Soon, the Emperor passed the order to start the banquet again. However, with that came one more order, more like an Imperial decree.
'From today on, no one in Xin is allowed to mention the events from fourteen years ago. If anyone in Xin tried to slander Li Rui for those events in the future, that person will be punished for going against an Imperial decree.'
There was an uproar in noble families when the Eunuch came and announced the decree in the mid of the hall that was surrounded by different guests' rooms.
What was the punishment for going against an Imperial decree?
The person would be executed publicly.
There were many people among them who found the decree unreasonable.
How could one decree stop people from talking about someone so easily? Would there always be an Imperial guard on every person's head to check if they were slandering Lord Xi's wangfei. Even the imagination of such a scene seemed ridiculous..
However, no one dared to stand up.
They only heard the decree and then closed the doors of their room silently.
But to some people, the Imperial decree meant something very different.
There was a rule for not talking against the Emperor or the Imperial Clan but it was the first time that an Imperial decree for not talking against a woman was passed.
It only showed just how much importance Lord Xi had in the Imperial court. With his one threat, he was able to force the Emperor to pass an Imperial decree in his wangfei's favor shutting everyone's mouth.
It was not about stopping everyone from slandering Li Rui but it was about awakening fear inside people's hearts that Li Rui was Prime Minister Xi's wangfei.
Whether she was wrong or right, no one can raise their finger on her because that would mean raising their finger on Xi Clan.
After its suspension for four hours, the banquet was started again.
This time, when Xi Ying entered with Li Rui, not a single woman whispered anything bad against Li Rui.
The Empress was ordered by the Emperor to reflect on her actions and not attend the banquet for one day but the Princess was still attending the banquet.
The reason was also told to Xi Ying when Eunuch Wang had come and told him about the Imperial decree.
'Princess Wenling had organized the banquet so she can't not attend the banquet.'
Eunuch Wang had said to him.
Since the Imperial decree had been passed already, Xi Ying just nodded his head at the old eunuch's words.
"Xi Ying thanks His Majesty for taking this wise decision."
Still arrogant as ever, he had said.
In fact, his purpose had already been achieved.
The Imperial decree had done what he wanted to do so he didn't care about whether the stupid princess was attending the banquet or not.
As he walked with Li Rui towards the front seats while holding her hands, he was satisfied with the silence in the banquet hall.
On his way, he saw General Li's eyes filled with approval on himself and but he moved his eyes away indifferently.
"Heng"
General Li also turned to look at his wangfei who was smiling widely. He felt happier to see her smile.
"Hmm"
He hummed questioningly while encircling her waist.
"Lord Xi really seemed to care for or Rui, right?"
Yi Jie asked while looking at her daughter.
General Li Heng chuckled and asked in response to his wangfei question
"Then, why do you think I married Rui to him?"
Yi Jie looked at her husband condescendingly and said
"You are saying as if you already knew that Rui will live happily with Lord Xi."
General Li pinched Yi Jie's waist lightly making her frown and said
"Of course, I knew. He himself had said that to me."
The last sentence General Li whispered and Yi Jie couldn't hear him so she only looked at him more condescendingly for being a narcissist.
.
.
.
Li Na didn't even blink her eyes as she stared at Xi Ying with a strange gleam in her eyes. As she watched him helping Li Rui to sit, then serving something in every few minutes before tasting that dish, the urge to be in place of Li Rui grew more and more.
Such a cold and indifferent man but so gentle to only Li Rui….how did Li Rui get him?
Oh…wasn't it she only who served him on Li Rui's plate by herself?
Rui doesn't deserve such a man.
It was she who deserved to be there in her place. She wanted to be there with a man like Xi Ying.
"Elder sister."
Li Caihong called out to Li Na who seemed to be lost somewhere.
"Huh?"
Li Na answered still staring in a particular direction.
Her nails dug in her palms as she watched Xi Ying wiping Li Rui's lips with his fingers with a smile on his lips.
Rui doesn't deserve such a man.
It was she who deserved to be there in her place. She wanted to be there with a man like Xi Ying.
If only she could get him….
"When will we implement our plan?"
Li Caihong asked hurriedly. Her mood was really bad after hearing the Imperial decree. Here she had thought that the Princess would humiliate Li Rui more but the outcome came out to be very different.
Li Na turned her head around when she heard Li Caihong's words.
"Plan…"
She whispered and moved her eyes back to Xi Ying.
Her heart was suddenly filled with excitement.
'A plan…that was just what she needs right now.' Li Na thought.
As she imagined herself in place of Li Rui, she was filled with joy.
The wheels in her clever mind turned faster and her eyes brightened with every passing second. If her plan got successful, then she can really get inside Xi Manor.
Every woman of Xin would envy her.
She can marry a man who held the power make the whole Empire lie on her feet.
And she was ready to sacrifice anything for that.
What she wanted was to become Xi Ying's wangfei!
So another envious heart was ready to do anything to snatch Xi Ying from Li Rui.
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