Zhao Zhuang Chen's chambers were deathly silent for a few moments after the shadow guard said that the convoy was planning to attack Zhao Zhang Wei.
It only a few moments later, Zhao Zhuang Chen opened his mouth and asked
"They want to kill Zhao Zhang Wei …tomorrow."
His fists were clenched tightly but anyone who knew how much Zhao Zhuang Chen hated Zhao Zhang Wei could tell that it was merely because of the excitement Zhao Zhuang Chen was feeling.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The shadow guard said respectfully.
Then the next moment, he paused and asked suddenly
"Is Your Highness going to inform His Majesty about this?"
Zhao Zhuang Chen frowned at the question itself.
"Why would I do such a stupid thing?"
He asked his shadow guard, having an urge inside his heart, to kick him again. The shadow guard, on the other hand, looked startled. He had actually expected that his master was going to tell everything to the Emperor. However, it doesn't seem so now.
"Would not His Majesty be happy with Your Highness if Your Highness told him this and maybe His Majesty would see Your Highness' ability and become more inclined to give you the throne?
Zhao Zhuang Chen scoffed instantly.
This shadow guard was different from the one who had eavesdropped inside Zhao Zhang Wei's study room and had come to know how his father was stabbing him behind his back.
In reality, he wanted to make Zhao Zhang Wei the next Emperor.
Even after knowing this, why would Zhao Zhuang Chen tell anything to his father? Maybe …maybe there really was a chance that it would make his father happy and perhaps he would also get his father's favor to some extent because of saving his dear son, Zhao Zhang Wei. But there was no guarantee.
Instead, if he let the convoy continue his planning, he could get more benefit …if only their plan succeeded.
Because if they really got success in their plan then he would get rid of Zhao Zhang Wei without having to do anything.
And if Zhao Zhang Wei really died, then his father would have no choice but to make him the next Emperor.
Zhao Zhuang Chen felt excitement rushing through his veins when he thought of this.
Yes, all of this…everything was very perfect just like how he wanted.
But Xi Ying…
Zhao Zhuang Chen frowned when he remembered Xi Ying who had just come to his chambers this morning and had asked him about this.
He tried to think of something. He didn't want anyone to disrupt the convoy's plans.
The wheels of his mind turned faster and he came up with something sooner than he expected.
He immediately stood up from the couch he was sitting on and went to the small study room that was inside his chambers only.
There Zhao Zhuang Chen wrote a letter for Xi Ying. After he finished writing it, he came out and passed the letter to his shadow guard.
"Go and give this letter to Prime Minister Xi."
The shadow guard didn't understand anything. Was his master going to tell everything to Prime Minister Xi but wouldn't that be telling the Emperor everything also?
However, he knew that he couldn't ask questions otherwise he would be kicked again.
So he silently took the letter and went to Xi Manor.
Zhao Zhuang Chen smiled coldly when the shadow guard had left his chambers. He couldn't wait for tomorrow now.
He really wished to know if the convoy needed some help but he knew that he can't do anything now except try to hide that he knew about all this.
Zhao Zhuang Chen, however, never tried to wonder why the convoy was planning to Zhao Zhang Wei and was Zhao Zhang Wei the only person who was their target!
He never tried to investigate more because he got too excited in his imagination of getting the throne.
The convoy was also thinking that Zhao Wang Lei wanted to make Zhao Zhang Wei the next Emperor. They thought so because Zhao Zhang Wei was given the responsibility to talk to them with Xi Ying. Such responsibilities in the convoy's eyes were given to the prince who was a candidate for the throne in the Emperor's eyes to check his capability or to test him.
Hence, the convoy was avenging their loss in the war against Xin by killing the second prince.
However, they also knew that there was one more prince who could get the throne if they killed the second prince.
Hence, how could the first prince stay out of the target?
The convoy was going to kill both the princes.
Xi Ying would have easily deduced all this but Zhao Zhuang Chen was not intelligent enough to do this.
In his attempt to hide everything from Xi Ying, he was putting himself as well as Zhao Zhang Wei in a very dangerous position.
They say something right after all.
The one who tries to harm others or get happy when others are being harmed doesn't stay saved from harm.
.
.
.
On the other hand, the shadow guard reached Xi Manor.
Xi Ying's shadow guard told him that a shadow guard from Zhao Zhuang Chen's side wanted to meet him and Xi Ying immediately allowed the shadow guard inside his study room.
The shadow guard gave him a letter and after Xi Ying came to know that he didn't have anything to say to him, he waved his hand in dismissal so the shadow guard left from there.
After he left, Xi Ying opened the letter and read it.
He frowned when he read the starting but his frown settled down as he reached the end.
Xi Ying put down the letter a few moments later but he looked relieved.
According to Zhao Zhuang Chen's investigation, the convoy was not planning anything. Xi Ying had first doubted the investigation result but he could believe it when he read the reasons Zhao Zhuang Chen provided for the same, he could believe it.
The neighboring Empire was in a dire situation.
Their resources have almost vanished because of the last war. Through this treaty, they want Xin to help them and hence they won't try anything.
This was reasonable.
Now all the conditions of this treaty being in the favor of Xin were also very understandable. They want help and they are doing everything to get it.
Xi Ying nodded his head in satisfaction, unaware that the letter that he had received just now was full of lies.