Deng Hui was getting ready for the morning greetings. The chief palace maid put the phoenix crown overhead. The Empress smiled looking at herself. "Your Majesty, there is a message from Minister Gu Zhenya for you," the Court Lady informed her and handed her the folded paper.

  'I do not know how to read then why did he send such a message?' Deng Hui wondered. She told the Court Lady to bring Eunuch Zhen inside, who bowed and walked out. Deng Hui stood up from the chair, and the maidservant helped her wearing the overcoat.

  Eunuch Zhen came inside with the Court Lady and bowed. Deng Hui told the chief Palace maid and the maidservant to leave. They gradually stepped back and left the chamber. Deng Hui handed the letter to Eunuch Zhen. "Read it," she said.

  Eunuch Zhen nodded his head and started to read. "Your Majesty, I cannot work for you anymore. We cannot win against the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Also, I am… I am taking my life," Eunuch Zhen stuttered, and his hands trembled in fear.

  Deng Hui was shocked to hear this.

  "Your Majesty, I got the news a few minutes ago that last night a fire broke out in the main house of the Gu Residence. Minister Gu is dead, and many of the soldiers, servants are also dead," Eunuch Zhen pronounced.

  Deng Hui could not believe her ears. However, she got suspicious over the letter. What could be the meaning of sending a message to her? "Leave," she told them before taking the letter from Eunuch Zhen. She lowered herself on the chaise and looked at the message.

  "Did by any chance Sheng Li find out about our plan? Did he kill Gu Zhenya? He was not someone who would kill himself," Deng Hui suspected.

  "Eunch Zhen, Eunuch Zhen!" Deng Hui called him out, who quickly came inside.

  "I want to see Gu Zhenya's body. Inform the physician to examine his body," Deng Hui ordered him.

  "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty but the body of Minister Gu is burned. The physician could not examine the body because of the high proportion of burn levels on the body," Eunuch Zhen explained to Deng Hui, who sighed. She stood up and left for the Greeting Hall.

  She met the Emperor and wished him a morning. "Empress Hui is looking beautiful today," Han Wenji complimented her

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, for this beautiful dress," Deng Hui bowed and lifted her head. The two went inside the Greeting Hall and sat on the throne, followed by the other three Consorts.

  "Your Majesty, thank you for gifting the precious jewelry to us three. After such a long time, we received such pretty gifts from you," Consort Ju Fen thanked the Emperor on the behalf of three of them.

  "Haha," Han Wenji laughed. "I am glad that you all liked the gifts. These few months were not good for us," asserted Han Wenji. His wives agreed with him when the Princes started to come.

  They kowtowed before the Emperor, the Empress, and the Consorts with their respective wives. They all took their respective seats. "The First Prince and his wife are not here," Deng Hui looked towards the grand door.

  "Prince Jian and his wife have gone to Mount Jishi. The Prince informed me before leaving," asserted Han Wenji. Deng Hui nodded and looked at Sheng Li.

  "How is the Crown Prince doing?" The sudden question of Deng Hui amused Sheng Li and Ying Lili. "The Crown Prince has recently lost two people close to you, that is why I am asking," she clarified herself.

  "I am good, Imperial Mother." Sheng Li passed a tiny smile to her.

  "I heard that yesterday that the Crown Prince punished Prince Wanxi and Princess Zhu Lin," Deng Hui stated. Consort Jinlong narrowly gazed at Sheng Li.

  "That was necessary, Imperial Mother," Sheng Li replied.

  "The Crown Princess got a tiny scratch and the Crown Prince punished his younger brother without any thought. Also, he did not hesitate to punish Princess Zhu Lin whose father always protected his majesty. When King Huan will find out this then he might not feel good," Deng Hui affirmed and looked at Lei Wanxi. "Prince Wanxi looks pale after getting the punishment," stated Deng Hui.

  "The Crown Prince forgets about his blood relationships in front of the Crown Princess," Consort Ju Fen proclaimed and looked at Han Wenji. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince might harm our sons and daughters-in-law in the future. His Majesty shall look into this," Consort Ju Fen urged. Zhu Lin looked at Lei Wanxi, who was getting furious.

  "Princess Zhu Lin and I made a mistake and we got punished. I do not have any complaint regarding Brother Sheng's actions, so why is Mother Ju bothered about this," Lei Wanxi pronounced. Yongzheng and Rong Zemin smiled as they were aware of Lei Wanxi's loyalty and love towards Sheng Li.

  "Son, you do not care about this, but I do. How can the Crown Prince do this with his younger brother and a woman?" Consort Jinlong was angry at Sheng Li.

  "The Crown Prince did nothing wrong. It was not a punishment but more like a lesson to the Sixth Prince and Princess Zhu, Your Majesty. They both have been on bitter terms with each other and-" Ying Lili defended Sheng Li in front of everyone and then looked at Lei Wanxi followed by Zhu Lin. She continued, "-and always fights. The Crown Prince only wanted them to learn a few things through the punishments so that in future, they both will not repeat such a thing."

  Lei Wanxi agreed with Ying Lili. "Father, Sister Lili is absolutely right. It was not a punishment but more like a lesson for me. I always ran away from physical training and work. However, yesterday when I went to the dye house with Princess Zhu Lin, I found how much I lack in the physical aspect. Also, I learned another important lesson- to work in a team." He looked at Zhu Lin and in front of everyone apologized to her.

  "Even I was at fault, Prince Wanxi. Forgive me too," Zhu Lin apologized to him and then looked at Han Wenji. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's punishment was not a punishment. It made us learn and also ended the bitterness between me and the Sixth Prince," Zhu Lin supported the words of Lei Wanxi, who smiled.

  "Mother, you shall be angry at me for acting this way. Brother Sheng did not do anything wrong. I even hurt Sister Lili," stated Lei Wanxi and lowered his eyes.

  Deng Hui clenched her fists but kept the smile on her lips.

  "We also feel that Brother Sheng did nothing wrong," Yongzheng finally spoke and looked at his father. "Brother Wanxi and Princess Lin fought with each other earlier as well. And this behavior from them was not expected," he asserted.

  Ju Fen was startled to see that her son was taking the side of Sheng Li.

  "If I had been at Brother Sheng's place, then I would have given a severe punishment to both of them. Brother Sheng was not harsh on his younger brother, Imperial Mother and Mother Ju," stated Rong Zemin.

  "Father, may I say something?" For the first time, Weng Yu spoke. Han Wenji permitted him.

  "Father, Brother Sheng's punishment usually has lessons. I used to be scared of Brother Sheng, but the day he trained with me and taught me a few techniques, I realized how much he is concerned about us brothers. Brother Sheng considers his blood relationships above all," Weng Yu affirmed. Sheng Li was shocked to see Weng Yu speak for him. Ying Lili, on the other hand, passed a broad smile to Weng Yu, who smiled back.

  "Thank you, Sister Lili, for bringing me closer to Brother Sheng and making me see Brother Sheng's good side. You were right. Brother Sheng is the most caring brother in this world. He always protected us all from the outside world," Weng Yu pronounced.

  Han Wenji was delighted to see that all the Princes stood for Sheng Li. It happened for the first time, and it gave him immense pleasure. Han Wenji looked at Ying Lili and smiled. 'The Crown Princess succeeded in bringing the hearts of all the Princes together.'

  "Empress Hui, Consort Ju, I believe that you might have found your answers. Consort Jinlong, do not be angry at the Crown Prince. He did his duty as a brother and a Crown Prince," Han Wenji explained to them.

  "Yes, Your Majesty," Jinlong bowed.

  Sheng Li smiled and looked at Ying Lili. It was the first time his all brothers stood for him. It was an indescribable feeling for him.

  ~~~~~

  Do check the author note!!