Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Ying Lili finished eating her breakfast. She rose to her feet when a maidservant came inside. Court Lady Xu asked her why she looked troubled.

"Your Majesty, a rumor has spread among the people," the maidservant said in a low yet trembling voice. Ying Lili noticed her hands, which were shivering in fear.

"What happened?"

"Your Majesty, the Em-Emperor," she paused and got on her knees. Ying Lili realized something bad had happened.

"What happened to the Emperor?" Ying Lili asked her to tell. In a second, a sudden rush of strange thoughts appeared in her head. Xing-Fu asked the maidservant to speak, who lowered her head.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, for bringing this news. The Emperor is severely injured. The rumors say that he had not woken up for two days and today is the third day," she finally said and started to cry.

Ying Lili's eyes widened. She wavered and put her hand on the table to support her.

"Your Majesty," Court Lady Ki said concernedly as she went behind her. She grasped her arm gently and brought her to the chaise lounge. Another maidservant filled water in a glass and presented it to Court Lady Ki, who handed the glass to Ying Lili.

"Please, drink water, Your Majesty," she urged.

Ying Lili shook her head. "I need to go to Changying," Ying Lili said.

"Your Majesty, it is a rumor. The Emperor is sound and safe," Court Lady Ki affirmed, not wanting Ying Lili to lose her mind while believing in rumors.

"No. I have to see him with my own eyes. Prepare the carriage. I am leaving for Changying," Ying Lili said, hitting the water glass from the back of the palm of her hand. It splashed on the floor and tears streamed down Ying Lili's eyes. "It is an order," she pronounced.

"Your Majesty," Rong Zemin addressed Ying Lili. She tilted her gaze to look at him and the Fourth Prince. While going to prison, a servant informed them too about the rumor.

"Third Brother, Fourth Brother," Ying Lili said and stood up. "I need to go to Changying. Sheng Li's message has not come for two days. Now, I realized why? He is severely injured and he needs me," Ying Lili requested.

"Sister Lili shall not believe such rumors. Unless the confirmation comes, we cannot—"

"Brother Nianzu, what if it's true? Why would someone spread such a rumor? My hus-husband is severely wounded," Ying Lili raised her voice and brought her hand near her chest. "Three days of being in an unconscious state and no one found out about this. Where is General Wang?" She got furious.

Court Lady Xu and Eunuch Xing-Fu, who was gone to the royal tailor to ask him to come to the Palace, got shocked upon finding out the rumors regarding Sheng Li. As they arrived at the chamber, they saw Ying Lili's anger.

Court Lady Xu swiftly went near Ying Lili. "Your Majesty, please calm down. You are pregnant. Getting angry can affect your health," she said humbly.

"I am alright, Court Lady Xu. Bring General Wang here. The Princes can leave. I don't want to listen to them," Ying Lili dismissed them.

"Empress Lili," Deng Hui entered the chamber and the servants stepped out of her way, including the princes. "I heard about the rumors. General Wang failed to keep up with his duties. That's why I appointed someone, who had brought me a message from Changying. The Emperor indeed got injured," Deng Hui announced to her.

"Mother!" Nianzu gritted his teeth and walked to her. "Refrain from speaking rubbish to the Empress. At least—"

"I said that I am alright," Ying Lili glared at Nianzu. "Tell me, Empress Dowager, what message have you received?" Ying Lili looked back at her.

Deng Hui tilted her head and Wushi came forward. He bowed before the Empress as his forehead touched the ground.

"Lord Wushi is from Changying. He trades pearls and other valuable gems. He is the one who informed me about the Emperor's condition in Changying. Tell Her Majesty what happened in Changying?" Deng Hui told Lord Wushi to speak.

"Mother, why did you not inform me first?" Nianzu's anger reached the seventh sky.

"The Empress is the supreme lady, so I must inform her first," Deng Hui asserted.

"Your Majesty, the Governor has betrayed the Emperor. His man shot an arrow towards the Emperor which hit the middle of His Majesty's chest," Lord Lishi stated. "The First Prince has sent this message," he took out a piece of paper and raised his hands.

Ying Lili stepped forward and took the paper from him. She read the lines and more tears streamed down her cheeks. "Sheng Li," she murmured and brought her palm near her mouth.

Rong Zemin came near Ying Lili and asked for the letter from her. He read and found that the writing was not of the First Prince.

"Are you lying?" Rong Zemin shouted at Lord Wushi. "The First Brother has not written it," he affirmed.

"What is the Third Prince saying? The First Prince must be busy giving the best treatment to His Majesty. In his place, someone else might have written it," Deng Hui concluded. "It is not important who has written it. The Emperor is not in pink health and that is more concerning for us," Deng Hui affirmed.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should check it thoroughly. The Emperor has clearly mentioned that only three would write the message for us— the Emperor himself, the First Prince, and General Xiao. Her Majesty shall not believe in a random person," Nianzu intervened and advised Ying Lili.

"Sister Lili, Brother Nianzu is right. Let's not make any decision in a rush," Rong Zemin made Ying Lili understand.

"We understand that the Emperor is your husband. But he is also our brother. I will go to Changying to find out about the truth." Nianzu assured Ying Lili.

"Son, the Emperor has told you not—" Deng Hui paused in the middle as Nianzu interrupted her, in the middle.

"I didn't ask the opinion of Empress Dowager. She can go back to her manor. She should not be present here." Nianzu looked at the Court Lady in service of Deng Hui. "Take the Empress Dowager back to her chamber. She doesn't have any right to put her nose in the Kingdom's matters," he reminded his mother, who was not surprised to see the impassive face of her son towards her.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor will be alright. I only wanted you to know about it. Prince Nianzu will again confirm it. Please do not overstress yourself," Deng Hui consoled her and left the chamber, followed by her servants. Lord Wushi also stood up when Rong Zemin stopped him.

Court Lady Xu brought Ying Lili to the chaise and made her sit on it. "The Emperor is fine, Your Majesty," she whispered while wiping the tears from Ying Lili's cheeks.

"You ain't leaving. You will be interrogated," Rong Zemin said and it worried Lord Wushi.

"I have already told Her Majesty what I got from Changying," Lord Wushi said.

"We need to find who sent you this message," Rong Zemin cleared his doubts.

Nianzu did not like her mother's ways. The water had come above the head and he knew how his mother would stop playing evil with them.