Sheng Li got on his knees and grasped his father's hands. "Until you are alive, you will be the Emperor. I cannot take this throne. I will work on your behalf, but I won't take the seat of my father," Sheng Li asserted.

Han Wenji smiled upon hearing his words. "Your father has gotten sick, Sheng Li. Also, there is no guarantee till when I will breathe. My illness shall not affect the Empire and its working," Han Wenji asserted. "Sit on the bed," he told Sheng Li, who immediately sat on the mattress.

"The Empire will not get affected, Father. Also, do not say that you will leave us. Who knows a miracle will happen, and Father will live longer," Sheng Li said. He still had the hopes that his father would live longer. Ying Lili stood up from the chaise as she felt that Sheng Li would break down anytime.

"You suffered a lot, Sheng Li, yet you grew up so beautifully. Just like your mother imagined her son, you grew up into that person. I will tell her about you when I meet her in the afterworld. I will tell her that Sheng Li never once forgot her values and protected everyone around him." Han Wenji's words teared up Sheng Li. He could not control his tears anymore.

Looking into the eyes of his father, he said, "Don't talk li-like this." His voice quivered with the fear of losing his father. Han Wenji embraced Sheng Li warmly. Seeing Sheng Li crying, Weng Yu started to cry too. Everyone had turned emotional.

"I am happy, Sheng Li. Be a great Emperor and embrace everyone with your warm heart. My last wish is to lay beside the grave of your mother. I will rest in peace, then," Han Wenji asserted while caressing the back of Sheng Li, who was weeping like a child.

Han Wenji's eyes started to close. He had held this much to say those things to his son. Gradually his father's eyes got closed. The hands which were on Sheng Li's back came down on their own as his soul left his body.

Sheng Li felt weird the moment his father's hands left his back. He gently pulled away and saw his father's closed eyes. "Father! Father! What happened?" He got scared as Han Wenji did not open his eyes.

"Royal Physician, step up. Check the father," Sheng Li stated. The Empress and the Consorts broke into tears. They started to cry. The Royal Physician lowered his eyes as the Emperor had already taken his last breath.

Sheng Li tilted his head. He glared at him and told him to step forward. Jian Guozhi went towards Sheng Li and put his hands on his shoulders. "Father is no more," he told him and lowered his eyes.

Nianzu and Rong Zemin came forward. They let go of Han Wenji from Sheng Li and laid him on the bed. The wives of Han Wenji snuggled to his body as they cried loudly. Sheng Li hugged Jian Guozhi while weeping. "Father left us," he murmured.

Ying Lili fainted because of the weakness. "Crown Princess," shouted Court Lady Xu as she had held her from behind. Sheng Li quickly left the embrace of the First Prince and ran towards Ying Lili. He patted her cheeks. The Royal Physician came to them and checked her up.

"She needs plenty of rest," the Royal Physician suggested to Sheng Li, who carried up Ying Lili in his arms and left for the Zhenzhu Residence. Dropping Ying Lilii in her quarters, Sheng Li commanded Court Lady Xu and the Royal Physician to keep a close check on her.

He came back to his father's manor and heard the cries. He saw his father's lifeless body and again started crying. He has hopes till the end that his father would live more. Lei Wanxi came to him and hugged him tightly. "Brother," he murmured as he kept crying.

After the announcement of three days of mourning in the entire Kingdom, the people came to the roads to cry for the demise of their Emperor. Even the sky ended up crying and rain poured down. The flags of the Kingdom and the Military were taken down.

Everyone was dressed in white robes, white headgears, and white sandals. The Emperor was dressed in colorful robes and put inside the coffin. The coffin was filled with items that would be helpful for the Emperor in the afterlife.

As the casket lowered down into the ground, many tears were shed. Sheng Li stepped forward thus, the umbrella covering him was no longer over his head. There were many things he wanted to do for his father but he was late now. Ying Lili, who had gained consciousness, was also present during this funeral ceremony. She went towards him, holding the oil paper umbrella. She covered Sheng Li with it, who tilted his head.

He was a little drenched in the rain. Ying Lili grasped his hand and looked towards the burial place of Han Wenji. Sheng Li too shifted his gaze towards it. The soil had soon covered the casket.

The rain soon stopped. The wives were taken away to their respective quarters while the others started to leave the ground. Sheng Li told Ying Lili to go back and rest, who refused. "I will stay with you," she urged.

"There are two more lives inside you," Sheng Li said and looked at Xing-Fu.

"Take back the Crown Princess. I will be back soon," he ordered him. Sheng Li looked at Ying Lili and said, "Do take your meals even if you do not want to." Ying Lili found that he wanted to be alone for some time, so she did not argue and left with Eunuch Xing-Fu for her quarters.

Sheng Li looked back at the graves of his mother and father. Wang Hao put his hand on Sheng Li's shoulder and patted it. "I wish I could have ended the bitterness among us brothers earlier. At least, Father would not have been under stress because of the enmity among his sons," Sheng Li regretted his actions.

"You did your best. His Majesty is at peace now... beside his beloved. He always wanted to meet her," Wang Hao asserted. Sheng Li lowered his head and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. Wang Hao put his arm around his shoulder. "Be strong and act like the real Sheng Li. Death is a bitter truth which one needs to accept no matter what," he told her.

Sheng Li nodded his head. "I won't ever let my father be disappointed," affirmed Sheng Li.

~~~~~

Hello Dear Readers!

Hope you all are doing well. I have already hinted earlier too that the book will end soon with a few side stories in it about the characters involved in the story. The story will end probably by the end of January or so. 

I want a small opinion from you all regarding the sequel. I am planning to have a sequel of this story circa the 20th Century period. Please do tell me your opinions. I will patiently wait for your comments. 

THANK YOU

HAPPY READING

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