Chapter 427 - Leaving This Life
Sheng Li brought Ying Lili together with him, and the two went to the Palace Grounds, where everyone was waiting for them. Sheng Li and Ying Lili showed their filial piety towards Hu Jingguo. Since the Emperor and his wives were elder to Hu Jingguo, they did not pay respect and only stood at their places with lowered heads. A few of Hu Jingguo's favorite things had been put in the coffin so that in the afterlife he could use them (a general belief of those times). Sheng Li started to cry as he saw the lifeless body of Hu Jingguo. 'I wish you could wake up again.'
Ying Lili had nothing to say. She only cried upon seeing him. The tears she had held back, she let them fall today. The clouds had gathered in the sky.
The chief priest told the Crown Prince that Hu Jingguo should be taken to the burial site. Sheng Li nodded, and six soldiers came ahead to carry the coffin. Sheng Li told one soldier to stay back and carried the coffin along with the others.. It surprised everyone in his family. Even Lei Wanxi came ahead and caught it.
"Let's go," Sheng Li said with a broken voice. They left the Imperial Palace except for the Emperor and his wives. After a while, they reached the uphill where Hu Jingguo desired to get buried.
Sheng Li had decided to bury Hu Jingguo near the same hut where they two talked for the first time. The servants dug the pit. Sheng Li also helped them, and then the coffin was put into the pit. He looked at Hu Jingguo for the last time before it was enclosed. They covered it with soil. Sheng Li stayed on his knees staring at the burial place.
"Leave," Sheng Li ordered his brothers and their wives. Jian Guozhi understood that he wanted to be alone, so he gestured to the others to follow them. Ying Lili, Lei Wanxi, Nianzu, and the Generals stayed there.
Ying Lili went to him and sat beside him. She touched the soil of Hu Jingguo's burial site. "He must be at peace now." Sheng Li whispered and looked at Ying Lili. "I could not save him, Lili. He left me with this regret. I could not save the only family member of yours."
After staying there for a few hours, they returned to the Palace. Sheng Li told Ying Lili not to wait for him for lunch as he might get late. He went to Prison where Tan Gengxin was kept as a captive. Xiao Zhan had brought the Emperor to prison.
"Did you kill my wife?" Han Wenji asked the first question. Xiao Zhan had already narrated the revelation that Tan Gengxin had made.
Tan Gengxin, whose both hands were up, tied to the shackles, peered at Han Wenji. "Yes. When she could not live with me then how could I let her live with you?" Han Wenji stepped ahead when Sheng Li walked past him and threw a punch at him.
He grabbed his robes. "Father, give me the order to kill him. I have held enough," Sheng Li gritted his teeth. Han Wenji pulled out the sword from the sheath and went to Tan Gengxin and pierced it through his body. Sheng Li was shocked to see that. "You should have killed me instead of her," Han Wenji pronounced and moved the sword ahead.
Tan Gengxin coughed the blood and laughed. With his last breath, he said, "I wanted to see you die thousands of times. That relieved me each day." Tan Gengxin gradually closed his eyes and died.
Han Wenji took out the sword and threw it on the ground. "Throw him away. Let the eagles eat his flesh. Hang his daughter," Han Wenji pronounced.
Sheng Li gazed at his father. "Why are you so weak, Father? You never cared what was going behind your back? You let Weng Wei do everything she wanted to! My mother had to lose her life because of all this." Sheng Li had lost his temper. "You never bothered to know who plotted her death. She never thought ill of anyone yet she had to die."
Han Wenji lowered his eyes. He had nothing to say and already admitted it was his fault.
"Forgive me, Father. I am just angry," Sheng Li apologized.
"You are right, Sheng Li. I did not know there were a few people who could harm such a kind woman. A lot of things I have regretted since the day I lost her." He stepped towards Sheng Li and patted his arm. "Forgive me for being a weak father," asserted Han Wenji.
Sheng Li rubbed his eyes and walked out of prison.
"Your majesty, the Crown Prince has been in anger since yesterday. The Crown Prince even got angry at the Crown Princess," asserted Xiao Zhan.
"His anger is legit. He should be angry," Han Wenji affirmed and looked at Tan Gengxin.
~~~~~
Sheng Li visited his mother's tomb in the Western Part of the Imperial Palace. He sat in front of her burial site and kept gazing at it. "Why did you do good to everyone? Look what you have got," Sheng Li murmured.
Nianzu came to him and sat beside him. "I heard about Mother Mei," Nianzu said.
"Does Brother Nianzu also want to give me a lecture?" Sheng Li annoyingly asked him. "I do not want to listen to any philosophical talk," He added.
"I am not here to lecture Brother Sheng. I only want to listen to you," Nianzu replied. "You found the real culprits behind your mother's death. How does it feel?" Nianzu queried him.
"My heart is at peace. Finally, my mother will be happy in the afterlife. She was in pain all that time. Tan Gengxin did not feel remorse for his actions. He was still laughing. Before I could kill him, our father killed him," Sheng Li answered and touched the soil of the grave.
"Mother Mei was beloved of our father. It might have broken him. Be his strength," Nianzu stated.
Sheng Li glanced at him. "What about you, Brother Nianzu? You shall leave the Palace. I will talk to our father," Sheng Li stated.
"No. Do not talk with him regarding this matter. I always wanted to leave the Palace and finally, the day has come," Nianzu requested to Sheng Li.
"Brother Nianzu knows that I will not listen to him," Sheng Li proclaimed.
"Brother Sheng, Father did not try to understand me. Even my mother wants to use me for her benefit. I do not want to be part of all these fights," Nianzu stated and sighed.
"Every mother wants to see her son at the top. She wants you to see you as the Crown Prince or probably be the next Emperor then go with it. You also know why I became the Crown Prince. I wanted authority over matters to nab the culprits and most importantly I wanted to bring Weng Wei's true face in front of everyone. Regarding Chuntao, I will fight in court to give you the freedom to marry her. Do not leave the Palace because something big can happen," Sheng Li made the Fourth Prince understand.
"Brother, I am not suitable for the position of the Crown Prince. I will fight for myself. Thank you for thinking about me, Brother Sheng. Father wants me to go away, so I will not stay back, and I cannot leave the hand of Chuntao either. Leaving this life is the best option. Do not worry, Brother Sheng. Nothing will happen. I will keep us safe," Nianzu assured Sheng Li. The Crown Prince found that Nianzu was adamant about his decision.
"The Empress will not let you go away, Brother Nianzu," Sheng Li reminded him.
"I will not see my mother before leaving. I will leave in a few minutes. I wanted to converse with you before leaving Luoyang," Nianzu informed him.
"Are you sure, Brother?"
Nianzu nodded his head as he gazed into the eyes of Sheng Li. "I want to leave the Palace," Nianzu confirmed.
"Where have you planned to live? I have a place in my mind," Sheng Li stated.
"I have not thought. I think I will not live near Luoyang," Nianzu replied. "What place did Brother Sheng have in his mind?" Nianzu curiously asked.
"Huzhou Town (Imaginary name) is a nice place to live. It will take a day to reach there," Sheng Li asserted.
"The Place is surrounded by mountains. Indeed, it is a nice place to spend my life with Chuntao," Nianzu replied. "Brother, will you promise me something?"
"Hmm."
"Do not tell anyone about this place. Please promise me this," Nianzu requested.
"I cannot lie to Lili. She is going to be upset."
"Apart from Sister Lili please do not tell anyone," Nianzu said.
"Okay. Xiao Zhan will safely take you to Huzhou Town. Don't deny it. This is what I want to do for you," Sheng Li asserted. Nianzu agreed to him and thanked him for being understanding.