Han Wenji entered the Imperial Court, and everyone bowed in his respect. He sat on the throne and looked at the petition in front of him on the desk. Reading the petition, he lifted his head.
"This is the first time the Court started later in the noon. The incident occurred in the morning and the ministers wrote and signed on the petition for the removal of the Governor instead of finding a solution," Han Wenji affirmed and looked at the Prime Minister.
"You could have handled this matter, Prime Minister," asserted Han Wenji.
"Forgive me, your majesty. This matter was out of my reach," the Prime Minister replied. Han Wenji looked at the petition paper and saw the signature of the ministers. Mostly were those Ministers who never wanted Jian Guozhi to take over the Governorship of Luoyang.
"It is said here that the First Prince is from the Wei Family and because of that he should step down from this position," Han Wenji read out from the petition paper in front of him.
"Your Majesty, in just a few months we found out the true face of the Wei Family. First the Prime Minister, then Empress Wei, and now the daughter of the Prime Minister. His Majesty is unaware of the fact that people are speaking in the capital! Last time we respected your decision, but not this time, your majesty. For the nation, his majesty shall remove the First Prince, Jian Guozhi's, from the position of the Governor," Gu Zhenya asserted.
"Your Majesty, please pass the order to the First Prince to step down from his position," the majority of the ministers voiced in unison and bowed.
"Your Majesty, you should not be biased just because the First Prince is your son. The Law and Order of the Han Empire are equal for everyone," pronounced the Minister of Personnel. The Minister of Rites agreed with him.
"Your Majesty, the major Court Ministers do not want the First Prince to be the Governor of Luoyang. Any person from the Wei Family cannot be trusted," the Minister of Rites' direct accusations disheartened Jian Guozhi. He clenched his fists as his value was still nil. No matter how hard he tries, people would look down on him for the wrong his mother and uncle did!
"Your Majesty, this time the Wei Family's daughter did not do anything," Ying Lili pronounced and her voice echoed in the Court. The Ministers turned to look behind while the Emperor and the Princes looked towards the door of the Imperial Court.
Ying Lili walked in while everyone looked at her. She halted right beside the Princes and bowed. "The one who did this is not Princess Consort Xue," Ying Lili affirmed.
"It is a disgrace that a woman has entered a court," Gu Zhenya remarked.
Ying Lili lifted her head and ignored his remark. "Forgive me for intruding in the middle of the court. But the matter was important. I heard from the Palace people how the First Prince was accused just because his mother and uncle were from the Wei Family. That is why I decided to come here. The First Prince is the Royal Son of the Han Dynasty. So, no one shall judge him." Ying Lili proclaimed and glanced at Gu Zhenya.
"My presence here is important because I know the real culprit. By the evening, I will provide the evidence to his majesty," Ying Lili confidently said.
"Pardon me? Why in the evening? Why not now?" The Minister of Personnel questioned.
"I will reveal that later in the evening," Ying Lili stated. "It is the time to be in unison instead of fighting. Your Majesty, I request you to adjourn the court till the evening," Ying Lili extended her arms out and joined them, keeping them at the front.
"It seems the Crown Princess is poor in Politics. We are not fighting instead we want to maintain the strength of the Empire. Your Majesty, a woman's decision in the court is never applicable. I urge you to send the Crown Princess away," Gu Zhenya bowed his head, along with a few other Ministers.
"I am asking for time, Your Majesty. The unjust ruling is equal to defeat from an enemy," Ying Lili did not want to step back. She had realized that a few Ministers still had corrupted minds. They were adamant to remove the First Prince so that the Capital Governorship could come into one of the Minister's hands.
"I have given political rights to the Crown Princess a long time ago. So, no one shall question it. The Crown Princess has gotten the powers because of her exceptional observational skills and decision-making abilities. I have not made Jian Guozhi Governor because he is my son. He knows the politics of Han well. Many times he had prevented the wars with a few kingdoms, which later accepted Han's suzerainty. The Court will again begin in the late evening," Han Wenji pronounced, turning the Court Ministers quiet. He stood up from the throne, left the court before gazing at Jian Guozhi.
Ying Lili turned towards the Ministers. She gazed at Gu Zhenya, who had a grim expression on his face. Nianzu came towards the Crown Princess and asked her about the evidence.
"Be patient, Brother Nianzu. Whoever did this, his true face will be brought out in the evening," Ying Lili assured Nianzu. The Ministers started to leave the Court, whispering among themselves.
Gu Zhenya flapped his sleeves and walked out of the Imperial Court.
Yongzheng and Rong Zemin were astonished by Ying Lili's act. "Crown Princess saved Brother Jian else things could have slipped out of hand. You are right, Crown Princess, it seems someone wants to break the Royal Family," Yongzheng pronounced and looked at Jian Guozhi. He patted his shoulder.
"Who's the real culprit, Crown Princess? The enemy knows that the Wei Family's recent incidents can aid him. That's why he worked evilly this time," concluded Rong Zemin.
"Brother Zemin, I cannot reveal anything so soon. Please be patient," Ying Lili replied and looked at Jian Guozhi. Sheng Li was right when he told the matter to Ying Lili.. The majority of the Court Ministers never supported Jian Guozhi, and that was another reason he badly wanted power.
