His Rui

When Xi Ying got Zhao Zhang Wei's letter and read it he was confused again.

The same questions, Zhao Zhang Wei had in his mind, aroused inside his mind too. He passed the letter to Li Rui who too read it.

Meanwhile, Xi Ying waved his hand to dismiss his shadow guard. He understood that An Si didn't feel anyone following him otherwise he would have told him.

It made him wonder how exactly Empress Dowager got to know about their plan. Could it be that her shadow guards are stronger than his shadow guards and hence they could not feel Empress Dowager's shadow guards' presence?

"She doesn't like His Majesty much."

Xi Ying came out of his trance when he heard Li Rui's words.

He looked at her and she continued calmly.

"Though His Majesty is Empress Dowager's real son, she doesn't like him and perhaps she has something or some secret that can harm His Majesty otherwise why would His Majesty panic just because she met you today, Ying?"

Xi Ying thought over these words and nodded his head.

"Hm…what you are saying can be possible."

A moment later, realization flashed through his eyes and he continued

"Everyone says that Empress Dowager went to love in isolation because she could not bear the sorrow of the previous Emperor's death. However, this was not the only event that had occurred at that time. Zhao Wang Lei ascended the throne too at that time. According to what An Si had said to me that was the exact day Empress Dowager had gone to live in the isolation."

Li Rui raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise.

Could a mother also dislike her own child? If it was a matter of power, then these kinds of cases were not abnormal in the Imperial Clan. However, Empress Dowager doesn't seem to have any greed for power too otherwise she would not have gone to live in the isolation too.

Then what could make Empress Dowager dislike the Emperor so much?

Xi Ying and Li Rui both of them were both lost in their thoughts when the door of the study room was knocked.

"Enter."

Xi Ying said coldly and it was An Si who entered. His face had a conflicted expression as he neared the study table of his master and then said in a low voice.

"Master, there is a shadow guard outside. He says that he is sent by Empress Dowager from the Imperial Palace."

An Si had never perhaps seen his master so confused. So confused that he lost his composure and asked him

"What?"

He saw that Lady Li looked equally confused. The shadow guard felt a little awkward and didn't know what he should say for a moment so he decided to repeat his words.

"Master, there is a shadow guard outside…"

Xi Ying's lips twitched and he raised his hand indicating his shadow guard to stop speaking.

"This Lord heard that."

An Si smiled sheepishly while Li Rui too couldn't help but smile lightly. The tense atmosphere eased slightly and Xi Ying sighed before saying

"Let him enter."

"Yes, Master."

An Si bowed his head and turned around to leave the study room.

Outside the study room, a tall and masculine shadow guard was standing. A servant who was about to pass from there couldn't help but feel intimidated in his presence.

It was only Xi Ying's shadow guards who didn't feel intimidated by the shadow guard's presence.

"You are allowed to go inside."

An Si came out and told the shadow guard.

The shadow guard looked at An Si and nodded his head indifferently. However, before going inside, he suddenly stopped when he was passing by An Si.

"You have entered thrice in this week in the Imperial Palace, right?"

An Si's eyes sharpened instantly and he turned his head slightly to look into the shadow guard's eyes.

The shadow guard said the truth. He indeed has entered thrice in the Imperial Palace in this week. But how did he know?

Only now did he understand why his master as well as the second prince were asking him those questions!

He was being followed and he didn't even know about it.

This was an insult for An Si and hence he could not stop the furious glare that came because of his raging emotions.

He had found no one ever before who was capable enough to feel his presence in this whole Xin. So one could imagine An Si's shock when he was suddenly being told by someone that he had been able to get detected by someone not once, not twice but thrice.

This was simply a disappointment for him.

Though his face was covered, An Si could tell that the shadow guard was smirking …the smirk that was covered by that black cloth, and that only provoked him and made him more furious.

But he controlled his anger. That was what his master had taught him. If he let the anger blind his eyes then he would be the first person to lose regardless of whether his opponent was weak or strong.

"The like of you can only follow me around."

He said arrogantly and enjoyed the new furiousness in the shadow guard's eyes.

He accepted that the tall shadow guard was more capable than him but he was too proud over this fact. An Si would have respected him as every shadow guard respected a strong person and his master but not after seeing his waste pride.

Without giving him any chance to speak, he continued

"Now, go inside. There is no guarantee that my master will continue to wait for you. He is busier than your mistress."

After saying this, An Si scoffed as if mocking the shadow guard. Then he looked at the shadow guard indifferently who didn't say anything and silently went towards the room to open the door.

He stepped inside the room but not before passing a glare in An Si's direction.