Chapter 514 - Keep Integrity Between The Brothers
Jian Guozhi folded the scroll after putting the seal on it. Eunuch Long picked the scroll and left for the Office of Personnel in the capital. A maidservant came forward and cleaned the table.
Jian Guozhi stood up and went to the chamber of Yongzheng. As he walked in, he found Yongzheng was shouting at a servant. He went inside the chamber and found the servant had mistakenly thrown the water on the floor.
"Brother Yongzheng," Jian Guozhi pronounced his name. Yongzheng turned back and saw the First Prince. He greeted him and told the servant to clean the floor.
"First Brother, you did not inform about your visit," Yongzheng humbly said and gestured to Jian Guozhi to have a seat on the ground chairs. "Would the First Brother like to have tea with me?" Yongzheng asked.
"I would love to have tea with the Second Brother," Jian Guozhi replied. Yongzheng ordered a maidservant, who was near the second door to bring green leaves tea for them.
"Brother seemed angry earlier. Is something going on?" Jian Guozhi asked.
"The servant ruined my mood. Leave it, Brother Jian," Yongzheng stated. "So, why has Brother Jian visited me so suddenly?" Yongzheng asked.
"I wanted to drink tea with Brother Yongzheng," Jian Guozhi answered. The maidservant served tea to them and left the chamber. Yongzheng skeptically looked at Jian Guozhi, who sipped the tea.
"Is everything going good, Brother Jian?" Yongzheng asked.
"I do not know. After Brother Nianzu left, it seems the Royal Family is parting," Jian Guozhi asserted.
"Hmm. Father should not have announced such a decision," Yongzheng replied and sipped the tea. As he put the teacup on the table, Yongzheng said, "Brother Jian, after Brother Nianzu's mother became the Empress, it was a legal right of her son to be the next Crown Prince. Don't you think our Father was a little partial?" Yongzheng queried Jian Guozhi, who drew his brows together.
"Ahh, these are not my words, but the Ministers are saying this," Yongzheng clarified to Jian Guozhi.
"Brother Nianzu wanted to marry a commoner, and if he would remain in the position of a Prince, he had to marry someone from a high-class family," Jian Guozhi explained to Yongzheng.
"There was nothing wrong in that," Yongzheng concluded.
"It was for Brother Nianzu. You are also aware of his nature. Also, he suffered a lot because of the status his mother had," proclaimed Jian Guozhi.
"But if Father wanted he could have given a good status to Brother Nianzu's wife which is a commoner. When our father can revoke the rules for Brother Sheng, then why not for Brother Nianzu?" Yongzheng questioned.
Jian Guozhi finished the tea and poured it again into his cup. "What does Brother Yingzheng mean by that statement?" Jian Guozhi asked for clarification.
"When Brother Sheng refused for bringing a second wife, then our Father did not say anything. Brother Jian knows that a Prince is supposed to have more than one wife, yet for Brother Sheng, our father did not say a word. It seems our father favors his one son more than the others," Yongzheng tried to manipulate the mind of Jian Guozhi.
"Brother Yongzheng, you know that we have left the path where we used to trouble Brother Sheng," Jian Guozhi affirmed.
"Who is troubling Brother Sheng?" Yongzheng muttered. "Brother Jian also knows that Brother Sheng does not forgive his enemies. I think Brother Jian doesn't know how Brother Sheng conspired against the Minister of Personnel and others."
Jian Guozhi gazed at him with bewilderment.
"Yes. Brother Sheng cleared his way by eliminating those Ministers who were against him from the beginning. Brother Sheng will slowly take over us, and we need to suppress our voices. Brother Jian, it is strange to see that you have turned into a saint while Brother Sheng, taking advantage of all this," Yongzheng filled the ears of Jian Guozhi.
"Brother Yongzheng, I have not turned into a saint. I have accepted my mistakes and have walked ahead," Jian Guozhi corrected him. Yongzheng chuckled upon hearing his words.
"Brother Jian, do you think after father's demise, Brother Sheng will let us stay in those positions?" Jian Guozhi lowered his eyes and looked into the teacup.
"You have not forgotten anything, right?" Jian Guozhi asked Yongzheng. "You still consider Sheng Li a threat, right?" He turned informal and then lifted his eyes while rubbing his fingers on the teacup.
"Indeed. Sheng Li is a threat to us. Brother Jian, let's join hands and put the end on Sheng Li," Yongzheng pronounced. "Father only cares about the child of his beloved wife. He does not care for any of his children except Sheng Li. Also, he has given some special perks to the Crown Princess, which is annoying sometimes. Brother Jian, people take you as a weak and traitor... just because your mother did those crimes, but in reality, your mother did everything for you. Why? Because Father stopped looking at his other wives when Sheng Li's mother entered the Palace. Father discriminated among us, and you suffered a lot because of that," Yongzheng stated.
Jian Guozhi tightened his grip on the cup that he was holding. However, he didn't let the anger show on his face. Calmly he asked, "Brother Yongzheng, what do you think we shall do?"
Yongzheng smirked as he was able to make Jian Guozhi understand. "Is Brother on my side?" He asked to confirm.
"I was with you for a long time," Jian Guozhi affirmed and passed him a smile.
"I want to kill the Crown Princess," Yongzheng affirmed. Jian Guozhi chuckled but did not say anything.
"Don't you think that will worsen the situation?" Jian Guozhi asked him.
"No. Sheng Li is madly in love with the Crown Princess. He will break down if she leaves him forever," Yongzheng concluded. "Then, Brother Jian can take the throne, and everything will be sorted out," Yongzheng suggested to him.
"Yongzheng, I am not old Jian Guozhi. I have left that path long ago. You shall do the same. Do not worry. I will not tell this to the Crown Prince. I will keep the integrity between the Brothers," Jian Guozhi advised him, astonishing Yongzheng. He put the cup down with a loud thud sound and stood up.
"It was nice conversing with you.. The only advice I would like to give is to see happiness without thinking about the greed you have," Saying this, Jian Guozhi walked out of the chamber.