His Rui

The study room was silent after An San's words. The remaining shadow guards didn't say anything as they Xi Ying's chilling smile.

Except for An Ping and Xi Ying, all of them were confused by An San's words but a shadow guard never showed his emotion on his face so no one expressed their confusion. If their master wants to let them know, then they will know soon. If not, then the matter was something that they never heard of.

Xi Ying glanced at An Ping's shocked face once and then his gaze was back to An San's lower head.

"Xi Ling was being poisoned by the physician that was brought to cure him. Was it not your duty to inform me about it?"

An San lowered his head more hearing his words and said

"My Lord, this servant is really ashamed for this matter. Young Master was being poisoned under my eyes and I didn't even know it before the Young Master himself mentioned it to me. This servant deserved to be punished."

"What about the physician? Where is he?"

"My Lord, As soon as the Young Master told An San his doubts about the physician, An San investigated him and found out that he was sent by the enemy country to abduct the Young Master. They wanted My Lord to submit to their wishes by using the Young Master but due to the strict restrictions of the Imperial City, he changed his plans and tried to poison Young Master."

Ruthlessness flashed in Xi Ying's eyes.

Another lie to cover up a lie.

"I asked you where is the Physician?"

"An San killed the physician."

Banggg….

Everything was swept away from the study table to the floor.

"I seem to give you much more freedom than I had thought that you have started to take decisions without informing me."

An San lowered head shook in 'No' vigorously as he called out.

"My Lord"

Xi Ying just wanted to kill An San at this moment. Kill him for the lies he had told him (Xi Ying).

But he knew that this was not the right moment so he controlled his rage and sat down on his chair with his fists clenched.

"My Lord, This servant was ignorant but Lady Li already knew about this matter and even sent the medicinal Paste for the Young Master ingloriously. Lady Li could also tell this servant that Ah..."

A sudden force threw An San on the wall and his back hit hard resulting in him coughing out the blood.

Xi Ying walked around the table towards him. Both of his hands were behind his back as he stopped in front of An San.

An San composed himself and kneeled down in the same position regardless of his aching back.

His chin was suddenly pinched tightly and he was forced to look in those icy and ruthless eyes. His heart could not help but shrink in fear.

"Do you know who she is?"

Xi Ying didn't wait for his answer told him coldly.

"She is my Wangfei, Xi Ling's Mother and this Manor mistress. If you can't respect her then there is no place for you in this Manor."

Saying this Xi Ying left her chin with a jerk making An San's weak body hit the floor.

"Forgive An San. It is this servant who is wrong."

Again maintain his kneeling position with very difficulty, An San apologized.

"An Su"

One of the young man standing amongst the six shadow guards stepped forward and bowed his head in respect.

"Yes, My Lord."

"From today on, I leave this manor in your care."

"My Lord…"

It was An San voice full of disbelief.

An Su respectfully replied to his master ignoring An San.

"This servant will never disappoint My Lord."

Without turning to look at An San, Xi Ying said indifferently.

"You are not allowed to step inside Xi Manor again. Do whatever work An Su used to do. Now leave from here this instant."

The authoritative words were for which person, it was known to everyone. An San bowed for the last time and disappeared from there.

Closing his eyes, Xi Ying felt everything around himself. When he was sure that An San was not around anymore, he opened them and then turned to look at the six others.

In the next half an hour, Xi Ying changed the assigned job and they were to report to him after every ten hours.

The reason behind this was that he wanted to test their loyalty. Everything they were going to report to him in the next ten hours, he already knew. So if they hid something or lied to him then he would come to know that there were more An San around him.

The shadow disappeared one after another to do their assigned task except An Ping. As if not noticing him still standing there, Xi Ying walked to his chair and sat down.

"My Lord does not give me any work."

He saw An Ping kneeling figure.

"Why should I assign you any task when you could not even hide from your brother that I was injured?"

An San body stilled at these words. He knew where this was going to but he can't hide this no matter what.

"My Lord, this servant never told anyone about My Lord's injury. An Ping knew how grave this matter was so An Ping never let this thing come out in front of anyone. Even the physician was held captive till My Lord woke up."

This time Xi Ying knew that An Ping was saying the truth. He knew how An San get to know about this. He even knew who attacked him. Now he knew everything but he didn't tell An Ping about his brother's treachery. He wanted him to find out about this himself.

"So how do you think An San get to know about this?"

His voice was still calm and cold not letting An Ping see any of his thought.

Confusion flashed through An Ping eyes as he said

"This servant really doesn't know the answer to My Lord's question."

An Ping himself was shocked at An San's words.

"Then find out. You want to do something right? Go and find out from where An San found out about this. I want detail of his every movement in the next 15 hours."

An Ping understood that his master was asking him to follow An San for the next 15 hours. A moment of hesitation emerged in his heart but then he remembered something.

Something that he had promised to his Master before following him to Imperial City years ago.

The hesitation flew away and An Ping firm answer came out. 𝐟𝙧ee𝔀e𝐛𝓃𝐨𝚟𝑒𝗹.c𝗼𝚖

"Yes My Lord. This servant will not disappoint you." And then he disappeared

In Xi Ying's mind, a thin figure of a young boy flashed. Looking at the place where An Ping was standing a few seconds ago, he whispered.

"I hope that you really won't disappoint me."

After that, he leaned his head on the chair and closed his eyes. In front of his eyes, Li Rui's curled figure and trembling shoulders flashed and he opened his eyes again.

"Rui.."

He really wanted to see her. Since the moment he had opened his eyes, his heart was restless to have one glance of her.

When he stepped inside Xi Manor he wanted to rush to Plum Courtyard but his fear stopped him. Afraid to see hate in her eyes.

He didn't know what he will do if he saw hatred for himself in her eyes.

Those eyes had the power to make him feel happy as well as worthless.

So he promised himself that he will face her once he made everything alright. But how can he stop his heart who was urging him continuously to see her? Even if it was for once.

Xi Ying sighed helplessly and looked through the documents again with the thoughts of his Wangfei. 𝙛r𝚎𝐞𝑤𝚎𝗯𝗻𝗼𝐯e𝚕.𝒄𝐨𝓂

His thoughts were disrupted when the door of the study room was knocked.

"Enter."

It was An Su who came inside and bowed his head saying.

"Lady Li requests for a meeting with My Lord."

The hands that were turning the page stilled completely and he almost dropped the documents in his hands on the table.

Hearing no response, An Su called out for him again and Xi Ying composed himself.

"Is she outside?"

He asked An Su calmly. However, his fists were clenched under the table because of the excitement and fear he was feeling.

"Yes, My Lord"

Xi Ying almost got up from his chair to go outside when he paused in between his action suddenly.

Would not he startle her if he behaved like this?

No, he needs to behave very calmly.

So he said in a monotonous voice.

"Let Wangfei enter the study."

"Yes, My Lord."

An Su left the study and Xi Ying's eyes that were cold now were full of smiles. The fear he had been feeling was thrown out of the window.

In a moment, the door opened again and very simple embroidered shoes stepped inside. She was standing in front of him.

"Li Rui greets Prime Minister Xi"

His soft voice fell in his ears. He wanted to look in her eyes but her head was lower.

"Li Rui will not waste much time of Minister Xi and come to directly what she wants to say."

However, Xi Ying's attention was somewhere else. He frowned when he saw her dress. She was wearing the same dress.

The wind outside was cold after the rain.

Would not she get cold in these clothes? Why does not this woman think about herself?

He felt worried. With a frown marring his forehead, he removed his outer robe and walked to her. But before he could reach her, her next words stopped him.

"Li Rui wants separation from Minister Xi."

The robe in Xi Ying's hands fell on the floor.