His Rui

749 The Secret Ways Were All Closed

That evening, General Li and Yi Junjie came to Xi Manor.

Since they were going to implement such a big plan, they needed to make sure that every part of it was perfect. And for that, they had to discuss every part of it together.

When Xi Ying was on his way to leave Plum Courtyard with his wife, his gaze fell on Gu Li who was teaching his son how to use the sword.

He seemed to be contemplating something.

When Li Rui followed his gaze, she was surprised and after a moment of thought, she suggested in a low voice.

"Should we invite Senior Brother as well?"

Xi Ying was also thinking the same.

On hearing his wife's question, he looked at her. Seeing her anticipation-filled eyes, he didn't feel any hesitation and said "Do whatever you want to do."

Li Rui smiled and walked toward Gu Li.

Xi Ying sighed and said immediately

"Slow down."

She was walking so fast that he was worried that she will fall down.

Li Rui who heard his words bit her lips and slowed down. She had been actually worried when she had asked the question that Xi Ying would get angry.

However, he didn't, so she was happy and excited.

Since that afternoon, she had not even talked to Gu Li worrying that Xi Ying would get angry if she interacted with him that much. However, now she could see that Xi Ying no longer minded all this... perhaps it was because he had finally understood that to Gu Li, she was merely his younger sibling and nothing else.

So Li Rui thought that Xi Ying didn't have any problem with Gu Li now.

She wanted Gu Li to know this as well as she was worried that he must be thinking about this.

And she was right!

Gu Li had seen Li Rui and Xi Ying passing by but he never looked at Li Rui.

Since the afternoon, he had been thinking as to how he should explain everything to Xi Ying. He was worried that his stupidity had created some kind of trouble for Li Rui.

And thinking this, he didn't even try to approach Li Rui.

However, now that he could sense Li Rui walking toward him, he was confused and raised his head to look at her.

Xi Ling who saw that Gu Li had stopped, frowned in confusion and said "Brother Gu Li..."

Only when the small bun followed Gu Li's gaze, did he realize why the latter had stopped

He smiled cheerfully when he saw his mother and immediately ran towards her.

However, when Xi Ling was a step away from his mother, he stopped.

He couldn't help but smell himself sneakily and realized that he was smelling bad because of the sweat.

Xi Ling was horrified and didn't get close to his mother much.

Li Rui who noticed her son's actions controlled her smiled. She knew that Xi Ling would feel embarrassed if she exposed him so she held his hand when she approached him and then walked to Gu Li.

"Senior Brother, would you like to join us for the discussion in the study room?"

Li Rui asked Gu Li as soon as she was near him.

Gu Li was surprised and couldn't help but look at Xi Ying who was standing a step away.

Li Rui understood what he was thinking and said immediately.

"Ying has allowed already."

Gu Li was surprised but didn't delay in nodding his head and saying "Sure."

Li Rui was relieved. She had just sighed in relief when she heard her son saying "Mother, Xi Ling also wants to join."

Li Rui looked at her excited son and suddenly couldn't think of a reason to refuse him. However, Xi Ying didn't think much like her before saying mercilessly.

"It is the discussion between adults. What are you getting excited about? Stay here."

Xi Ling pouted after hearing his father's words. Li Rui smiled hesitantly and patted her son's head.

"Xiao Ling, stay here. Mother will be back soon. Later, Mother and Xiao Ling will play together."

Xi Ling was excited on hearing that his mother will play with him.

He immediately nodded his head obediently and no longer made a fuss.

Together Xi Ying, Li Rui, and Gu Li went to the study room while Xi Ling was left with An Ping General Li and Yi Junjie were being served by Butler himself in the room attached to the study room.

When Xi Ying arrived, they entered the study room with Xi Ying and others.

Inside the room, Xi Ying laid the same paper on the table and said

"According to what this Lord had been informed, Zhao Zhuang Chen would start his plan a shichen later than midnight."

"Then we need to be there earlier... We should be inside the Imperial Palace around midnight."

Yi Junjie said and Xi Ying nodded his head.

After he finished, Yi Junjie glanced at Gu Li. He didn't recognize Gu Li and didn't remember if he had ever seen him before.

He was curious about who he was, however, he didn't think that it was wise to probe into the matters. Also, if Xi Ying had allowed him inside then he must be trustworthy.

That was what, Yi Junjie thought...but for only a short time.

Gu Li suddenly placed his finger at a marked spot on the map and said "This place ...it has been closed now."

His words made Xi Ying frown instantly.

It was a tunnel that was on the way to getting inside Zhao Wang Lei's chamber. If this tunnel was closed then everything would halt that night.

Everyone inside the room understood this clearly.

"Senior Brother, are you sure about this?"

Li Rui asked Gu Li while Yi Junjie's eyes flickered with surprise when he heard how Li Rui addressed Gu Li.

His eyes on Gu Li suddenly were thoughtful.

Now he wanted to know who Gu Li was.

On the other hand, Gu Li nodded his head.

"Master had the same map but it is quite old. The map had more secret places and tunnels than this. However, most of them have been closed. Youxio's shadow guards had tried to use it before to enter the Imperial Palace when Zhao Wang Lei had..."

...offered us a large amount of money to kill Li Rui.

That was what Gu Li was about to say but couldn't complete his words.

However, Li Rui and Xi Ying were wise enough to understand his unsaid words.

Xi Ying nodded his head.

"We need to make changes if it is true."

"And we need to change the first prince's plan as well."

General Li said and everyone agreed.

For everything to go correct, they needed to ensure that Zhao Zhuang Chen would also be able to get inside the chamber at the right time so that they would be able to put all the blame on him. However, they now had another problem.

"It must be Zhao Wang Lei who had closed them."

Xi Ying said coldly.

"But what other way we can use to enter Zhao Wang Lei's chambers now?"

This was the biggest question now.

Gu Li immediately offered help.

"If Prime Minister Xi wants then I can present that map."

However, Xi Ying shook his head and said

"There is no use of all this now.

He sighed as he pushed the map from his sight.

"This Lord should have thought of this before. Zhao Wang Lei is very cunning. He would never leave himself in a vulnerable situation. He must have closed all the secret tunnels he knew about to save himself from the danger."

The room went silent after what Xi Ying said.

Everyone was silent until General Li spoke "But it is impossible that there is no secret tunnel to get inside an Emperor's chamber. An Emperor would always leave some way to get out of the Imperial Palace secretly in case he is under attack and need to save himself."

Everyone looked at General Li and agreed to some extent.

Xi Ying's eyes flickered and he nodded his head.

"We need to find out about this secret way."

But how will they find it!

Xi Ying was thinking about this when the door of the study room was knocked.

He frowned in confusion. He had strictly told An Shing not to disturb if anything unimportant.

It must be important. Xi Ying thought and walked towards the door. He opened the door slightly and stepped out of the study room.

It was already suspicious having so many people in his manor together, especially when in Zhao Wang Lei's eyes, he hated everyone from Li Clan.

He could explain General Li's presence saying that the letter was here to meet his daughter but he couldn't explain Yi Junjie's presence in his manor.