Xue Yu-Yan had stopped Liao Jun and made her understand not to disturb the Princes and let them have fun. Liao Jun finally agreed with Xue Yu-Yan and left for the Crown Princess's chamber. Ying Lili had by then dressed Bai Yaling, and Court Lady Xu had taken away the medicine tray.
They all conversed for some more time. Later, the three Princesses took their leave. Court Lady Xu looked at Ying Lili's worried expression.
"Your highness, please do not stress yourself. Tomorrow is a great day for you," Court Lady Xu stated.
"How can I not get worried? Such a heinous thing happened with Sister Bai, yet no one found out about this. I was the one who selected her as the bride for Brother Yongzheng. How could this happen? I am guilty, Court Lady Xu," Ying Lili stated and heaved a sigh. She stood up and started to pace in the room.
"What shall I do, Court Lady Xu? I cannot let Sister Bai suffer," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"Your Highness, even if you raise your voice, then nothing will happen. Princess Bai Yaling might not speak, and it might backfire at you. I urge the Crown Princess not to do anything. That is the matter between Prince Yongzheng and his wife. Her Highness does not need to get involved," Court Lady Xu expressed her viewpoint. She was well aware of the nature of Prince Yongzheng.
"I cannot let it slip, Court Lady Xu," Ying Lili said in a firm tone. "He apologized to Sheng Li a few days ago. We all thought that he had improved but--" Ying Lili sighed.
"Your Highness, Prince Yongzheng is not a good person. I have seen the Second Prince growing. He appears gentle but behind the doors, he is not a nice person," Court Lady Xu told Ying Lili, who halted at her place.
Ying Lili always wanted to know what the Second Prince did to Sheng Li, but he always ignored her question. "Court Lady Xu, what did Prince Yongzheng do to Sheng Li when he was young? Could you please tell me?" Ying Lili asked.
Court Lady Xu bowed and nodded her head. "I was a mere Palace Maid that time in the Emperor's manor. However, the Emperor appointed me to the Crown Prince's manor to take good care of him. The Crown Prince returned to Luoyang when he turned 11, and at that time the first three Princes got insecure about their positions.
Prince Yongzheng once pushed the Crown Prince deep into the river. Luckily, Eunuch Xing-Fu reached there and saved the Crown Prince. But in front of the Emperor, Prince Yongzheng proved the Crown Prince guilty.
On one occasion, Prince Yongzheng intentionally dropped the boiling oil on his highness's chest- over the wound that the Former Empress gave to his highness."
Ying Lili's heart was wrenched to hear that. That was why that scar never disappeared. She cursed herself for telling Sheng Li to forgive Yongzheng and start afresh with him. "Why did he not tell me?" Ying Lili asked. The tears could be seen at the edges of her eyes.
"His Highness did not want you to know the pain that he had undergone. It was tough for him to survive those times. The First and the Third Prince were not that harsh on the Crown Prince, but the Second Prince…" The Court Lady's voice quivered, reminiscing about those days.
"Court Lady Xu, I want to know everything," Ying Lili requested.
"Your Highness, there was one terrifying incident. The Crown Prince could have l-lost his life. His Majesty was in another Province, and the Five Princes decided to go to the forest. Prince Yongzheng intentionally sent the Crown Prince to a wrong route which opened into the inner forest. General Wang used to follow the Crown Prince, so he saved his highness. There were many instances when the Second Prince tried to harm his highness. He was the only Prince, who used to even punish his servants," Court Lady narrated to Ying Lili and also told a few more incidents.
Ying Lili could not hold her tears back. She ended up crying. Court Lady Xu panicked. "Forgive me, Your Highness. My intention was not to hurt you," Court Lady Xu asserted.
Ying Lili sobbed and, after a while, stopped weeping. A thought came into her mind, and she rushed out of the chamber. "Your Highness!" Court Lady Xu rushed after Ying Lili, who had run out of Zhenzhu's residence.
Ying Lili went straight to the hall where the Princes had gathered to dine. The Third Prince feast suddenly organized a dinner for all the brothers. What if the Second Prince tried to harm Sheng Li? This thought troubled her after finding out the reality of Yongzheng.
She heard the sound of the zither, Xiao (Chinese Flute), and guzheng as she reached near the hall. The guards standing outside the hall, at a regular interval, got confused seeing the Crown Princess running. Ying Lili, without caring stepped inside the hall. Lei Wanxi saw her first and called her.
Ying Lili was panting. He looked around but did not find Sheng Li. Rong Zemin told the musician to stop playing the music, and they all stood up from their respective seats. The dancers had stopped dancing and stepped back as Ying Lili came forward.
"What happened, Crown Princess?" Jian Guozhi asked and went towards her.
"Where's Sheng Li?" Ying Lili immediately questioned. The Princes found that something was wrong with the Crown Princess.
"Calm down, Crown Princess. Did something happen?" Jian Guozhi asked and knitted his brows. Lei Wanxi had also come to her.
"I am calm. Where's Sheng Li?" Ying Lili again gazed around the hall. "Did he drink something, or did he eat?" Ying Lili queried.
"Sister Lili, Brother Sheng left a long time ago. He did not even have his dinner with us," Lei Wanxi replied. Ying Lili was relieved to hear this. "Did he not come to your chamber?" Lei Wanxi asked.
Ying Lili shook her head and thanked Lei Wanxi.. She gazed at Yongzheng, glared at him, and left the hall.