Jian Guozhi entered the chamber of Xue Yu-Yan who was lying on the bed in a half-conscious state. The maidservants who were applying herbal medicine on her back stopped as they saw the Prince there. 

"W-why did you stop?" Xue Yu-Yan, in a meek voice, complained.  One maidservant adjusted the clothes of Xue Yu-Yan and stood up. 

"Leave!" Jian Guozhi ordered, and the maidservants walked out of the chamber. Xue Yu-Yan, upon hearing the voice of Jian Guozhi sat up on the bed with difficulty. She had tears on her cheek. "W-why are you here?" She questioned in a fit of rage. 

Jian Guozhi walked to her and held her chin using his thumb and forefinger "I warned you not to test my patience. I told you not to trouble Ying`er yet you did not listen to me." He pulled his hand back and put it behind his back. 

Xue Yu-Yan was crying in pain. "A-and you produced a fake witness in front of the Empress. You hate me this much?" Xue Yu-Yan asked. Jian smirked upon hearing those words. 

"Xue, I never hated you, but you made me hate you. You shall feel lucky that I did not do something fatal to your life. Ying`er is kind enough that's why she did not ask for any severe punishment for you. You should be thankful to her for this," Jian Guozhi proclaimed. 

Xue Yu-Yan lowered her eyes as tears kept pouring down her eyes. "I hate her as she is the reason for all this. My father died because of her," Xue Yu-Yan said with utter hatred. 

"Your father is dead because of his foolishness. He was misusing his powers. Don't go with my mother's plans if you do not want to suffer," Jian Guozhi advised Xue Yu-Yan. "I might start considering you a good woman if you stop doing anything reckless," he added. 

Xue Yu-Yan chuckled. "Mother and I are doing all this for you. T-they are getting stronger and if we do not do anything now, then things might become difficult for us later," she argued. 

"No! You are doing all this so that you can have power. Xue, since we are conversing on this matter, then I would like to tell you something more. Mother killed Sheng Li's mother and you also know about this. It was hatred and jealousy, not because she wanted the throne for me. You used to admire him, but I do not know what has happened to your mind. Don't get blind just because of the throne. This is the last time," Jian Guozhi explained to Xue Yu-Yan. 

Xue Yu-Yan peered into his eyes for some time before she queried, "Do you no longer want this throne? Are you going to keep living like a slave to them?"

"What? Slave?!" Jian Guozhi exclaimed and chuckled. "Even though I made a mistake, my father gave me the highest responsibility after the Crown Prince." Xue Yu-Yan curiously looked at him, who continued, "I always did wrong with Sheng Li still, he supported our father when I was given the Governorship of Luoyang. Being the Crown Prince is not the only responsibility of an Empire." 

"Are you saying you are no longer interested in becoming the Crown Prince?" Xue Yu-Yan asked. 

"Does it matter now?" Jian questioned back. 

"You never conversed with me this much, then why today?" Xue Yu-Yan questioned. 

"Because I am here as your husband today. I hope you will keep these things in your mind. If not, I am afraid that you will end up dying," Jian pronounced. "I shall take my leave. Here, this is a special medicine you shall apply over your back. If you really want me to love you then, you need to change, Xue," Jian Guozhi put the tiny medicine box there. He wiped off the tears from her cheek using his thumb and walked out from there. 

Xue Yu-Yan felt a little strange in her heart. The maidservants came there and told her to lie down. Xue Yu-Yan did so and laid on the support of her belly. 

~~~~ 

"Your majesty, you raised the rank of Sister Hui without even consulting me and the other consorts," Weng Wei said as she poured the tea for Han Wenji. 

"I thought all my wives would easily agree to my decision. Like you all, Deng Hui is also close to me," Han Wenji affirmed. 

Weng Wei nodded. "Sister Hui is now a Virtuous Lady which is overwhelming in itself," Weng Wei proclaimed.

"Empress Wei, I heard that Princess Consort Xue schemed against the Crown Princess. Did you handle the matter? Han Wenji questioned. 

"His majesty does not need to trouble himself. I have already cleared the matter," Weng Wei replied. Han Wenji smiled and sipped the tea. 

Putting the cup on the table, Han Wenji said, "I want to meet Princess Consort Xue. Pass her my message." Weng Wei drew her brows together but quickly turned normal. 

"Your majesty, I think the Crown Prince shall have one more wife. It is to strengthen his position for the throne," Weng Wei requested the Emperor. 

"The Crown Prince wants to have only one wife. Let's not intervene in his private life," Han Wenji suggested. Weng Wei nodded her head in agreement. Han Wenji stood up from the chair and so was Weng Wei. "I shall leave. There is an urgent matter which I need to discuss with Prince Jian," Han Wenji asserted. 

Weng Wei with inquisitiveness looked at Han Wenji. "Some major changes are needed in the administration of the Empire. Prince Jian along with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess has come up with a plan," Han Wenji briefed Weng Wei who nodded. 

"Prince is working hard these days. Yesterday, I was informed that he was awake till midnight. I am happy that he is performing his duties well," proclaimed Weng Wei. Han Wenji agreed with her. 

"Prince Jian has most of the responsibilities of the Empire. Being a Governor is itself a big responsibility, even more than the responsibility of a Crown Prince. I am happy to see that my both sons are working together unlike the earlier times," Han Wenji expressed his happiness. 

Weng Wei also faked a smile when Han Wenji said he should take leave and left the Empress's manor. "Jian Guozhi and Sheng Li are working together! Something is wrong with my son," Weng Wei thought. 

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