His Rui Chapter 132 - The Clever Second Prince

Chapter 132 - The Clever Second Prince

Zhao Zhuang Chen passed a friendly smile to Xi Ying which by reciprocated by a cold smile from Xi Ying, however, the Prince was already imagining his victory so he was not able to notice this.
"Prime Minister Xi asked a very reasonable question."
"This Prince suggests that the Li Clan's army should be given to the Imperial Clan. Your Majesty should be the one who should be the head of such a large army, not someone else. And this Prince doesn't think that by giving so much power to one clan we are keeping Xin in safe hands. We should learn from Yun Clan's example and take away the power from Li Clan."
"For Your Majesty, everyone in the Xin is his people so Your Majesty would never abandon other soldiers just because of two people that are to be abducted or to be killed."
"Leaving his soldiers on the border for his son and his nephew, this Prince doesn't find General Li suitable for having such power after this. So Your Majesty is the only person who is able enough to manage Li Clan's army."
The Crown Prince finished and once again glanced at General Li provocatively who was still sitting calmly on his seat.
His calmness only angered Zhao Zhuang Chen but he controlled himself.
He will avenge whatever insults he had to face because of the General.
On the other hand, the ministers looked at each other and then at the Emperor.
Seeing the Emperor's cold face, they couldn't understand whether His Majesty liked Zhao Zhuang Chen's suggestion or not so they remained silent.
No one praised the Crown Prince for his advice nor did anyone call the suggestion bad.
They were waiting.
Waiting to see who will speak first and in whose favor.
And they got what they wanted.
A deep chuckle interrupted the silence of the Imperial Court making Zhao Zhuang Chen frown because he could detect the mocking tone in the chuckle.
Sitting on his seat, Zhao Zhang Wei covered his mouth supposedly to hide his smile but his phoenix eyes were filled with mockery.
It made Xi Ying look at the second Prince with curiousness.
He had come to know that when soldiers had closed down the whole Xin, Emperor had called the emergency meeting of the ministers in the Imperial Court and at that time, the second Prince had supported Li and Yi Clan very much.
He wondered the second Prince who usually looked a refined and gentleman, what reasons he would have behind supporting Li and Yi Clan.
And this support was so much that he even sent his man to fight against the Emperor's shadow guards.
Did the second Prince was fighting for the throne using his gentle persona to betray the Emperor and the Crown Prince?
And if he was then wasn't he afraid of being exposed by supporting Li and YI Clan so openly?
If it was before then he would have already told the Emperor but now Xi Ying really didn't care who among the two Princes becomes the next Emperor.
As long as Li and Yi Clan were safe and Li Rui was living with him happily in Xi Manor, he doesn't want to meddle in their affairs.
However, he was very curious to know whether Zhao Zhang Wei will use this opportunity to lower down the crown Prince's status or not.
Because this one move of his would prove that in the race of getting throne of the next Emperor he was also fighting.
He smirked when he saw the second Prince laughing without any fear as the crown Prince glared at him because of the humiliation he was facing due to his mocking laugh.
Very calmly, Zhao Zhang Wei rested his hand on his comfortable chair's armrest. There was still a gentle smile playing on his lips as he opened his mouth and said
"This one would apologize to the Elder Brother for laughing openly like this but I couldn't stop myself. Elder Brother's analysis of the whole situation seemed so funny to this Prince that for a moment Benwang thought that instead of a Crown Prince, a five-year-old child was standing there and saying all those things."
Pausing for a moment, he continued
"Perhaps Benwang would have stopped his laughter if there really was a five-year-old child in place of the Elder Brother."
All the ministers looked at Zhao Zhang Wei with wide eyes.
Was this the second Prince?
The usually looking gentleman could say so much poisonous words, they have never imagined this. They would be a fool if they couldn't see the clear mockery hidden behind those words of apology.
Zhao Zhuang Chen was gritting his teeth in anger.
"Zhen orders the second Prince to go and stand with the crown Prince and then explain what he means by his words."
The cold voice of Zhao Wang Lei interrupted the glare exchange between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Zhao Zhang Wei stood up from his chair and said
"This one will obey Your Majesty."
Then he walked to the center of the Imperial Court hall and stood just in front of the Emperor. After performing a bow he started
"Your Majesty, all of us have seen the evidence of General Yun's treason, only then General Yun was punished. Your Majesty indeed took a very right decision by executing the whole clan and deserves praise for his wiseness."
"However, no matter how wise and intelligent Your Majesty is, Your Majesty would not be able to handle the Li Clan's army."
The pin-drop silence in the Imperial Court was suffocating this time.
Zhao Wang Lei looked at his second son coldly.
"What does the second Prince mean? In your eyes, is Zhen no capable of protecting his own country?"
Xi Ying suppressed his chuckle when he heard the Emperor's question. With interest-filled eyes, he waited for the second Prince's answer.
It was a question that the second Prince can neither be answered with 'Yes' nor with 'no'.
Because if he said 'Yes' then Zhao Zhang would offend the Emperor and if said 'no' then he would go back on words that were said by him only.
How would Zhao Zhang Wei answer such a question?