Chapter 537 - A Rift Between Us

Han Wenji ascended the stairs to approach the Dragon throne. As he took the seat, he said, "By now, everyone has found out about Prince Yongzheng's ill intention towards his own father; the Crown Princess, and also his bloody attack on General Wang and Princess Zhu Lin."

"It was not pleasing to hear, Your Majesty. It saddened us that a Prince from the Royal Family committed such crimes against the Emperor, the Crown Princess, General of the Army, and daughter of the Emperor's best friend. We, Ministers, want His Majesty to give the harshest possible punishment for the Second Prince," the Prime Minister voiced on behalf of all the Ministers.

"Such bloody attacks increased because of the Wei Family. Your Majesty, please reconsider the opinions of your ministers regarding the Wei Family," the Minister of Justice requested Han oWenji.

"Do not slander the image of the Governor just because his mother was from the Wei Family. Next time, I will not forgive you," Han Wenji sternly said.

The Minister of Justice came forward and got on his knees. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I or any other minister do not intend to malign the image of the Governor of Luoyang. We think that in the future, it might happen again. This fact shall not be forgotten that Prince Jian someday might try to fight for the throne," the Minister of Justice this time straightforwardly said.

"The Minister of Justice has crossed his line. This Court is held to decide on the punishment of Prince Yongzheng," Han Wenji proclaimed. "The Governor of Luoyang is a Prince before it. Insulting the Eldest Prince means insulting the Emperor," Han Wenji announced.

"I understand, Your Majesty. I apologize for my insincere behavior," the Minister of Justice asserted and stood up.

"Your Majesty, Prince Yongzheng should be beheaded; his mother and his wife should be sent to the Cold Palace because, in the near future, they both can try to harm the Emperor," the Prime Minister suggested to the Emperor.

Sheng Li did not object to this because he had no faith in Yongzheng's mother and wife.

"I agree with the suggestion of the Prime Minister," Sheng Li stated. Han Wenji had not thought that Sheng Li would agree on something like that.

"Princess Bai is a young woman. It would be inappropriate to send her to the cold palace," Rong Zemin opposed the idea of sending Bai Yaling to the cold palace.

"But this fact cannot be neglected that they might try to harm any of us. To prevent any casualty, they need to leave the main Palace– it does not matter if one is old and the other is young," Sheng Li pronounced.

The Ministers agreed with the Crown Prince.

"Crown Prince, if one makes a mistake, it does not mean that person close to him will also do the same. I object to this decision to send Prince Yongzheng's wife to the cold palace. It has not even been a month, and Princess Bai will become a widow. Sending her to the cold palace will be unfair to her," Rong Zemin expressed his concern.

"Why is Prince Zemin concerned for the wife of the Second Prince?" A minister asked. "Forgive me, but it does not seem appropriate to see Prince Zemin standing for the woman of another Prince. If it would be a commoner or a nobleman, by now, His Majesty had announced his decision. The Court time is getting wasted when everything is clear."

"Your Majesty, even I think that Princess Bai should not be sent to the Cold Palace," asserted Jian Guozhi. Sheng Li narrowly gazed at him.

"Your Majesty, I request you to take the votes on this matter," Sheng Li pronounced. Han Wenji ordered that and the majority supported the suggestion of the Crown Prince.

Rong Zemin chuckled. "The Crown Prince shall not turn this cruel. What if you make a mistake in the near future. Forgive me, but mistakes can happen to anyone. Will that mean the Crown Princess to be punished for the mistake of the Crown Prince?" Rong Zemin questioned Sheng Li.

"I am not Yongzheng," Sheng Li muttered. "Please think twice before speaking, Prince Zemin, and do not drag the Crown Princess in this," Sheng Li affirmed.

"Stop, you both!" Han Wenji shouted as he slammed his hand on the table in front of him. "The fate for Prince Yongzheng's mother and wife will be decided in tomorrow's court session. I give the order to be…," Han Wenji paused as his voice quivered to announce a death sentence for his own son. But he completed his words quickly. "I give the order to behead Prince Yongzheng."

Everyone deeply bowed at his decision. Han Wenji stood up and placed his hand on his chest. Eunuch Jin helped Han Wenji and took him out of the Imperial Court.

The Ministers started to leave while the Princes stayed back. Sheng Li turned to leave when he heard Rong Zemin.

"The Crown Prince shall look at Princess Bai as the younger sister. A twenty-year-old woman, if sent to the Cold Palace, would definitely die instead of spending the rest of her life," Rong Zemin explained to Sheng Li. "Even the Crown Princess will oppose this decision," he proclaimed.

"Yongzheng's actions have brought this upon them," Sheng Li asserted.

"Does the Crown Prince mean if my mother had done the crime then Xue and I must be punished?" Jian Guozhi questioned him.

"Certainly yes," Sheng Li replied. "Prince Jian once wanted to kill me. His wife once wanted to kill my wife," he coldly said.

"Your answers might create a rift between us," Jian Guozhi pronounced.

"When were our hearts together? And after what Yongzheng did, I have no trust left in any of us," Sheng Li affirmed and walked out of the Imperial Palace.

Rong Zemin wryly laughed. "It was bound to happen. I thought that the Crown Prince had changed but his nature did not leave him. He should be lucky that I respect his wife," Rong Zemin stated before leaving the Imperial Court.. Jian Guozhi also left after him.