The Empress and the Consorts arrived in the chamber of the Emperor. They had tears in their eyes. They got on the large bed and sat beside Han Wenji.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling good?" Deng Hui asked with a trembling voice.
"I wish I could, but I-I am feeling pain," Han Wenji said as he coughed a little. She put the handkerchief on his lips and wiped the cough and blood with it.
Han Wenji tilted his head to look at Nianzu, who had kept a calm face in front of him. He also got on his knees and waited for his father to speak.
"Be a good advisor for the next Emperor and everyone around you. Forgive your father for sending you away. It delighted me when you came back. I had thought of seeing your marriage, but I made a mistake by sending you away." Nianzu shook his head as he held the hands of his father.
"Don't say this. I troubled you a lot during this one month. Father gave everything to me," Nianzu asserted. The tears fell from the edges of his eyes but he wiped them quickly.
Sheng Li reached the chamber and went towards the bed. "Father, you woke up early. You should have taken more rest," he said. He did not let the sadness overpower his face. He then glanced at the Consorts of the Emperor, who had turned emotional.
"Brother Nianzu, Brother Jian. Please step aside. Let the Royal Physician examine our father," Sheng Li stated. They both nodded and gave the way to him. The Royal Physician knew the results but for the assurance of Sheng Li, he decided to examine the Emperor.
"Get close, Sheng Li. I have something important to talk about with you," Han Wenji said and gestured to him to get down. Sheng Li did so and at the same time, gestured to the Royal Physician, who took the left of Han Wenji and started to read the pulse.
"Sheng Li," Han Wenji called his name and took a deep breath.
"Yes, Father," Sheng Li replied.
"I heard earlier that the Crown Princess will bear the twins. Empress Hui and my other dear Consorts, do give my love to those twins," Han Wenji stated while smiling.
"Father, but they will need the love of their grandfather," Sheng Li said in a low voice.
"But I do not think that I will live that long," Han Wenji said. He experienced difficulty breathing again, so he pulled away from his hand from the grip of the Royal Physician. "Now, the examination is not needed," he said. Sheng Li's heart raced upon hearing this and his eyes turned red.
"Father, do you want something? You did not take your meals, right?" Sheng Li asked.
"I want to eat porridge. I want all the Princes to make porridge for me," Han Wenji expressed his desire.
"We will do it," Sheng Li replied and glanced at his brothers. "Let's make porridge for our father," he told them. He stood up from the floor and so did Jian Guozhi and Nianzu.
"We will take care of the Emperor," the Second Consort asserted. All the Princes nodded and left for the Royal Kitchen.
"We have never once cooked anything. What if it tasted weird?" Lei Wanxi asked anxiously.
"It won't. I know how to cook. During my stay outside the palace, I happened to learn cooking from my wife," Nianzu asserted.
"It will probably be our father's last meal. So, let's make it perfect and delicious," Sheng Li urged them.
"Yes, Brother Sheng. We need to make our father happy so that he would have no regret left behind," affirmed Rong Zemin.
~~~~~
Han Wenji looked at his wives. "Your Majesty, do you want to drink water? Your lips have dried," Jinlong asked him.
Han Wenji refused by gesturing through his hand. "There is something I want my wives to do after I leave," Han Wenji stated. "I never discriminated amongst my sons. I want the same from my wives. I want this family to stay strong all the time," Han Wenji proclaimed.
"You all are dear to me. Consort Ju, give all your love to Weng Yu. He will soon enter the age of a teenager. You need to take extreme care of him. The same goes for my other wives. The youngest prince is in fear of seeing me in this state. I had never imagined that he would see me like this.
Other than this, listen to your sons. Respect their decisions. Empress Hui, Chuntao is a smart and calm woman like our son. Don't let her feel foreign in the Palace. Also, I want the widow of Yongzheng to get married. Do discuss it with Sheng Li. Do not show hatred towards my first son and his wife.
Give extra attention to the Crown Princess. Her health shall never be compromised. Give all of my love to her children. When my future grandkids ask about me, then just bring them here and show my portrait to them. Tell them my eyes are always on them," Han Wenji said as tears rolled over his cheeks.
"Eunuch Jin, you have been a close friend to me all these years. You always were with me and as a loyal servant, you never once let me be disappointed. I remember the day you entered my chamber," Han Wenji said and started to laugh.
Eunuch Jin started to cry upon hearing those words of the Emperor. He was with the Emperor from the age of 12.
"Your Majesty, forgive me for my mistakes. His Majesty never let me feel that I am a lowly servant," he said as he cried profusely.
"I thought of going to Mount Tai with you. However, I don't go there anymore. Make sure to go to Mount Tai. I will feel happy," Han Wenji stated.
"I want to have a few words with the Crown Princess," Han Wenji expressed his desire.. Eunuch Jin quickly wiped his eyes and went to the Crown Princess's quarters to bring her.
