Chapter 127 - Equal Shoulder In Everything
Sheng Li told Court Lady Xu to take care of the Crown Princess as he had come up with an urgent matter. Court Lady Xu went to the Crown Princess who was on the bed. "Is the bath ready?" Ying Lili questioned.
"It is prepared, your highness," Court Lady Xu replied. She saw how pale Ying Lili had turned. "Your highness, this Court Lady wants to say something," Court Lady Xu asked for permission. Ying Lili nodded thus permitting her.
"Your highness, the day I was tasked in your service by the Crown Prince, I started considering you as my own daughter. I know I cannot become your birth mother, but I can be a mother. You can share everything with me. Just do not keep it inside your heart," Court Lady Xu asserted.
Ying Lili stood up and wrapped her hands around Court Lady Xu. "You did not sleep last night, right? You do not need to worry too much about me and I consider you as my mother only. Since the first day, you never let me miss the presence of my mother. It hurts, Court Lady Xu." Ying Lili again broke down into tears and her grip around Court Lady Xu tightened.
Court Lady Xu placed one hand over Ying Lili's head and another on her back. She patted her, calming the Crown Princess down. After a while, Ying Lili stopped weeping and left for the bathhouse with her.
After getting ready, she left for the morning greetings to the elders. As the Crown Princess came out of her chamber, she met the Crown Prince. Sheng Li took Ying Lili to the Greeting Hall. As they were walking, Xiao Zhan came to them. He greeted them and whispered something in the Crown Prince's ear.
"Wang Hao knows what he has to do. I am coming in a while," stated Sheng Li when Ying Lili intervened between them. "May I come as well?" Sheng Li looked at Ying Lili who had a menacing expression on her face.
"Why do you want to come?" Sheng Li queried her.
"Because there is something I want to ask him," Ying Lili replied. Sheng Li did not refuse because he thought that Ying Lili's mind would remain distracted.
"Will you do a task for me?" Sheng Li asked Ying Lili and waited for her response.
"Why not?"
Sheng Li gave a tiny smile to her. "I will tell you in the prison," Sheng Li replied. He then turned to Xiao Zhan and asked if the preparation had been done for giving a tribute to Ying Lili's mother.
"Yes, your highness. After the morning greetings, everyone will gather in the Palace Grounds," Xiao Zhan informed the Crown Prince.
"You may leave," Sheng Li replied. Xiao Zhan bowed his head and left from there. Sheng Li then looked at Ying Lili who was looking disturbed. "Tomorrow I have to leave for the Southern Province. The journey is tough but I am considering taking you there," Sheng Li pronounced.
"I am good. I want to go with you. I will get bored if I will be in the Palace and as the Crown Princess it is my duty to serve my duties first," Ying Lili proclaimed.
Sheng Li was impressed by Ying Lili. "Lili, today there are no Court hours. Would you like to go somewhere with me?" Sheng Li asked out Ying Lili.
"Why? Do you not have work to do? Are you pitying my state?" Ying Lili questioned Sheng Li which made him chuckle.
"I thought you would like to go outside the Palace. Fine, if you do not want to go. And I am concerned about you. Can't you see? Leave it! We are getting late. Let's go," Sheng Li started walking. Ying Lili followed him.
They greeted the elders when the Emperor asked Ying Lili about her health. "I am feeling good, your majesty. Thank you for giving the tribute to my mother," Ying Lili bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
"I am sorry for your loss, Crown Princess. You must be thinking that this marriage alliance took away the lives of your parents. Forgive me for that," Han Wenji politely apologized to the Crown Princess.
"Your majesty, please do not ask for forgiveness. It is making me feel embarrassed. His Majesty has given me everything and also kept his promise that was given to my father," Ying Lili humbly said.
Xue Yu-Yan who was standing behind Zhilao Mi was smiling, seeing the condition of Ying Lili.
"Your majesty, you told me on the birthday of the Crown Prince that you will fulfill my wish if I ask for it in the future," Ying Lili pronounced. Sheng Li looked at Ying Lili, wondering what was going on in her mind. The others in the hall were also confused. "Yes, Crown Princess. Did you come up with your wish? I will fulfill whatever you will ask for," Han Wenji said.
"Thank you, your majesty. Your majesty, I have seen that in political matters there is no active participation by a woman. My wish is to take part actively in political matters and have some authority," Ying Lili expressed her wish.
Everyone was shocked to hear the wish Ying Lili asked for. Sheng Li was not only shocked but also surprised to hear Ying Lili's wish. A smile was carved on his lips while Weng Wei had an amusement on her face.
"Forgive me, but it seems that the Crown Princess is thinking herself as equal to a man. She should focus on the household matters and internal court matters instead of getting involved in the political matters," Xue Yu-Yan remarked.
"These words are coming from the daughter of a corrupted Ex-Prime Minister of our Empire. I cannot expect less from you, Princess Consort," Ying Lili pronounced. Her words pierced Xue Yu-Yan who clenched her fist tightly.
"A woman in the court is not acceptable, Crown Princess. A woman is for household work, serving her husband and bearing children," Empress Wei proclaimed. "I think the Crown Princess is disturbed after the loss of her mother and has asked for such a wish," Weng Wei continued and looked at the Emperor.
"Your majesty, I am not disturbed by my mother's demise. I just want to make this Empire grow. As a Crown Princess, it is my duty to have knowledge about my subjects. As a woman, my duty is not only to serve my husband but also to give him an equal shoulder in everything.
Your majesty, this wish I am asking because tomorrow the Crown Prince and I are leaving for the Southern Province. I think as the Nation's Crown Princess, I must have some authority to take control of the situation there along with the Crown Prince," Ying Lili explained herself.
"But it seems otherwise, Crown Princess. It seems you are taking the authority for your personal benefits," the Second Prince, Prince Yongzheng stated.
"Brother Yongzheng, I am afraid that you think like that," Ying Lili stated.
"Father, I would like to speak something," Sheng Li asserted. Han Wenji permitted him.
"Father, do not doubt the capabilities of the Crown Princess just because she is a woman. Father must give some authority to the Crown Princess. Father also knows that back in Juyan the Crown Princess used to go among the people of Juyan and she used to solve their problems thus, creating the small city of Juyan economically stronger.
She even saved me with her intelligence when I was poisoned. Father, the Ex-Prime Minister had given the orders to poison me. Forgive me for not telling you earlier, but the Ex-Prime Minister accepted his crime yesterday in the morning. So, you can see that the Crown Princess is not an ordinary woman but a woman with intellect." Sheng Li rested his words and lowered his eyes.
"Zhang Yong poisoned you?" Han Wenji was shocked to learn about that.
"Yes, your majesty. The Crown Princess that day let him do whatever he was doing and secretly called for Hu Jingguo who had the antidote. She did not want the person behind this to know about Hu Jingguo. That's why she even went to the hanging grounds until the last moment to save me," Sheng Li explained to Han Wenji.
"Did he really say that? We would like to hear about this," Weng Wei proclaimed.
"Your majesty does not trust her son but her corrupted brother which is understandable. Father, I will take you to the prison in a while where you can hear the testimony of Zhang Yong," Sheng Li affirmed.
Han Wenji nodded. "If he had poisoned the Crown Prince, then his punishment is clear — execution in the middle of the Capital Market," Han Wenji declared.
"Crown Princess, I will give you the little authority for handling the political matters," Han Wenji announced his decision.
"Thank you, your majesty. I will never disappoint you and with this authority will serve this Kingdom wholeheartedly," Ying Lili pronounced and kowtowed before the Emperor.