His Rui

Xi Ying understood how Empress Dowager got to know about their plans as soon as the tall shadow guard stepped inside his study room.

The shadow guard was a high-ranking martial artist. He could feel it.

The fact that he could feel it made him feel at ease as it only meant that the shadow guard was still less capable than him. Still, Empress Dowager having such a capable shadow guard made Xi Ying doubt as to how the woman who had lived in isolation for so many years had him working for her.

And the most important question was why did she need this shadow guard.

Xi Ying wondered inside his heart but his face didn't have any emotion.

The shadow guard stood in front of him. Xi Ying saw his eyes moving to look at Li Rui who was sitting beside him.

His eye sharpened when he heard the shadow guard saying

"Prime Minister Xi, will this woman stay here as I tell my purpose of this sudden visit?"

"Yes"

Xi Ying said just one word.

He saw the disapproval flashing through the shadow guard's eyes. Xi Ying's good impression of the shadow guard immediately went downhill and he said coldly.

"Don't forget that your mistress is also a woman."

This made the shadow guard retract his gaze and he bowed his head apologizing for his actions.

Xi Ying nodded his head in acknowledgment when as a sign of respect, he uncovered his face that had been covered with a black cloth, and then the shadow guard said

"Prime Minister Xi, this one has been sent by Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager. The purpose of this one's sudden arrival is that Her Majesty wants to join you and the second prince in dethroning the Emperor."

Clear shock flickered in Xi Ying's eyes.

Not only Xi Ying, but even Li Rui was also surprised.

She looked at the shadow guard silently and her eyes flickered with confusion when she noticed 'Zhao' embroidered on the corner of his clothes.

He was a shadow guard who belonged to Imperial Clan but it was Empress Dowager who hold power over him.

It was obviously something that was very confusing because it was solely the Emperor who can have the power on the shadow guards belonging to the Imperial Clan.

So how did Empress Dowager have these Imperial Shadow guards working under herself?

"Why?"

Li Rui asked the shadow guard calmly.

This time the shadow guard raised his head to look at Li Rui again.

His eyes were cold and indifferent as he looked into Li Rui's eyes.

A little bit of shock flickered in his eyes when he saw that Li Rui's didn't lower her gaze.

It was he who moved his gaze away instead and bowed his head again.

"This is something that this one cannot answer."

"Then this Lord also can't accept this proposal."

The shadow guard raised his head swiftly. However, when he saw Xi Ying's cold and indifferent eyes, he didn't know what he should say.

"Prime Minister Xi might like to think over this. again."

Xi Ying chuckled. He had not known that Empress Dowager was so desperate to join him and Zhao Zhang Wei.

"This Lord would love to think over this again but for that Her Majesty would need to tell me her purpose of joining us."

There was complete silence in the study room for the next few moments.

The shadow guard suddenly bowed his head and said

"This one will inform Her Majesty then."

Xi Ying didn't say anything and the shadow guard also left the study room without a single word.

.

.

.

" He refused."

Sitting on a comfortable couch, Empress Dowager who was now dressed in clothes that presented her prestige completely, said calmly.

Her index finger tapped the table and her eyes were blank as she looked at the tall shadow guard leaning on the ground.

"Yes Your Majesty."

The tall shadow guard said respectfully.

"Prime Minister Xi wishes to know Her Majesty's reason of joining him. Only then he will reconsider his decision."

The Empress Dowager raised his eyebrows and her finger suddenly stopped tapping.

" Oh...did he say that?"

" Yes, Your Majesty"

Empress Dowager smiled suddenly. The smiled didn't hold any anger or coldness.

It was a genuine smile.

"He is as wise and indifferent as people call him. Tell him that Aijia wants to meet him...here in the Imperial Palace only. If he wants to know Aijia's purpose behind joining him then he needs to arrange this meeting and Aijia will tell him whatever he wants to know."

The shadow guard raised his head.

His eyes were filled with shoc as he looked at his mistress.

"Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager smiled when she saw the shadow guard's worry and shock.

"Just do what I am saying."

The shadow guard's heart was full of conflicts but in the end, he could only sigh and accept his mistress order.

" Yes, Your Majesty."

Satisfied, the Empress Dowager nodded her head and the shadow guard left to go to Xi Manor again.

.

.

.

A quarter of shichen later, he was standing in front of Xi Ying.

"A meeting."

Xi Ying smiled after hearing the shadow guard's request or he should say Empress Dowager's demand.

"There will be meeting then."

He said lazily.

The shadow guard however who knew more than he should know raised his head and asked Xi Ying.

" Is Prime Minster Xi sure that he can complete this demand of Her Majesty?"

Xi Ying smiled lazily but didn't say anything.

However, this mere getsure of his was enough for the shadow guard to understand that Xi Ying was very confident.

Again, the shadow guard could only sigh and leave silently.

"Rui, don't you think that Empress Dowager is very interesting?"

Li Rui was also lost in her thoughts and hummed lightly.

She was startled a moment later when a kiss fell on her lips and she saw Xi Ying merely an inch away from her face.

"But of course not more than you."

And then the next kiss was deep...so deep that she could not even feel her surroundings. The only thing that she could feel was Xi Ying's touch.

'Was she really that intersting for him?'