His Rui

After leaving the Imperial garden, Li Qiang had wanted to leave the Imperial Palace immediately. His mind was full of thoughts…full of whatever the first prince said to him.

"Greetings Uncle Qiang."

Just at the entrance of the Imperial Court, he heard someone greeting him. With a sigh, Li Qiang raised his head and looked at the person.

He was in no mood of exchanging any greetings.

But he also didn't have the heart to become impolite and ignore someone just because he had a bad mood.

Li Qiang was a bit surprised when he saw a young man standing in front of him. He didn't seem to recognize him.

From the clothing, the man seems to belong to a noble family but he didn't know from which family he belonged.

So he asked with a tight smile

"Do I know Young Man? I apologize for my rudeness but since I have not been in Imperial Court for a very long time, I don't recognize some new members."

Li Qiang explained fearing that the man in front of him would think that he was trying to show his loftiness by pretending to not recognize him.

The young man however laughed lightly and answered his question with a genuine smile on his lips.

"Uncle Qiang doesn't need to be so formal with me. I already know about the nature of Uncle Qiang's hard job. Uncle Qiang belongs to Li Clan who has protected Xin for so many years. How can I complain anything about Uncle Qiang by disregarding such great things."

Li Qiang smiled and this time it was not a forced one.

However, he didn't seem to understand why the young man was pretending as if they were close to each other.

"My name is Jianye with surname Lu."

The young man said to Li Qiang

Li Qiang nodded his head at his words and said

"So you are the eldest son of the Lu family."

Now Li Qiang remembered that he really had heard the name of this young man.

Lu Jianye topped the recently held Imperial exam. Although he was new in the Imperial Court, he fully participated in every discussion and always said wise words.

So almost everyone in the Imperial Court had good words to say about him.

Although Lu Clan had not been held much high by everyone, Lu Jianye seems to have torn this norm. By looking at him, it could be said that those days would not be far away when even Lu Clan would be included in Higher ranking noble families.

Everyone likes an intelligent and polite youth.

That's why Li Qiang's eyes looking at youth became softer and gentle.

Lu Jianye nodded his head with a smile and said

"Uncle Qiang's memory is very good. Uncle Qiang recognized me finally."

Li Qiang smiled again but he didn't know what more he should say. So he thought of leaving.

However, as soon as he took one step, he was stopped by Lu Jianye who said hurriedly

"Uncle Qiang, I wanted to talk to you about something important. Do you have some time?"

Li Qiang frowned unable to understand what the young man wanted to talk to him.

Lu Jianye, however, pretended to ignore his confusion and looked at him with eager eyes waiting to hear his 'yes'.

After a few moments, Li Qiang stepped back and said emotionlessly

"Yes. Continue."

Inside his mind, Li Qiang had already thought of many possibilities about this conversation.

Perhaps Lu Jianye wanted to talk to him about his clan. He had actually seen many families in the past who comes to him or Li Heng and requests them to support their clan in the Imperial Court so that they can gain some respect in the Imperial Court and recognition in the Emperor's eyes.

All of this, however, seemed to have stopped after his younger brother, Li Heng had refused a minister very bluntly and straightforwardly in front of many people.

But since Lu Jianye was new in the Imperial Court, he might have not heard anything about this incident so he came to him.

Li Qiang's doubts towards Lu Jianye were baseless and he soon to came to know about this.

"Uncle Qiang, I wish to ask for your elder daughter's hand."

It took Li Qiang a few moments to register what Lu Jianye just said to him.

But even after he registered his words in his mind, he didn't say anything except

"What?"

He was unable to believe that Lu Jianye wished to marry Li Na. It could not be that he was unbeknownst to the same his clan and his daughter had faced just a few days ago during the banquet.

Lu Jianye who had said his words earlier with lowered head heard Li Qiang's 'what' and raised his head abruptly.

He saw the confusion and disbelief on Li Qiang's face and suddenly understood something.

This time he looked into Li Qiang's eyes and said firmly.

"Uncle Qiang, I wish to marry your Elder daughter, Li Na."

Li Qiang was still unable to believe Lu Jianye's words. However, a few moments later, his face hardened as he suddenly thought of something.

"Young man, I warn you to not involve my daughter in your efforts of making your clan higher."

Lu Jianye looked at Li Qiang in confusion. His face was laced with nervousness as he saw Li Qiang's furious eyes fixed on himself.

He couldn't understand what was wrong with what he did or said.

But as soon as he understood, his face went pale.

Li Qiang was thinking that Lu Jianye wish to use Li Na to have some relation with Li Clan and then use Li Clan to have a higher position in the Imperial Court.

Lu Jianye shook his head vigorously and said immediately

"Uncle Qiang, you are misunderstanding. I don't have any such thoughts. I genuinely wish to marry Li Na."

But Li Qiang's face still didn't have any emotion. So Lu Jianye thought that he was still unsuccessful in making him believe his words.

He licked his lips and confessed the thoughts deep hidden inside his heart.