"Wanxi, if he did not come on the right path, I might have to kill him. There's no other way," Sheng Li sternly said.

  "Brother, you are scaring me! Is there no way to stop him? And we do not know if he is the old Prince or not." Lei Wanxi did not want to believe that Yongzheng could plot against them.

  "Look at the First Brother. How did he change himself? He was on the wrong path for a long time, but he self-realized that he was doing wrong. Now, he is happy, and I even started to respect him. Brother Yongzheng will also become like this if Brother Sheng politely makes him understand," Lei Wanxi suggested to Sheng Li.

  "Brother Wanxi, there is something that we have found out about the Second Brother," Ying Lili said. Lei Wanxi knitted his brows. The expression on Ying Lili's face was worrying him.

  "Brother Yongzheng abuses his wife," Ying Lili stated. Lei Wanxi brought his palm over his mouth. "Sister Bai does not want to raise her voice over this. Please do not act indifferent near Brother Yongzheng else he might be suspicious. Sheng Li and I are finding a solution for this," asserted Ying Lili.

  Lei Wanxi put his hand down. "How could the Second Brother do this? But it's nothing to be surprised about. Brother Yongzheng was abusive to his servants too. I saw Eunuch in service for Brother Yongzheng, who seemed scared. I think Brother Yongzheng still beats him," Lei Wanxi stated with a sad expression.

  "I do not think that the Second Prince will ever change," Sheng Li affirmed. Lei Wanxi had been saddened again as he did not want to fight among the brothers. Once the Brothers started to fight, it had no end except bloodshed.

  "Do not worry, Wanxi. I will not let this family fall apart. I promise you," Sheng Li assured Lei Wanxi, who was a little happy to hear that.

  He stood up from his seat. "Brother Sheng, Sister Lili, I shall take my leave. Sister Lili, you need to fully enjoy today. If you want something from the market, I will bring that for you," Lei Wanxi asserted.

  "Thank you, Brother Wanxi, but I do not need anything," answered Ying Lili. Lei Wanxi nodded and left the chamber.

  As he left, Ying Lili asked Sheng Li what he had thought of this problem.

  "I have to discuss with Wang Hao first. I will then decide and inform you," Sheng Li replied. He took her hands in his and caressed them. "Lili, I need you in all this. Your encouragement is enough for me," proclaimed Sheng Li.

  "I am with you, Sheng Li. We will not let this family fall," Ying Lili reassured him.

  "I want the same. I do not want to kill anyone with these hands," Sheng Li looked down at his hands.

  "I will not let it happen, Sheng Li," Ying Lili affirmed.

  ~~~~~

  Huo Jin came from the market after purchasing fresh meat for the night's dinner. He had a smile on his lips as he had heard the news which would definitely make Nianzu happy.

  "Where's Nianzu, Sister Chuntao?" Huo Jin questioned.

  "He is studying in the room. What happened, Brother Huo? You seem happy," Chuntao asked and took the cloth bag from him.

  "Come with me, Sister Chun. I will tell you inside," replied Huo Jin.

  "I have to prepare for lunch, Brother Huo. You shall go in," Chuntao said humbly and went to the kitchen. Huo Jin went inside the house to the room where Nianzu was studying.

  As he slid the door, Nianzu lifted his eyes and looked at him. "Forgive me for disturbing you. There is something you must know," Huo Jin stated as he entered and closed the door behind him.

  Huo Jin sat on his knees and said, "This year, something new has been announced for the Civil Services. Whoever will come into the top 3 ranks will have direct entry as the Court Ministers."

  "Pardon!" Nianzu was shocked to hear that.

  "Yes. Did you get it? Did you get why the Crown Prince wants you to sit in this exam?" Huo Jin questioned him.

  "Yes. Brother Sheng wants me to enter the Palace and show my worth to my father. Because I am no longer a Prince, I can give this exam. Brother Sheng knows that I will definitely crack the exam with rank 1. Father has to revoke the decree he had given earlier for me. That way, I do not need to live in the Palace and at the same time, can protect my wife from those evil plans," Nianzu affirmed with a smile.

  "Nianzu, I think the Crown Prince wants you to enter the Palace. This exam is just to show how skilled you are and how much you are needed!" Huo Jin opined.

  "I do not want to enter the Palace," Nianzu said adamantly.

  "Nianzu, maybe the Crown Prince has gotten rid of those ministers. I heard from a few upper-classmen that there's a change in the Ministry of the Empire. I know you do not like the Palace, but outside the Palace, your life is in more danger and it involves the Crown Prince's life too," Huo Jin reasoned. Nianzu agreed with him but not completely.

  "A Palace life is full of selfishness. Even if I do not want to do something, I will be forced to do that," Nianzu stated.

  Huo Jin understood him. He did not say anything further and walked out of the room.

  Nianzu picked the book on Governance but fell into deep thoughts. 'What is the Crown Prince trying to do? He wants me to enter the Imperial Court, but why?'

  Huo Jin came back to the room, astonished him. "Nianzu, the Palace is a beautiful place to live in. It is the way you perceive it. I have seen how much you miss your family. Don't lie to yourself. You loved your old self. Just because the circumstances did not favor you, you decided to give up and leave. The Crown Prince must have a plan in his mind…… And, I am sure that soon you will have the old life, and they all will understand you," Huo Jin pronounced with sparkling eyes.