After two days, Sheng Li visited the chamber of his father. Upon his request, his father's belongings were kept at their place. He reminisced about past days with his father and it brought tears to his eyes. Eunuch Jin came towards him and bowed.

"Your Highness, this is the letter that the late Emperor had kept for you," asserted Eunuch Jin. Sheng Li took it from him, who turned to leave. He stopped him from leaving and apologized to him.

Eunuch Jin got confused when he heard Sheng Li.

"I suspected the loyalty of Eunuch Jin towards my father. I forgot that Eunuch Jin could never betray my father. You lived your entire life within the walls of this chamber," he said, looking around the chamber, "Never once have you left your eyes from my father. Thank you, Eunuch Jin. You can ask me anything you want."

"The Crown Prince is embarrassing me. The Late Emperor never let me feel low. Giving him the service was my duty. Your Highness, I do not need anything. I will leave for Mount Tai after a few days. My master wanted to go to Mount Tai with me," Eunuch Jin said humbly. Throughout the conversation, his eyes were lowered.

Sheng Li could not stop himself but hugged Eunuch Jin. "That's great. Do inform me before your departure," he pulled away.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Eunuch Jin said and walked out of the chamber. Sheng Li went towards the bed and moved his hand over the mattress. Spending some time in his father's chamber, Sheng Li went to the chamber of Ying Lili.

The last two days were heavy on her. She got not only sick but weak. This also had worried Sheng Li. He went inside and asked Court Lady Ki about the Crown Princess.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess is sleeping at the moment," asserted Court Lady Ki. Sheng Li hummed and told her to leave the chamber. She stepped back and walked out of the chamber. Sheng Li sat down on the mattress beside Ying Lili. He caressed her head and then planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Forgive me for not being able to take good care of you," Sheng Li murmured and took her one hand in his. He caressed it and brought it closer to his lips. Kissing on her knuckles, he put it down. He remained in that position until Ying Lili woke up from her sleep.

Sheng Li passed a tiny smile to her. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Better than the previous day," Ying Lili answered and sat up.

"You should lay down. Take a good rest and don't take stress," Sheng Li told her.

Ying Lili rested her head on Sheng Li's shoulder. "It was unexpected, Sheng Li," she said. "However, father was in so much pain. The infection had spread throughout his body and it was impossible to save him," stated Ying Lili.

"Hmm."

"The Empire needs you. What are your plans, Sheng Li? Also, Father had handed me his will long ago," Ying Lili asserted and lifted her head. Sheng Li inquisitively looked at her. "Those times the First and the Third Prince were not good. So, father thought that they might forcefully take the will from him," asserted Ying Lili.

"I will take the seat of the Emperor on the day after tomorrow," Sheng Li informed Ying Lili. "You will be the Empress. Are you ready to hold my hand in the biggest responsibility of my life?" Sheng Li queried her.

She nodded her head. "I am," she replied and placed her palm over his cheek.

~~~~~

Nianzu moved the brush over the blank sheet that had been placed over the desk when Chuntao came to him. She saw the sheet was blank and it confused him.

"Prince Nianzu, what are you thinking?" She asked and sat down on the cushion.

"About Brother Sheng. He has turned quieter," Nianzu replied.

"Everyone is! The Empire is mourning the death of its great Emperor. Give some time to the Crown Prince," Chuntao stated.

"Chun, Brother Sheng was not the type of person, who would get affected by his situation. However, after the death of his two close friends, a sudden change was visible in Brother Sheng. Many did fail to notice that but he got affected badly by their deaths especially Hu Jingguo's death. When Hu Jingguo was alive, he even saved our father's ailment from getting spreading in the body," Nianzu explained to Chuntao and knitted his brows. He put the brush on the brush stand and said, "I need to converse with him. I need to know what's going on in his head."

"Prince Nianzu should talk to the Crown Prince. Also, he should meet his mother," Chuntao proclaimed. "She needs her son at this difficult time. Prince Nianzu did not talk to him after the demise of the late Emperor," she said.

"Why shall I meet her? She also wanted to kill him once. Didn't she think about this that time?" Nianzu suddenly turned furious. "What's the use of mourning for my father when she never loved him? She would not have even thought of poisoning him if she had loved him," Nianzu stated.

"That must be because of her frustration. Her son suddenly left and--"

"Even if her son had left suddenly, she should not have dared to harm him," Nianzu cut her in the middle. "She did wrong, Chun. Father gave her everything. You also know what does it mean to be a concubine. Weng Wei troubled her but my mother was no less than her. Father made her the Empress because she was always deprived of her rights. Yet she did not care for that. I won't go to her," Nianzu announced his decision.

"You told me that forgiveness is the greatest treasure that a person possesses. Can't you forgive her once?" She asked him.

"If a crime could have been stopped with forgiveness, then no one would be deemed guilty and be forgiven easily," Nianzu retorted back. "A coin has two sides. My mother did wrong, thought wrong. So, she has to bear this too.. She has lost the respect and love from her son forever," Nianzu affirmed.

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