"Crown Princess, you killed that suspicious man for a reason, right? Because he could have told us about the enemy,

" Xiao Zhan pronounced. Jian Guozhi and Nianzu looked at her, who smiled.

"Yes. Let the enemy think that we do not know. I need to solve this riddle. Why did he send him? He told me to surrender myself. Why?

" Ying Lili muttered.

"Crown Princess, but the real shooter was someone else, and the person you killed could give us the name,

" Jian Guozhi proclaimed.

"Brother, whoever it is, he wants to divert my mind, or he wants to know about the location of Sheng Li. A few Ministers do not want Sheng Li to be the Crown Prince, so in all this, a minister's involvement can be possible,

" Ying Lili deduced.

"I have a plan. We will lure the enemy to us,

" Ying Lili suggested.

"How?

" Nianzu questioned.

Ying Lili passed a smile and told them to come closer. She shared the plan with them, and they liked the idea. Ying Lili dismissed the meeting but stopped Nianzu as she had something important to talk to him about. Jian Guozhi and Xiao Zhan left the Crown Prince's manor while Ying Lili and Nianzu stayed there.

"What does the Crown Princess want to talk about?

" Nianzu was curious.

"Why is the Brother going with this marriage? It is clear that he does not want to marry Zhu Lin.

" Ying Lili, without beating around the bush, straightforwardly questioned Nianzu.

"Because my father promised Miss Lin's father a long time ago. She can choose any of the Princes she wants to marry. She has chosen me. I was wrong that Father respected my decision,

" Nianzu briefed the Crown Princess.

"You cannot marry Chuntao just because she has low birth status, right? I will help you, Brother Nianzu,

" Ying Lili offered her help.

"I am glad that Sister Lili thought so much of me, but I do not want her to trouble herself over my matter. I will handle it. Moreover, it was one-sided. I cannot be selfish over my one-sided love. Chuntao is a young woman. I do not want her to get involved in the fights at the Palace. And, I know I am not a suitable man for her. She deserves someone better than me,

" Nianzu pronounced. Ying Lili could see the selfless and true love in the eyes of the Fourth Prince for Chuntao.

"I do not want her to get hurt by entering this Palace. And, I am bound to fulfill the promise of my father that he gave to the King of Huan Province. If she enters here, then she will become a concubine, and then what? The same life she has to undergo which my mother faced. That would be selfishness. Just to make myself happy, I cannot ruin the life of the person who stole my heart.

" Nianzu's eyes were misty. Ying Lili's eyes turned watery. The Crown Princess could not believe that such a level of love could exist. She only read stories about such love, but seeing it with her own eyes was painful. Ying Lili decided to talk to the Emperor about Prince Nianzu's matter after she would find the real culprit behind today's incident.

"I shall take my leave.

" Nianzu stood up from the chair, bowed in front of the Crown Princess, and then left the chamber.

Ying Lili's eyes fell on the paper on the table. The words of the man whom she killed roamed in her head. 'He will kill the Crown Prince if you will not surrender.' She clenched her fist and then slammed at the table.

"Whoever played this way with me, I will not spare him,

" She affirmed.

Her attention was diverted when Court Lady Xu informed Ying Lili about the Sixth Prince, who wanted to meet her. Ying Lili permitted her to send him in. In a while, Lei Wanxi came inside and worriedly asked Ying Lili if she was alright.

"I am alright, Brother Wanxi,

" Ying Lili stated. Lei Wanxi took a seat.

"I was scared when the servant informed me. Sister Lili, do you have suspicion on anyone? And why did he threaten you? The message,

" Lei Wanxi's eyes fell on the paper on which the message was written. He picked it up and continued,

"And what is the meaning of this?

"

"Brother Wanxi, calm down. General Xiao and the Commander will soon find out about the enemy,

" Ying Lili assured Lei Wanxi.

"I trust you, Sister Lili. Whoever it is, not thinking of war against the Han Empire, right? I do not like wars, Sister Lili. We lose many innocent lives.

" Ying Lili found Lei Wanxi was panicked after today's incident.

"Brother Wanxi, no one can attack us. If it happens, I will be the first one who will face the enemy. Do not get scared,

" Ying Lili proclaimed. Lei Wanxi put his hand over his chest and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Sister Lili, I think there is something you must know. I told this to Brother Sheng the day he left the Capital,

" Lei Wanxi asserted. Ying Lili amusingly looked at him when Lei Wanxi said,

"The First Wife of the First Brother is not good.

"

Ying Lili raised her brow.

"What do you mean, Brother Wanxi?

"

"She is suspicious. One day I heard her speaking to herself and she was cursing you. I told Brother Sheng because I thought he would do something about that. But he handed the matter to me. He told me to keep an eye on Sister Zhilao Mi. I wanted to but these past few days my brain was diverted to Zhu Lin and I forgot about that task until today,

" Lei Wanxi explained to Ying Lili.

"Why did Sheng Li not tell me?

" Ying Lili murmured.

"I told Brother Sheng not to trouble you. I mean you are such a kind woman so, it might have hurt you that Sister Mi talks about you that way. Sister Lili, I think that today's incident has something to do with her. Because the last audible words I heard were- 'Father will be proud of her after getting the throne.'

"

Ying Lili frowned and was befuddled at the same time.

"But her father is loyal to the Emperor,

" Ying Lili murmured.

"There is something wrong, Sister Lili. We need to find out about her true identity,

" Lei Wanxi suggested to Ying Lili.

~~~~

Please read the author note?