Chapter 675 Back To The Imperial City
They reached the Imperial City at night of the fourth day.
The butler immediately arranged for dinner and after having dinner, Xi Ying went to sleep with his wife and son.
The next morning, he didn't wake Xi Ling and Li Rui up and left for the Imperial Palace.
He wondered what all new things had taken place in his absence.
.
.
.
Xi Ying had just stepped inside the Imperial Court when he heard the whispers of the ministers as they looked at him. He knew they must be wondering where he had been in the past few days. However, he didn't have any interest in answering their questions.
Calmly, he decided to walk towards his seat.
However, he had just taken a step when he heard a familiar voice calling him.
Xi Ying sighed as he gathered all his patience before he turned around to talk to the man.
"General Li."
He greeted General Li politely. However, General Li was too anxious to respond to his greeting and he asked him directly.
"Where were you, Prime Minister Xi? Where did you take Rui and Xi Ling?"
Xi Ying looked calm. Shui Cao, the butler had told him that General Li had come to the Xi Manor after they had left.
He looked around at the other ministers who were looking in their direction but stopped when they saw Xi Ying looking toward them. Looking back at the middle-aged General, he said calmly.
"Can we talk about this later, General Li? Somewhere …where it would be safe to talk…"
General Li also realized that he didn't choose a great place and nodded his head. Relieved, Xi Ying finally turned around to walk to his seat.
When he was near his seat, he saw Zhao Zhuang Chen looking in his direction coldly. Xi Ying smiled at the prince making him furious more.
Zhao Zhuang Chen's mood had not been right after his mother's influence had reduced in the Imperial Palace as well as in the Empire.
And for all this, he knew that only Xi Ying was to be blamed. He couldn't do anything because he knew that even his father would not help because the latter had always wanted to reduce his mother's power to reduce the threat of the Qin Empire on Xin.
If his mother had done something wrong, then Qin could not unreasonably blame Zhao Wang Lei for dethroning her.
So, Zhao Wang Lei was fully benefitting from the current circumstances. Even his sister was locked inside her chambers.
Now Zhao Zhaung Chen was alone.
Ignoring the furious first prince, Xi Ying looked toward Zhao Zhang Wei who was also attending the Imperial Court after many days for the first time.
Noticing Xi Ying's gaze, Zhao Zhang Wei nodded his head politely and Xi Ying did the same.
He could see that Zhao Zhuang Chen was noticing their interaction and he didn't mind it.
The Emperor entered the Imperial Court at the same time and everyone kneeled down while Xi Ying stood straight on his seat.
Zhao Wang Lei's eyes found Xi Ying and they flickered immediately.
With an emotionless face, he walked toward the throne and sat down.
The ministers stood up from their kneeling positions after his order and the first thing Zhao Wang Lei did was, looking at Xi Ying and calling him out.
"Prime Minister Xi, Zhen wishes to know where you have been in the past week."
The ministers immediately have their ears perked and Xi Ying stood up from his seta calmly and answered the Emperor's question.
"This Lord greets His Majesty. Answering His Majesty's question, this Lord had gone to visit a temple with his family in a far away village."
Everyone was surprised while Zhao Wang Lei was gritting his teeth silently because he knew that Xi Ying was lying.
However, he couldn't really say that because he didn't have any evidence to prove that he had not gone to the temple.
It was Xi Ying. A man whom he could not investigate so easily.
In fact, he has doubt in his heart after seeing those bodies in his Imperial Garden. However, he was not sure and he didn't have any way to confirm it as well.
"Alright, we shall proceed with today's meeting then."
Zhao Wang Lei ordered hiding the rage and frustration in his voice. However, Xi Ying was not going to let go of him so easily.
The man dared to send his shadow guards. Though he didn't know that they were living there, his shadow guards still tried to kill Li Rui. The mere fact presented just how much Zhao Wang Lei had been desperate to kill Li Rui that his shadow guards didn't need to be ordered to do that.
"Your Majesty, this Minister has also come up with a matter."
Zhao Wang Lei frowned and looked at Xi Ying wondering what did he want.
"Prime Minister Xi can continue."
He ordered and Xi Ying continued in a calm but cold voice.
"Your Majesty, this minister's wife's mother had been poisoned during the banquet held in the Imperial Place more than a week ago."
While Zhao Wang Lei was confused as to why Xi Ying was bringing this matter to the Imperial Court. He wanted to deal with this matter silently so that he could kill whoever had done this brutally.
However, he was unaware of what Xi Ying wanted to do.
"Your Majesty, Second Lady Li was saved. However, this Lord wishes to find out who was behind this. The matter does not end here, Your Majesty. On the same day, someone attacked Xi Manor trying to harm this Lord's wife and son."
Zhao Wang Lei's body went rigid. He had never thought that Xi Ying would bring this matter to the Imperial Court as well.
He was confused.
If Li Rui was alright then the shadow guards from Youxio should be dead by now. However, if they were dead who killed his people.
And if Xi Ying was bringing this matter up, did he not know who attacked his manor.
Zhao Wang Lei was extremely confused but he could only hear Xi Ying saying
"Asking Your Majesty for justice.
The young prime minister asked the justice from the man who was the criminal.
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