Delan Palace was told by Eunuch Wang that he should stop kneeling as the Emperor had called him to the Imperial Study room.

It was dark.

The moon in the sky was still hidden by the clouds as it had just rained.

Soaked in rainwater, Zhao Zhang Wei stood up from the ground without any change in his expression and walked towards the Imperial Study room.

Eunuch Zhang first had a very surprised face as he had not expected his master to go to the Imperial Study room in the same state but a moment later, he had a distressed expression on his face.

The young Eunuch first thought of following his master but then he thought that he should go to Xinhe Palace and make some arrangements to give some comfort to Zhao Zhang Wei when he comes to Xinhe Palace.

After all, after getting wet by rainwater in such cold weather, he couldn't let the prince fall sick.

So Eunuch Zhang after getting his master's permission went to Xinhe Palace while Zhao Zhang Wei went to the Imperial Study room alone.

He was allowed to enter inside as soon as he reached the Imperial Study room. Although Eunuch Wang was no less surprised than Eunuch Zhang to see a very badly soaked prince at the door of the Imperial Study room, he could only allow him to go inside.

After all, his master had asked him to send the second Prince to his study as soon as possible and he didn't have any right to order a prince to go and change his clothes.

So Zhao Zhang Wei entered the Imperial Study room with an indifferent and cold face.

Sitting on his chair, Zhao Wang Lei was still working on some documents like a dedicated Emperor.

A moment later, when he finally raised his head to look at Zhao Zhang Wei, his eyes flashed seeing his soaked clothes.

His eyes then went to the puddle of water his clothes were making at the place he was standing on.

It was very disrespectful to appear in front of an Emperor like this but Zhao Wang Lei didn't seem to mind it.

In fact, Zhao Zhang Wei didn't know that he made his so-called father happy only by these actions of him because it proved that Zhao Zhang Wei was really angry with his decision in this matter.

"Zhang Wei, come and sit."

Zhao Wang Lei generously invited his son to come and take a seat.

Zhao Zhang Wei, however, shook his head humbly and said

"This Imperial son is fine here, Your Majesty, What does His Majesty wish to talk to? This one thought that the matter must be important so didn't even bother to go and change his soaked clothes. Hope Your Majesty will not mind."

There was a polite smile on Zhao Zhang Wei's lips when he said these words. However, even a fool could see the indifference in his eyes.

Zhao Wang Lei silently stared at him for a few moments before he sighed and said

"Zhen knows that Zhang Wei is angry with Zhen because of our decision on this matter."

Zhao Zhang Wei instantly shook his head and said politely.

"Never, Your Majesty. This Imperial Son should not have lost his control. So what if the first Prince was crossing his boundary when he talked about this one's wangfei …this one still should have maintained his calm."

Zhao Zhang Wei seemed to have said these words humbly but both the men present in the room knew that he was saying it sarcastically.

Zhao Wang Lei's phoenix eyes flickered for a moment before he composed himself.

He had never thought that his second son was so skilled in expressing himself.

He pretended to sigh heavily as he put down the brush in his hands. After that, he stood up from his chair and walked towards Zhao Zhang Wei.

"Zhang Wei…my son"

Zhao Wang Lei put his hand on Zhao Zhang Wei's shoulder as he whispered

"Zhen knows that you have been wronged. You know Zhen had loved your mother, Noble Consort Shu very much. So much that when you were born Zhen was so happy that Zhen had promised your mother that the next Emperor will only be you."

"As you grew up with grace and elegance, Zhen could see that you were very intelligent, sensible, and far-sighted. Zhen had been sure that our decision of making you the next Emperor was always right. However, as the time passed, we also realized that continuing with that promise was not that easy."

"Empress Qin Wenya soon started to notice our intentions and since she wanted Zhuang Chen to become the next Emperor, she indirectly threatened Zhen that she would ask her brother to go against Zhen if you become the next Emperor. If it really happened then the Qin and Xin will be again in a war. Zhang Wei, you might not know but Qin and Xin had been in a long war for five decades before. If we had a war like that again, it not only will deplete our resources but it will also destroy our manpower to a great extent even if we win."

Zhao Wang Lei sighed again as he turned to walk back to his chair. After sitting down, he continued

"Zhen really wishes for you to sit on the throne …however for that Zhen is not strong enough to go against his own Empress"

A bitter smile emerged on Zhao Wang Lei's lips.

"Because we don't have the military under us like other Empires. Even the Empress thinks that Zhen is not strong and hence dared to threaten us. She knew that Li Clan would suggest Zhen to do anything to stop the war before going on the battlefield and the only way to stop the war will be making Zhao Zhang Chen the next Emperor."

"If only Zhen had the Li Clan's military strength then the Empress would never have dared to threaten Zhen like that."

Zhao Wang Lei suddenly looked at the silent Zhao Zhang Wei and whispered

"Zhang Wei, if you can suppress Qin Empire and snatch Li Clan's military strength then Zhen can make you the next Emperor."