Ying Lili got ready after freshening up. Court Lady Xu informed her how the Crown Prince took care of her the entire night. "He did not take his meals, right?" Ying Lili queried.
"Yes, your highness." "There is something more I would like to tell to the Crown Princess," Court Lady Xu asked for permission.
"What do you want to tell?" Ying Lili curiously asked.
"Your highness, the Fourth Prince has left the Palace." Ying Lili was shocked to hear that. Court Lady Xu narrated the entire incident to Ying Lili, who got worried.
"Brother Nianzu did not meet anyone and left?" Ying Lili was stunned to know that. Court Lady Xu nodded her head.. "What about the mother of the Fourth Prince?"
"Her Majesty got unconscious the previous day. She pleaded with the Emperor to bring her son back but it was in vain," answered Court Lady Xu. The hairdresser was done making the hair of Ying Lili. She stepped back and left the chamber. Ying Lili looked at her reflection in the mirror when her eyes fell on the table.
She stood up and went towards the table on which kites were placed. Ying Lili moved her hand above them. "I thought we would all fly these kites together," Ying Lili mumbled. She reminisced about the day when the Emperor told her to reunite the Royal Family.
Suddenly two hands wrapped around her firmly yet gently. "Lili," Sheng Li whispered as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "How are you feeling? Forgive me, an urgent matter came," Sheng Li asserted.
"I am well. You took care of me the entire night," Ying Lili replied and tilted her head to gaze at him. Sheng Li lifted his head while Ying Lili rested her head against his chest. "We should have flown these kites earlier," she said.
"Hmm."
"Court Lady Xu informed me about the Fourth Brother," Ying Lili stated. "Do you know anything about him," she curiously asked.
"Hmm. He is in Hazhou Town." Ying Lili turned to him and peered into his eyes. "I told him to live there. It is safest for them. Father thinks that Chuntao might have become the target if he had allowed her entry into the Palace as the legal wife of Brother Nianzu. He thinks that someone might target her to create trouble among us brothers. The biggest consequence would be that Brother Nianzu had to suffer," Sheng Li explained to Ying Lili.
"You arranged the travel for Brother Nianzu and Sister Chuntao," Ying Lili inquired from him.
"Yes. Wang Hao and Xiao Zhan have escorted them," Sheng Li replied.
"Brother Nianzu's mother might be angry because of the Emperor's decision. Don't you think something big could happen? It's difficult to see through the hearts of them," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li agreed with her.
"Why did you not take your meals last night? You did not even come in the day. I waited for you," Ying Lili's tone changed to a sad one and she sighed.
"How could I have a meal last night when my wife was sick?" Ying Lili turned to him and read his expressions. "I have given so much stress to you in these few days. Forgive me," Sheng Li lifted her hand and brought it near his lips. He kissed the back of her hand and put it down.
"The Crown Prince's wife was only sharing his work so that he would not tire himself out," Ying Lili opined. "You cannot work on everything alone," she stated.
Sheng Li passed a tiny smile to her when his stomach growled. Ying Lili immediately called Court Lady Xu inside. She pulled away from Sheng Li and told the Court Lady to send breakfast for them. "Come," she held the hand of Sheng Li and took him towards the table. They both sat around it, waiting for the food.
~~~~~
Gu Zhenya gazed at Deng Hui, whose face was pale and whose eyes were swollen. "I did not recommend your name to the Emperor for this day," Gu Zhenya stated. "You were a mere concubine with no status!" He remarked.
"Be respectful towards the Empress, Minister Gu," Deng Hui affirmed. "You are at a lower rank than me," she said.
Gu Zhenya snickered. "You are showing your true colors finally. I apologize to you, your majesty," he lowered his head.
"Why did you not tell me that the Emperor had already prepared a Royal Decree for my son? Are you not loyal to me?" Deng Hui scolded him.
"I had sent the message for you," Gu Zhenya asserted. Deng Hui drew her brows together.
"I did not receive any message," she replied. Gu Zhenya got confused. He remembered that he had sent the message to the Empress that day. "Someone took away the message," Deng Hui muttered.
"Who can do this? And, why?" Gu Zhenya asked her.
"One who did not want to see my son as the Crown Prince," Deng Hui stated. Gu Zhenya raised his eyebrow because Deng Hui's suspicion was on Sheng Li.
"The Empress thinks that the Crown Prince did it?" He scoffed. "The Crown Prince did not know about the matter. Her Majesty also knows that the Fourth Prince kept refusing the position of Crown Prince. Prince Jian Guozhi can also do this. Don't forget, your majesty, he was once behind the throne," Gu Zhenya clarified Deng Hui.
"Prince Jian has no power. After his mother and half-uncle's truth came out in front of everyone, he became weak. Sheng Li has many spies in the Palace. Prince Nianzu had told me once," Deng Hui asserted.
"Your Majesty, I think it's the Emperor."
"What?"
"The Emperor favors the Crown Prince the most. Everyone knows about his love for his beloved wife, Shu-Mei. Every time in the court if an issue is raised against the Crown Prince, the Emperor tries to protect him first. In front of him, other children do not matter," Gu Zhenya proclaimed.
"Minister Gu has a wrong idea then. My son, when informed about my ill state to the Emperor, promised him that he would do everything to protect me. His Majesty never let the Prince feel inferior," Deng Hui argued. Gu Zhenya scornfully laughed and gazed at Deng Hui.
"Then why did he not stop him this time? Ministers are not happy that the Crown Prince is the Fifth Prince who is younger than the other four princes. Three of them lacked capabilities. Now, only Prince Nianzu remained. He would be the choice of many ministers and even people, but the Emperor never wanted that to happen," Gu Zhenya pronounced.
Deng Hui frowned and contemplated. "Your Majesty, this is all the doing of his majesty. He snatched the rights of the Fourth Prince, who could have threatened his position in the near future," he asserted.
"If the Emperor does this then…" she paused and looked at Gu Zhenya.
"Let's first find out about your son," he suggested.
"Prince loves Chuntao, and if I tried to force him, then he might-"
Gu Zhenya cut the words of Deng Hui in the middle. "Your Majesty, the Prince is not supposed to be with a commoner. We need to kill Chuntao and put the blame on the Crown Prince. Prince Nianzu will then fight for his position. He will understand his worth," Gu Zhenya filled the ears of Deng Hui.