The Empress was eating fruits when the maidservant informed her that Xue Yu-Yan visited her. Weng Wei flinched her brows. "Bring her in," Weng Wei commanded. In a minute, Xue Yu-Yan came inside the chamber. She bowed and greeted the Empress.
"You showed your face after a long time," Weng Wei asserted.
"Forgive me, your majesty," Xue Yu-Yan apologized.
"Will you keep staying like this? Have a seat," Weng Wei gestured towards the floor mattress. Xue Yu-Yan got seated down on the mattress and asked Weng Wei if she could peel the fruits for her.
"No need. I am done." Weng Wei replied and picked the napkin from the table. She dabbed her mouth with it. Placing it back on the table, Weng Wei said, "You disappointed me. And what is wrong with your face?" Weng Wei was annoyed at Xue Yu-Yan.
Xue Yu-Yan felt dejected upon seeing how the Empress was still worried about the failed plan. The Empress did not even ask her about her well-being, which disheartened her.
"Your Majesty, what's your next plan? Our plan failed last time, and you said that you prepared a second plan as well." Xue Yu-Yan wanted to know what the Empress was scheming.
"I have thought of not doing anything for some time," Weng Wei proclaimed, not wanting to share the plan with Xue Yu-Yan. A maidservant came inside to inform the Empress about Princess Xi Jiao's visit.
"Send her in," Weng Wei commanded.
Xi Jiao came there and bowed. "Your majesty, forgive me. I could not complete the task you had provided me," Xi Jiao said. Xue Yu-Yan noticed the bandage on Xi Jiao's neck, so she got a little curious.
"What happened to your neck, Miss?" Xue Yu-Yan asked.
Xi Jiao was trembling in fear. Gathering her courage, she said, "The Crown Prince was going to kill me. I thought he would get close to me if I would do the same things as the Crown Princess. I heard from the Sixth Prince that the Crown Prince likes those who are more into warfare. I challenged him for a sword fight. Firstly, he was smiling at me and even held me when I was going to fall, but then, suddenly he pushed me away and pointed his sword towards me. He was going to-'' Xi Jiao started crying and continued, "He was g-going to cut my hand but thanks to the Crown Princess I was saved."
The facial expressions of Weng Wei darkened. She clenched her fists.
"The Crown Prince has passed a message for the Empress- Not to play with his highness and there is no second woman in his life." Xi Jiao informed the Empress.
"Leave," shouted Weng Wei at her. Xi Jiao, wiping her tears, left the chamber.
Weng Wei slammed her palm against the table. "Isn't he flying too much after that woman came into his life? Jian was right. I made the biggest mistake of my life by agreeing to their marriage." Weng Wei was taking deep breaths.
"Your majesty, please calm down. Here, drink the water," Xue Yu-Yan said as she poured the water from the jar in the glass. Weng Wei took the water glass and drank the water. Putting it on the table, Weng Wei said, "I was focussing on the wrong target. Even if Sheng Li dies, she will torment us, but if she dies, then everything will be in my control."
Xue Yu-Yan knitted her brows and looked at the Empress. 'What is she trying to do this time?' she wondered and again thought to ask when Weng Wei told her to leave the chamber. Xue Yu-Yan bowed and left.
She thought of going to the garden to stay there for some time when she saw Zhilao Mi with Jian Guozhi. The two were standing in the Flower Pavilion, smiling at each other. Xue Yu-Yan lowered her eyes. She turned to go when Zhilao Mi called out her name.
Xue Yu-Yan turned and looked at her. She bowed and lifted her head.
"Sister Xue, come here." Zhilao Mi waited for Xue Yu-Yan's response, who gazed at Jian Guozhi. She found that he was not even looking at her.
"Thank you, Sister Mi, but I have some work," Xue Yu-Yan said with a smile and walked away from there.
"Sister Xue is still adjusting to the Palace. Jian Ge, why do we not take Sister Xue tomorrow with us? She will feel happy," Zhilao Mi stated.
"But I will not be happy seeing her beside me. It will infuriate me more," Jian Guozhi pronounced.
As Xue Yu-Yan walked back to her chamber, she met Lei Wanxi, who gazed at her with narrowed eyes. "Brother Wanxi, please forgive me for that day," Xue Yu-Yan lowered her eyes.
"Why should I? The thing which I had not done, I was going to be punished for that," Lei Wanxi was veracious in his statements.
Xue Yu-Yan felt embarrassed and guilty.
"Wanxi, forgiveness is the greatest adornment," Nianzu voiced. Xue Yu-Yan lifted her head while Lei Wanxi turned to look at him. Nianzu stopped near Lei Wanxi and peered at Xue Yu-Yan, whose eyes were watery.
"Brother Wanxi, one shall forgive a person when he/she realizes his/her mistake," Nianzu affirmed.
Lei Wanxi did not agree with Nianzu. "That way we shall also forgive the enemy on the battlefield. Traitors and enemies cannot be forgiven, because they betray," Lei Wanxi proclaimed.
"But Sister Xue is not a traitor. She is part of the Han Family, don't you think so?" Nianzu asked Lei Wanxi, who huffed.
"Brother, I did not say that Sister Xue is a traitor. I gave only my opinion. Brother Nianzu, what if Sister Lili and I would have gotten flogged that day? Sister Lili and I never did any harm to Sister Xue despite that she did that," Lei Wanxi argued, looking at Xue Yu-Yan, who lowered her eyes.
"Wanxi, that was in the past. Since when did Brother Wanxi start holding grudges? Even our Sister Lili has forgiven Sister Xue, then why can't you?" Nianzu inquired from Lei Wanxi.
"Sister Lili is naive and kind. Brother Sheng told me not to show kindness to anyone," Lei Wanxi again argued.
Nianzu did not want to laugh but ended up laughing. Controlling his laughter, he said, "Brother Wanxi, stop acting like a kid. I know you favor and idealize Sister Lili's thoughts in your life." Nianzu shifted his gaze towards Xue Yu-Yan and continued, "He is just a little angry at you. Don't take his sayings to your heart, Sister Xue."
Looking back at Lei Wanxi, Nianzu said, "Brother, if one person is bad in a family, it does not mean that the entire family is bad. Every person is different in his/her aspect. Sister Xue grew up in an environment where she could not help but end up following a path that others have decided for her. Don't judge a person just because of the bad karma of his/her family member," Nianzu advised Lei Wanxi.
"I forgive you, Sister Xue," Lei Wanxi stated and walked away.