Sheng Li glared at Ju Fen as he took steps towards her. "I told you to Consort Dowager Ju not to do anything which will force me to throw you to the Cold Palace," Sheng Li said hoarsely.
"Will the Emperor brief me on the matter and tell me what happened? After your orders, I did not go to Eastern Chamber," Ju Fen pronounced.
"But Consort Dowager Ju went to meet Prince Shi Zhihao, didn't she? Why does Consort Dowager want me to become a Cruel Emperor? Every time I try to pacify things between us, you ruin it. I know that you hate me, but at least think about Princess Bai Yaling and her child," Sheng Li said in a loud voice.
Nianzu intervened and told him to calm down.
"Your Majesty, I did not meet Prince Shi Zhihao. Why would I meet him?" Ju Fen queried Sheng Li. Her eyes filled with tears. "I might seem like a bad person because I lost my son. However, I do respect the choice of my late husband. After the Emperor reminded me of his wish, I had put a thought on it. I did not do anything this time. I did not meet Prince Shi Zhihao," Ju Fen pronounced.
Nianzu bowed before Sheng Li. "Your Majesty, Consort Dowager Ju will never go against the orders of the Emperor. Please calm down a bit. Prince Shi Zhihao does not want to marry Princess Bai. It's good that he truthfully expressed his thoughts," Nianzu calmly told him.
Sheng Li was still suspicious of Ju Fen. He still had her words in mind that she wanted to keep Bai Yaling's child. She did not want her to get married.
"Think about the youngest Prince, Your Majesty. For him, his mother is most important at this time," Nianzu explained to Sheng Li, who agreed with him.
"Consort Dowager Ju may leave," Sheng Li said. She thanked her for showing his grace to her. Ju Feb turned and left the chamber with her servants.
"Brother Nianzu, I don't trust the words of Consort Dowager Ju. I will keep an eye on her. If I find out that she has the hands in this, then you will not stop me," Sheng Li gazed at Nianzu. "It's not a request but an order," He affirmed.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Nianzu answered and lifted his head. "However, if the suspicions of His Majesty go wrong, then he will apologize to Consort Dowager Ju," Nianzu said with a confident tone.
"An Emperor never apologizes," Sheng Li answered.
Nianzu chuckled to hear. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but you are a son before an Emperor. Did His Majesty not call himself as the son of every wife of our late father?" Nianzu reminded him. "He needs to apologize to Consort Dowager Ju if he finds out that she was not behind all this," he asserted.
"I understand, Brother Nianzu," Sheng Li replied. "Where is Brother Jian? He was absent from the court too. Is everything okay?" Sheng Li asked him.
"He has gone out for some work. He will report to you by this evening," Nianzu replied.
"Okay. I need to go to Lili. She does not eat lunch without me," Sheng Li asserted. Nianzu nodded his head and bowed. Sheng Li walked past him. Once the Emperor left, Nianzu left for his chamber.
~~~~
Wang Hao returned to the Palace and visited the Emperor. Eunuch Xing-Fu informed him that Sheng Li had gone to have lunch with the Empress.
"What about Princess Bai? How is she?" Wang Hao asked him.
"Princess Bai is in her chamber," Xing-Fu answered him.
Wang Hao nodded and thought to meet Bai Yaling once. He went to the Eastern Palace. Upon reaching there, he told one maidservant to inform Bai Yaling about his visit. She walked in and came out after a while.
"Princess Bai said that she does not want to meet with anyone," the maidservant replied humbly.
"Tell Princess Bai that General Wang has something to say to her," Wang Hao stated. "I am going in. It is important for me to converse with her," he said adamantly.
"General Wang, I might get punished for letting you in," the maidservant said humbly. Wang Hao understood and stepped back.
"Is she okay?" Wang Hao asked him.
"Princess Bai has been crying for a long time. Earlier, the Princesses had come too to meet her, but she refused to meet any of them," the maidservant answered.
"Isn't this the time for her lunch?" Wang Hao asked her.
"Yes, General Wang. Court Lady Dai was requesting her to take her food, but she refused. If she continues to do this, then I need to inform the Emperor," the maidservant stated.
"What about the Empress Dowager and other Consort Dowagers?" Wang Hao asked her.
"They have gone to the shrine to pray except Consort Dowager Ju, whose entry is prohibited in the Eastern Palace by the Emperor," the maidservant informed him. Wang Hao was stunned to hear that. Something big might have happened the previous night.
After contemplating for a while, Wang Hao said, "Let me go in. I will not let you get punished. Also, the Emperor is having lunch with the Empress, so it is not good to disturb them. This is the command of the General." He pressured the maidservant, who bowed and opened the doors for him.
Wang Hao stepped in and heard the voices of the Court Ladies, who were silently hearing Bai Yaling. "I am not in a mood to eat. I request you to not give me stress. My life is already burdened. Nothing good has left in my life," Bai Yaling said with a gloomy expression.
"Can I have a word with Princess Bai Yaling?" Wang Hao asked, astonishing them. He was standing behind the curtain of the door. Bai Yaling did not expect him to enter her chamber when she had refused.
"I am here as the General of Han. I surely have a higher rank than Princess Bai, that's why I defied her order and walked in," Wang Hao affirmed. "Please give us some privacy," he urged looking at the two Court Ladies, who bowed and walked out of the chamber.
Wang Hao came to the front and faced Bai Yaling, who stood up from the bed.
