Han Wenji looked at the Royal Physician. "When will Lady Hui wake up?" Han Wenji queried.
"Probably in an hour or two, your majesty. I am giving a herbal powder for her which the Virtuous Lady can take in water after she will be awake," stated the Royal Physician.
Han Wenji nodded and glanced at the personal assistant, who had taken the powdered herb from the Royal Physician. "You may leave," Han Wenji ordered him. The Royal Physician bowed and left, followed by the personal assistant.
"Nianzu, what happened between you and your mother?" Han Wenji asked.
Nianzu lowered his eyes as he was ashamed of himself. He should not have argued with his mother. "I fought with my mother a few days ago and told her that I will not show my face to her until I kill the Empress," Nianzu was veracious.
Han Wenji frowned upon hearing the words of Nianzu. "Why did you argue with your mother? What was the reason behind all this?" Han Wenji queried.
"Because my mother bears the tortures of the Empress without uttering a word. That day her elbow turned purple. I do not know how that happened, but I lost control. If we had not been in the palace then, things would have been different- I told my mother," Nianzu explained to his father.
"Nianzu, you are the most brainy among all my children. I did not expect you to act like this in front of your mother. Since you always desire for the outside world, then I free you from the Palace. But, Lady Hui will not leave with you because questions will be raised on her character," Han Wenji declared.
Nianzu lowered his head further down as he was guilty. "Forgive me, father. This will never happen again. I reacted that way because I thought my mother could lose her life just like Sheng Li's mother," Nianzu proclaimed.
"That will never happen," Han Wenji affirmed. He felt a slight pain in his chest but he bore it and continued, "I will punish the Empress soon." He stood up and added, "Stay with your mother and take care of her." Han Wenji walked out, followed by Eunuch Jin.
Eunuch Jin observed the restlessness that the Emperor was having at that time. "Your majesty, are you okay?" Eunuch Jin concernedly asked.
Han Wenji had placed his hand around his chest and rubbed the area gently. "Everything is fine. Call the Crown Princess to my chamber," Han Wenji ordered Eunuch Jin who bowed and told the maidservants to follow the Emperor. Eunuch Jin went to the Crown Princess's manor while the Emperor went to his chamber.
~~~~
"Sister Wei, did you see how the Emperor sent us away? Is there something going on with his majesty? He even raised the rank of a concubine," Consort Ju Fen stated.
"Sister Ju should not have said those words in front of the Emperor. That's the reason he got angry," Weng Wei pronounced. "You shall leave to your chamber, Sister Ju," she requested. Consort Ju stood up from the chaise, bowed, and left.
"Why does it feel like the Emperor knows something which he should not? Tomorrow, I will meet him and ask him if he knows anything regarding this?" Weng Wei thought.
"Your majesty, the Emperor has called the Crown Princess in his personal chamber," a maidservant informed Weng Wei who knitted her brows.
"Why?" Weng Wei asked.
"It is unknown, your majesty," the maidservant replied. The Empress motioned her hand in the air, gesturing to the maidservant to leave.
"Why is the Emperor close to Ying Lili?" Weng Wei wondered.
~~~~
Ying Lili had almost fallen to sleep when Court Lady Xu came there to inform her about the Emperor's message. Court Lady Xu was standing behind the curtain with a lowered head. Ying Lili gently pushed Sheng Li away so that she could go down from the bed.
Covering him from the blanket, Ying Lili went to the second door and pushed the curtain away. "Your highness, his majesty has called for you. His personal assistant is waiting for you outside," Court Lady Xu in a low voice said.
Ying Lili nodded and went towards the chaise, where she had earlier placed her overcoat. Wearing it and brushing her hair, she came out of the chamber. Ying Lili greeted Eunuch Jin who too greeted her. "Please follow me, your highness," Eunuch Jin said, and the two left for the manor of the Emperor.
This was the first time Ying Lili had entered the manor of the Emperor. She was slightly nervous because this was a sudden call from the Emperor. They stopped before a huge wooden door that was crafted beautifully. The maidservants, standing outside, bowed seeing the Crown Princess. "Please go in, your highness," Eunuch Jin humbly said.
Ying Lili walked in. The corridor was large, and it took her a few minutes to reach inside the inner chamber. She saw the Emperor was standing with her back towards her.
"Your majesty, you called for me?" Ying Lili asked, lowering her eyes. Han Wenji turned and looked at her.
"Yes," Han Wenji asserted and sat down on the chaise there.
"Crown Princess, I am a little sick these days." Ying Lili lifted her eyes when the Emperor continued, "I want you to topple the position of the Empress! I thought I would live a little longer, but judging by my current state, it seems my time will come soon. This was incapability of mine not to be able to feed the family values among them. They always fought while I was busy with the nation's affairs, thinking someday everything would turn outright. But I was wrong."
"Your majesty, I will do it. I will bring the real face of the Empress in front of everyone. I will expedite my work," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"I have prepared the will. The next Emperor will be Sheng Li. Before my death, I will hand it to you. There are many other changes too which Sheng Li will not like, but I believe that you will use your intellect in implementing them," Han Wenji explained to her.
"Your majesty, why do you think that you have less time left? I will send a message to Hu Jingguo and call him here. He knows about some distinct medicines which can help you recover," Ying Lili opined.
"Because my illness cannot be cured," Han Wenji stated and started coughing. He brought the handkerchief close to his mouth and covered it. Bloodstains appeared on the handkerchief, which worried Ying Lili.
"Y-your majesty, why did you not tell me earlier? Since when are you sick?" Ying Lili questioned.
"It has been a year. It has been kept a secret from everyone because of a reason," Han Wenji stated.
"Does his majesty think that a rebellion can break out if the Empress, the Consorts, the ministers, and the seven princes know about his majesty's illness?" Ying Lili questioned.
"Yes, I believe so," Han Wenji replied.
"Your majesty, do not worry. I will not let this happen. I will bring this Royal Family together, thus preventing them from fighting," Ying Lili assured the Emperor. Internally, she was a little scared, but she did not let her fear over-power her. Now, she did not have the time to rest and enjoy but work as fast as she could to bring peace and love among the people of the Royal Family.