Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Ying Lili and Sheng Li went to the Pavilion of the Western Palace to converse with each other. Sheng Li narrated everything to her and waited for her reply. 

"Sheng Li, you do not want Yongzheng to die. Am I right?" Ying Lili asked. 

"Father will break down. I failed to keep everyone together. Yongzheng did all this to usurp the throne. In the end, it is because of me," Sheng Li asserted. 

"When uncle killed my father, you told me even brothers fight for the power. Maybe my father knew about the true intentions of my uncle, but he kept mum. In the end, he lost his life. If he had taken timely action, then he might be alive today," Ying Lili stated.

"To keep the family together, we cannot let Yongzheng live. You told me when the time comes I need to turn Cruel for you. If you cannot do that, then I will. I will kill Yongzheng, and I will talk with the Emperor. A rotten apple rots other apples too. It's better to separate it from the good ones to keep the others edible," Ying Lili affirmed. 

"I am not afraid to kill him. A few days ago, he asked me to forgive him. I did and forgot everything he did to me. I shouldn't have done that," Sheng Li stated and with his fist hit the pillar beside him. 

"How is Princess Zhu Lin?" Ying Lili asked him. 

"Not good. The Royal Physician has recommended her rest for more than one week. What will I answer to her father? Lei Wanxi wants to marry her and if her father finds out that the Second Prince tried to kill his daughter, do you think he will let her marry in this house?" Sheng Li questioned Ying Lili. "Also, she cannot do any hard work else internal bleeding may happen."

"Her Father might resist continuing with their marriage," Ying Lili replied. 

"Hmm. The Court Ministers will definitely raise doubts tomorrow. The news is bound to come out. Yongzheng created troubles for everyone," Sheng Li muttered. 

"You mean that if the Court Ministers found out about the instability of the Royal Family, they might ask for the banishment of the First Prince and his wife. Since everything started from the Wei Family," Ying Lili deduced and arched her eyebrow. 

"I think so. It's the best chance for them to get rid of the First Prince. Getting the position of Governorship will be the biggest chance for any of them," Sheng Li explained to her. "Now, I doubt whether the Empress has turned good or not. I doubt everyone around me except a few," Sheng Li stated. 

Ying Lili grasped the hand of Sheng Li and caressed it. "Do not think that way. The Empress is sincere. You know about the rest of the brothers well," Ying Lili consoled him. Sheng Li knitted her brows and recalled what Wang Hao told him. 

'He had full plans to kill you. What if the Third Prince comes out to be like Yongzheng? What if the Empress is still scheming? I cannot even trust the Consorts of my Father. Do I need to stop their movements? Then, I will be called a Tyrant. In the end, everyone will get separated just because of a mere throne,' Sheng Li contemplated. 

"Xing-Fu, escort the Crown Princess back to her chamber," Sheng Li suddenly pulled his hand back from Ying Lili's grip. 

"I do not want to go. We will go back together," Ying Lili replied. 

"Go," Sheng Li sternly said and turned his gaze away. "I want to be alone."

Ying Lili did not want to leave him alone in this state. However, she wanted to give him time. She stepped back and left with Xing-Fu. Sheng Li turned to look at her and sighed. 

~~~~~ 

Jian Guozhi went to the Prison to check Yongzheng. Xiao Zhan informed him that Yongzheng had refused to talk except with the Emperor and the Crown Prince. 

"I need to talk to him," Jian Guozhi asserted. 

Xiao Zhan nodded and gestured to the soldier to open the door of the cell where Yongzheng was locked. Jian Guozhi stepped in and saw Yongzheng in chains. He had rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. 

"Yongzheng, I told you not to do anything. Why did you do that?" Jian Guozhi asked him with an angry tone. 

"Don't eat my mind," Yongzheng pronounced. 

"You will be hanged to death," asserted Jian Guozhi. 

Yongzheng chuckled and opened his eyes. He tilted his head to look at Jian Guozhi. "You are a coward. I did not have to do all this if you had not provided evidence against your mother. Your incapability made me do this. You taught me only one thing– there is nothing wrong when it comes to the throne. I walked on the path that Elder Brother Jian taught me," affirmed Yongzheng. 

"I was a child at that time. My values changed as--"

"Your values changed when that whore came to the Palace," Yongzheng blurted out.

"Yongzheng! Watch your tongue! She is the Crown Princess. Be respectful to her," Jian Guozhi shouted at him. 

"Why should I care? You changed because of a mere woman. For her, you killed your own mother. For her, you even betrayed me. I supported you in everything. Even if I am inside this Prison, I will make sure to kill that wench!" Yongzheng said and started to laugh evilly. 

Jian Guozhi dashed to him and grabbed him by his robes. He threw a punch at him. Yongzheng did not stop smirking. "You still love her! Whoa! I wonder how Sheng Li will react when I tell him about your feelings," Yongzheng asserted, keeping a grin on his face. 

Jian Guozhi clutched his robes tightly. "You have lost your mind. How could you even say that? At least be remorseful of your actions. You almost took the lives of four people together. Instead of being guilty of your acts, you are speaking these poisonous words," Jian Guozhi muttered. 

"I am speaking the truth, Brother Jian, of which Sheng Li is unaware. You both secretly meet, talk to each other. What will it be considered in the eyes of the people? The Crown Princess is married to the Crown Prince yet she-"

"Stop! I was wrong thinking that there might be a slight chance to save you." Jian Guozhi pushed him away. He turned to leave when Yongzheng said, "If you love her this much, then be ready for my next move. I won't die this easily. I will make sure to create havoc in Sheng Li's life." 

Jian Guozhi did not say anything and walked out of the prison. "Keep a close eye on him and search his entire chamber," Jian Guozhi ordered Xiao Zhan, who nodded his head. He left for the Western Palace and saw Sheng Li in the pavilion. He pinched the brows between his eyebrows. 

'What could Yongzheng probably do? If he tells Sheng Li about my feelings towards the Crown Princess, then it will create misunderstandings between them.. And what is his second move? Is his mother associated with him in any way?' Jian Guozhi wondered.