Chapter 418 - No More An Advisor
Zhu Lin and Nianzu went to the Emperor's manor. Eunuch Jin let them inside the chamber where they both greeted the Emperor, who gestured to them to sit.
Zhu Lin took the seat, but Nianzu did not. He lowered his head and sincerely apologized to his father for creating a nuisance in the morning.
"You will not be the Advisor anymore," Han Wenji announced his decision. Nianzu lifted his head and acknowledged the decision of his father.
"Your Majesty, may I speak?" Zhu Lin asked.
"Yes, Princess Zhu Lin," Han Wenji permitted her, who thanked him.
"I do not want to marry Prince Nianzu. Since the Fourth Prince already loves someone, I believe if I marry him, then we both will suffer," Zhu Lin asserted. Han Wenji had expected this the moment Nianzu raised the matter in the Hall of Greetings.
"Since Princess Zhu Lin does not want to marry, then I will not force her. Forgive me for not being able to keep my promise to your father," Han Wenji apologized.
"Your Majesty, you are embarrassing me with this. Please do not apologize to me," Zhu Lin asserted. "I will leave after the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess will safely arrive at the Luoyang," Zhu Lin informed the Emperor.
Han Wenji was dejected to learn about that. "Does the Princess want to marry any of the other Prince? Since I have promised your father so, I want to fulfill it." Han Wenji recalled the time when during battles, King Huan without thinking about his life took the attacks for him. He regretted letting a commoner close to Nianzu.
"No, your majesty. I do not want to marry any other Prince. Please do not think I am disheartened because of all this. His Majesty knows that how mature I am. My father did what his duty was towards you, and I also will do the same for you," Zhu Lin proclaimed. Han Wenji passed her a smile. He was sad that such a beautiful woman could no more become a part of the Han Family.
"Your Majesty, I have a request to make. Hope his majesty will accept my request," Zhu Lin politely said.
"Go ahead," Han Wenji told her.
"Your Majesty, let the Fourth Prince marry Miss Chuntao. This is my humble request," Zhu Lin asserted. "I know that the marriage is prohibited however, as the Emperor you have the power to change the laws. Please consider my this request," Zhu Lin bowed her head. Nianzu was stunned to see that Zhu Lin would help him this way. He cursed himself, internally, for not conversing with her first and hurting her.
"Since Princess has requested for this, so I will surely think about this," Han Wenji assured her.
Zhu Lin stood up from the chaise. "Your Majesty, I shall take my leave," Zhu Lin lowered her gaze. Han Wenji hummed. Zhu Lin looked at Nianzu and left the chamber.
"Why is the Prince still here?" Han Wenji questioned him.
Nianzu bent on his knees and again apologized. "Forgive me, Father. I hurt not only you but also the Princess of Huan. Please give punishment to me," Nianzu humbly said.
"This you should have thought earlier before speaking," Han Wenji reminded him. Nianzu did not say anything because he also knew that he was at fault. He thought if he would express this way then his father would understand him. But the things heated when his father got raged and also he used some defaming remarks against the Emperor.
"Father, forgive me for comparing you with the late Empress," Nianzu said. "However, I cannot leave Chuntao's hand in the middle," Nianzu stated.
"Leave. I do not want to hear anything. Do not show me your face," Han Wenji stated. Nianzu except accepting the order of his father could do nothing. However, there was one way he could show his sincere apologies to his father- by staying on his knees in the middle of the Palace Ground.
He stood up, bowed, and left the chamber.
Han Wenji called Eunuch Jin inside and told him to bring the scroll and brush.
"Pardon me, your majesty!" Eunuch Jin was shocked to hear when Han Wenji told him that the Fourth Prince would no longer be the advisor. But how could raise the voice against the order of the Emperor?
"I will remove him from the status of the Prince as well once the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess return. For now, he shall no longer serve as the Royal Advisor," Han Wenji pronounced.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince made a mistake in a rush. His Majesty shall not punish the Prince this way," Eunuch Jin suggested to Han Wenji. "Forgive me if I stepped out of my line," he said immediately.
"Eunuch Jin, this is the time when Prince Nianzu shall realize that what it feels like to live as a commoner's life? He always wanted to live as a commoner that is why I have decided to free him from the title of Prince as well," affirmed Han Wenji. Eunuch Jin found that this time the Emperor was hurt more than ever. He had seen the Emperor's love towards his fourth son. He never let once feel him lower than the other Princes. It was strange that the Fourth Prince thought that way.
Eunuch Jin went towards the study desk of the Emperor and brought the scroll and ink brush along with inkstone. He put them on the table, in front of the chaise, and ground some ink in the inkstone. Dipping the brush into the ink, he handed it to the Emperor. Eunuch Jin opened the scroll and spread it on the table. He then put four wooden square-shaped cubes on the four corners of the scroll.
Han Wenji's hand trembled as he was going to give the hardest judgment of his life. He never intended to do that, but today's incident had forced him. He wrote the decree on the scroll about the removal of Prince Nianzu from the position of Advisor. Until the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess returned, he would work as the Royal Advisor however, after that, he would not work in that position anymore.
As the Emperor was done writing, he asked for the Royal Seal from Eunuch Jin, whose hands trembled first but then handed it to the Emperor. Han Wenji looked at the decree for the last time before placing the Royal Seal on his order. "Today in the Court, this will be the first thing I will declare," Han Wenji proclaimed.