Sheng Li and Ying Lili were coming out of the greeting hall when Lei Wanxi stopped them. Both of his arms were crossed, and he was glaring at them. "Get aside," Sheng Li said.

"Why did you two leave me alone yesterday?" Lei Wanxi questioned.

"Because you were disturbing us," Sheng Li replied.

"When did I? I only wanted you to eat Dragon beard candy with me and Weng Yu. Sister Lili, Brother Sheng never took us outside. This was the first time we saw him in the market, yet he left us younger brothers alone," Lei Wanxi complained. Sheng Li chuckled upon seeing his acts.

"Sixth Brother, I was the one who told your brother to run away with me. He will go with you next time," Ying Lili asserted and looked at Sheng Li. "Take your brothers outside someday."

Sheng Li with a bewildered expression looked at her. "They are not kids anymore! I have loads of work in the Capital rather than roaming," Sheng Li affirmed and shifted his gaze at Lei Wanxi. "Stop whining! You are grown up so act like one else I will tell our father to marry you off," Sheng Li threatened him.

Lei Wanxi widened his eyes. "Brother cannot do this. I will run away from here if you try this," Lei Wanxi sternly said.

Sheng Li chuckled and scoffed at the same time. "Do not underestimate me and you cannot run away from me. Even a 7th rank soldier is enough to catch you," Sheng Li mocked Lei Wanxi.

"Brother thinks I am weak, doesn't he?" Lei Wanxi was getting enraged when Sheng Li ridiculed his strength. He knew he was not strong, unlike his other brothers, but the Fifth Brother should not have to be harsher on him.

Ying Lili kept mum as she realized that Sheng Li wanted Lei Wanxi to feel responsible for his duties.

"Wanxi, I do not have to answer that. Both of us know how poor you are in warfare. You never train yourself and just keep wasting your time. You are only a few months younger than me. So, you shall grow up," Sheng Li calmly told him.

"I understand, Brother Sheng. But I do not like to train myself. I am not made for that. Moreover, I have my Brother, who will save me if anyone attacks me," Lei Wanxi proclaimed and passed a smile to Sheng Li, who rubbed his forehead using his forefinger.

"I need to leave for the court. The seat of the Empress is empty so the discussion will be there for the next Empress Position," Sheng Li stated.

"Who will be the next Empress, according to you, Brother Sheng?" Lei Wanxi queried.

"No one knows. Whatever will be the decision of our father, we all need to accept that. It's up to our father, whom he thinks is perfect to be the Empress," Sheng Li affirmed.

"Sister Lili, will you come with me? Weng Yu is practicing hard these days. You shall see his progress," Lei Wanxi asserted. Ying Lili agreed with him.

"Do not exhaust yourself," Sheng Li advised Ying Lili, who nodded. Lei Wanxi assured Sheng Li that he would take care of Ying Lili. Sheng Li left their sight after instructing Xing-Fu and Court Lady Xu to keep a check on the Crown Princess.

"Let's go, Sister Lili!" Lei Wanxi excitedly said. The two left for the Practice Grounds where Prince Yu was practicing with Commander Sun. Seeing the Crown Princess there, Prince Yu and Commander Sun bowed. Ying Lili also bowed a little, thus greeting each other.

"Sister Lili," Weng Yu was delighted to see her there. "I am learning how to defend myself from the enemies," Weng Yu told Ying Lili before she could ask him.

She did not want him to stop practicing, so she said, "Prince Yu, we will watch you from the pavilion." Weng Yu agreed with her and started practicing. On the other hand, Ying Lili and Lei Wanxi went to the pavilion.

Sitting on the chairs there, Lei Wanxi asked Lili, "Sister Lili, do you know where Hu Jingguo is? I could not find him. I asked the Royal Physician, and he replied that Hu Jingguo is in his quarters. When I went there, I could not see him," Lei Wanxi anxiously said.

Ying Lili could not tell the truth to him. "He might have gone to the forest heights to pick the herbs or might be busy somewhere, Brother Wanxi," Ying Lili lied to him.

Lei Wanxi nodded and mumbled, "He could have taken me with him."

~~~~~

In the Court, everyone was shocked to learn about the next Empress chosen by the Emperor.

"Pardon me, your Majesty, but Lady Hui is from a low background. Declaring her the next Empress-"

"Lady Deng Hui will be the next Empress," Han Wenji announced his decision, cutting the words of the Minister of Justice. Nianzu had not expected that his mother would get such a status. He was happy knowing the decision of the Emperor. After so many years, the dignity of his mother was revived.

"Pardon me, your majesty!" This time Minister of State Affairs came forward and continued, "If the Empress is Lady Hui then her son, Prince Nianzu shall be the next-in-line Emperor and for that" he narrowly gazed at Sheng Li, "...for that Prince Nianzu shall become the next Crown Prince."

Jian Guozhi and Nianzu frowned upon hearing that while Sheng Li chuckled.

Nianzu stood up from his seat and joined his both hands. Bringing them to the front, he said, "Your Majesty, I do not want to be the Crown Prince. Please be considerate of my decision."

"Prince Nianzu, it is what you can decide! Last time, Prince Jian, being the eldest, had been given the position of Crown Prince, but because he made a grave mistake, he needed to be removed. Whoever is the Empress, her son becomes the Crown Prince without any question," Minister of State Affairs clarified. He was not wrong, either. The Empress's son had the full rights to be on the seat of the Crown Prince.

"Your Majesty, I do not consider myself as the right leader for this nation. I do not want to be the Crown Prince," Nianzu requested the Emperor.