The Empress could be seen with the prime minister in her private room. The prime minister was sitting on a cushion almost three meters away from the Empress. "The Crown Princess has been granted the permission to prove herself innocent," Wei Zhang Yong asserted. Weng Wei smiled as she lifted her eyes from the mirror, which was placed on the ground table, placed in front of her.
"Make sure that the Crown princess cannot gather any evidence in her favor. Kill the maidservant whom who had mixed the poison in the custard," the Empress ordered and picked the white porcelain cup to drink the rose tea. She took the scent of the tea first before sipping it.
"I had already done that, your majesty," Wei Zhang Yong proclaimed as he lowered his head.
"What about the King of Juyan? Are you planning to kill him as well?" Weng Wei asked. Wei Zhang Yong looked into the eyes of Empress Wei. "He is being given the punishment for now. As per the promise, he should be safely sent out to Juyan," Wei Zhang Yong asserted, and then a smirk formed on his lips, "But, I think he is not trustworthy. He betrayed his own family so, better to kill him. I will make sure that he will not open his mouth till the end."
Empress Wei gave a nod to the prime minister. "But, your majesty, how did you come up with such a plan?" The prime minister looked for an answer.
"Sheng Li is not a kid anymore. He knew that someone would try to harm him. Prince Jian had made the plan to poison him but, as I expected Sheng Li saw through that. I had to make a backup plan. By the coincidence, Sheng Li told the Crown Princess to make custard for him. That is when I only gestured my loyal servant to execute the plan. If he would not have told his desire to eat the handmade custard by the crown Princess, then I would have.
I wanted to turn the Crown Princess on our side that's why I ordered to kill her father as well to create misunderstandings between the two. But I did not expect that Sheng Li's heart will soften for the Crown Princess. Sheng Li will die because the one who knows the antidote of the poison is already dead."
Empress Wei grinned as she sipped the rose tea and then again looked into the mirror. The prime minister also grinned and raised the cup. "Congratulations, my dear sister, this time your son will become the Crown Prince. We are not related by blood, but you have got the brain like me," Wei Zhang Yong proclaimed and sipped the drink.
"This is the last time you are calling me sister. I have not forgotten how your mother killed my mother. But, because you helped me reach here so, I trust you," Empress Wei pronounced.
"Apologies, your majesty," Wei Zhang Yong lowered his eyes.
"Emperor is not allowing anyone to go inside Sheng Li's resting chamber. I want to see the pain on his face. I still remember the words of his mother," Weng Wei outrageously spoke.
'You will get the punishment of your crimes' Empress Wei recalled the words of the former Empress. This made her so furious that she killed her by strangulating her. "That witch and her son!" Weng Wei muttered under her breath as she gripped the cup tightly.
"Your majesty, Sheng Li will not escape the death this time. I have heard about this poison. Even if he is consuming the poison since his childhood days, there will be no use for that. Only the antidote is its cure, which is no longer available," Wei Zhang Yong stated and smiled. Weng Wei agreed with the prime minister.
~~~~~~
General Xiao summoned the maidservants who had come to the Grand Hall to serve the custard. Ying Lili looked at all of them and checked for that maidservant whom she handed the tray. But, to her surprise that maid was not there.
Seeing the baffled expressions on the Crown Princess's face, Nianzu asked her if she was alright. "Brother, that maidservant is not here." Ying Lili replied to Nianzu.
"Sister Lili, try recalling," Lei Wanxi encouraged her.
"Your highness, they were the only ones who served and check the check daily," asserted Xiao Zhan.
"I remember her face. She is not here," Ying Lili was panicked. Lei Wanxi looked at Xiao Zhan.
"What if she is killed already by the one who ordered her to feed the poison?" Lei Wanxi opined. Xiao Zhan clenched his fist.
"Has anyone seen the maidservant who was with the Crown Princess when she was coming to the Grand Hall?" Xiao Zhan questioned. "Just tell us the truth else you all will be thrown to prison," Xiao Zhan threatened them.
"Your highness, I had seen her. She left for her home for a few weeks as her brother is sick," one maidservant spoke.
"When did she leave?" Ying Lili queried.
"Your highness, right after we all came out of the Grand Hall," the maidservant answered softly.
"What is her name?" Nianzu asked.
"Her name is Jiayi," the maidservant replied. Xiao Zhan told commander Tao to search about Jiayi. "Bring her here as soon as you will find her," Xiao Zhan announced.
Tao Zedong bowed his head and left with some soldiers from there. "You all may leave," Xiao Zhan told the maidservants. He turned to the Crown Princess who was troubled. "Your highness, someone went secretly to your resting chamber as well to put the poison there. Let's search about that as well," Xiao Zhan stated.
Jian Guozhi came there, "I am looking into that, General Xiao." They all were surprised to hear his statement.
"Do not worry, your highness. I will find the culprit. General Xiao, there is something you have to do in this period. The King of Juyan is lying so, you shall interrogate him and ask him about the name of the person who ordered him to do that," Jian Guozhi asserted.
Lei Wanxi was confused. "Since when the first brother started caring for the Crown Prince?" Lei Wanxi questioned. They all looked at him.
"I do care for him. If I had not cared for him, then I would not have been here, desperate to help the Crown Princess. Before the morning, the real culprit will be in front of us," Jian Guozhi announced in an encouraging tone.
'Never trust the First Prince'- Ying Lili recalled the words of Sheng Li.
"Elder First Brother, thank you for the help, but I will find the culprit myself. I refuse to take your help," Ying Lili asserted as she lowered her eyes. "Do not take it the other way, but I do not want anyone to get a wrong idea about us. I have not done anything wrong so, I will not be punished," Ying Lili further added.
"Forgive me, your highness but I cannot involve the princes in the investigation. Even the fourth and sixth Prince is going to leave. I hope you will understand," Xiao Zhan affirmed. Lei Wanxi understood Xiao Zhan's meaning and intervened, "Respected first brother, we are not allowed to take part in the investigation. Let sister Lili handle this on her own."
Jian Guozhi looked at Ying Lili and gave a tiny smile to her. "I respect your decision, Crown Princess," saying this Jian Guozhi left from there followed by Nianzu and Lei Wanxi.
"General Xiao, summon all the servants and guards of Zhenzhu Inn," Ying Lili commanded Xiao Zhan who bowed his head and went out of the chamber.