"I told Her Majesty not to call me for random matters," Sheng Li stated.
"Forgive me, Crown Prince. I am sincerely apologetic for my behavior and actions," Deng Hui lowered her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I neither need your apologies nor I need your thank you. I would like you not to bother me for insignificant matters," Sheng Li urged her and stood up from the cushion. He bowed and turned to leave when Deng Hui stopped him.
She stood up and said, "Crown Prince, you used to call me 'Mother'. For that sake, I ask for your forgiveness."
"I was naive to call you 'Mother'. It is my fault that I missed my mother and felt that love from your side. But not anymore! Please continue your work. I shall take my leave," Sheng Li said and walked away.
Deng Hui felt guilty for her actions. She thought to meet the Crown Princess once and talk regarding this matter.
Sheng Li went straight to meet the First Consort, Ju Fen. Although he knew that she would curse him for taking the life of her son, he still had to fulfill his duty as the Crown Prince. He asked the maidservant to inform the First Consort that the Crown Prince wanted to meet her.
After a while, the maidservant came out. "The Crown Prince can go in," she said humbly. Sheng Li walked in and saw Ju Fen was seated on the floor, dressed in a white dress.
He bowed in front of her and then lifted his head. "The First Consort shall sit on the chaise rather than the floor," Sheng Li suggested to her. Ju Fen tilted her head to meet his gaze.
"Why did it happen? I begged His Majesty but he did not save my son," Ju Fen said. Tears started to pour down her cheeks.
"There was political pressure too. The crime of Prince Yongzheng was unforgivable. You also know why he turned this way," Sheng Li stated.
"Because he felt wrong," Ju Fen retorted.
"Do you think that it was my fault?" Sheng Li asked.
"Does it matter now?" Ju Fen questioned.
"So, you do think this. Consort Ju was at fault too. You should not have taught him wrong. Also, I never took his share. I only made myself stronger to survive among you all. That was my mother's last wish– to become strong. It was not my fault that Prince Yongzheng could not surpass me," stated Sheng Li.
"Consider yourself lucky that the Crown Princess told me not to support the decision of the Ministers to send you to the Cold Palace. The last thing I hope from you is to not plan anything evil against anyone," Sheng Li threatened her.
"I will never plan evil for anyone in the Royal Palace. I have never planned anything. I had never imagined that my son would do such a big thing. I could not even see my son for the last time," asserted Ju Fen and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I want the Crown Prince to do something for me," Ju Fen requested to Sheng Li.
"What does the First Consort want me to do?" Sheng Li queried.
"I want the Crown Prince to send me to the Kunlun Shan mountains. The Emperor is not ready to meet me. I want to spend the rest of my life in the famous monastery in the Mountains," Ju Fen expressed her desire.
"I do not think that the Emperor will agree to this. Also, none of us want you to leave the Palace. Stay here. I might look like a person who does not feel anything, but I do feel. If he had not planned against the Emperor and the Crown Princess, I would have done my best to save him," affirmed Sheng Li.
Ju Fen started to cry again. She averted her gaze from Sheng Li. He stepped back and left the chamber.
"Keep a close check on the First Consort," Sheng Li ordered the maidservant, who bowed her head. He then left to meet Ying Lili, when he encountered the Prime Minister.
They both greeted each other. "A Few Ministers did not like it when the Crown Prince went out of the Palace to meet the general public," the Prime Minister informed Sheng Li.
"What did they say?" Sheng Li questioned.
"They think that the Crown Prince is trying to topple the situation in the Palace. However, I handled it in my own way," the Prime Minister assured Sheng Li, who was not surprised to hear all this. He knew that there would be a few Ministers, who would take it the other way. However, since Ying Lili had requested this, he took the risk to go out.
"The Crown Princess had taken the permission of the Emperor. Also, the Princes and the Princesses have accompanied us," Sheng Li asserted. "The people had made the request. The Crown Princess could not neglect it. Tell the ministers to talk to me directly if they have any issue," He proclaimed.
"I understand, Crown Prince. I will deliver the same message to the Ministers," stated the Prime Minister. Sheng Li nodded his head and took his leave.
"Brother Sheng!" Lei Wanxi called out his name and quickly put his hand around his shoulder.
"Wanxi, you seem happy," Sheng Li said.
"Yes. Zhu Lin's father is here. I want to ask you how to talk to my soon-to-be Father-in-law," Lei Wanxi asked about the opinion of Sheng Li.
"You should not expect me to answer this. You have no idea how I treated my late Father-in-law," Sheng Li muttered as he recalled the past.
"Brother Sheng did not want him to marry his daughter to you. That's why you talked rudely to Sister Lili's father. It was not your fault. You had not even married Sister Lili, yet you started to think about her," Lei Wanxi affirmed. "You only wanted them to be safe," he stated.
"Wanxi, I cannot answer this," Sheng Li replied and yanked his hand away. Lei Wanxi found that Sheng Li was stressed.. Before he could ask him, Sheng Li left.
