Chapter 538 - Unique Among All The Women
Consort Ju Fen fainted after hearing the judgment regarding her son. Weng Yu came to the Crown Princess to request help regarding the matter.
"Your Highness, my mother has fainted after hearing the verdict of His Majesty. Also, I heard that my mother and sister-in-law will be sent to the Cold Palace." He was on his knees while his forehead touched the floor beneath him.
Ying Lili quickly grabbed Weng Yu's arms and pulled him up. "Brother Weng Yu, what are you saying? And do not bow in front of me like this," Ying Lili told Weng Yu.
"The Ministers and Crown Prince had requested this. Your Highness, my mother has nothing to do with my Elder Brother's doing. I do not think my Sister-in-law has her hand in any of Brother Yongzheng's wrongdoings," asserted Weng Yu.
"Yes, they do not have any role in that. Brother Yu, nothing will happen to your mother. I assure you. Stop crying," Ying Lili wiped the tears from his cheeks and passed him a smile.
"Is Her Highness telling the truth? What if the Imperial Father agrees to the Crown Prince?" Weng Yu asked while sobbing.
"Brother Yu, I do not know what happened in the court. When the Crown Prince will come, I will discuss with him. Nothing will happen to any of them. Trust me," Ying Lili asserted and looked at Court Lady Xu.
She came forward. "Prince Yu, please follow me," Court Lady Xu said humbly. Weng Yu thanked the Crown Prince and left the chamber with Court Lady Xu.
Ying Lili furrowed her brows. "Why did Sheng Li make such a request with His Majesty?" Ying Lili murmured. She walked out of the chamber and told the maidservants not to follow her. She knew that she would find Sheng Li in the prison, so went there.
The soldiers at the entrance of the prison-house bowed and informed her that Sheng Li had not come to the Prison. Ying Lili nodded and turned to leave but stopped. She turned to them and asked, "Is Prince Yongzheng taken to the punishment grounds?"
"No, Your Highness," one of the soldiers replied.
"I want to go in," She expressed her desire. Initially, the soldiers hesitated but recalled the words of the Crown Prince, who had given the freedom to the Crown to go in and out of the prison. They opened the gates for her. Ying Lili lifted her skirt a little up such that only her shoes were visible and stepped in.
Commander Sun saw the Crown Princess and went to her. He bowed and said, "The Crown Princess should not have come here."
"Commander Sun, do you know what happened in the Court?" Ying Lili asked him.
"The Second Prince will soon be beheaded, Your Highness," Commander Sun replied.
"Did His Majesty pass an order to send the First Consort and Princess Bai to the Cold Palace?" Ying Lili asked him.
"No, Your Highness. That will be decided in the next hearing that is tomorrow morning," Commander Sun informed Ying Lili, who was relieved to hear that.
"Commander Sun, I want to meet Prince Yongzheng," Ying Lili stated, who looked at her.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I cannot defy the orders of the Crown Prince," Commander Sun plainly refused to do so. "I am loyal to the Crown Prince, so please return to the Imperial Palace, Crown Princess," he stated.
"It is about the lives of three people. Please let me meet the Second Prince. I will be quick. I will take the punishment for breaking the law," Ying Lili requested with Commander Sun.
"It is not about the punishment. It is about the safety of the Crown Prince, Your Highness," Commander Sun affirmed.
"Then, Commander Sun can stay behind me. I will be at a safe distance from the Second Prince. Please let me meet Prince Yongzheng," Ying Lili again requested. "It is about the lives of three people, Commander Sun."
After contemplating for some time, Commander Sun took Ying Lili with him. They halted outside the cell where Yongzheng was kept. Commander Sun ordered the guard to open the lock on the iron gate, who did so.
Ying Lili stepped inside the cell and saw Yongzheng was enjoying his last meal. Yongzheng lifted his eyes and looked into her eyes. "You always roam everywhere freely. So much freedom despite being a woman!" Yongzheng stated and chuckled. He picked the napkin and wiped his hand.
"I had not expected to see you at this moment," Yongzheng asserted.
"I will say the same. I had not thought I would come to meet Brother Yongzheng," Ying Lili stated. "Every person has a good and bad side. The other day, Brother Yongzheng stood up with my decision and I am still grateful to him. Because if he had not agreed with me then I would not be able to save the life of my husband," Ying Lili asserted.
Yongzheng averted her gaze from her. "Why is the Crown Princess here?" He finally asked.
"I want Brother Yongzheng to save your mother and wife," Ying Lili replied.
Yongzheng turned his gaze back at her.
"They might be sent to the Cold Palace to spend the rest of their lives. Your mother and wife have nothing to do with your actions," Ying Lili explained to Yongzheng. Her eyes were misty. "Also, your wife is a young woman. After... after…" her voice quivered ,and she ended up crying.
Commander Sun came forward to tell Ying Lili to go out of the prison with him. She shook her head and took a deep breath.
"After Brother Yongzheng will be beheaded, Sister Bai will become a widow at such a young age. I would have saved Brother Yongzheng if he had not attacked General Wang and Princess Zhu Lin. I would have done my best. Your younger brother came to me... crying. Your mother has fainted, and your wife also pleaded for your life. I am unable to save your life, but I want Brother Yongzheng to save the lives of three of them," Ying Lili made Yongzheng understand.
Yongzheng could not believe that the woman he despised the most would cry in front of him. None of his brothers even considered thinking about them. He snickered and clenched his fists.
"What do you want me to do?" Yongzheng asked.
Commander Sun was astonished to hear that.
"A dying person's wish is heard. I will be glad if you can use it on them," Ying Lili stated. "Also, Brother Yongzheng shall apologize for beating his wife up," asserted Ying Lili.
"I will do that. Tell Bai Yaling that she shall not cry for a man like me. I am sincerely apologetic to her," Yongzheng stated.
Ying Lili thanked him and turned to leave when Yongzheng said, "I have always despised you but not anymore. Forgive me if you can. Now, I realize why you are unique among all the women. Sheng Li is lucky to get you. If you, would not be here, the Royal Family would have been destroyed quite early."
"Why did Brother Yongzheng take such a heinous step?" Ying Lili asked and turned to him.
"Because I was inferior to Sheng Li," Yongzheng replied.
"He was happy when Brother Yongzheng apologized to him. He was extremely happy," Ying Lili stated. She bowed and walked out of the cell.. Tears fell from the eyes of Yongzheng, but there was no way he could be saved now.