His Rui

General Li stepped inside the cave with narrowed eyes.

Looking at the two people in front of his eyes and sensing the ambiguous atmosphere between them and the cave, his eyes flickered a little.

"Welcome General Li, I have not known that you also like to wander around the forests just like me."

Xi Ying said with a polite smile on his lips that made General Li roll his eyes.

He answered the hidden question inside Xi Ying's words.

"Late night, Xi Manor's steward sent a message to Li Manor informing that Prime Minister Xi didn't reach Xi Manor with Li Rui. So I sent soldiers to search for Lord Xi and Rui. We found the vacant carriages and a few dead men outside the forest on the road so I guessed that Lord Xi have been attacked on his way to Xi Manor. After a search of whole night, we finally found this cave and your shadow guard."

General Li finished and then looked at his daughter from up to down.

When he saw that she didn't had a single scratch, his eyes flashed with approval.

His hand rose to pat Xi Ying's back as he silently praised him.

Xi Ying was looking at Li Rui from the corner of his eyes so he could never notice General Li's hand that was coming towards him.

The moment he noticed it, he wanted to avoid it but then felt that his repulsion would look strange in such a situation.

However, a hand still caught General Li's hand making General Li surprised

"Father, he is injured."

General Li was speechless for a moment when he saw his daughter's serious eyes. In a daze, he slowly put down his hand and looked at the bright smile on the young prime minister's lips.

He suddenly wondered why he suddenly had a feeling of marrying his daughter away with a man.

The next moment, however, General Li's eyes flashed suddenly and he whispered

"You were injured?"

His eyes were filled with shock as he looked at Xi Ying.

Xi Ying who heard General Li's silent whisper raised his head to look at the shocked General.

Seeing the grim face of General Li, he, of course, understood what he was thinking.

The old General had married his daughter in Xi Manor thinking that only Xi Ying could save him but now hearing that Xi Ying got wounded during the attack, all his expectations suddenly seemed to have cooled down.

Xi Ying was injured. During that time, anything could happen with his daughter.

General Li's eyes flashed with fear and panic as he stared at Li Rui silently.

When his grim eyes matched Xi Ying who was already looking at him, he said seriously

"Rui, go out for a moment."

Li Rui's face didn't have any emotion after she heard her father's words. For a few moments, she looked at him silently but he never glanced at her.

In the end, she turned around to leave but before she could leave the cave, her hand was held firmly from behind.

"Rui will not go anywhere."

The words fell in her ears.

Li Rui slowly turned around and looked at the man who held her hand. Staring in General Li's eyes, Xi Ying continued

"Whatever General Li wants to say, that can be said in Li Rui's presence also."

General Li's mouth was parted slightly as he looked at Xi Ying speechlessly.

How was he supposed to talk to Xi Ying about the attack on Li Rui in front of her?

In the end, he sighed in frustration and said

"Prime Minister Xi, this General really doesn't know what is going on in your mind."

Saying these words, General Li left the cave while Li Rui looked at his father's departing figure.

Xi Ying was also looking at his wife who was looking at General Li's back.

He sighed lightly.

Rui was intelligent. He somehow believes that she already knows that her father was hiding something from her and Xi Ying wished that she knows this.

At least if in the future, she gets to know about the truth, she will not feel betrayed by her own father.

Stepping forward, he put his arms around his wife's slim waist and couldn't help but think that she was too thin for a pregnant woman.

"Don't think too much."

He whispered huskily and caressed her frowning forehead with his fingers. After that, he embraced her to his chest.

'I wish I could tell you everything, Rui.'

But it was not his secret so did he have any right to reveal it?

-------

As soon as General Li left the cave, other shadow guards from Xi Manor also reached the cave.

When the shadow guards got to know that their master and Lady Li were safe and sound, they were very happy and full of relief.

After that, they immediately made some arrangements to get some carriage ready.

Since the carriages could not be taken inside the forests, they would have to walk towards the roads.

Standing outside the cave, Xi Ying was looking at his shadow guards who were being told by An Ping how the attack happened.

"An Su"

An Su was immediately in front of his master when he heard his name being called out.

"How is Madam's maid?"

Xi Ying asked his shadow guard.

"The maid is fine, My Lord. She is resting in Xi Manor. She is a very stubborn lady and was constantly requesting to accompany us to see My Lady. This servant didn't have any choice except tying her to the bed so that she can rest inside the Manor."

Xi Ying nodded his head acknowledging his shadow guard's actions.

From the outside, his face looked emotionless but from inside, his heart was filled with relief.

He, after all, had promised Li Rui that he would let nothing happen to her maid.

"Master"

An Ju suddenly stepped forward in front of Xi Ying and asked

"Can this servant go inside? Actually, this servant brought some food for My Lady from Xi Manor. I was afraid that My Lady would be hungry when we find her so…"

Xi Ying allowed An Ju to go inside.

He was very satisfied to see his shadow guards respecting and caring for Li Rui.

An Ju went inside and then Xi Ying heard an annoying voice.

"Prime Minister Xi"

Xi Ying didn't hide his annoyance at all as he dismissed his shadow guards and turned to look at General Li.

He knew that General Li had just come to try again to convince him to abandon his plan.

Xi Ying suddenly found himself in a situation where the Emperor doesn't worry but the Eunuch worries too much.

Just like how he was trying his best to protect Li Clan, but General Li who belongs to the same clan was trying to stop him.

However, was any one of them wrong?

Both of them were right at their own places.

Both of them were doing this for the woman they loved. It was love who could make anyone do anything to protect the person we cherish so much.

So who could be blamed?

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