Chapter 69 - Do Not Accuse The Crown Princess
Ying Lili was shocked, so was everyone there. "Sheng Li," she murmured and quickly stood up. She went to him and quickly sat on her knees. "Sheng Li," she held his hand and looked at his face with a fretful expression. Han Wenji left his seat, so did Weng Wei. The other princes too came running towards the Crown Prince.
Ying Lili placed Sheng Li's head on her lap who was still coughing. General Xiao came there and bent on his knees. "His highness is poisoned," Xiao Zhan stated. Jian Guozhi got confused and looked at Yongzheng who was also baffled.
Sheng Li had closed his eyes by then. "Take the Crown prince to his resting chamber. Call the Royal Physician," Han Wenji shouted, who was also on his knees as he was caressing Sheng Li's head. Xiao Zhan carried Sheng Li on his back and ran out from there, followed by the Crown Princess and the others.
In the resting chamber of the Crown Prince, the Royal Physician was checking Sheng Li's pulse. "How is my son?" Han Wenji worriedly asked.
"Your highness, I would like to have a private discussion with you," Royal Physician requested, bowing his head. Han Wenji looked at the princes and his Empress. They all left when General Xiao came towards the Crown Princess. "Your highness, please come with me this way," Xiao Zhan asserted. Ying Lili nodded and walked out from there.
Xing-Fu closed the door of the resting chamber.
"General Xiao, who can do that? Did you start your investigation?" Lei Wanxi queried.
"Isn't it obvious who can do that?" Xue Yu-Yan questioned all of them.
"What do you mean, consort Xue?" Weng Wei asked.
"Mother, forgive me if I cross the line, but I think the one who poisoned the Crown Prince is none other than the Crown Princess," Xue Yu-Yan pronounced.
"Xue, do not accuse the Crown Princess," Jian Guozhi scolded her and then turned to look at Ying Lili. "Your highness, please forgive Consort Xue for saying such a harsh thing. General Xiao and I will find the real culprit behind all this," Jian Guozhi affirmed.
Ying Lili was still in shock at what just happened when Nianzu went to her. "Your highness, brother Sheng will be fine," Nianzu consoled Ying Lili who was slightly nervous.
"Is the Crown Prince fine?" Weng Yu asked with teary eyes. Consort Ehuang went to her son and called the assistant for him. "Take Prince Yu to his chamber," Consort Ehuang ordered. The assistant came forward and took Weng Yu from there.
The door of the room was opened, and the Emperor stepped out. Everyone wanted to know what the Royal Physician had told him. "A rare and extremely strong poison has been fed to the crown prince in the custard," Han Wenji stated.
"Is my son fine? What about the Royal Physician? He is the best in medicine in the entire Han. He has the antidote, right?" Empress Wei looked for an answer. Han Wenji refused. "He does not know. But he is trying his best. General Xiao, find the culprit as soon as possible. Start with the Royal kitchen. Increase the security here and no one is allowed to go inside the chamber of the Crown Prince except the Royal Physician," Han Wenji gave the order.
"Yes, your majesty," Xiao Zhan bowed his head and left from there. Han Wenji looked at the Crown Princess who was moving her eyes here and there. "Crown Princess, I would like to talk to you. Follow me," Han Wenji commanded and walked away. Empress Wei followed him along with three consorts and a concubine.
"Sister Lili, do not be scared," Lei Wanxi tried cheering Ying Lili who walked away from there along with Court lady Xu.
"Respected first brother, what do you think? Who can do this?" Lei Wanxi with a stern expression asked. Jian Guozhi did not answer him and left from there. Lei Wanxi and Nianzu looked at each other. "Someone has framed sister Lili. Father did not say in front of us, but he is suspecting Sister Lili. What shall we do?" Lei Wanxi asked Nianzu.
"We cannot do anything in the current situation. Everyone had their custards and only the bowl which her highness served to the Crown Prince had the poison," Nianzu stated. Lei Wanxi knitted his brows upon hearing that.
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The Crown Princess could be seen standing in front of the Emperor in the Chamber of Virtue. For almost an hour, the Emperor did not utter a word, which turned Ying Lili anxious. After a while, Han Wenji opened his mouth to speak. "Did you do it?" Han Wenji directly questioned.
Ying Lili lifted her eyes and then lowered them. "I did not do this," Ying Lili affirmed.
"The poison which was fed to Sheng Li is from Juyan- the Royal Physician has told me.
Do you know why I am talking with you in private?" Han Wenji asked.
Ying Lili's eyes turned watery, and she shook her head in refusal. "I believe that the Crown Princess cannot do this but speculations are showing something else." Ying Lili looked into the eyes of the Emperor. "Sheng Li is my everything and if something happens to him, without any second thought, I will give punishment to you along with your family even if you did nothing. Find out the culprit before that and pray that Sheng Li wakes up soon," Han Wenji ordered.
Ying Lili bowed her head. "I will find the real culprit," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"You may leave," Han Wenji said in a dejected tone. Ying Lili left the chamber and found the soldiers coming there with a maidservant. Commander Tao Zedong led the soldiers. He stopped seeing the Crown Princess, followed by the other soldiers, and bowed his head.
"Your highness, good thing that you are here," Tao Zedong asserted. Ying Lili was bewildered to hear that. "Please come inside with me," Commander Tao stated. Ying Lili nodded and went back to the Chamber of Virtue.
Seeing the commander and the Crown Princess there, Emperor Han Wenji put down his hand from his forehead. "Your majesty, this maidservant has heard the Crown Princess saying that she would kill the Crown Prince," Commander Tao pronounced. Ying Lili widened her eyes and shook her head.
"Is this true?" Han Wenji asked the maidservant.
"Yes, your majesty," the maidservant had lowered her head. "Her highness was going to the Royal kitchen along with the court lady Xu when I heard her highness saying that she will beat his highness t-to a…" The maidservant was hesitant to say further when Han Wenji shouted at her to speak.
"… to a pulp… no, n-not pulp but will kill him," the maidservant completed her words after stuttering.
"Your majesty, I accept I said this, but I did not…" Before Ying Lili could speak, the prime minister Wei Zhang Yong came there.
"Her highness is the one who poisoned the Crown Princess because her uncle has confessed saying that he gave the poison bottle to the Crown Princess just before the feast started," Wei Zhang Yong accused Ying Lili. General Xiao came there with the King of Juyan, Song Li Xiu. Ying Lili blinked her eyes, as she could not believe her uncle told lies there.
Song Li Xiu came onto his knees and apologized. "Shushu (uncle), why are you lying?" Ying Lili questioned him. "Indeed, I met you but you did not give me anything," Ying Lili cleared herself out.
"Your majesty, I had told you not to go with this marriage alliance. Not even a week has passed, and they have shown their true colors. Your majesty, punish them for their crimes," Wei Zhang Yong appealed.
"Did you find the bottle in which there was poison? What about the servants and food inspectors? Did they not taste the food before it was brought to the grand Hall?" Han Wenji queried General Xiao who nodded. He showed a tiny porcelain bottle in his hand.
"I found it in the kitchen. It had the poison. The servants had indeed checked the every bowl before it was brought to the grand Hall in front of the food inspectors," Xiao Zhan informed the Emperor.
"But the Crown Princess did not let the food inspector taste the custard which she served later to the Crown Prince," the prime minister opined.
"Your majesty, that's because…" the prime minister did not let Ying Lili speak.
"Crown Princess, one bottle is found from your resting chamber as well. What does her highness want to say about that?" Wei Zhang Yong inquired from the Crown princess. "General Xiao, please show the tiny bottle of poison which you have found from the Crown Princess chamber. Forgive us for checking your chamber, but it was important after the King of Juyan confessed the truth," the Prime Minister pronounced.
"Someone might have placed it there," Ying Lili defended herself.
The Prime Minister laughed and then apologized for his misbehavior. "The Crown Princess is brilliant in making the plans, but she failed to see that other eyes are always on her. Bring the assistant cook here who had seen the Crown Princess putting this poison in the bowl," Wei Zhang Yong ordered.
The assistant cook came there and bowed his head. "Just speak the truth," Han Wenji stated.
"The Crown Princess said that she will prepare the custard bowl for the Crown Prince herself. We all were working when I saw that the Crown Princess took the bowl towards the other side. Her highness then put some liquid in it. I thought it is a part of the recipe, so I did not dare to say anything," the assistant cook proclaimed.
"That was a sweet syrup. Sheng Li… I mean the Crown Prince likes sweet dishes, so I thought to add the syrup in that to enlighten his mood," Ying Lili enunciated. She then came onto her knees, "Your majesty, please believe me. Give me time to prove myself. They all are accusing me." Ying Lili requested as she lowered her head.
General Xiao wanted to help the Crown Princess, but he was tied to his duty so did not dare to speak anything there.
"Respected Crown Princess, no one is accusing you with no valid proof. If her highness thinks that she can escape this, then I would like to summon someone who will clarify the relationship of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," Wei Zhang Yong asked for permission from the Emperor. Ying Lili got worried hearing the statement of the Prime Minister.