"What happened to you Prince Wanxi? Your face and hand are injured," Han Wenji was worried. He glanced at Consort Jinlong, "You did not inform me."
"It was not important, father," Lei Wanxi replied and looked at his hand.
"Brother Wanxi was playing with Princess Zhu Lin, who pushed him and he ended up falling off the stairs," Yongzheng told Han Wenji.
"I was not playing," Lei Wanxi annoyingly said and left the greeting hall. Everyone was shocked because this was the first time he acted this way.
"Your Majesty, I will converse with Brother Wanxi," Ying Lili stated. Han Wenji permitted the Crown Princess. "Your Majesty, before the Crown Prince left Luoyang, we conversed regarding the matter of new administrative policies. So, I need to go out of the Palace to the Capital Bureau office to check on the work. If His Majesty permits me, then that would be great," Ying Lili asserted.
"The Crown Princess does not need to ask for my permission. She can go," Han Wenji affirmed and shifted his gaze to the First Prince. "Since the Crown Prince is not here, follow the Crown Princess," Han Wenji told Jian Guozhi, who nodded his head.
The Emperor noticed that Prince Nianzu was lost somewhere. In the early morning, Eunuch Jin informed him how Nianzu stayed the entire night in the Eastern Pavilion. Because of this reason, Han Wenji ordered Eunuch Jin to send Chuntao to the village away from the capital. "Prince Nianzu, did you meet Princess Zhu Lin? She wants to marry the Prince," asserted Han Wenji.
Ying Lili looked at Nianzu whose face was pale. It seemed he did not sleep the entire night. Jian Guozhi also knitted his brows upon seeing the state of Nianzu.
"I met her regarding Wanxi's matter, father," Nianzu replied and passed a faint smile.
"Why does it seem the Fourth Prince is not getting enough sleep?" Consort Ju Fen questioned. Deng Hui anxiously gazed at her son and wondered if it was because of the marriage proposal?
Ying Lili thought about taking a stand for Nianzu when she heard him.
"Father, you already decided on my marriage with Princess Zhu Lin. My opinion has never mattered since the beginning." Nianzu laughed wryly. All of them could feel the anger in Nianzu's voice.
"Does the Prince want to marry someone else? I heard some strange rumors," Ju Fen proclaimed. "That village girl and Prince Nianzu have-"
"Mother Ju, please refrain from speaking things based on rumors," Nianzu sternly said.
"I asked about your opinion, Prince Nianzu," Han Wenji affirmed.
Nianzu chuckled but prevented himself from saying anything to the Emperor. "Son, go and take a rest. We will talk about this matter later," Deng Hui intervened between the father and son. Nianzu bowed and left the greeting hall. Han Wenji frowned upon seeing the behavior of the Fourth Prince. 'It is good that the girl is gone,' he thought.
"First Prince, where is your first wife? I heard that you left her chamber last night. Is everything good?" Deng Hui curiously queried him. Everyone shifted their gazes towards Jian Guozhi.
"She got sick last night. I went to bring the Royal Physician for her and it appeared that I left in the night," Jian Guozhi wondered. But he was befuddled, thinking why Deng Hui was suddenly interested in his life? Was it because of his late mother who always tortured Deng Hui? Jian Guozhi realized that he could not keep Zhilao Mi for a week inside her chamber as it would raise suspicions that he did not want.
"How is she?" Han Wenji queried.
"She is resting," Jian Guozhi replied and faked a smile. Han Wenji nodded his head and told all of them to leave as it was time for the morning meals.
Ying Lili came out of the hall and found Jian Guozhi outside. The two greeted each other and began walking. "Brother Jian, I will see you after breakfast near the Imperial Gates," she informed him. "Brother Nianzu is a little disturbed. Did the First Brother try conversing with the Fourth Brother?" Ying Lili asked.
"The Fourth Brother hardly shares his worries. I saw him in the pavilion the previous night. He said he wants to run away from here," Jian Guozhi proclaimed. "Heart sometimes makes mistakes. He fell in love with the person, who can never become his other half except a mere concubine," He added. Ying Lili agreed with him.
"Also, he believes if he marries her then he will be forced to marry a Princess of high status. Unlike the Crown Prince, none of us are brave enough to say no to a second marriage," stated Jian Guozhi. "Though I could refuse, I was blinded by power that time," he asserted.
"Now, you are married to the two so, you need to share the love equally to them," Ying Lili affirmed.
"I tried your suggestion, Crown Princess. I will discuss the matter with you later. I shall take my leave," Jian Guozhi bowed and walked away. Ying Lili turned to the left and went to Lei Wanxi's chamber.
"Brother Wanxi," Ying Lili softly called his name. Lei Wanxi, who was on the mattress on the floor, stood up and walked to her. "Sister Lili, she did this to me. Look at her audacity! Even father did not punish her after knowing the matter," Lei Wanxi complained.
"I found the Prince did not want her to get punished, that's why he did not tell the Emperor," Ying Lili affirmed and waited for his response.
"No, Sister Lili. I just hate talking about her. My blood boils. She injured me two times and also made me feel low," Lei Wanxi stated.
"Brother Wanxi should not have locked her inside that isolated room. It angered her. You are a gracious man, Brother Wanxi," Ying Lili proclaimed and grabbed his right hand, which was injured.
She caressed it and said, "It will heal soon. Even Princess Lin is upset after doing this with you. I heard she came to apologize to you, but you refused to meet her. Earlier Brother Wanxi said he wanted an apology," Ying Lili raised her eyebrow.
"Yes, I want an apology. I was irked at her. So, I refused to meet her. She could have waited more, but she did not. She is not sincere, Sister Lili. She still thinks I did wrong, that's why she left," Lei Wanxi deduced. "I miss Brother Sheng. He knows my heart. Last time when I was hurt, he was so tense," Lei Wanxi recalled the other day when Bingbing punched him.
"Just meet Princess Lin for me. End this fight between you two. I will not act partially, Brother Wanxi. You should not have locked Princess Lin and also she should not have pushed you. You both are at fault, so you both need to apologize to each other. We three will have breakfast together," Ying Lili stated.
Lei Wanxi acknowledged the Crown Princess's idea. "For Sister Lili, I can do anything. I just hope after today she will not do this else something big is bound to happen," Lei Wanxi affirmed. Ying Lili assured him nothing would happen and called a maidservant in.
"Bring Princess Zhu Lin here and also set the breakfast table for three," Ying Lili ordered the maidservant.
"Sister Lili, I will meet her later. I do not want to ruin my breakfast because of her. Sister Lili can have breakfast with me. I will feel a little better," Lei Wanxi stated. Ying Lili nodded and ordered the maidservant to set the table for two only.