Chapter 70 - Uncrowned As The Crown Princess
Ying Lili turned to look and saw Su Binxi coming there. She could not believe her eyes. "He lied to me?" Ying Lili thought as she saw Su Binxi coming at the front.
"Greetings to his majesty. I am Su Binxi who was assigned for the Crown Princess." Wei Zhang Yong came to the front and spoke, "Your majesty, everyone knows the blunt nature of the Crown Princess towards the Crown prince. This maid now works as a washer. She will tell you how many times the Crown Princess has tried killing the crown prince," the prime minister enunciated.
Ying Lili both hands were on the blue colored floor carpet and she found that she was stuck from everywhere.
"You may speak," Han Wenji permitted Su Binxi.
"Your majesty, on the wedding day the Crown Princess attacked the Crown prince with a dagger." Su Binxi's words brought tears in the eyes of the Crown Princess. "Crown Princess on regular occasions used to threaten the Crown Prince that she would kill him one day even if she has to die," Su Binxi told the Emperor.
"Your majesty, the matter is clear now. The Crown Princess has planned all this with her uncle," Wei Zhang Yong appealed to the Han Wenji who was looking at the Crown Princess.
"Your majesty, forgive me for agreeing to the Crown Princess in this. I did not give the poison to the Crown Prince, so please spare me and my people," Song Li Xiu pleaded to the Emperor.
A teardrop fell from Ying Lili's eye. She felt so helpless for the first time. She realized the mistake she had made by not listening to Sheng Li when he told her that Su Binxi was a spy and her uncle was the one who killed her father. "It's not kindness, Lili but it is your stupidity," the words of Sheng Li revolved in Ying Lili's mind.
"Your majesty, I ask for the death punishment for the Crown Princess and her family so, that no one ever dare to evilly plan like them. If his majesty wants a court decision on this then, I will call for that as well," Wei Zhang Yong loudly spoke such that his voice roar in the chamber.
"They say you are brainy but I think the otherwise- that you are a stupid woman. This is the Palace where everyone wants the downfall of the other.
Not every time I will be there to save you," Sheng Li's words were echoed in Ying Lili's mind at that moment. The tears keep pouring down her eyes as her head was lowered.
"Do you know why I spared you? Because you are the one who stepped ahead that day and replied me back. No one has ever talked with me looking straight into my eyes and I liked your bravery but I would like to see how would you survive in the Palace," Ying Lili recalled another conversation which she had with the Crown Prince when she was brought to the Han Capital city.
"Your highness, say something," General Xiao in his mind said as he looked at the Crown Princess who seemed like she had lost the hope.
"Your majesty, you are delaying the justice. It is about the nation's crown prince," Wei Zhang Yong pressured the Emperor when Ying Lili stood up, wiping the tears from her eyes and held her head high. "I did not poison the Crown Prince. Indeed, I said those words to the Crown Prince but that was because of the anger I had inside me. Your majesty, give me a chance to prove myself. The great laws of Han has mentioned that even a culprit is given the chance to prove himself innocent. I, An-Ying Lili, will prove my innocence," Ying Lili requested for a chance from Han Wenji.
"I do not think that the Crown Princess has anything to prove herself," Han Wenji proclaimed. Hearing that Wei Zhang Yong gave an evil smile but the smile on his lips disappeared when he heard the Emperor, "But you are right, Crown Princess. The laws of Han gives the chance the culprit to prove himself innocent. You have the time till the morning. Failed to do so, you will be uncrowned as the Crown Princess and the further punishment will be decided tomorrow morning after seeing the condition of the Crown Prince."
The Emperor announced his decision. Ying Lili bowed her head, "I am grateful to you, your majesty."
"Throw the King of Juyan in the prison along with the other people who have come from Juyan. Check their belongings and punish them in whatever way it is suitable," Han Wenji gave the punishment to Ying Lili's uncle and the guests who had come there to attend the feast.
"Your majesty, why are you punishing us? I did what the Crown Princess has told me," Song Li Xiu pleaded who was on his knees and bent down such that his forehead touched the floor. "Your majesty, please spare us!!" Song Li Xiu kept pleading. Ying Lili clutched her waist skirt tightly upon hearing that. Since when her uncle turned like this, she wondered or he was like that- just she could not figure out that.
Han Wenji dismissed all of them. General Xiao gestured to Commander Tao to take away the witnesses from there while the prime minister also took his leave.
General Xiao followed the Crown Princes. As they came out, court lady Xu worriedly asked Ying Lili if she was fine. "I am okay. You shall go to the Crown Prince Manor. Do not worry about me. I am with general Xiao. I have to prove my innocence and I have gotten less time for that. Court lady Xu, you also know about the medicines so can you…"
General Xiao intervened in the middle. "Your highness, if the royal physician is finding it difficult to remove it then, it is difficult for everyone. Do not worry, your highness. His highness will make it as he is consuming poison since a very long time," General Xiao assured Ying Lili.
"But the poison is deadly. That's why he coughed blood despite consuming poison for a long time. I have heard about this poison but I did not know the antidote!" Ying Lili muttered as she frowned.
"Your highness, the royal physician will cure the Crown Prince. We shall think what to do to save you. Every evidence is against her highness," General Xiao asserted. Ying Lili nodded and thought to go to the Royal kitchen first.