Chapter 532 - False Hopes
The Physician dressed the wound on General Wang's back. He told him to rest for a few days. The Royal Physician was busy treating the wounds of Zhu Lin in the next room.
"Brother Sheng, we shall inform our father. It is a serious issue," Jian Guozhi suggested to Sheng Li, who furrowed his eyebrows.
"I cannot do that. Father's health is not good. Let's keep it in between us for some time," Sheng Li told Jian Guozhi.
"Are you saying that we should keep this incident hidden from everyone? It has risks. Yongzheng did something unforgivable," Jian Guozhi angrily said.
"I know. But it is for our father. His health is not good," Sheng Li said with a worried expression. Jian Guozhi did not argue with Sheng Li and looked at Wang Hao.
"What will we tell everyone tomorrow? His mother will definitely ask about him and also will search for him," Jian Guozhi was a little panicked. "Also, what about the servants and soldiers who have seen all this?
"Crown Prince, we shall inform. It is not a matter that we shall hide. If he had not harmed Princess Zhu Lin, we could have tried to hide it, but the matter has reached its peak," Wang Hao suggested to Sheng Li.
"General Wang is absolutely right. Let's not hide this matter. Yongzheng has committed a grave crime. Nothing will happen to our Father," Jian Guozhi advised Sheng Li, who nodded his head.
"Your Highness, how did you prevent the deadly poisoning incident?" Wang Hao asked curiously.
"Ying Lili and I had dinner with Lei Wanxi's mother. That's why there was no use in sending the poisoned meal to Lili. About Father, I wonder how Brother Yongzheng was going to send it? Because I have put high security in Father's manor. Luckily, at the right time, Xiao Zhan stopped the chefs from sending the meals to the Father," Sheng Li asserted.
"Assassin might be hidden in the Emperor's manor itself. That's why despite this high security, Yongzheng had planned to send the poisoned meals to Father," Jian Guozhi deduced.
"Yes. But, who?" Wang Hao asked.
"The one who is always close to Father," Sheng Li stated when something came up in his mind.
"What do you think, Brother Sheng?" Jian Guozhi asked for his opinion.
"Eunuch Jin is the closest person to our Father," Sheng Li replied.
"But he is loyal to our father," Jian Guozhi defended Eunuch Jin.
Sheng Li shook his head. "We need to keep an eye on him. Just because he always showed his good side to us. But it does not mean that his bad side never existed. Every person has a bad side which no one knows," Sheng Li proclaimed. Wang Hao agreed with Sheng Li.
"If that's the case, then why did Eunuch Jin never try to harm our Father? He might have received many chances to do that," Jian Guozhi argued.
"Because he could have gotten hanged to death. This time it was different. Yongzheng had made the perfect plan to make me helpless. However, it is still a suspicion. We are not sure whether or not Eunuch Jin is the culprit," Sheng Li explained to them.
A servant of the Royal Physician interrupted their conversation. "Forgive me for being an intruder, Your Highness. The Royal Physician has called the Crown Prince," the servant said humbly.
Sheng Li excused himself and went to the other room where the Royal Physician was treating Zhu Lin. Sheng Li halted a meter away from the Royal Physician, who had dressed Zhu Lin's wound on the stomach.
"Your Highness, Princess Zhu Lin is in a weak state. She might need a rest of one week or more," the Royal Physician informed the Crown Prince. "Also, the arrow hit near the navel of the Princess. Therefore, it might be problematic for her if she tries to do hard work– internal bleeding can happen anytime."
Sheng Li pressed his fingers at the temple of his forehead. He wanted to kill Yongzheng, who had created such a big mess. He not only injured Wang Hao but a woman too. No one in their family ever did this to a woman. Yongzheng did not even think for a moment that Zhu Lin was the daughter of King of Huan, who was a fast friend of their father.
"Your Highness, I will keep giving the medications to the Princess. So, please do not worry. I will make sure that the Princess will recover fast," the Royal Physician assured Sheng Li, who thanked him. He looked at Zhu Lin's pale face.
'What would I answer to Father and Lei Wanxi? She almost lost her life because of me,' Sheng Li thought and turned to leave when he heard the Royal Physician.
"The Emperor has shown a slight improvement, Your Highness. I examined His Majesty in the evening before dinner. The Crown Prince shall not worry," the Royal Physician asserted with a positive tone.
"You said the same when my mother was on her deathbed. I have not forgotten that day. She could not recover and then died in the end. Do not give me false hopes," Sheng Li said with annoyance and walked out of the chamber.
The Royal Physician did not feel bad listening to those words. He lied to Sheng Li at that time because his mother had requested it from him. She wanted to see Sheng Li smile before the day she died. "Forgive me, Crown Prince, for lying to you," the Royal Physician bowed down.
Sheng Li, on the other hand, went straight to the prison where Yongzheng was taken to. He stopped as he encountered Ying Lili.
"Lili," he whispered her name. Behind Ying Lili, Xing-Fu was standing. Sheng Li understood that Xing-Fu informed Ying Lili.
Ying Lili came towards Sheng Li and hugged him tightly. "Sheng Li, calm down. It's not because of you," Ying Lili said softly. That hug was similar to a magical pill, and it calmed Sheng Li's heart. The anger inside him had subsided, and her words gave him security. He hugged her back and wrapped his arm around her.
"Guide me, Lili. I am stuck.. I do not know what to do," Sheng Li stated.