Chapter 778: The War Continues
For the next few days, the atmosphere in the Imperial City was not much vibrant.
The whole Empire's atmosphere was tense.
It was after many years, Xin was fighting a war with some other Empire. When no news came from the border for two continuous weeks, people's hearts couldn't help but get tense.
Xi Manor, Li Manor as well as Yi Manor were covered with a layer of anxiousness.
By now, Yi Huiqing had already shifted to her new chambers which were specially designed for the Empress of the Empire.
However, the beautiful chambers were completely unable to move her heart.
From the moment she got to know about war, she had been constantly thinking about her younger brother and the family members from Li Manor.
Zhao Zhang Wei was seated at a chair a little far away reviewing some documents. When he raised his head to glance at his wife and found her so lost, he sighed heavily.
These days she looked so lost. After he had realized the reason behind her worry, he couldn't help but regret his decision slightly.
Should he have not initiated this war and just pushed the enemies back to their territory, she would not worry so much.
These days she had just asked him only one thing whenever he visited her chambers.
'Did Your Majesty receive any news from the border?'
Her hopeful eyes would dim when he would shake his head and she would never say a single word again unless he would ask her something and she would say a few words listlessly.
The Yi Huiqing who behaved politely and was clearly unwilling to talk to him was much better. At least, she didn't look so lifeless and listless.
Seeing her like this, he felt afraid if something really went wrong with anyone of her family members then …would she blame him?
The sudden thought terrified Zhao Zhang Wei so much that he suddenly called out
"Qingqing…"
Yi Huiqing looked at him on hearing him calling her name. She didn't even frown on hearing how he called her like in the past.
If the circumstances were normal, then he would have surely felt very happy thinking that perhaps she had started to accept this small thing. However, not now.
"You should not worry so much."
He said gently though his fists were clenched tightly.
"This Empress didn't wish to worry Your Majesty."
Yi Huiqing whispered calmly. However, her expressionless face with that calm voice made Zhao Zhang Wei feel as if the one who was sitting in front of him was not a human.
His heart was suddenly filled with suffocation as he wondered what would happen to her if something went wrong on the border.
"You should rest."
He said and then suddenly stood up and left the chambers.
Yi Huiqing looked at his back and didn't know why he left suddenly. However, she didn't have any wish to know about this.
She just wanted to know how her younger brother was doing. Remembering how his face had been burnt when he had come back last time, her heart trembled and she almost felt like crying.
In the past, she used to feel proud that Yi Lei had decided to join the army. When her mother cried at that time when her brother had joined the army without letting anyone know, she thought that her brother was very brave.
However, only now she understood why her mother was crying.
She had the fear from that day that she, Yi Huiqing was feeling these days.
'You must come back safe with everyone else, Yi Lei.'
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.
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Not only, Zhao Zhang Wei, but Xi Ying was also not less worried for his wife.
Li Rui was sensible. She knew that she was not alone so she ate and slept on time. She also loved her child.
However, he could sense her fear even though she didn't show it.
Xi Ying felt helpless and worried.
This was the reason that the next day when he entered the Imperial Palace, he decided to visit Zhao Zhang Wei after the Imperial Assembly.
Things were being sent to the border again today.
Not much was discussed in the Imperial Assembly before it was dismissed. Afterward, Xi Ying was about to go to the Imperial Study room when Eunuch Zhang came and told him that the Emperor wanted to see him.
Xi Ying was surprised but went to see Zhao Zhang Wei calmly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xi Ying greeted Zhao Zhang Wei politely. The latter acknowledged and signed him to take a seat.
"Prime Minister Xi, Zhen is worried about the situation on the border. The last letter that Zhen received from General Li was a week ago which said that the situation was uncertain."
He did receive the news but he couldn't bear to tell Yi Huiqing about this.
Xi Ying nodded his head with a serious face.
"It seems that Zhao Wang Lei had given some weaknesses of Xin to them and hence it is becoming difficult to defeat them."
Zhao Zhang Wei's face was cold and he didn't say anything. However, he knew what Xi Ying was saying was true.
After a moment of silence, Xi Ying spoke again
"Your Majesty, tomorrow with all the things that would be sent to the border, the Imperial Palace can also send some Imperial Guards. Xi Manor will also send some people."
Zhao Zhang Wei agreed with Xi Ying.
When Xi Ying was about to leave, he said
"If the situation remains uncertain for another week then Zhen would wish that Prime Minister would go there personally."
Xi Ying's heart sank when he heard this.
Actually, he himself had been thinking about this.
If the situation remained uncertain, then he would himself go there and end this war in a few days only.
It was just …his wife was pregnant. Last time as well, he had not been present when she had given birth. He didn't want the same to happen this time.
However, he couldn't back away from his duties also.
"This subject agrees with Your Majesty."
Zhao Zhang Wei was relieved when he saw that Xi Ying agreed and he let Xi Ying go finally. He was also aware that Xi Ying didn't want to leave because Lady Li was pregnant.
In fact, he had expected that Xi Ying would refuse. In that case, Zhao Zhang Wei had decided that he himself would go to the border and give all the responsibilities of here to Xi Ying.
However, Xi Ying agreed and his respect for the latter increased knowing that he was aware of his duties as well.
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That night, Zhao Zhang Wei went to the Empress' chambers again.
Yi Huiqing welcome him respectfully and they had dinner together in silence. Seeing how less she ate, Zhao Zhang Wei was very distressed and put more on her plate intentionally.
Since there were servants in the room, she would not refuse to eat what he served. Zhao Zhang Wei was aware of this and that's why these days he would not dismiss the servant after they would serve the dishes.
Yi Huiqing indeed ate more even though she was unwilling.
After dinner, they slept on their sides of the bed.
Zhao Zhang Wei wanted to embrace her in his arms, however, he knew that she would not like it so he didn't do anything.
He only closed his eyes when he heard the sound of her even breathing.
However, less than half a shichen later, he was woken up by the sound of murmuring. With a frown on his forehead, he looked at Yi Huiqing who was murmuring something in her sleep constantly.
Her forehead was covered with sweat. He thought that she was having some kind of nightmare. Her face was very pale.
He immediately shook her shoulder to wake her up unable to see her like this.
"Qingqing…wake up…wake up Qingqing….it is just a nightmare."
When Yi Huiqing woke up, her eyes were full of fear and panic.
Her body was trembling as she looked around the room. Zhao Zhang Wei felt his heart heavy when he saw her like this.
At this moment, he didn't think about anything and stroked her hair gently as he whispered to her
"Qingqing…it was a nightmare. Everything is alright."
Yi Huiqing looked at him with a slightly blank face.
Zhao Zhang Wei was unable to see her like this. He laid down on the bed and dragged her body in his arms.
She felt very light making his heart ache for her.
"Sleep. I am here, Qingiqng. Do you want to talk about what you saw?"
He asked her gently as he patted her back like a child.
However, Yi Huiqing didn't say anything. He didn't force her. He remained patient as if he was dealing with a child.
After a long time, she finally closed her eyes and he went back to sleep with her.
The next morning when he left, Yi Huiqing was still asleep. While leaving, Zhao Zhang Wei ordered Lin Daiyu that no one was to wake her up.
Lin Daiyu looked conflicted as she obeyed. However, since it was the Emperor's order she gained confidence and did as she was told.
Almost half a shichen later, Zhao Zhang Wei himself stood at the entrance of the Imperial Palace as the soldiers filled the carriages with all the things that were to be sent to the border.
"Write a letter as soon as you reach the border and come to know about the situation."
Zhao Zhang Wei said to the head of the soldiers who bowed his head and said
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When everything was said and done, the soldiers were ready to leave. However, at this moment, a horse suddenly came galloping towards the entrance of the Imperial Palace. The soldier made way for the horse.
The another soldier who was riding the horse seemed to be covered from blood.
Seeing him every one knew that he came from the border. However, when they remembered the image of the soldier from last time and the news he brought back, their hearts were filled with panic.
Did something go wrong?
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