Chapter 735: The Disappointed Xi YingXi Ying's face was cold after he had mentioned his father. However, he composed himself very soon.
It was General Li who seemed to be slightly lost as if he was remembering those old days. Till today, he had never understood why Xi Ying's father had broken such a long and cherished friendship between them suddenly.
Zhao Wang Lei's hatred for him could be justified because he knew the reason …however, he had never understood what made him suddenly part ways with him.
"The plan is to invade Imperial Palace one night and then kill Zhao Wang Lei."
General Li came out of his trance when he heard these words from Xi Ying. A deep frown immediately marred his face.
The plan that sounded so simple but was so dangerous have already been told to him before by Xi Ying.
However, he simply didn't agree with Xi Ying's plan. Not then, not now.
"Ying…that's …very risky."
Even Li Rui called out Xi Ying's name with a frown on her forehead. General Li saw this and immediately sighed in relief.
It seemed that his daughter could finally fill some sense in the young prime minister's head.
Xi Ying's eyes went soft when he heard Li Rui speaking and a helpless expression was there on his face as he said
"Rui, we will need to take the risk. After all, we are not killing a commoner but an Emperor. To be not found out by anyone, the only optimal solution is to kill him in the darkness of night when everyone would be sleeping."
Li Rui's frown only got deeper. A moment later, she spoke
"Since you know that he is the Emperor, you must know that there is a high chance of you or your people being found out if we did this. Even if we were able to kill all of the people on the Emperor's side, that would be too much chaos. Did you not say on your own that you didn't want anyone else blood but only Zhao Wang Lei's? The people who are on his side don't have any choice but to follow him. We are ought to kill them only if they come on our way. However, this plan of yours will not leave them with any option but to come in front of us to fight."
"Ying, Rui would not want to guarantee the safety of her clan on the ground that is colored with the blood of those who didn't mean any harm."
The study room was very silent after Li Rui finished.
General Li's eyes were filled with pride.
He, to a great extent, agreed with his daughter. He was happy that she thought of other innocents just as she should as the daughter of Li Clan.
His eyes went to his silent son-in-law.
Xi Ying's face was emotionless.
General Li understood the situation and wisely said
"We can discuss the plan tomorrow. This General will leave now."
Hence General Li left.
Li Rui looked at Xi Ying wondering what was he thinking. He didn't say anything. After a few moments, he moved.
Li Rui silently followed him. Xi Ying even held the door open and waited for her to step out. He still had his hand behind her back supporting her silently but never spoke the whole way.
Li Rui also didn't say anything.
Xi Ling was already asleep when they reached inside the room.
Li Rui also removed the accessories from her hair and Xi Ying left for a few moments before he came back. Li Rui only glanced at him once.
She knew that he must have gone to hide that map of Imperial Palace and it was important to do so.
They couldn't take the risk of losing that map. Also it was given to him by father and drawn by his grandfather. So it was very important to keep it safe.
They didn't say anything to each other.
After Li Rui had laid down on the bed beside Xi Ling, Xi Ying blew off the lamp leaving only a small one still lit that was far from the bed but its light was still enough to dimly light the room.
The room was almost dark now.
Xi Ying also laid down on the bed to sleep.
Li Rui's hand was on Xi Ling just like any other night. However, today Xi Ying's hand didn't come to hold her hand.
Li Rui's eyes were calm in the dark and she closed her eyes slowly.
It was after almost a quarter of shichen that she opened them again.
She couldn't sleep at all.
Slowly, she sat up on the bed and was about to climb down from the bed when she heard Xi Ying's voice that startled her
"Rui, what is wrong?"
Li Rui was surpsied to know that Xi Ying was awake.
Or perhaps it was she who woke him up. After all, he was a martial artists so how could he not get alert with a slighted move of someone beside him.
Li Rui sighed.
Xi Ying was faster than her.
He climbed down from the bed and picked the only lit lamp inside the room.
Moving towards Li Rui's side, he asked in a worried voice
"Rui, do you fele unwell?"
Li Rui looked at his concern-filled eyes and shook her head immediately.
"I couldn't sleep. Perhaps because I slept in the day. I was going to have a walk outside. You should sleep, Ying. I will be back in some time."
Xi Ying relaxed when he heard Li Rui's words however when she said the last few words, his face went emotionless again.
Did she expect him to stay here while she was having a walk outside alone in this Manor!
Even if it was Xi Manor, he would not have let that happen. As long as she was around her, she would not walk alone.
"Let's go."
He stretched his hand out to her and said calmly.
Li Rui looked at his hand and then at his emotionless face. She calmly placed her hand in his a moment later.
.
.
.
They were walking inside the garden of Li Manor now.
Xi Ying walked slowly beside his wife while his hand supported her back. Her eyes fell on her bloated stomach from time to time.
Inside his heart, he couldn't help but worry. It was just fifth month and her stomach was already so bloated.
Would it not be too hard for her when she would be in her ninth month?
His wife's already fragile and petite frame worried Xi Ying more. Just when he was thinking all this, Li Rui suddenly stopped walking and called out his name.
"Ying"
Xi Ying came out of his trance and looked at her with concern again. He was worried that she was feeling unwell.
However, before he could ask her anything, she spoke
"Did you not like what I said in the study room?"
Li Rui asked finally.
From outside she looked calm but inside her restless.
That's why she could not sleep.
She couldn't help but wonder again and again what wrong did she say while speaking in the study room.
Did she disappoint him?
But she spoke only because he had told her that she could say anything openly in front of him. That's why she expressed hearself.
Li Rui came out of her trance when her shoulders were suddenly held by Xi Ying and she heard him saying.
"No!"
Xi Ying said firmly. A moment later, he sighed and asked
"Why did you think so, Rui?"
Li Rui could see that he was saying the truth, however the question he asked her, she didn't know how to answer.
In the end, she just said whatever came to her mind
"You didn't speak the whole way from the study room."
And you diidn't even hold my hand while sleeping.
She had wanted to say but stopped herself at the last moment.
Xi Ying was also remembering and he came to realize that it was indeed as she said. A helpless smile graced his lips and he explained to his wife immediately
"That's because I was thinking. I…I was actually disappointed."
Li Rui stilled for a moment when she heard this. However, Xi Ying was not finished yet.
"I was disappointed in myself. Yours and my goals have always been same yet I forgot them while making this plan but you remembered."
Li Rui relaxed after hearing this.
Her eyes softened when she saw disappointment lurking in Xi Ying's eyes.
"Ying, it is not your fault."
Li Rui held his hand taking it from her shoulder and said softly
"You are also a human and humans can make mistakes."
Xi Ying smiled gently when he heard this, He suddenly leaned down to kiss her nose and whispered
"But you will always be there to correct me."
And her heart seemed to melt at those words.
She would like to be there for him as long as he wanted.