"I do not know what her highness meant?" Gao Ting furrowed his brows together.

  "Who is the real shooter, Gao Ting? Do you think you will escape this place or the person who told you that he would help you? No one is going to help you except me. You lied everything to me, Gao Ting," Ying Lili stood up and continued, "Only the Crown Princess token differs and the rest of the Princesses tokens are the same. A Princess is not allowed from the Palace to go out. Three days ago, Princess Consort Xue was with me. Now, tell me who is the person who told you to say all this?" Ying Lili took the sword from Xiao Zhan's hand and pointed it on his neck.

  Gao Ting lowered his head. "Please kill me," he asked the Crown Princess, who ignored his request.

  "Keep investigating him," Ying Lili ordered Commander Yang and handed the sword to Xiao Zhan. "Check his background," Ying Lili stated and walked out of the prison followed by the First Prince.

  Jian Guozhi apologized to Ying Lili. "Because of me, the Crown Princess has to face all these things. My wife always creates trouble." Ying Lili found the guilt in Jian Guozhi's voice.

  "Do you think it was done by Xue Yu-Yan?" Ying Lili asked about his opinion.

  "I think so," Jian Guozhi replied.

  "It's not her doing, Brother Jian," Ying Lili asserted. Jian Guozhi astonishingly glanced at Ying Lili. "What if it's your first wife?" Jian Guozhi knitted his brows.

  "Why would she do this? I know she is greedy for power, but I think it's because she…" Jian Guozhi stopped when he heard the chuckle of Ying Lili.

  "Brother, she had made the plan to hurt me and accuse Xue Yu-Yan in her place. Do you really think she cannot do this? I am afraid I accused your first wife, but there is something Brother Wanxi has noticed about her," asserted Ying Lili. Jian Guozhi gritted his teeth.

  "If it was done by her. I will kill her with my own hands," Jian Guozhi pronounced.

  "Calm down, Brother Jian. Don't let it show to her. I will sneak into her chamber tonight to find out about her identity. Every crime has a clue left behind," proclaimed Ying Lili and halted. Seeing her, Jian Guozhi also stopped. "Keep her busy in the evening. I need to find out what she is in reality? And why is she playing this way with me?" Ying Lili muttered.

  "Do not worry, Crown Princess. I will keep her busy," Jian Guozhi stated. "I have a hunch that she is associated with Tan Gengxin," Ying Lili murmured. She and Jian Guozhi resumed the walk towards the prison house where Xue Yu-Yan was kept.

  The soldier opened the gate for them and the two walked in. Xue Yu-Yan was on the ground, chained in shackles. "Sister Lili," a smile appeared on her face. There were tears on her cheeks. Shifting her gaze to Jian Guozhi, she said, "I am not behind all this. Trust me." It seemed to her that Jian Guozhi doubted her after today's incident. Tears filled her eyes as Jian Guozhi skeptically looked at her.

  Ying Lili went to her and wiped the tears off her eyes. "We know you have not done anything this time. Stay strong. Soon, the real culprit will be out," Ying Lili solaced Xue Yu-Yan, patting her shoulder.

  Ying Lili stood up and looked at Jian Guozhi. "You shall talk to her, Brother Jian," Ying Lili said and walked out of prison.

  "Jian Ge," she stood up but could not go near him because of the shackles in her feet. "I-I did not do anything," Xue Yu-Yan repeated her words.

  "What can I say? Ministers saying it's the Wei Family who always conspire against the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess? How did that paper reach your room? An outsider can't reach the Eastern Palace," asserted Jian Guozhi. The words of Ying Lili roamed in his mind. He thought it would be possible that his both wives joined hands.

  "Someone did this to tarnish the name of the Wei Family. I indeed did not do anything," Xue Yu-Yan asserted.

  "The Crown Princess has trust in you so, I will trust her judgment and help to find the real culprit. But I will not give any hope to you," stated Jian Guozhi and averted his gaze from her.

  Tears rolled over her cheeks. Why was this happening to her? Even her husband did not trust him. It was the worst day of her life. Jian Guozhi turned and walked out of the prison. As he came near the Court, he found how Ministers were looking at him as if he did a crime.

  "We have filed a petition to remove the current Governor. First, his mother and uncle conspired; unruly ruled over us, and now, his wife. The entire Wei Family is corrupted. The Emperor is not doing good by keeping him as the Governor. One day or the other, he would show his true colors. After all, he is the son of a traitor," Minister of Personnel told the Minister of State Affairs.

  "The Emperor is blind to his first son's love," stated Minister Zhong. "Confucian teachings had left no meaning," he added.

  Jian Guozhi looked at them, heard their conversation while ascending the stairs for the Imperial Court. The ministers stopped conversing and went to the Court where the latest signed petition for the removal of the Governor had to be discussed.

  Nianzu passed a tiny smile to Jian Guozhi, who stood beside him. Yongzheng and Rong Zemin had also come there. They greeted each other and waited for the Emperor to come.

  The Ministers stood at their respective places and kept whispering. "First Brother, the Crown Prince is not here. It is going to be tough. Court Ministers are adamant this time to remove you," Yongzheng whispered.

  "Father will give unbiased justice…… Whatever it will be, I will accept that," Jian Guozhi asserted.