Sheng Li came to the office of the Emperor with Xing-Fu after hearing on a few matters in the court.
"Your Majesty, the Prince wants to see you. He had come earlier too, but at that time, His Majesty was in the Court," Xing-Fu humbly requested him.
Sheng Li rested on the throne and told Xing-Fu to bring Prince Shi Zhihao to the chamber. After a while, Shi Zhihao entered and greeted him. He took his seat on a chaise upon the request of Sheng Li.
"Why did Prince Zhihao demand to see me at this hour?" Sheng Li asked curiously.
"Your Majesty, I thought that it would be best if I share with you my thoughts as early as possible," Shi Zhihao replied. "Could you please allow Princess Bai to come here? I want to say something in front of you both." He made a request.
Sheng Li nodded his head. "Eunuch Xing-Fu, send a message to Princess Bai Yaling to come here," he ordered. Xing-Fu stepped back gradually and soon disappeared.
"Prince Shi, do you have a change of thoughts?" Sheng Li with skepticism asked.
"Your Majesty, I will convey my thoughts in the presence of Princess Bai Yaling," Shi Zhihao answered. Sheng Li hummed and looked towards the door.
After waiting for ten minutes, Princess Bai Yaling entered the chamber with Court Lady Dai. She greeted both the Emperor and Prince Shi.
"Princess Bai, please take the seat," Sheng Li told her and she sat down on the chaise that was facing Shi Zhihao, who turned his gaze towards the Emperor.
"Prince Shi wants to talk to us regarding the matter of your marriage, Princess Bai," Sheng Li stated. Bai Yaling nodded her head and looked at Shi Zhihao, who finally had turned his gaze towards her.
"Princess Bai is a nice woman with a calm demeanor and humble nature. It is easy to get along with her," Shi Zhihao initiated the conversation. Bai Yaling smiled upon hearing those words. "While I conversed with her, I found the truthfulness and honesty in her which every man will like in a woman. She is a beautiful woman too," he stated and paused.
Sheng Li was delighted to hear that. "So, Prince Shi wants to go forward with this marriage. I am glad that Prince Shi respected the words of my late father and has agreed--"
Before Sheng Li could complete his words, Shi Zhihao intervened thus stopping him from speaking.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I was not going to say that."
The smile from Sheng Li's lips disappeared. Bai Yaling's heart started to race because, at that time, numerous bad thoughts rushed into her mind.
"What did Prince Shi mean by that?" Sheng Li asked him.
Shi Zhihao stood up and extended his hands out. Giving a fist and palm bow, Shi Zhihao said, "I am afraid, Your Majesty. I cannot marry Princess Bai Yaling. I do not want to marry her."
"Prince Shi!" Sheng Li raised his voice. He clenched his fist to hold his anger.
"His Majesty has said that my decision will matter. After putting a thought on this, I found that despite possessing the good qualities, Princess Bai Yaling is not the woman who can become my wife. She should remain loyal to her late husband," Shi Zhihao pronounced.
"Shi Zhihao!" Sheng Li shouted his name and stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. "How dare you say whom Princess Bai should remain loyal to? I did not allow you to make such a remark towards the Princess of Han," Sheng Li turned furious.
Shi Zhihao knelt on his knees and asked for forgiveness. Bai Yaling started to cry and she clutched her dress tightly.
"Your Majesty, forgive me for making such a remark. However, it's the truth. Princess Bai is pregnant with the child of her late husband. Who would like to marry Princess Bai in this state?" Shi Zhihao questioned Sheng Li.
Bai Yaling widened her eyes because she had not expected this from Shi Zhihao.
"Xing-Fu, give me my sword! I will behead him right away," Sheng Li's voice roared in the chamber, terrifying them.
Shi Zhihao did not know that Sheng Li would get angry. Xing-Fu immediately got on his knees and begged the Emperor to calm down. Sheng Li got down the stairs and came towards Shi Zhihao. He wanted to kick him out, but then Bai Yaling requested him to not do anything.
"Your Majesty, I accept the decision of Prince Shi. Please do not punish him. He only said what he felt," Bai Yaling lowered her head.
"Prince Shi should not have to insult Princess Bai this way. I had not expected this from him," Sheng Li asserted.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Shi Zhihao stated.
"Get lost from my eyes. Because Princess Bai stopped me, that's why you are alive today. If you ever show me your face, then that will be your last day," Sheng Li ordered him. "Xing-Fu, send back the Prince to his place," he commanded him.
Shi Zhihao thanked Sheng Li for showing mercy. He stood up and left the chamber. Bai Yaling wiped the tears from her eyes and thanked the Emperor for listening to her request.
"Court Lady Dai, take back Princess Bai to her chamber," Sheng Li commanded her, who came forward and took Bai Yaling to her chamber.
"Did consort Ju Fen meet Prince Shi? If it is so, then this is her last day in this Palace," Sheng Li muttered and called in a servant. He ordered him to bring Consort Ju Fen there. Seeing the anger on Sheng Li's face, the servant got intimidated. He left the chamber to fetch Ju Fen.
Oppositely, Bai Yaling talked face to face with Shi Zhihao.
"Why did Prince Shi earlier say that he has no problem with my past? I want to know because I started to like you as a person," Bai Yaling truthfully told him.
"Forgive me for hurting you. I had no such intention, Princess Bai. However, you are pregnant with the child of your late husband. I don't think in this state, we shall marry because I won't be able to accept that child ever. I think that no man will ever accept this child. It is because the child will be called a traitor's child," Shi Zhihao pronounced.
More tears formed in Bai Yaling's eyes. She felt immense pain in her heart upon hearing those words. Prince Shi Zhihao took his leave as he thought staying in the Palace for long would only bring doom to him.
"My child is not a traitor," Bai Yaling said as she started to cry profusely.. Court Lady Dai told Bai Yaling to calm down but it was in vain.