"Your highness, the Empress is dead," a servant informed Jian Guozhi, who was restlessly pacing in his chamber. When he heard this news, tears rolled down his cheeks. He had promised her that he would not see her when she would be hanged to death. However, at this moment, he could not stop himself and ran outside. Zhilao Mi, who had just arrived, was shocked to see when Jian Guozhi walked past her, ignoring her presence.
He reached the hanging grounds and saw the lifeless body of his mother. The other Princes were standing at an elevated tower, watching it. The Emperor was standing with his other wives while the ministers were standing at a raised platform.
'Meimei, forgive me for giving you this justice so late,' Han Wenji told himself and looked at Sheng Li.
Jian Guozhi went towards the body of his mother and placed her head on his lips. "Mother," he called out to her as his tears fell over her cheeks. He hugged his mother tightly. "Forgive me," he said.
"Brother Sheng, this was really cruel. You could have stopped our father from taking such a decision," Yongzheng pronounced. Sheng Li glanced at him but kept quiet.
"The Empress's crimes were not forgivable. If there was someone else in her place then the Emperor should have taken the same decision. A king has to put his emotions aside to deliver justice," Nianzu answered on behalf of Sheng Li.
"This way he would kill us, too. Brother, I did not want to say this but-" Yongzheng stopped as he saw the intense gaze of Sheng Li on him. He felt a little intimidated because he recalled the time when he scourged Sheng Li. He walked away from there without completing his words.
The Emperor left, followed by his wives. After a while, the Princes too left except the Crown Prince. He was looking at Jian Guozhi, who was profusely crying. He descended the stairs and went towards Jian Guozhi. Halting beside him, Sheng Li bent down on his right knee. His right hand rested on it and then he said, "Do her last rites."
Two servants came forward and took away the body of the Empress. Sheng Li placed his left hand on the shoulder of Jian Guozhi. He patted it several times and finally looked at him.
"Now, I can feel now what you felt all these years. I-I s-should has…" his voice choked, so he stopped speaking. Sheng Li helped him in standing up by holding his arm.
Sheng Li's eyes fell on Ying Lili who had come there with Court Lady Xu. Zhilao Mi has also reached there and seen her husband in this state, her heart sank. "This was the only way to stop her," suddenly Jian Guozhi said and peered at Sheng Li, who broke his eye lock from Ying Lili and looked at him.
"She did not even hug me for the last time. She hates me for doing this with her. I will be called a callous son. I will not be able to get off this weird feeling." Jian Guozhi was guilty for exposing her mother's truth in front of the world.
"Let's see her last rites. As a son, you should do it," Sheng Li proclaimed. Jian Guozhi wiped the tears off his eyes and left with Sheng Li.
Ying Lili knitted her brows and looked at Zhilao Mi, who was concerned about her husband. "Your highness, you shall get back to your chamber. The Crown Prince will get angry for not taking care of you," Court Lady Xu requested Ying Lili.
Zhilao Mi turned to face Ying Lili and bowed. She came near her. "Forgive me for not meeting you till now, Crown Princess. It is good that the Crown Princess recovered. My husband was a little worried to see you in that state."
Ying Lili frowned because of the way Zhilao Mi was speaking. She skeptically observed her.
"He saved the life of the Crown Princess then, her highness should have spared his mother," Zhilao's statement was out of the blue.
"It was not my decision, Sister Mi. Moreover, the crimes of Brother Jian's mother were punishable. She killed the former Empress by poisoning her. She tried to kill the Crown Prince many times. I am afraid I could not object to the decision of His Majesty," asserted Ying Lili. "I am thankful for what Brother Jian did to me," Ying Lili later added, after a pause.
"I think the Crown Princess did not get the meaning of my words," Zhilao Mi stated as a chuckle escaped her mouth. Ying Lili was utterly confused by this behavior of hers. "I never objected to the Crown Princess nor did I have any problem with her acts. But today, my husband cried. A person like him went against his own mother just because of you. Crown Princess, everything was going well until you entered the Palace. The kindness of yours which people talk about is merely a show." Zhilao Mi was a little baffled by Ying Lili.
"Lady Mi, you cannot talk this way to the Crown Princess," Court Lady Xu intervened. "Please apologize to her," she added.
"It's fine, Court Lady Xu," Ying Lili proclaimed while keeping her gaze intact on Zhilao Mi.
"I will let this go, Sister Mi. I will pretend that I never heard it. I know that you are hurt seeing the First Brother in that state. I wish I could help, but delivering justice was also important. Forgiving the wrong increases it and it does not stop with those people who already have committed numerous crimes. I hope Sister Mi will be careful next time. I shall take my leave," Ying Lili turned and walked away.
Oppositely, Jian Guozhi performed the last rites of his mother. Han Wenji came there with Eunuch Jin and put a flower over the mound, under which Weng Wei was buried. He came to Jian Guozhi, patted his shoulder, and walked away while coughing.
Sheng Li noticed his father's deteriorating health, which worried him. "I would like to be alone, Brother Sheng," Jian Guozhi requested him. Sheng Li hummed and left the burial grounds.
