His Rui

Under the heated gaze of everyone, Zhao Zhang Wei was rather calm. Very elegantly he bowed his head respectfully and said

"Benwang never meant to say such words. If Benwang made Your Majesty feel this then this one apologizes to Your Majesty."

Raising his head again, he continued

"In Benwang's eyes protecting Xin does not only include going to the borers and fight against the enemy country. Keeping the peace of a country, making sure that all its people sleep with a full stomach every night and when they wake up the next day all of them would have a source of earning money, this is also protecting a country."

"Your Majesty does the same. Compared to any other country, Xin has fewer people who don't have any source of earning money, who can't afford the three-time meals. Hence, Your Majesty is protecting Xin more than General Li can do. So Benwang never dares to say that Your Majesty is not capable of protecting Xin."

"But Your Majesty, it is a fact that should be thought over that why the previous Emperor and previous to previous Emperors didn't snatch Li Clan's power. Were they not afraid that Li Clan, one day, would go against the Imperial Clan?"

A thoughtful expression could be seen on everyone's face.

Even Zhao Zhuang Chen was stumped by Zhao Zhang Wei's words.

From the corner of his eyes, Xi Ying saw the Emperor's face becoming colder.

He smiled coldly. When was the Emperor even worried about the safety of Xin?

It was just an excuse that he was using to complete his own selfish motives.

Seeing everyone's silence, Zhao Zhang Wei smiled and answered the question in everyone's heart.

"It is because of Xin's special geographical structure."

A frown marred the noble minister's faces. Only a few were able to able to understand slowly what the second Prince means and their frown disappeared soon.

"The Imperial City is very close to the borders. If one day, the enemy country really succeeded in invading Xin's borders then their first target would be the Imperial City, the City from where the Emperor ruled on the whole Xin. Because of this vulnerable situation of Xin, we need to keep our eye on our enemies constantly."

"Even in Li Clan, two members of their clan always stay on the borders every few months and trains the soldiers there so that they are ready to fight against the enemies whenever they need to. Only then the Imperial Clan could stay safe in the Imperial City for a whole century."

As everyone nodded their heads and looked respectfully at the calm General Li, Zhao Zhang Wei continued.

"With such a situation of Xin, If Li Clan's army is given to the Imperial Clan as the Crown Prince says, Benwang doesn't know what does Crown prince expects from Your Majesty? Should Your Majesty leave the Imperial City, go and live on borders permanently? Then who would manage all other works that only an Emperor can do?"

"Leaving aside all this, Benwang doesn't understand that why Li Clan who had been loyal to Imperial Clan for a whole century is being doubted without any evidence."

"The Crown Prince said that General Li was abducted because he couldn't bear any harm against his son and nephew then this Prince can assure the Crown Prince that even if there were two soldiers of Xin at the place of Commander Li and soldier Yi Lei, General Li would have done the same. This much Benwang has understood from the soldiers' respect for General Li."

"Not only this, since General Yun had abducted Commander Li and soldier Yi Lei, they must have threatened General Li with their lives and tried to ask the war strategies and secrets that could bring potential harm to Xin. We have seen how soldier Yi Lei's face has been burnt by them but General Li never uttered a word that could become a threat to Xin."

"Instead of praising General Li for his bravery and being a patriot enough to not care for his own relative's lives, we are slandering him here today in the Imperial Court for something that the Li Clan would perhaps never think of doing."

"This fills Benwang's heart with sorrow."

After finishing his long analysis, Zhao Zhang Wei walked in front of General Li and performed a bow same as he did in front of the Emperor.

Everyone stood up from their seat seeing his actions. Even General Li was a bit overwhelmed by so Prince's actions.

"Your Highness"

He stepped forward to stop him but Zhao Zhang Wei's avoided his hands.

"General Li, today Benwang is filled with respect towards your clan and ancestors."

After saying this, Zhao Zhang Wei walked back to stand beside the fuming Crown Prince and said

"Your Majesty, this one is finished with whatever he wanted to say."

Standing there in the center of the hall, both the princes have now become the center of attention. Zhao Wang Lei looked at both of his sons with no change in his expressions. No one could find out what was going on in his heart.

After a few moments of silence, he announced.

"Since both the princes have presented their opinions now Zhen wants to other ministers' opinion. The decisions will solely be taken in the favor of that Prince who will win the agreement of more ministers."

The ministers suddenly straightened their backs when they heard this. As they looked at each other trying to find out who will support whom, the Emperor started

"Prime Minister Xi will be the first to tell whom he supports."

This made those few foolish ministers take a sigh of relief. Now they knew what their decisions would be

It would never differ from the young Prime Minister's answer.

That was how the Imperial Court works. They needed to decide wisely because their answer would mean that they are supporting that Prince in becoming the next Emperor.

And who could be wiser than Prime Minister Xi in taking such decisions?