Huo Jin observed the facial expressions of Sheng Li. Huo Jin did not know being the Crown Prince was a tough job. It felt to him that every second person was an enemy of the Crown Prince. He was curious to know why everyone was after Sheng Li when he never harmed them though he did not dare to ask at that moment.
"Your Highness, it's late. You shall return to the Palace," Huo Jin stated.
"Shall I kill Gu Zhenya before he does anything wrong? I will take care of the Empress later," asserted Sheng Li. Huo Jin was bewildered to hear that.
"Tell me." Sheng Li demanded an answer from Huo Jin.
"That would be good else Minister Gu could become a problem later- same like the former Prime Minister.. The Crown Prince shall not take a risk because four lives are associated with this- yours, the Crown Princess, the Fourth Prince, and his wife. To stop the bloodshed of the innocents, his highness shall kill him," Huo Jin reasoned. Sheng Li smiled and agreed with him.
"You shall return. You did a good job," Sheng Li turned towards Kongqi. He took the sword from the horseback.
"I will accompany his highness," Huo Jin offered his help. Sheng Li gazed at him and refused.
"I know about the Gu Residence. I can be helpful," Huo Jin stated, keeping a smile on his lips. Sheng Li contemplated and then agreed to take Huo Jin with him.
They both sneaked into the Residence of Gu Zhenya again. Huo Jin showed Sheng Li the way to Gu Zhenya's bedchamber. They killed the security deployed outside his bedchamber.
Inside the bedchamber, Gu Zhenya was smiling thinking about an increase in rank, if he found out about Nianzu. Gu Zhenya removed the overcoat and put it aside when he heard the sliding sound of the door. He turned back and did not find anyone. The door was closed too. "I drank a lot today," he murmured and turned when he saw the Crown Prince near the bed.
"Your Highness," he immediately lowered his head and saw the sword in Sheng Li's hand. Beads of sweat formed on his face and he lifted his head. Sheng Li picked the book from the table and saw the philosophies which were written by some great scholars.
"You read Philosophies before going to bed! Interesting," Sheng Li stated and placed the book at the table. He gazed at Gu Zhenya and found how terrified he was!
"Shall I open the windows?" Sheng Li questioned.
"Huh?"
Sheng Li came near him and looked at his forehead. "You are sweating too much. Minister Gu needs fresh air," Sheng Li stated.
"May I know what his highness is doing at this hour? Has something important come up? His highness should have called me to the Imperial Palace," Gu Zhenya asserted as he again lowered his head.
He widened his eyes when the blade of the sword touched his chin. Sheng Li lifted his face, thus making him look at him.
"Y-y-your… h-high..ness," Gu Zhenya stuttered and trembled in fear.
"Minister Gu, do you have any last wish?" Sheng Li questioned him.
"L-last wish?" He exclaimed when the tip of the sword touched his throat. His breathing got heavy because of the fear. Gu Zhenya wondered what he did wrong that the Crown Prince was acting this way.
"Hmm. These are your last moments, Minister Gu," Sheng Li stated. "How could you underestimate me?" He chuckled when, immediately, Gu Zhenya got on his knees. He got a cut below his chin, but he did not care. "Your highness, please forgive me. Please spare my life, your highness." Gu Zhenya deeply bowed. His forehead touched the mattress below.
Sheng Li kicked Gu Zhenya and he fell back. He put his shoe on his chest and pressed him harder against the floor. "I spared you two times already. First, when you insulted the Crown Princess and second time also you insulted her in my absence," asserted Sheng Li. He pointed the sword at his chest and pushed it inside.
"His Highness is kind. I beg you to save my life," Gu Zhenya pleaded with him.
"Pardon," Sheng Li snickered. "You are wrong, Zhenya." The tip of the sword pierced through his chest.
Before Gu Zhenya could shout, Sheng Li put his palm on his mouth. "Shhh. It will not be painful, Zhenya. I will give you an easy, peaceful death," Sheng Li affirmed. However, he thought of something and pulled the sword back.
"Let's play a game the same way you played with me," Sheng Li pronounced. Gu Zhenya confusedly peered at Sheng Li, who removed his palm from his mouth and patted his cheek. He thanked the Crown Prince for saving his life.
Sheng Li stood up while pulling Gu Zhenya with him.
"Your Highness, please let me treat my wound first." He joined both of his hands.
"You will not die with this scratch," Sheng Li replied. "Now, you will write a letter for the Empress. Tell her that you do not want to work for her anymore," Sheng Li ordered him.
"Yes, your highness. I will write this now," Gu Zhenya immediately agreed to the Crown Prince, who dragged him towards the desk and then pushed him towards the chair. Gu Zhenya pulled out a sheet from the drawer and spread it on the table surface. He dipped the brush into the ink and wrote the message for the Empress.
"We shall not fight against the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Also, I am taking my life," Sheng Li narrated.
Gu Zhenya stopped writing when he heard the last words of the Crown Prince. "What happened? Write this," Sheng Li menacingly said. Gu Zhenya gulped and started to write the message. He later handed it to Sheng Li, who read it. He folded it and put it inside his pocket.
"Your highness, I will leave Luoyang with my family. Please do not kill me," Gu Zhenya grabbed the foot of Sheng Li, who slit his throat and kicked his body away. "Empress Hui, now it's your turn," Sheng Li muttered and cleaned his sword from the robes of Gu Zhenya.
He put the sword inside the sheath and looked around. A candle was lighting in the corner. He picked it up and threw it into the books there. The books caught fire, followed by the desk, curtains and soon it spread in the entire room.
Huo Jin, who was outside the room, got scared seeing the flames. He came inside when Sheng Li grabbed his arm, and the two left the Gu Residence.