Chapter 426 - My Life And His Life
"The Crown Prince has arrived," Eunuch Jin informed the Emperor, who swiftly stood up from the chaise and went to the Fu Imperial Gates, followed by Eunuch Jin. The Empress and the other Consorts also joined them. Rong Zemin looked around and did not find Nianzu there.
"Brother Jian, where is Brother Nianzu?" Rong Zemin queried.
"He might be coming," replied Jian Guozhi and saw the horses coming. A smile appeared on his lips, and he walked ahead. Rong Zemin, on the other hand, kept searching for the Fourth Prince. He found Eunuch Chung and went to him.
"Where is Brother Nianzu, Eunuch Jin? Since yesterday I have not seen him. Is he still asking for forgiveness?" Rong Zemin asked a few questions.
"No, your highness.. The Prince left early in the evening last day and has not returned to the Palace since then," Eunuch Chung informed Rong Zemin.
"What? He never did such a thing? What happened? Can you elaborate?" Before Eunuch Chung could tell, they heard the loud cheer-up voices for the Crown Prince. "I will converse with you later," Rong Zemin walked ahead and stood by the First Prince.
Sheng Li got down from Kongqi. Ying Lili also hopped down from her horse, followed by the Generals and the Commanders. Yongzheng and Lei Wanxi stepped out of the horse cart behind and came to the front.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili greeted the Emperor, first followed by the Empress and the other Consorts. Han Wenji stepped ahead and hugged Sheng Li. "Welcome to Luoyang," he pulled back and looked at the Crown Princess.
"The Crown Princess never fails to wonder me," Han Wenji asserted. Ying Lili passed a tiny smile.
"Father, you shall praise us as well. If Brother Yongzheng and I had not gone with Huo Jin, then it might have been difficult for them," Lei Wanxi proudly pronounced.
Han Wenji laughed upon hearing the Sixth Prince. "Prince Wanxi always cheers me up with his talks," Han Wenji stated and smiled. His eyes fell on Wang Hao, whose face was a little bruised.
"Wang Hao, are you good?" Han Wenji asked him.
"Yes, your majesty," Wang Hao replied and bowed.
"Get your wounds treated from the Royal Physician and take a proper rest for a few days," Han Wenji ordered him.
"Yes, your majesty. Thank you for being considerate, your majesty." Sheng Li recalled about Hu Jingguo and asked his father if he got his message regarding Hu Jingguo.
"Yes," Han Wenji replied.
"We were waiting for you all. Hu Jingguo's final rites have not been done till now," Jian Guozhi informed the Crown Prince, who hummed.
"I will do his final rites. He wanted to lay on the hill, behind this Palace," Sheng Li told them. "I did not win this battle completely because I lost two of my dearest friends," Sheng Li lowered his eyes. All were shocked to see the Crown Prince this way.
"The Princes shall rest. It was a long journey," Deng Hui intervened. Sheng Li looked at her and nodded. Sheng Li bowed his head and walked past them, followed by the Crown Princess and the other two princes.
Sheng Li saw Xing-Fu and Court Lady Xu, who greeted them. Xing-Fu took Sheng Li's sword and followed him to his manor while Ying Lili went to Zhenzhu Inn. Before leaving to his manor Sheng Li told Ying Lili that he would come to her chamber after freshening up.
"You did not miss me, right?" Sheng Li asked Xing-Fu.
"I did, your highness. The Crown Prince never takes me together. If I had been with his highness then I might have served him well," Xing-Fu expressed his desire.
"This was my last time going out of the capital. This battle made me learn a few things on which I will work. The reach to the distant people is almost nil which I will open for them. A lot of work still needs to be done for better functioning and administration of the Empire," Sheng Li told Xing-Fu, who was quietly listening to him.
Soon they reached the chamber where a few servants helped Sheng Li in removing the armor. Sheng Li then went to the bathhouse followed by Xing-Fu.
After undressing, Sheng Li went into the bathtub and spread his arms out. The warm water relaxed his muscles. "Does anything happen in my and Lili's absence?" Sheng Li asked Xing-Fu, who had stood a meter away from him.
"Yes, your highness."
"Speak," Sheng Li permitted him.
"Your highness, the Fourth Prince had a big argument with the Emperor. He refused to marry the Princess of Huan Province." Sheng Li, who had shut his eyes, opened them and frowned. "Your highness, the Fourth Prince compared the Emperor with the former Empress Weng Wei." Sheng Li was shocked to hear that.
"Brother Nianzu said this?!" It was unbelievable for Sheng Li.
"Yes, your highness." Eunuch Xing-Fu then narrated the entire incident to the Crown Prince.
"Brother Nianzu never liked the Palace life because he was not treated the way the rest of the Princes were treated. If I would turn back and see, then my life and his life did not differ much. The only benefit I had was that my mother was from high status," asserted Sheng Li.
"Does his highness mean that the Fourth Prince did right?" Xing-Fu wanted to know the Crown Prince's opinion.
"Yes. Brother Nianzu is a calm person, unlike me. I am rebellious, but Brother Nianzu is not. Brother just does things to make others happy. If his happiness lies in this, then he should go with it," Sheng Li affirmed and asked the servant to massage his shoulders.
"Your highness, Eunuch Jin told me that the Emperor had made a decree in which his majesty has removed the Fourth Prince from the position of the Advisor and also his majesty has permitted him to leave not only the Palace but also Luoyang," Xing-Fu finally revealed another important information in front of the Crown Prince.
"What? How could Father give such a decree?" Sheng Li muttered. "Where is Brother Nianzu? I did not see him earlier."
"Your highness, the Fourth Prince has not been in the Palace since last evening," Xing-Fu informed Sheng Li. The Crown Princess moved his hand up to stop the servant from massaging his shoulders. He started to massage the scalp of the Crown Prince and washed his head with rice water and rose water.
'Where did Brother Nianzu go? He might have gotten hurt when Father did not acknowledge his request,' Sheng Li thought. The servant washed the hair of Sheng Li, followed by the body.
Sheng Li removed the bandages from his hands and put them away.
The servant stepped back, and after a while, Sheng Li stood up. Xing-Fu quickly covered him with the white silk bathrobe. Sheng Li tied the knot and came out of the bathtub.
"Does anyone know about the leaving of Prince Nianzu?" Sheng Li waited for Xing-Fu's response.
"Your highness, the Emperor waited for your safe return along with the others. He will announce his decision today," Xing-Fu stated.
"I still have time to turn things right. I will make my Father understand," Sheng Li proclaimed. Xing-Fu anxiously looked at the Crown Prince.
"His Majesty might get angry at the Crown Prince," Xing-Fu did not want the Crown Prince to intervene in this.
"I shall intervene before Father started to regret it. It will not be good if the Fourth Brother leaves the Palace. It might have some big consequences later," Sheng Li pronounced. Xing-Fu did not understand the words of the Crown Prince, but he believed him, so he did not say anything more.