Sheng Li, after formulating the entire plan with Huo Jin and Wang Hao, went to meet Lei Wanxi. To his surprise, Yongzheng was with Lei Wanxi, and there was complete silence between the two.
"Wanxi," Sheng Li called out his name, bringing him out of some of his deep thoughts. Yongzheng stood up and went towards Sheng Li.
"Could he not be saved?" Lei Wanxi directed his question towards Sheng Li, who shook his head. Both of his hands were behind his back, and he clenched them into a fist.
"General Xiao narrated the entire incident to us," said Yongzheng. "He was brave," he added. Sheng Li hummed. Lei Wanxi came near Sheng Li and hugged him tightly.
"It's fine, Brother Sheng. He is still alive in our hearts and will always be." Lei Wanxi knew that Sheng Li had gotten close to Hu Jingguo in that period. His teasing had become the habit of Sheng Li. "It is just saddening that I could not see him for the last time," Lei Wanxi muttered while patting the back of Sheng Li.
Both the Princes pulled back from the hug. "Why are you not angry at me?" Sheng Li was curious to know.
"Why shall I?" Lei Wanxi questioned him back. "If I would be at his place then I would have done the same," Lei Wanxi proclaimed. Sheng Li averted his gaze from Lei Wanxi. They were again filled with tears. Why is everyone ready to sacrifice his life for him? He did not deserve all that. This thought somewhere hit him.
"Brother Sheng, where is he? I would like to see his grave," Lei Wanxi requested.
"I sent him back to Luoyang. He… he wanted to rest there," Sheng Li turned his eyes to meet the gaze of Lei Wanxi. "In the same place where I, for the first time, talked to him comfortably. H-He wants to rest there," Sheng Li affirmed. Lei Wanxi nodded and rubbed his eyes.
"Jingguo told me once that he wants to live with his family on that hill," Lei Wanxi chuckled. "He left soon. I will fight with him when I meet him in the afterlife," Lei Wanxi asserted.
"I might not even talk to him if there is anything like the afterlife," Sheng Li muttered.
Yongzheng found the Crown Prince unusually strange. 'He never got bothered by anyone's life. It is strange to see him in this state! It is unbelievable that the one whom I thought is heartless, still carries the soft heart inside him,' Yongzheng thought.
"Brother Sheng, kill Tan Gengxin. Because of him, we lost our dear friend," Lei Wanxi could not control his tears and began crying.
"I will. I lost two friends. Another was Wan Ju, the friend whom I met seven years ago," Sheng Li gulped.
Yongzheng amusingly looked at the Crown Prince. "It might sound rude, but Brother Sheng should have not taken Tan Gengxin lightly. Even General Wang's life fell into danger," stated Yongzheng.
"I am guilty and apologetic for that," replied Sheng Li. "You two shall take a rest," Sheng Li stated and left.
"Brother Sheng is sad. Why did the Second Brother get rude to him? It was not the choice of Brother Sheng. He has fought many battles, and many lost their lives around him. However, since Jingguo saved Brother Sheng's life and then Sister Lili's life, he got attached to him. And Brother Sheng did not put General Wang's life at risk. You also know how tough it gets when one needs to make decisions for the war. Brother Sheng never let his Brothers go into the war that's why none of us can understand those difficulties." Lei Wanxi explained to Yongzheng, who found he did wrong by saying those things to the Crown Prince.
"I never thought that way. I will apologize to Brother Sheng later," Yongzheng stated and went towards the bed.
Lei Wanxi looked at him and asked, "Brother, did you apologize to Brother Sheng for the wrong you did to him when we were young?" The sudden question of Lei Wanxi surprised him a bit.
"I did. I realized my mistake the time Brother Jian did," Yongzheng replied. "You also know that this feeling of jealousy is filled in our mind since our childhood days, by our dear mothers. I lost my conscience in front of the power. But, now I look at all these things and contemplate. It is tough to be a Ruler. You are right. Brother Sheng never let his brother go into the battles. He protected us in a way which we failed to see. It must be difficult for him during the military campaigns, staying outside, eating not so good food," Yongzheng smiled a little.
"I just hope that nothing goes in the Palace after this. It is too much sometimes. We Brothers almost became enemies just for power," Yongzheng proclaimed.
Lei Wanxi hummed and agreed with his Second Brother. "We will not fight among each other and live in harmony," Lei Wanxi pronounced. Yongzheng nodded his head and smiled again.
~~~~~
Sheng Li came to the chamber and found Ying Lili waiting for him. Seeing Sheng Li, Ying Lili stood up from the chair and went to him.
"How did things go?" Ying Lili asked him.
"It went well. Huo Jin explained to us everything about the map. You were right. There is one more underground path that is connected to the first one. Though, it was difficult to see in the map as it had faded out," asserted Sheng Li and went towards the table. Pulling out the chair, he made Ying Lili sit first and then took his seat.
"The entire plan is the same. Huo Jin will go to Tan Gengxin in the morning. Huo Jin will inform him regarding his daughter and then lie to him that we will attack him from the Southern Part. The deployed army in his fortified Palace will direct to the Southern Part. That's when we will attack. He will send a signal to us to attack Tan Gengxin," Sheng Li affirmed. "Now, we need to sneak into the basecamp with our men, replacing everyone there in just half an hour. After every half an hour, two soldiers come to examine them. We have to kill them and upon getting the signal, leave their basecamp," he added.
"So, it will take almost half an hour for Huo Jin to take Tan Gengxin to the Southern Part and also for us to shift of their army. Tan Gengxin will surrender tomorrow," Ying Lili said confidently.
"Yes.. We need to end Tan Gangxin tomorrow at any cost," Sheng Li agreed with her.