776: Xin Is Under Attack

Xin Is Under Attack

This evening, Xi Ying again brought his wife and son to the Imperial City's streets for a walk. He had noticed that she looked more peaceful when they come out. At night, she would sleep easily. 

Since these days, her sleeping schedule was not normal, he thought that it would be good as long as it could help her in getting sleep. 

It was just…her stomach was too big.

Looking at his wife's stomach, Xi Ying imagined what it would be like when she would be in her ninth month and he felt slightly scared. 

Seeing her petite frame and big stomach, he felt distressed if she would be able to handle it or not. 

However, the old physician assured him that it was normal for the stomach to be this big in the fifth month…especially when her sixth month was about to approach. Perhaps it was because he had never seen a pregnant woman in his life before, so he had less knowledge. 

His mother only had him and except for her, he had never approached or been close to any other woman. It was only his wife after his mother. 

Xi Ying could only comfort himself like this. 

"Father, Xi Ling wants to eat Tanghulu."

Xi Ying stopped saw his son pointing at a stall and frowned seeing the red thing. He seemed to have heard the name of this thing from his son's mouth before as well. 

He looked at his wife asking her if she would feel comfortable going and standing there. However, Xi Ying blinked when he saw that his wife looked less than his son as she looked at that thing Tanghulu. 

Looking at his wife and son who looked as if they were about to run to the stall, Xi Ying didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

With a chuckle, he held his wife's hand and with other his son's and crossed the street to walk to the stall. 

The owner made Tanghulu. Xi Ying himself took it from his hands and gave it to his son and his wife. He ignored the owner's careful gaze on himself and calmly helped his son and wife. 

"Ying…have some."

Li Rui pushed the stick in front of her husband's mouth. 

Xi Ying hesitated and looked at his wife. Seeing her anticipation-filled eyes, he couldn't refuse and tasted some. 

It was too sweet. 

Xi Ying didn't like to eat sweet things but since his wife asked him he ate it silently without any complaint. Even if she gave him poison with her hands, he would never refuse and say what he whispered just now 

"Good"

Li Rui smiled and then started to eat her portion. 

Seeing the scene, Xi Ling thought that he was being petty so he also pushed his stick toward his father. Xi Ying looked down at his son and said mercilessly.

"You eat."

Xi Ling looked at his father with narrowed eyes and couldn't help but pout.

"Father is too biased. Whenever Xi Ling would give something sweet to Father, Father would say that he doesn't like sweet things but when Mother gave Tanghulu to Father, Father ate it and even said that it was good."

When Li Rui heard her son's words, she stopped eating and looked at her husband. Seeing her calm face, she blinked and then slightly felt embarrassed. 

She seemed to have forced him to eat something he doesn't like to eat. 

The stall had other customers as well. A girl who was standing to have Tanghulu heard the young child's words and covered her mouth with her handkerchief to stop herself from laughing. 

Xi Ling, however, noticed her laughing and looked at her innocently. 

The girl seemed to be of about sixteen or seventeen years old and didn't feel embarrassed because of being stared at. 

"Little boy, you should be happy for your father and mother instead of behaving like a concubine."

When Xi Ying heard the girl's words, his lips twitched in amusement. Not only he but Li Rui also stifled her laughter. 

On the other hand, Xi Ling who didn't know much what a concubine was confused. Without giving him any other chance to spout something nonsense, Xi Ying picked him up and then started to walk away from there holding his wife's hands. 

However, a moment later he stopped and turned around to look at the other end of the street. Li Rui was confused to see this and followed his gaze. 

It was just a moment later that everyone saw a horse running in the street with a high speed. People with a fast speed cleared the way. 

There was a soldier on the horse and his body seemed to be covered with blood. When the horse passed from Xi Ying and Li Rui's side, their faces couldn't help but go somber.

The street was silent after a few moments as the horse had left already. 

Xi Ying turned to look at his wife. Seeing her emotionless face, he smiled gently and squeezed her hand in assurance. 

"Don't worry. Let me find out what is wrong."

Li Rui looked at him and nodded her head. 

They left the mark and went back to Xi Manor. The shadow guard was already sent to Imperial Palace by Xi Ying. 

However, before the shadow guard came, there was news from the Imperial Palace asking all the ministers to enter the Imperial Palace. 

Xi Ying knew that there was something serious seeing the situation. The soldier seemed to be coming from the border. 

However, he didn't want his wife to worry. 

"Don't worry about me. Go to the Imperial Palace."

Li Rui said softly seeing him so silent. She knew that he was worried about her. 

At her words, Xi Ying looked at her and was about to say something when Li Rui said 

"I am not that weak Ying. Go and come back soon. I will wait for you."

In the end, Xi Ying nodded his head. Before leaving, he kissed her forehead and said 

"Nothing wrong would have happened. Don't think about anything."

Li Rui nodded her head, however, after Xi Ying left the room, her face was blank again. 

Was everything alright on the border?

.

.

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Before leaving Xi Manor, Xi Ying informed Gu Li. 

Since Gu Li and his shadow guards were in Xi Manor these days, Xi Ying felt more relieved. He had seen Gu Li's care for his wife and knew that the man would not let anything happen to his wife.

About a quarter of shichen later, he was in the Imperial Palace and the Emperor arrived in the Imperial Court. 

Seeing Zhao Zhang Wei's somber face, Xi Ying frowned. 

"A soldier arrived from the border some time ago."

When the ministers heard the Emperor's words they looked at each other and seemed to know what all this was about. A concerned expression marred their faces.  1

Was their Xin in danger?

General Li and Li Qiang sitting amidst these ministers had the grimmest faces when Zhao Zhang Wei further said 

"The soldier informed that the enemies suddenly invaded the border at midnight one day ago."

Xi Ying's face went blank for a moment when Zhao Zhang Wei looked at him for a moment. He understood that glance. 

It was the attack that Zhao Wang Lei was planning with the Emperor of the enemy country.  Zhao Wang Lei's plan was to cede some territory to the neighboring Empire after this attack and then put all the blame on Li Clan. 

He wanted to prove that Li Clan was unable to protect Xin. This was also the reason he suddenly decreased the funds to the army to make them weak against the neighboring Empire's army. 

As an Emperor, his action was a sin and treason. 

However, he had thought that this plan would never be successful as Zhao Wang Lei was already dead. 

Could it be that…he had already sent the information and help to the enemy country before he died?

Xi Ying clenched his fists when this thought came to his mind. 

Zhao Zhang Wei had the same thoughts and didn't have a good face. 

"Zhen orders Li Clan to send more soldiers to the border. Aid would be sent from the Imperial Palace."

General Li immediately stood up and bowed his head declaring that he would comply with the order. 

The Imperial Assembly was dismissed after that. 

Eunuch Zhang came and informed Xi Ying that Zhao Zhang Wei wanted to see him. Xi Ying nodded his head and went to see Zhao Zhang Wei. 

After a few moments, he was seated in the study room. 

"Your Majesty, what is the situation at the border?"

Xi Ying asked Zhao Zhang Wei who had a grim face and shook his head and said 

"Zhen is unaware for now. The soldier collapsed after passing this much information. The Imperial Physician said that he would be awake after a few shichens."

Xi Ying nodded his head. 

The room was silent for a moment before Zhao Zhang Wei said suddenly.

"I wish that no Empire would have an Emperor like him."

Zhao Zhang Wei was very angry. He didn't even use 'we' according to the norm in front of Xi Ying. 

When he had taken the oath, he was very sincere. He was now the father of this nation. Every soldier fighting on the border is his responsibility and he never wanted them and his Empire to be harmed.

Xi Ying had the same thoughts. 

Zhao Wang Lei was simply a very disgusting Emperor. 

However, they could do nothing except fight back. 

"Your Majesty, this Lord would also send some help."

Zhao Zhang Wei didn't have any problem with that and nodded his head. A few moments later, he said suddenly

"Prime Minster Xi, do you think it would be good if we just end this threat completely this time."

Xi Ying's face was serious after hearing Zhao Zhang Wei's words. He understood what the latter was trying to imply but he thought that he couldn't make such a big decision alone so he said 

"General Li should also be consulted with this matter."

Zhao Zhang Wei found his words reasonable and said 

"Then Zhen will summon General Li and discuss this matter with him."

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