Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

"Did you feed something to Lili?" He asked her in an angry tone.

Xue Yu-Yan quickly got down on her knees. "Forgive me, Crown Prince. I did not know that the Crown Princess's condition would worsen," she started to cry because of the fear.

"I told her to eat the grapes to keep her hydrated. I thought it would be good for her," stated Xue Yu-Yan.

"Princess Xue, you cannot give grapes to a pregnant woman. It could affect her health badly," Nianzu corrected her.

"I told you not to get close to my wife. You wanted to harm her, right? Who gave you the right to feed her grapes? I told you very clearly not to do anything which makes me kill you," Sheng Li screamed at her and then gritted his teeth.

"I did not know that it would cause cramps in the Crown Princess's stomach," Xue Yu-Yan said with a trembling voice. Sheng Li advanced towards her with a dagger in his hand when Nianzu came forward and stopped him.

"Don't do this, Brother Sheng. Princess Xue was unaware of this. The Crown Princess is alright, so there is nothing to worry about," Nianzu said humbly and took the dagger away from him.

"Stay with the Crown Princess. I am going back to the Emperor's manor," Nianzu calmed the burning situation between them. He tilted his head to look at Xue Yu-Yan and told her to leave.

Xue Yu-Yan stood up, bowed, and left.

"She wanted to harm my wife, Brother Nianzu. She has started to show her colors," Sheng Li pronounced.

"Don't think the other way. Princess Xue might have not known about grapes and ended up feeding them to Sister Lili," Nianzu asserted and went to the table. He put the dagger inside the sheath and turned to him.

Sheng Li left for Ying Lili's chamber while Nianzu went to the Emperor's manor.

As Sheng Li stepped in, he asked the Royal Physician if the twins inside her were alright.

"Yes, Your Highness. Luckily, the Crown Princess did not consume a large quantity of them, else it would get complex," He informed Sheng Li about the situation, who sat down beside Ying Lili.

"Hmm. Court Lady Ki, I told you not to leave the sight of the Crown Princess. What if something bad had happened? This is the last time I am sparing you," Sheng Li stated. He placed his hand over Ying Lili's forehead and ordered a maidservant to send Xing-Fu inside.

After a few seconds, Xing-Fu came inside and bowed before Sheng Li.

"Bring Court Lady Xu here. Also, for Princess Bai appoint a new Court Lady," Sheng Li ordered him.

"Yes, Your Highness," Xing-Fu took the orders and walked out of the chamber.

~~~~~

Nianzu returned to the Emperor's chamber and saw the Princes has sat around the Emperor.

"Is Sister Lili alright?" Rong Zemin asked as he saw Nianzu.

"Hmm."

"What happened to her?" He asked another question.

"Sister Xue fed her some grapes, and she experienced severe stomach cramps because of that," replied Nianzu. Jian Guozhi widened his eyes as it was shocking for him. "Please do not worry. Everything has turned alright. Princess Xue did not know about its consequences," he stated.

"Sister Xue should be careful with Sister Lili," Lei Wanxi said worriedly.

"She was! However, she was unaware of this fact," Nianzu stated. He did not blame her as it could bring more tensions among them.

"Shouldn't she be punished? Did Brother Sheng punish her?" Jian Guozhi suddenly asked, perplexing the princes.

"First Brother, it was a mistake without knowledge. Brother Sheng was angry but did not punish her. Also, at this time, punishing anyone is not appropriate. Sister Lili is absolutely fine and resting in her chamber," Nianzu again took care of the matter with the wise use of words. He knew that Jian Guozhi was somewhere concerned more about Ying Lili rather than his own wife which was not wrong but could be wrong in others' eyes. He did not want Jian Guozhi to ruin his relationship with Xue Yu-Yan because of a mistake.

Nianzu looked at Eunuch Jin. "Since when did Eunuch Jin know about the illness of father?" He asked.

"Since its beginning. However, I was ordered not to tell anyone about this," Eunuch Jin replied.

"Eunuch Jin should have told us. We got to know so late that it is almost impossible to find any cure for the father's ailment," Rong Zemin said dejectedly.

"Then, father's life would have come in danger a long ago," Nianzu stated. Jian Guozhi agreed with him. His own mother would have first tried to kill him so that she could make Jian Guozhi the next Emperor. Even Prince Yongzheng might have done something like that.

Nianzu though was feeling guilty that his mother also wanted to kill the Emperor. Sheng Li did not let this come out else it would have been an end for her. However, he wanted his mother to get punished for her crimes. He did not want her to sit as the Empress.

He came near the bed and looked at his father's face. His lips had dried because of the dehydration he experienced. The Royal Physician had come to the chamber as Sheng Li sent him back.

Han Wenji woke up from sleep. Although his eyes were still half-closed. "Father, how are you feeling?" Jian Guozhi asked him, forcing a smile on his lips.

Han Wenji's voice had turned weaker. "Not so good," he said with difficulty. "Crown Prince…" he managed to say a few words.

"He will be back soon," Rong Zemin stated and gestured to Eunuch Jin to bring Sheng Li.

"Will you all be happy if Sheng Li becomes the next Emperor?" Han Wen asked them.

"Of course, Father. Only he deserves to be the Emperor," Jian Guozhi replied and looked at his other brothers. They had the same opinions on it.

"Wanxi, forgive your father for not being able to attend your marriage. I am giving you all my blessings now. You are the most cheerful son of mine… who never let me get sad," Han Wenji said and smiled a little. Lei Wanxi's eyes filled with tears. But as all the Princes decided, he did not let them fall.

"Thank you, Father," the only words he was managed to say.

"Weng Yu, I am glad that you let go of your fear. I thought I would be able to see your youthfulness. But I have limited time now," Han Wenji said. Jian Guozhi called a palace maid near and told her to call the wives of the Emperor. He had gotten the hunch that Han Wenji would not be able to survive longer.

"Rong Zemin, the day you were born, the dryness of the Empire had gone away. The lands experienced so much rain and after that never once did climate act against us. You speak less, but I know that you take your steps with a conscience. Your support is mandatory for all of your brothers," Han Wenji stated.

"Don't worry, Father. I will fulfill my duties towards my younger brothers and also towards the Empire," he affirmed and passed a smile to him.. He turned his face away and rubbed his eyes as tears were on the verge of falling from them.