Nianzu was doing the calligraphy when Eunuch Chung informed him that the Sixth Prince had come to meet him. Nianzu told Chung to send Lei Wanxi inside. Chung accepted the orders of his master and walked out.

Nianzu put the brush down on the desk and waited for Lei Wanxi who in a minute came inside. Nianzu saw the panicked expression on Wanxi's face who pulled out a chair for him.

He sat on the chair and placed both of his hands on the desk. "Brother, I could not see the Imperial Father today. He has gone out and will return later, so now I can meet him until tomorrow." Lei Wanxi sighed. "Why is the Empress doing this?" Lei Wanxi confusedly asked.

"She wants to gather support and just wants to empower her seat. She must have decided the Princesses who will marry the four of us," Nianzu replied and continued, "She is doing all this at the time when the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are not here. Because she wants to gather the support of the Provinces by raising their greed for power."

"Did brother Nianzu receive any message from the Crown Prince?" Lei Wanxi asked.

"No. The Crown Prince had told me that he would not send the message as the messenger can be caught by the Empress's men. The Crown Prince's return journey is going to be tough. I pray that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will return safely to the Palace," asserted Nianzu worriedly.

Lei Wanxi nodded. "It is giving me a headache. The Empress is like a vengeful spirit who is after the life of Brother Sheng," Lei Wanxi complained and clenched his fists.

"She might target the Crown Princess too. They both need to be aware of her. I do not know when the truth will come and she will be punished for her crimes," Nianzu proclaimed and knitted his brows.

"What about the young woman who has joined the hands with you? Can't she gather the information about the Empress's Manor?" Nianzu asked Lei Wanxi who refused.

"It would be risky to send her to the Empress's Manor. Moreover, the Second and the Third Princes have seen her. Miss Wu Qinyang is not in Luoyang. She has gone to the Northern Province with the other spy as per my request to look into something," Lei Wanxi informed the Fourth Prince.

Nianzu took a deep breath. He was getting an intuition that something big was going to happen upon the return of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. 'The only thing that is bothering me is why is father not doing anything? What did he mean by that statement? Does he know the true face of the Empress?' Nianzu was baffled as these questions again came in front of him but alas he had no answers for these.

~~~~~~ 

Xue Yu-Yan was making herbal tea for the Empress in her chamber. "Xue, the scent of the herbs has already calmed down my nerves. I can see that you have great tea skills," Weng Wei asserted.

Xue Yu-Yan thanked the Empress for complimenting her. She picked the porcelain kettle which was filled with hot water and poured it into a cup that had fine-powdered herbs inside it. She stirred the content well and then placed the cup in front of the Empress.

Weng Wei picked the cup and smelled the tea. "I can see that it is rich in herbal flavors" Weng Wei smiled and sipped the tea.

"Your majesty, this herbal tea rejuvenates one's body. I will serve this tea daily to you," Xue Yu-Yan pronounced, keeping a tiny smile on her lips. Weng Wei nodded her head in agreement.

Putting the cup at the table, Weng Wei said, "Xue, bear a royal heir for this Empire before Zhilao Mi does that. This time the Crown Prince will definitely die and then my son will get the Crown. But the position of the Crown Princess will go only to one - either you or Zhilao Mi."

"Your majesty, you know that the Prince does not like my presence around him. He does not even come to my chamber and bearing a royal heir is impossible for me," Xue Yu-Yan veraciously said. "I will try getting closer to the Prince first and once he gets the Crown, I will give the Royal heir to this Empire as well," Xue Yu-Yan confidently said.

Weng Wei smiled. "Wei Family daughters are always this bold. This is the most impressive thing about you, Xue," stated Weng Wei.

"Thank you for your praiseworthy words, your majesty. Your majesty, what is the plan this time? What if the Crown Princess again comes in between this plan? She acts way too fast." Xue Yu-Yan recalled how she saved not only the Crown Prince but also herself.

"This time she will not be able to do anything. Sheng Li will die, his widow wife will be thrown out of this Palace and the path to the throne for my son will get opened up," proclaimed Weng Wei and grinned.

"Forgive me, your majesty, but you shall also plan something to kill An-Ying Lili. Prince Jian might express his desire to marry the soon-to-be widow of the current Crown Prince. And I have seen that for your son her majesty falls weak," Xue Yu-Yan complained.

Weng Wei drew her brows together. "Xue, Jian will never do that. He listens to me only. Moreover, Jian knows that for his secure future and his lost birthright, his mother is doing this," Weng Wei pronounced.

"Your majesty, I understand that, but I do not trust the intentions of Ying Lili. She has caged the Crown Prince in her charm. I am afraid if she will…" she paused as she saw the Empress was glaring at her.

Xue Yu-Yan immediately lowered her eyes and said, "Forgive me, your majesty. I understand…" her words were cut in the middle by the Empress.

"I expect you to handle your marital life yourself. Jian might admire her but he is not someone who will forget his aim just because of her," asserted the Empress. Xue Yu-Yan nodded her head in agreement.

"Your majesty, the teacup is empty. Let me fill it again." She sprinkled a little herbal powder inside the cup and then poured hot water into it. Giving the cup to the Empress, she leaned back.

Xue Yu-Yan after a while returned to her chamber. Removing the hair accessories, she looked at herself in the mirror. "Why does he like her? He did not even touch me after marriage. Is it because of the differences we two have?" Yu-Yan thought. Her assistant, Miao, came there and greeted her mistress.

"Your highness, the Prince is spending a night with his wife today," informed Miao to Xue Yu-Yan who frowned. Xue Yu-Yan knew that Jian and Zhilao were married for almost three months, so they were closer to each other.

"You may leave," Xue Yu-Yan said. Miao bowed her head and left from there while Xue Yu-Yan went to bed.

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