Han Wenji was sitting on a chair on the garden pavilion which was made right beside the lake, near the garden. "Your majesty, the Crown Princess wants to meet you," Eunuch Jin informed the Emperor. Han Wenji came out of his thoughts and told Eunuch Jin to bring the Crown Princess there.
Eunuch Jin informed the Crown Princess who ascended the few stairs and went to the Emperor. She bowed and greeted the Emperor. Han Wenji smiled seeing Ying Lili there. "Have a seat, Crown Princess," Han Wenji told Ying Lili who thanked him and sat on the chair next to him.
"Your majesty, how are you doing?" Ying Lili asked.
"I am doing well, Crown Princess. Yesterday, I was told that you were wrongly accused by Princess Consort Xue. I hope you conversed with her and cleared the misunderstandings between you two," Han Wenji looked for an answer in Ying Lili's eyes who nodded.
"I do not think she will try again to do such a thing. It was all because she is under the influence of the Empress," Ying Lili remarked.
"Hmm." "I do not want any kind of rivalry among my sons' wives," Han Wenji affirmed. Ying Lili understood that. It was the main reason she had decided to mingle with Xue Yu-Yan so that she would not take any wrong steps in the future.
"Your majesty, tomorrow the Crown Prince and I are going to the Temple where the Empress does daily prayer," Ying Lili pronounced.
Han Wenji with inquisitiveness looked at the Crown Princess. "Is the Crown Princess suspicious of the temple? I have checked the temple myself earlier. Because it was constructed under my eyes, I know everything about that. I do not think there's something which could be of help," Han Wenji proclaimed.
"Your majesty, still, I believe I shall check the place once. What if we find something which can be proven helpful to us!!" Ying Lili had hoped that they would definitely find out something. Han Wenji, after thinking for a few minutes, gave a nod.
"The Crown Princess knows better. I also wish the same," Han Wenji asserted.
"Your majesty, it was good to see mother Hui in the selection hall. His majesty made a good decision to increase her rank," Ying Lili stated.
"It was difficult though, but at last, the ministers agreed. Thanks to Prince Jian this all happened," Han Wenji said with a smile. Ying Lili was astonished to hear that.
"Prince Jian has a hand in this?" Ying Lili queried and waited for the Emperor's response.
"Indeed," Han Wenji replied. "Keep it a secret, Crown Princess," Han Wenji told Ying Lili who nodded.
"Sheng Li and Jian Guozhi both deserve to be the next monarch. Since Jian Guozhi is older, he has full rights to the throne, but because of Weng Wei, I do not want to hand him the throne. Sheng Li has the support of the military and many governors. I know he will be an ideal king, but only when the Crown Princess will show him the right path," Han Wenji asserted.
"Why is his majesty speaking like this? It will take a lot of time for Sheng Li to be there," Ying Lili said.
"I am getting old. These days, I am not feeling good, and it seems my time will soon come. But before that, I want to punish Weng Wei for killing my beloved and torturing my son. That's why I am emphasizing on you to find the person who's aiding her. I will then pass the throne to Sheng Li to rule over the Empire," Han Wenji expressed his deep desires.
Ying Lili flinched for a second. Although she had only a few conversations with the Emperor, it always provided her a warm feeling, as if she was talking with her own father. The Emperor had always protected her like a daughter. It brought tears to her eyes when Han Wenji said that he was getting old because, after the demise of her parents, she did not want to lose anyone anymore.
"His majesty will live a long life!" Ying Lili said, controlling the tears in her eyes which could have fallen anytime. "Your majesty, I will come to meet you daily. It feels good when I talk to you. It feels as if I am talking to my own father," Ying Lili veraciously said.
Han Wenji passed a smile to Ying Lili. "I will feel good if the Crown Princess comes by," stated Han Wenji. Suddenly, he started coughing. Ying Lili stood up from her seat and grabbed the water jug, which was placed on a table there. She poured the water into the glass and handed it to Han Wenji, who quickly drank the water.
Ying Lili put the glass back on the table and came to her seat. "Your majesty, you are a strong father who, despite all the evil things going around the Palace, has kept the Royal family intact," stated Ying Lili.
"But, I failed to develop between my sons. A few support Sheng Li, while a few hate him; same with Jian Guozhi. They are divided. Crown Princess, when I heard about you, I did not give a second thought and called your father to meet me personally because I was assured that if there is someone who can unite them, it is the Crown Princess," asserted Han Wenji.
"Your majesty, what if I were a different person," Ying Lili skeptically asked.
"I have checked everything about the Crown Princess," Han Wenji answered.
Ying Lili had seen it herself. Sheng Li had a good relationship with Lei Wanxi and Nianzu, but he was cold to the rest of the brothers. It was not his fault still, after getting the Crown, he should take everyone with him, according to Ying Lili. Now, because Han Wenji had raised this concern, Ying Lili had thought to do work on that as well.
"Your majesty, I will bring the seven brothers together," Ying Lili gave her words to the Emperor who trusted her.
"I know the Crown Princess will do that," Han Wenji asserted and rested his hand on his chest. Ying Lili noticed that but before she could ask, Eunuch Jin came there, telling the Emperor that the Empress was waiting for him for lunch.
Han Wenji stood up, so did Ying Lili. "It was a nice conversation with the Crown Princess," the Emperor walked away, leaving Ying Lili behind.
"Hu Jingguo is gone to Juyan else I would have told him to check the Emperor once. I shall meet with the Royal Physician regarding the Emperor's health," Ying Lili murmured. She looked at the lake once before leaving the garden pavilion.
