Chapter 97 - Harm This Lord’s Wangfei, Face This Lord’s Wrath
The silence inside the camp was deafening.
"Everything I did always was for my daughter's protection."
General Li whispered and Xi Ying just looked at him coldly.
"Even after knowing how dangerous it was for my clan, I threatened the Emperor itself."
General Li looked at Xi Ying.
"Do you think it was easy for me to marry my daughter to you? A man who defiled my daughter without marrying her? A man who disliked my daughter because of me?
Even after knowing everything, I still married my daughter to you. Because she could only remain safe that way."
Xi Ying frowned. Somehow he felt that the General words carried more meaning. A few moments later, his frown loosened but his heart had a sinking feeling.
"What do you mean, General? Say clearly."
He just wished whatever he was thinking was not true.
General Li's face was serious as he told Xi Ying what he had always hidden from everyone.
"Minister Xi, there is someone who wants to kill my daughter."
Xi Ying's face was hard and cold after General Li completed his words.
'His guess, in the end, was true.'
General Li continued
"When Li Rui was just born, she was attacked many times. Sometimes it was poison, sometimes it was something else but Li Rui would always come out safe in the end. I tried to find out who was doing all that but I could never find out anything."
Xi Ying's fists were clenched.
"Then the attacks just stopped suddenly. I was also confused but I was relieved. However, five years ago, the attacks started again."
Xi Ying frowned again.
Why is it that he wants to solve everything but everything was just becoming more confusing?
Who would want to kill Li Rui?
Why would anyone try to kill a child? What could a child do to anyone?
"I married Li Rui to you because I knew that only you could protect her."
Xi Ying looked at the General.
'Did he really protect Li Rui?'
He didn't. Because if he had then Li Mei would not have died while saving Li Rui. But he didn't tell all this to General Li.
He didn't care why General Li married Li Rui to him.
Rui was his wangfei now. He just knew that he loved her and he would always protect her.
Xi Ying didn't want to stay inside the camp anymore. So he directly talked about the other thing he wanted to talk about with General Li.
"General Li, there was something else also that I wished to discuss with you."
General Li looked at him questioningly.
"I wish to protect Li Clan with you. I will fight against the Emperor with you."
General Li was surprised when he had heard Xi Ying's first sentence. However, the next words made him frown.
He looked at Xi Ying seriously and said
"Minister Xi, I don't have any wish to fight against His Majesty."
Xi Ying looked at the General in confusion.
"My Clan and my ancestors have oathed to protect the Xin and its Emperor. I can't go against that. This General just wants his clan safe."
With an exasperated sigh, Xi Ying stepped closer to General Li's bed and said
"And how If I may know General Li, you would do that without going against the Emperor?"
"I would just give His Majesty no chance to take away this General's military."
Xi Ying just pressed his temples. It was very difficult to talk with the General.
General Li didn't mind. He knew the uncertainty hanging around his own plan.
"Since General Li don't wish to go against the Emperor. Then why don't General Li just give the military power to His Majesty willingly?"
General Li stilled at Xi Ying's question.
Once Li Rui had also asked him the same question.
'Can't we give them what they want and just go away from here with our whole clan?'
He couldn't answer her question at that time and today also, he can't answer the same question.
Xi Ying smiled coldly at General Li's silence.
"What? General Li will not answer my question? You can't give up your power because then you would have to give up on what is the most precious to you. More precious than Li Rui, right?"
General Li's eyes were filled with shock as he looked at Xi Ying.
"How much do you know? "
Xi Ying sneered and answered
"As you said, General Li. Everything."
Stepping closer more, Xi Ying looked at General Li in the eyes and continued
"So I want you to tell Rui the truth. You only told her the half-truth. Tell you Wangfei the truth. Because if she dared to blame my Wangfei for whatever happened to her husband again, this Lord will not tolerate it."
General Li's eyes were red with anger.
He held Xi Ying's collar and pulled him towards himself.
"Minister Xi, not a word against this General's Wangfei. Else this General will not hesitate to kill you here right now."
Xi Ying sneered and easily freed his collar from General Li's hands.
He actually wanted to tell Li Rui everything himself but she wouldn't believe him. That's why he had to talk to the unrelenting General.
"This Lord doesn't feel sacred by your threats, General Li."
"What this Lord knows is that whoever will dare to harm this Lord's Wangfei will face this Lord's wrath."
"Even if it's you, your wangfei, or the Emperor himself."
Even if it's him.
He will not let her cry again like that. Alone in a dark room.
He will not let Li Rui suffer again.
General Li glared at Xi Ying but suddenly he smirked and then chuckled.
Xi Ying's gaze was cold as he saw the General laughing while looking at him.
"Minister Xi, You are threatening me with my daughter. Do you even know why is she living inside your manor for four years even after the kind of life you have given her?"
Pointing towards himself, General Li told Xi Ying with a smirk.
"It is because of this General"
"If this General asked his daughter to divorce you, she will not hesitate to do that. So you should not try to do something like that again unless you wish to separate from your Wangfei."