The study room was silent. Xi Ying leaned on his chair comfortable as he saw the Emperor staring at the ground coldly. At this moment, someone knocked on the study room door.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty, The Empress requests for a meeting."

It was the old Eunuch Wang's voice who had been working for the Emperor for many years.

Xi Ying released a sigh of relief unnoticed from the Emperor's eyes. He wanted to go to Xi Manor back as soon as possible. It was a good opportunity for him to leave from there.

He stood up from the chair.

"This subject doesn't dare to interrupt Your Majesty's time with Her Majesty, the Empress. So this subject will take his leave now. Before leaving, Xi Ying just wants to say that Your Majesty can take time to think about General Li's second condition. However, this minister will just say a few words of advice."

When the Emperor nodded his head indicated for him to continue, Xi Ying started.

"If it comes out that the Crown Prince really framed General Li and supported General Yun in selling off war strategies to the enemy country then it would create the unrest between people of Xin. People will no longer be able to believe the royal family completely and all of this will make taking the military power from Li Clan more difficult."

"This subject knows that Your Majesty will take a wise decision."

Zhao Wang Li heard Xi Ying's each and ever. He nodded his head and said in his deep and authoritative voice.

"Zhen feels very pleased with Minister Xi's loyalty."

"It's this subject's duty to be loyal to Your Majesty."

Xi Ying answered respectfully and after a few seconds, he left the study room.

Just as he stepped outside the study room, he was stopped by the Empress.

"Lord Xi."

"Xi Ying greets Your Majesty."

Towards the Empress, Xi Ying's behavior was neither too hot nor too cold.

"Mother Empress."

A soft and shy voice suddenly interrupted the silence between the Empress and Xi Ying.

The Empress glanced sideways and smiled when she saw her daughter walking towards her.

"Wenwen."

Xi Ying frowned and was about to walk forward and the Empress called him again.

"Prime Minister Xi, what's the hurry?"

Xi Ying's eyes went cold when the Empress stopped him again. How could he not know what the Empress was trying to do?

Smiling coldly, he arrogantly answered

"Your Majesty, this Lord is just taking care of the propriety between men and women. Since Princess is a female, it's not proper for me to stand here with you and Princess. This Lord doesn't want his name to be mentioned with the Princess in any way."

Zhou Wenling who was now just a few steps away from her mother heard these words and her face went pale.

She stood there unmoving as she watched Xi Ying arrogantly walked away from there.

The Empress was standing with her fists clenched in anger. She glared at the departing Prime Minister's back.

Remembering her daughter, she swiftly turned around and her heart ached when she saw her pale face.

"Wenwen.."

She called her but Princess Wenling turned around and ran away from there.

"Wenwen.."

Qin Wenya shouted, afraid that her daughter will do something foolish so she wanted to follow her. But Eunuch Wang suddenly came and informed her that the Emperor was already waiting for her.

"Your Majesty doesn't need to worry. This servant will take care of the Princess."

The nanny assured the Empress and then walked in the direction where Princess had run to.

Huffing a sigh, the Empress could only go inside hoping that the nanny would be able to calm down her daughter.

----------

historical

Li Manor

Inside the study room, General Li sat lost in his thoughts as he stared at nothing with a frown on his forehead.

"General Yun..that b**t**d man, I should have asked the Emperor to give that man to me. The death penalty was an easy punishment. I will torture him until he will start to regret his birth."

Li Qiang paced around the study room as he muttered these words.

Li Jiang laughed at his first brother's words which ma Li Qiang glare at him and he instantly shut his mouth.

Turning to General Li, Li Qiang said seriously.

"Heng, next time whenever there is any battle whether small or big, I and Jiang will also go with you."

Li Jiang also nodded his head solemnly.

However, hearing no response from General Li, both the brothers looked at him and found out that he was not even listening to them.

Seeing his younger brother's frown, Li Qiang thought that he was still worried about Li and Yi Clan so he went near him and patted his shoulder.

"Heng, where are you lost? Now Li and Yi Clan are safe and the culprit has also been punished so why do you look so tense?"

General Li came out of his trance and raised his head to look at his elder brother. Hearing his question, he just shook his head and said

"Nothing, Elder Brother."

However, Li Qiang and Li Jiang didn't take it as 'nothing', and both the brothers looked at him with narrowed eyes.

Releasing a defeated sigh, Li Heng in the end has to tell them what he was thinking about.

"I just..Elder Brother..there is no one except us three who knows where the book was placed. I am just thinking how did General Yun get it from Li Manor."

Li Qiang and Li Jiang looked at each other and their faces were also now very solemn.

A few moments later, Li Qiang nodded his head and said

"You're right. Invading Li Manor should also not be easy for General Yun's man. And even if they entered Li Manor, they should have not been able to find the book in the first place."

"That's exactly what I had been thinking for so long."

General Li whispered in confusion.

Li Jian who thought of something looked at his brothers and finally muttered.

"Unless they already knew where the book was placed."