Chapter 319 - Comfortably
The Court session ended in the afternoon. Jian Guozhi came towards Sheng Li. "I am grateful for what the Crown Prince did earlier," Jian Guozhi lowered his eyes. Nianzu also came near them and stood beside Jian Guozhi.
"You do not need to be. This is what I shall do as a Crown Prince, First Brother," Sheng Li stated. "It was unusual of them. All the Ministers put forward a petition for not only the dismissal of the First Brother but also the banishment," Sheng Li skeptically said. Deep frowns appeared on his forehead.
"They found out that the Palace has loopholes that's why forwarded such a ridiculous matter upfront," Nianzu proclaimed. "Does the First Brother want to go out with me and Prince Wanxi? There's a fair in the Capital market," Nianzu wanted Jian Guozhi to get distracted from all this.
"Wanxi and you are also going out!" Sheng Li was bewildered.
"Yes. Does Brother Sheng want to come with us? It will be fun," stated Nianzu, passing a smile to him.
"No. I do not like such things. I need to be with Lili as she has not recovered fully," Sheng Li lied to Nianzu. He did not want them to know about his planned outing with Ying Lili because then Lei Wanxi kept intruding on them. Like Hu Jingguo, Lei Wanxi also loved to irritate him.
"I will not come, Fourth Brother. I have some matters to look into. The Civil Services Department has shuffled the Bureaucrats, so I have to check the new list. You two shall enjoy it. Take Brother Yu with you. He hardly goes out," Jian Guozhi stated. Sheng Li found out that the First Prince was lying.
"Brother, let me help you," Sheng Li offered his help.
"It's fine, Brother Sheng. You shall be with the Crown Princess," Jian Guozhi refused his help politely.
"Lili will scold me if I sneak out from work. Court Lady Xu is there to take care of her," Sheng Li affirmed. Jian Guozhi nodded his head. Nianzu was happy to see that both the First and Fifth Brother had come closer to each other.
Soon, they left the court. The Fourth Prince went towards his chamber while the First Prince and the Crown Prince went towards the chamber of the First Prince.
Eunuch Long greeted the Crown Prince. Sheng Li smiled upon seeing him. "It has been long since I last saw you," Sheng Li stated.
"Yes, your highness. The Crown Prince has grown into a handsome man. Congratulations on getting married, your highness." Eunuch Long looked at the First Prince. "Shall I send the tea for the two Princes?" Eunuch Long humbly asked.
"Hmm. Send wine for us. Don't let anyone enter as we two will be doing work," Jian Guozhi commanded Eunuch Long. "Let's go in, Brother Sheng," Jian Guozhi stated. Sheng Li nodded, and the two walked in.
As they walked on the red carpet, Sheng Li said, "This is my first time coming to your chamber. Earlier I was not allowed here, and later I never wanted to."
Jian Guozhi agreed with him. "It is still unbelievable that we two are conversing comfortably with each other," a tiny smile formed on Jian Guozhi's lips. "It's good though," he added.
"I will give credit to Lili to change me. Had she not been in my life then I would have not thought to talk to you or even forgive you," Sheng Li pronounced. The two reached the inner chamber and took their respective seats around a floor table.
"You are right, Brother Sheng. You would have killed me by now," Jian Guozhi scoffed. A maidservant came there with a tray in her hand that had a wine jar and glasses over it. Placing them on the table, she left.
"Brother Sheng caught that I was lying. Thank you for accompanying me for this." Jian Guozhi picked the jar and filled the cups. They picked their respective cups and sipped the wine. "I really appreciate your kind help in the court. I knew that the Ministers would raise issues about my position and stay in the Palace. I have never thought the person whom I was always jealous of would defend me. For the first time, I felt helpless among all those people." Jian Guozhi brought the cup closer to his lips and gulped the wine.
He picked the jar and poured more. Sheng Li only took tiny sips as he had to go to market with Lili later.
"Now, I feel how you felt all these years. There was not a single person to stand beside you. I laughed at you and made fun of your late mother. However, when today people talked about my mother, I found myself at your place," Jian Guozhi gazed into the eyes of Sheng Li.
"It's fine, Brother Jian. I forgot them the day I forgave you," Sheng Li asserted. "I would not be here if you had not saved me when I was young."
"My mother never let anyone raise his voice on me. Indeed, it was her power gained in the wrong way, but she protected me. I recalled the words which were once said by your mother to me once." Sheng Li widened his eyes. His mother talked with the First Prince. But why?
Jian Guozhi wore a gentle smile on his lips. "To protect my younger brothers, and also protect my people. That was the main reason when you were being poisoned for the first time. I saved you by informing our father. Forgive me for the words I used for her once. You are not a Cruel Person. We made you like this. You have a heart like your mother," Jian Guozhi revealed a secret in front of Sheng Li, and again sincerely apologized to him.
Sheng Li smiled and drank the remaining wine in his cup. "I wonder why all the ministers ganged up against you? They were asking for your banishment! Isn't it weird?" Sheng Li frowned.
"It is not weird. My mother is no more, that's why they all came forward at once. The Wei Family has been known for its strong ties with the Royal Family for a long time which was never acceptable to many Ministers. Though they supported us, they were not loyal," Jian Guozhi explained to Sheng Li, who was pouring wine in their respective cups.
"Sister Qi Jing has safely reached Lu Province. A message has come from there. I will hand you the letter later. By tomorrow, she might receive the message about her mother," Sheng Li informed his First Brother.
"Hmm. After the capital's work will be over, I will take leave for a few days. I will visit her. Mother never gave enough love to her, and I never bothered to care about her. This is the least I can do for her." Sheng Li found Jian Guozhi guilty about many things. He used to think that his First Brother was never considerate towards his family. But he was wrong. Jian Guozhi was tied to doing anything freely.