Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Sheng Li poured the tea for Nianzu and handed him the teacup. Nianzu accepted it and concernedly told Sheng Li that she should have taken a rest.

"I wanted to see Brother Nianzu," Sheng Li replied and handed another cup to Jian Guozhi. "I tried my best to bring her to the right path," he affirmed and picked the teacup.

"I have no complaints with Brother Sheng. I was unable to understand how to meet his eyes when he would return. Forgive me for making such a request that day with our Father," Nianzu said, looking at both of them.

"Let's forget the past and move on with the present," Jian Guozhi suggested to him and placed the teacup on the table before them. "Such memories only give pain. I had been at that once. Every time, I recall it, it only troubles me." Jian Guozhi referred to his mother while keeping his head low.

Sheng Li remained silent. If he would speak, that might hurt both Jian Guozhi and Nianzu, so keeping quiet was the best. He kept his enraging emotions in control and decided to divert the topic.

"Congratulations on becoming a Father, Brother Nianzu. Let's celebrate the moment that is ahead of us. Brother Nianzu has a bigger responsibility to fulfill. Earlier, I met Lei Wanxi. He told me that your mother wanted a celebration. The wish of the dead must always be fulfilled," Sheng Li pronounced.

Jian Guozhi agreed with Sheng Li's words and gave his warm wishes to Nianzu on being a father.

A smile appeared on Nianzu's lips and he thanked them. "I am glad in these sad times, I have someone who gives me happiness with each passing day. The last few days were tough and terrible for me. But whenever I see Chuntao, my mind relaxes. Surely, we will celebrate it," Nianzu said and raised the cup to drink the tea.

"What about you, Brother Jian? When will the good news come from your side?" Lei Wanxi asked, who had entered the private chamber with Rong Zemin and Weng Yu.

"Brother Sheng, this is wrong. Without informing us, you come here," Lei Wanxi said and brought the chair from the other side to sit beside Sheng Li. He bowed to Jian Guozhi, who told the maidservant to bring more tea.

Rong Zemin sat by Nianzu's side while Weng Yu sat beside Jian Guozhi. "Brother Jian and Brother Zemin are yet to give us good news from their respective wives," Lei Wanxi remarked and tightened the strings of the fur coat around him.

"Wanxi, your marriage day is close. I will ask the astrologer for the date and you'll be married to Princess Zhu Lin," Sheng Li said. "You shall think about your responsibilities as well."

"I am well aware of my responsibilities," Lei Wanxi authorized, "Brother Sheng." The tea server served the tea to the remaining princes and stood back.

"Since the court session is suspended for a month, I will be on leave too," Sheng Li pronounced. "I will retire to my private residence with Lili for one week," Sheng Li informed them, "but before our departure, Lei Wanxi will get married."

"Brother Wanxi's marriage has some time," Rong Zemin stated. "Both the Emperor and the Empress can go to their private residence till then," he suggested and picked the teacup to sip the tea.

"What do you say, Wanxi?" Sheng Li waited for his response.

"Brother Sheng shall go to his private residence and spend his week there. After that, he shall think about it else first snowfall will go away. Sister Lili will remain forever angry at Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi advised him.

"First snowfall?" Jian Guozhi asked curiously.

"Ah, Sister Lili asked Brother Sheng the meaning of the first snowfall and he did not know," Lei Wanxi said and started to giggle.

"Why are you announcing it to everyone then? I know now. I am well aware of its meaning," Sheng Li asserted, after getting annoyed.

The other Princes smiled at Sheng Li, who looked irked.

"Huo Jin has accepted his feelings for General Wang's Sister," Lei Wanxi informed them.

"Really?" Nianzu asked to confirm.

"Yes, Brother Nianzu. He confessed his feelings for Sister Yin Na and will marry her. He wanted to tell Brother Nianzu, but could not find him, so decided to tell later," Lei Wanxi briefed him.

"That's great. I am happy for Huo Jin," Nianzu said. "Last time when we talked he had told me that he would go ahead with his feelings for her. He was confused at that time," Nianzu said with a tiny smile on his lips. He looked at Weng Yu, who was gazing at him with inquisitiveness.

"What happened, Brother Yu?" He asked him humbly.

"Is Brother Nianzu good? I heard what happened in the Court," Weng Yu said. Sheng Li and others looked toward him.

"Are you troubled seeing this bloodshed?" Sheng Li questioned him.

"No. I am not. For the throne, isn't that inevitable?" Weng Yu queried Sheng Li.

"What does Brother Yu mean? It is not inevitable to have bloodshed for the throne." Jian Guozhi squinted his eyes in skepticism.

"Then why does everyone fight for it? Earlier my elder brother was behind it," Weng Yu was curious to know.

"The throne gives you power but responsibilities too. Many fail to understand the responsibility part. The Kingdom is destroyed if you fail to fulfill your duties as the King. Your people will starve if you only seek power and ignore your responsibilities. Mostly fight for power… to become the supreme lord," Nianzu explained to Weng Yu.

"Happiness is more important, Brother Yu. Bloodshed happens to prevent the throne from falling into the wrong hands. Right or wrong, both sides of people are killed for the throne," Jian Guozhi affirmed. "Our two mothers and the Second brother were failed to understand where their happiness lay. That's why bloodshed occurred. It won't anymore," he assured Weng Yu, who nodded.

"Weng Yu, did you learn Governance?" Sheng Li asked him.

"I am learning, Brother Sheng," Weng Yu answered. "Why did Brother Sheng ask?" He arched his brow.

"Because you didn't sound like learning it," Sheng Li remarked, and an awkward silence persisted between the two. Weng Yu lowered his head and looked at the tea in the cup.

"Don't hate me because I could not save the Second Brother. I already have gathered enough hatred from the people," Sheng Li urged him and sipped the remaining tea from the teacup in front of him.