Ying Lili opened her eyes and brought her fingers to her eyes. Rubbing them, she recalled last night's incident where she was with Sheng Li, kissed him, and blacked out. She turned her head and found Sheng Li beside her, sleeping.

  Placing her palm over his cheek, she caressed it. Sheng Li gradually opened his eyes when Ying Lili pulled her hand back. "Did I disturb your sleep?" Ying Lili knitted her brows.

  "Your touch is like a feather," Sheng Li stated. He moved closer to Ying Lili and embraced her. "You fell asleep last night. Why did you even ask to drink wine!?" Sheng Li was disappointed.

  "I did not know it would happen. You also stopped drinking wine, so I thought to drink with you. But I was in my senses," Ying Lili tried proving herself.

  Sheng Li moved the back of his index finger on her nose and put it under her chin. "A drunk person is not in his senses. I did not want to do anything to you in that drunkard state," Sheng Li proclaimed and captured her lips. He pulled back and again kissed her. He did the same while Ying Lili giggled.

  "What are you doing?" She complained while giggling. Sheng Li leaned back. He was happy to see her smile. Last night when she cried before passing out, his heart sank. Ying Lili stopped laughing after a while.

  "We shall freshen up," Ying Lili suggested.

  Sheng Li raised his eyebrow, and a grin appeared on his face. "Wash me up then. It has been a while since we bathed together," Sheng Li suggested while playing with her hair strands.

  Ying Lili, after thinking for a while agreed with him. Sheng Li called in Xing-Fu and told him to escort Ying Lili to Zhenzhu Inn. Xing-Fu waited for Ying Lili at the door. A few minutes later, she came outside and left with him.

  Sheng Li tied the knot of his robes when a maidservant came inside. "Your highness, the Second Royal Physician has sent a message. He has prepared the medicine and is waiting for you to give your orders to feed the medicine to his majesty."

  "He is permitted," ordered Sheng Li.

  The maidservant bowed and walked out of the chamber. 'I just pray that this medicine will effectively cure my father's illness,' Sheng Li told himself, and went to the washroom.

  Hu Jingguo was seated in front of the Emperor on a bamboo stool received the order of the Crown Prince. He put the powder on a spoon. Dipping the tip of his finger in the water bowl, he poured the drop over the spoon, thus mixing it with the powder.

  Eunuch Jin was keenly observing Hu Jingguo. "Your Majesty, it is ready. Please open your mouth," Hu Jingguo humbly requested as he stood up from the stool, forwarding the spoon to Han Wenji.

  The Emperor opened his mouth and sipped the medicine. It was bitter, so he squeezed his eyes tightly. Immediately Hu Jingguo brought the silver glass closer to Han Wenji's mouth. "Drink this, your majesty." Han Wenji grabbed the glass and drank the water quickly. Eunuch Jin caressed the back of the Emperor as he drank the water.

  He handed the glass to Hu Jingguo, who took the glass and put it on the table. "In the beginning, it will take time. But once it starts doing its work, his majesty illness be cured," affirmed Hu Jingguo. Han Wenji nodded and laid back on the bed.

  Eunuch Jin thanked Hu Jingguo, who smiled and said, "It is my duty. You do not need to express your gratitude, Eunuch Jin." Han Wenji was impressed seeing the generosity of Hu Jingguo. He met only a few people with such quality. "Juyan City indeed has some of the finest jewels in it," Han Wenji pronounced. "Physician Hu, what do your parents do? They must be proud of their son," Han Wenji smiled.

  "They were slaves, your Majesty." The smile on his lips slowly faded away. Han Wenji and Eunuch Jin were shocked to learn the truth.

  "A slave can never get free from his master. Then, how did you get free?" Eunuch Jin questioned. In those times, a child born from slaves would always be a slave with no rights.

  "The Crown Princess saved me from my oppressive master. My parents died after they got punished. I do not even remember what crime they have done that they got thrashed so brutally. They succumbed to injuries," Hu Jingguo asserted.

  "What is the occupation of your master, and what is his name?" Han Wenji asked.

  "He is the reputed Landlord in the capital of Juyan. His name is Kong Peng," Hu Jingguo replied.

  "Did the late King of Juyan punish him?" Han Wenji queried.

  Hu Jingguo stared at the Emperor for a few seconds before lowering his head. "I am a born slave, your majesty. A King cannot punish the Landlord because of a slave. I am delighted by the fact that he, on the Crown Princess's request, bought me at a higher price and freed me from that oppression," Hu Jingguo proclaimed.

  "Eunuch Jin, send the message to the Governor of Juyan City. Free the slaves from this Landlord and publicly thrash him. Her entire property will be seized. Snatch the rights of the Landlord from him and make him and his entire family serve in the Governor's residence as the servants," Han Wenji passed his judgment. Hu Jingguo widened his eyes upon hearing all this.

  "Your Majesty, this was not needed. I request his majesty to take his order back."

  "Hu Jingguo, you saved the life of the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and also you found the cure for my disease. This is the way I can repay you. Your selfless acts made me take this decision," Han Wenji said with a smile. Hu Jingguo nodded but somewhere he felt he did wrong by telling his past to the Emperor because the Landlord's family would also be punished. However, he was happy as well because his parents would rest in peace and many other slaves who were exploited by the Landlord.

  "I shall take my leave, Your Majesty. Please take a good rest. I will come at noon to give his majesty the second dose." Hu Jingguo stood up and bowed before leaving the chamber.

  ~~~~~

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