Chapter 188 - Let Her Live
Nianzu was lost in his thoughts regarding his mother when he bumped into the First Prince. "Forgive me." Nianzu lifted his head and looked at Jian Guozhi.
"Are you alright, Fourth Brother?" Jian Guozhi queried as he found that Nianzu's eyes were misty. Nianzu nodded and walked past him. Jian Guozhi turned to look at Nianzu and realized something was indeed wrong with the Fourth Prince.
Jian hardly cared about his brothers, but with Nianzu he had a special attachment. Because he was the humblest among them and unlike the other princes, he had no greed!
"Fourth Brother!" Jian Guozhi called out the name of Nianzu who halted at his place. Hastily, Jian Guozhi reached to him and asked him if he would like to have some wine with him. Nianzu nodded.
"Come with me to my chamber," said Jian Guozhi. Nianzu followed Jian Guozhi to his private chamber where Jian ordered Eunuch Ru to send wine for them. "Have a seat, brother." Jian motioned his hand towards the seat around the floor table.
The wine jar was brought there, and a maidservant served them the wine. "You all may leave," Jian Guozhi ordered. Eunuch Ru and the maidservant bowed their respective heads and left.
Jian forwarded the silver glasses in his hand towards Nianzu and lightly hit it against his. The two sipped the wine from their respective glasses.
"Forgive me for the other day, Fourth Brother. I had no intention of hurting you," Jian Guozhi sincerely apologized to the Fourth Prince.
"I do not like it when my mother's status is considered lower among others," Nianzu asserted. Jian Guozhi saw how tense Nianzu was. What could be the possible reason for that? Did his mother again say something to the Fourth Brother, he thought. Nianzu hardly used to drink but today he easily agreed to the request of the First Prince as if he wanted to lessen his sorrows.
"Fourth Brother, may I know what happened?" Jian Guozhi queried and searched for an answer in his eyes.
"I am afraid if I can tell you or not," Nianzu replied and looked inside the cup. "I wish I could take my mother away from here," a deep sigh released from his mouth.
Jian Guozhi had seen from his childhood days how his mother treated Concubine Deng Hui. At those times he could not understand that, but as he grew up, he realized it was wrong in a way! Yes, he did not want to support the ways of his mother, but then if he would say anything to her, she would probably be sad. But then he saw the same traits in his Consort, Xue Yu-Yan.
"What if she hurts Zhilao Mi the same way my mother hurts Concubine Deng Hui" this thought suddenly hit Jian Guozhi. He sipped the wine and then peered at the Fourth Prince.
"Brother, did my mother do something to your mother?" Jian Guozhi with inquisitiveness waited for the answer of Nianzu who snickered.
"Will my older Brother do something if I tell him?" Nianzu asked. "I am afraid if you will because it is tough to raise a voice against your own mother," Nianzu pronounced.
The Fourth Prince was right! Raising the voice against the person who did everything for you was difficult. But it was turning a blind eye to all those wrong things even after knowing them. Moreover, Jian Guozhi started hating the ways of his mother.
"Fourth Brother, I might seem cunning because I ill-treated Sheng Li but it isn't the same for you. Even I was pressured to do those things, I still am! You can tell me. I will definitely help you." Jian Guozhi forwarded his help.
Nianzu chuckled. "Really, Senior Brother?!"
Jian Guozhi nodded his head in agreement.
"I am afraid the son of the Empress can raise a voice against her. You and I both know what will be the consequences of all this. In the end, my mother will be punished again for letting her son open his mouth in front of the son of the Empress," Nianzu pronounced, and poured the wine in the glass he was holding. "In this daylight, I am drinking with you. It is so unusual for me," Nianzu muttered and smiled.
Jian Guozhi noticed that Nianzu was talking in a drunken state. He was feeling disgusted to be a part of all this. 'If mother can still torture Brother Nianzu's mother who is not even in my path to the throne, then will she spare Yingér just because I admire her? Will she really consider my opinion? Will she let me marry Yingér if Sheng Li dies in future?" Jian Guozhi contemplated.
"First Brother, you are not the same as your mother. Sometimes I think otherwise. It seems to me that you are a pawn to her." Nianzu's sudden statements grabbed the attention of Jian Guozhi who drew his brows together.
Nianzu smiled. "I know you are not merciless like her. You once helped Sheng Li. He would have died if you had not saved him," Nianzu babbled, and gulped the remaining wine from the glass. "You were scolded by the Empress a lot that day a-and you were not fed any food. I saw that day. Sheng Li does not even remember that as he was little that time," Nianzu proclaimed.
"Shhh… even I did not tell him as it is between you and the fifth brother," stated Nianzu and picked the jar.
Jian Guozhi recalled that day when he accidentally saw the poison being fed in the food to Sheng Li. He did not know why he did that but he told about that incident to his father. That's why from that day onwards, Sheng Li's food was checked by the Emperor first. Empress Wei scolded Jian that day and he was not given dinner that day. But after that day he never did that because his mother told him how Sheng Li's mother ill-treated her. But was that true? Did his mother never lie to him?
These thoughts were bothering him for a long time and it made Jian Guozhi stuck from everywhere. He looked at Nianzu who was now crying. "I am a bad son who cannot do anything for his mother."
Jian Guozhi knitted his brows and stood up from the chair. He stood behind him and patted his back. "It's alright. You are a better son than anyone here. I will help you, Fourth Brother. I will help you and your mother." Jian Guozhi affirmed. Nianzu jerked off the hands of Jian Guozhi from him and stood up. He wavered, but quickly balanced himself.
"I do not need your help. She will kill my mother just like she did to Sheng Li's mother. Sheng Li is alive thanks to his strong will even after your mother and you did wrong to him but I am not him. He never told father anything but if things slipped out of hand, I might. I am just a little drunk, that's why I-I told you a few things. No one wants a senior brother like you," Nianzu proclaimed. He then took his leave from there, leaving Jian Guozhi in his own deep thoughts.
The words of Nianzu started roaming in Jian Guozhi's mind when he recalled the past. That horrible past which he never wanted to remember. He clenched his fist and slammed his hand on the table.
"Why are you angry? What did the Fourth Prince talk to you about? It seemed the Fourth Brother was a little drunk." Jian Guozhi heard the Xue Yu-Yan who came towards Jian who immediately turned.
"Didn't I warn you not to enter here without my permission?" Jian said with exasperation. Xue Yu-Yan laughed slightly.
"I am afraid, but your warnings do not seem like warnings to me," Xue Yu-Yan said with a smile. She extended her hands out and put them on Jian Guozhi's arms. "Why are you angry? You can share with me. Is it because you do not have the Crown? Don't worry, in a few days, it will be in your head. Soon you will get the news of Sheng Li and Ying Lili's demise." She moved her hands up to Jian's shoulders and then to his face when he caught both of her hands.
"You are in an illusion. Only Sheng Li will die and Yingér will become my official wife." Jian stated.
Xue Yu-Yan glared at him. "You adore her so much that's why she has to die. I cannot see my husband taking and admiring the woman who can never be his. You can admire her for a few more days," Xue Yu-Yan stated and patted his right cheek.
"Mother has told me that she won't do anything to Yingér. So, don't threaten me with those words," Jian pronounced.
Xue Yu-Yan smiled upon hearing his words. "Whatever. I will wait for you tonight in the chamber. Come there if you don't want to get scolded by your mother," she put her hands down, stepped back, and strode out of the chamber.
Jian flinched his brows. "My intuition was right, then. Just because I admire her does not mean that my mother will let her live. I need to find out what she has planned," Jian Guozhi muttered.