Chapter 549 - Treated Special Among All
Ying Lili and Zai Yun stood up from their respective seats as Sheng Li, Jian Guozhi, and Rong Zemin entered. The three Princes greeted their father. Zai Yun greeted the three Princes and took his seat. Sheng Li sat beside Ying Lili.
"You were here? I was searching for you in the Eastern Palace," whispered Sheng Li in Ying Lili's ear.
"Yes. I had something important to discuss with the Imperial Father," Ying Lili replied. Sheng Li hummed and looked towards his Father.
"Nianzu has topped the Civil Services exam," Han Wenji told his three sons. Sheng Li smiled as he was confident that Nianzu would qualify for the exam.
"Nianzu gave the Civil Services exam. That was unpredictable. We have thought that he did not want to get involved in the Governance and Politics of the Han Empire," Jian Guozhi opined.
"He might have realized that leaving a life without the title of a Prince is tough," asserted Rong Zemin. "What will the Imperial Father do now? Will the Imperial Father revoke his decision and let Nianzu enter the capital?" He asked and looked at Han Wenji.
"That's why I called you three here. I want an opinion on this. My sole opinion does not matter now," Han Wenji proclaimed.
"As a commoner, Nianzu filled this exam. We shall not neglect the fact that his knowledge is vast. Also, he had prevented five wars with the neighboring provinces, which used to be our enemies once. Since he has passed this exam with the highest score, his wife's status will not be taken as a lower one anymore. The rank of Nianzu as a commoner is no less than a nobleman anymore. Therefore, I find that there should not be any problem in taking back the decision," Jian Guozhi explained his point. "I would like to have Brother Nianzu among us," he stated.
"I support the decision of Brother Jian. I also feel that our Father must take his decision back," asserted Rong Zemin and looked at Sheng Li. "Will the Crown Prince support our decision? It is difficult to know now whether the Crown Prince will agree to this or not!" Rong Zemin remarked. Ying Lili found that the Third Prince was slightly angry at Sheng Li. On the other hand, Sheng Li did not pay heed to him.
"I want the Fourth Prince to return. The Empire needs him, Your Majesty," Sheng Li crisply answered.
The Emperor looked at Zai Yun. "Since the Prince has given the exam and qualified it with the highest marks, there is no question to object to his return. Indeed, the Han Empire needs the intellect of the Fourth Prince for its prosperity," Zai Yun put forward his view.
Han Wenji nodded his head and asked for an urgent Court Meeting. "I need to discuss with the other Ministers as well so that in the future no doubt will be raised and no one will say that there was some kind of injustice involved," Han Wenji proclaimed.
Sheng Li bowed and stood up to leave when Han Wenji stopped him. "The others can leave while the Crown Prince will stay back," Han Wenji commanded. Jian Guozhi, Rong Zemin, Ying Lili, and Zai Yun stood up from their respective seats. They bowed in front of the Emperor and left the chamber.
"The Crown Prince planned all this. Correct me if I am wrong!" Han Wenji stated with a smile on his lips.
"I cannot lie to my Father. The Fourth Prince shall not live as a commoner, and his wife must be considered his chief wife. Father, the Fourth Prince, was neglected because of the status of his mother. I know that our Father never discriminated among us, but the people around us saw him as lower than us. That's why even if he was a Prince, he never felt happy. This was the best way to bring him back– to the place which was always his," Sheng Li affirmed.
Han Wenji hummed and asked the Crown Prince if he met Prince Nianzu. Whether he knew about his location or not?
"Yes, Father. I know where he is living. He is safe," Sheng Li informed Han Wenji.
"You went against the orders of the Emperor," Han Wenji menacingly said.
"His Majesty can punish me if he wants me to. But it was essential. Father did not do right by sending the Fourth Prince away. He should have accepted his wife. He is the Emperor. His order is supreme for everyone. Without his permission, not a single leaf can move. However, His Majesty brought his ego upfront. I apologize if I sounded rude. But this is what I truly felt. You could have stopped many things in the palace, but you never bothered about that," Sheng Li stated.
Eunuch Jin lifted his head and looked at the Crown Prince.
Han Wenji found that the Crown was troubled yet, he told the truth. Somewhere, he could stop all those schemings, but he never did. Han Wenji started to cough, and it worried Sheng Li.
He dashed to him and caressed the back of his Father. Han Wenji put the handkerchief on his mouth. "Forgive me, Father," Sheng Li said with teary eyes.
"Eunuch Jin, give us some privacy," Han Wenji stated, who bowed and walked out.
Sheng Li sat beside his father on the chaise and took the handkerchief from him. His heart ached to see the blood on it. He put it away and lowered his head.
"You did this because you do not want his mother to go against you. Sheng Li shall not lie with his Father. He has become thoughtful," Han Wenji proclaimed and put his hand on Sheng Li's head.
"I thought I would stop Prince Yongzheng from walking on the wrong path," Sheng Li said in a low voice, and tears poured down his eyes. "I did not want him to die this way. Father, make Prince Nianzu the Emperor. I do not want my Brothers to feel that I am treated special among all.. In the future, I do not want anything to happen to any of the Princes just because of a mere throne," Sheng Li requested to Han Wenji.