Sheng Li remained standing a few meters away from his Father. "Princess Zhu Lin is awake. She is out of danger but needs a good rest," Han Wenji told Sheng Li, who was delighted to hear that.
"Sheng Li, I have already lost my one son. I do not want anyone to turn like him. However, at his last moments, I saw the guilt in him. That's why he asked me not to send his mother and wife to the Cold Palace," Han Wenji asserted, who was on the chaise.
"Father, I do not think I can do that. I cannot bring the hearts of us brothers to close. What if I trust them, and they betray me like the second Prince. I even forgave him, but then he plotted against you and my wife. He did not even spare Lei Wanxi, Wang Hao, and Princess Lin. Does Father think that the First and Third Prince has left their path to the throne? Because I still don't believe it. Prince Jian if says to me a hundred times that he wants to support me, I will not believe him. Same with the Third Prince," Sheng Li truthfully told his father.
"They have indeed improved, Sheng Li. They are no longer greedy for power," Han Wenji assured Sheng Li.
"Father, even the Jade Emperor says this to me, I will never believe it. I understand that if I have to survive and protect my close ones, I need to shut my heart towards those who were once no less than Yongzheng," Sheng Li affirmed.
"Sheng Li, it is not the way a ruler thinks," Han Wenji corrected him.
"He does think when it comes to his loved ones. You trusted Weng Wei and her half step-brother because of which my mother died. What good did I get? Pain for years. Lili entered my life and made me feel special. I do not want to lose her. She is my everything, Father. I do not want to perform my duties where I cannot guarantee her safety," Sheng Li pronounced.
"Sometimes, I think she should not have married me. Because of me, she has lost her entire family and her best friend. That's why I requested you, Father, not to make me marry her. I am tired of fighting them for 24 years. But then, to survive, I have to fight," Sheng Li blurted out everything, the things that were in his heart for a long time.
"The Crown Prince shall leave. He needs to calm his mind," Han Wenji stated.
"I am calm. I request Father to revoke the decision that he made for Prince Nianzu. I want him to let him enter Luoyang when the time comes," Sheng Li requested and bowed.
"That I cannot do," Han Wenji replied. "People will laugh at me and my decision."
Sheng Li lifted his head and said, "Father, you need to do this to stop the bloodshed. The time will come soon, and I will request you regarding the same in the Imperial Court."
"I shall take my leave," Sheng Li bowed and left the chamber to meet Princess Zhu Lin.
He stopped by a chamber that was used to be his mother's once. He looked around and did not see anyone. He went towards it and pushed the door in. As he walked in, he recalled the last moments of his mother. He stopped near the second door and did not dare to walk in. "I will not follow your path of Kindness, Mother. I will never," Sheng Li clenched his fist and looked towards the bed. Tears formed in his eyes, and he quickly turned his back to it. Taking a deep breath, he left the chamber.
~~~~~
After Huo Jin arrived at the home, Nianzu left for Fei Jing's house. He showed the invitation card to the guard at the entrance, who let him in.
The merriment of the party started with the Courtyard of the Fei Jing's main House, where he could see many nobles. Some glanced at him with suspicious gazes while others made fun of him.
Fei Jing came behind Nianzu. "I am glad that Nianzu came to this small party," Fei Jing pronounced. Nianzu turned to him and bowed.
"Fei Jing, you befriended a commoner. It is so strange of you," One among them remarked.
"I embrace everyone, irrespective of their class," Fei Jing stated and passed a smile to Nianzu, who averted his gaze from him.
"We will go to the Pavilion where a few special arrangements have been made," Fei Jing stated. He walked past Nianzu. Soon, everyone gathered in the large pavilion of the Fei Residence. Everyone had accommodated their seats.
Nianzu refused the servant to serve wine to him when Fei Jing came to him. "Here," he forwarded a teacup to Nianzu, who grabbed it else it would be considered rude.
Nianzu sipped the wine in respect of Fei Jing and put it down over the table. Fei Jing, instead of going back to his seat decided to sit by Nianzu's side. The servants set the seat that was on the adjacent left to Nianzu.
"Fei Jing, you are sitting beside a commoner. It is strange of you. Is there something going on between you two?" Peng Yujin asked.
"Nianzu impressed me with his exceptional knowledge and his amazing writing skills. That's the main reason, I started to see him as my friend," Fei Jing stated.
"You can write and read. That's strange. Where did you study?" Another nobleman questioned as his brows arched up.
"My music master taught me," Nianzu lied.
"Music master? So, do you know how to play zither and musical instruments?" Liu Shing asked.
"I can play them well," Nianzu did not lie about his instrument playing skills. He could lie about everything but not about his music.
"Why don't you play a musical piece for us? All my friends are curious to listen," Fei Jing opined and ordered the servant to bring the zither.. Nianzu narrowly gazed at Fei Jing and wondered what he could possibly be planning.