Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Sheng Li looked at Nianzu, who looked like a lifeless body. Nianzu's eyes were fixed on the burial ground, where his mother had laid in the casket beside the late Emperor.

Lei Wanxi walked to Nianzu and placed his hand on his shoulder. He patted it, who held his hand and started to cry again. Jian Guozhi and Rong Zemin also walked to Nianzu to console him.

Weng Yu tilted his head and found Sheng Li looking devastated. He fiddled his fingers and went towards Sheng Li. "Brother Sheng, are you good? I heard you were injured," Weng Yu said while looking at the middle of Sheng Li's chest. He then glanced back into his eyes.

"I am good," Sheng Li told a white lie to him.

Nianzu turned to look at them and wiped the tears from his eyes with his thumbs. He got on his knees and bowed his head before him. "Forgive my mother, Brother Sheng. She did wrong to you and Sister Lili. You can punish me too because I am the reason for it," he said.

"Don't humiliate me by saying such words, Brother Nianzu," Sheng Li urged and got on his knees. "Please get up," he pulled him up, "I thought she would stop. I did my best to prevent this mishap."

"I know. Brother Sheng does not need to say anything. Mother chose it, and we could not do anything about it. Brother Sheng, please don't ever blame yourself for this. Instead, you tried everything in your capacity to bring my mother to the right path. Her betrayal hurts me more than her death," Nianzu told Sheng Li, who understood him.

Nianzu looked at Jian Guozhi who was on his left. "I realized now how tough it was for the First Brother," Nianzu recalled the day when he questioned Jian Guozhi's responsibilities as a son.

Sheng Li felt the slight pain in his chest and brought his hand to it. He had put too much pressure on his body since yesterday. He didn't even get enough rest after he heard Deng Hui tried to poison Ying Lili. His vision got blurry and the darkness surrounded his eyes.

"Brother Sheng!" The Princes said in unison when Jian Guozhi carried him on his back. They took him to the Northern Palace while Lei Wanxi rushed to the Western Palace to bring the Royal Physician.

Ying Lili, who was waiting for Sheng Li to come, was shocked to see Sheng Li on Jian Guozhi's back. Eunuch Xing-Fu rushed to him and asked what happened to the Emperor.

"He has fainted," Jian Guozhi said and brought Sheng Li towards the bed. He put Sheng Li to bed. Ying Lili sat down on the edge of the bed and rested her hand on his cheek.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor fainted. I believe it is because of excessive fatigue. He didn't get enough rest after the attack," Jian Guozhi explained to Ying Lili.

Nianzu felt awful. Sheng Li got badly injured because of Deng Hui's evil plan. In the end, she didn't stop herself from saying bitter words to him. He silently walked out of the chamber while the other princes stayed back.

Lei Wanxi arrived at the chamber with the Royal Physician, who examined Sheng Li. "Your Majesty, may I take a glance at the wound?" The Royal Physician humbly requested.

Ying Lili nodded and quickly opened the front clothes from Sheng Li's body. Her body froze upon seeing the blood that had stained the entire bandage.

Lei Wanxi brought his palm to his mouth. "Brother Sheng is gravely injured. That part was already wounded. I remember he has a deep scar in that region," he said worriedly. Jian Guozhi glanced at him and gestured to him to be quiet.

"Please, wait outside," the Royal Physician told the Princes, who left the chamber silently. Ying Lili dressed the wound while the Royal Physician helped her.

"Why didn't the Royal Physician tell him to rest?" Ying Lili asked as she made a knot on the bandage.

"I have told His Majesty to wait for a day. However, His Majesty was concerned about the Empress," the Royal Physician answered. "Forgive for being unable to do my duty well, Your Majesty," he apologized humbly.

"His Majesty always neglects his wounds," Eunuch Xing-Fu said. Tears appeared in his eyes and he rubbed them, not wanting them to fall. "Your Majesty, he always cared about his family yet the family never treated him warmly. Mostly the Consorts and the Empress. I have been in His Majesty's service from the time he was born. It hurts me seeing how my master suffers." He broke into tears after getting emotional.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to cry," Xing-Fu said while wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Eunuch Xing-Fu's master is too stubborn to listen to anyone. He loves to trouble us. When he will be awake, Eunuch Xing-Fu can scold him," Ying Lili said to lighten his mood. Court Lady Xu had also started to cry. It was impossible to hold the tears at that moment.

"How can this Eunuch scold his Master? His Majesty might kick me out of his sight," Eunuch Xing-Fu said as he stopped crying and glanced at Court Lady Xu. "I ruined everyone's mood," he stated.

"No. Eunuch Xing-Fu said the words of us servants, who are in the service of the Emperor from the time of his birth," Court Lady Xu said and peered into Ying Lili's eyes.

"Your Majesty, the recent incident must have broken the Emperor terribly. He even trusted Empress Dowager by not reporting her earlier. Except for the former Empress Wei, His Majesty never had any problems with any of his step-mothers," Court Lady Xu spoke her mind out.

Ying Lili understood them well. For Sheng Li, they sacrificed their entire lives in his service. Their concerns were valid for him.

She remembered the words of Sheng Li which he told her when they both married newly — Kindest whimper in pain, Lili.

Tears appeared on the edges of her eyes. "Forgive me, for not agreeing with you. Love doesn't change everyone," she concluded.