Ying Lili, after taking the letter from her chamber, went to meet Xue Yu-Yan. "Court Lady Xu, stay here. I will come outside in a few minutes," Ying Lili walked inside the chamber. Xue Yu-Yan was sitting on the porch on the wooden stairs. 

Ying Lili found Xue Yu-Yan was in some deep thoughts. But unlike earlier days, her sight was not pleasant. Ying Lili felt a bit guilty for agreeing with the punishment. 'I should not have been harsh on her!' Ying Lili told herself. 

Ying Lili saw Xue Yu-Yan had focussed her gaze on the plum blossom tree in the garden of the porch. 

"Sister Xue." Softly Ying Lili called out her name, bringing Xue Yu-Yan from her thoughts. She turned back and stood up upon seeing the Crown Princess there.

Ying Lili went near Xue Yu-Yan. "Is Sister Xue doing well?" 

"Yes, your highness," Xue Yu-Yan replied. 

Ying Lili noticed Xue's puffy eyes. She might have cried continuously last night, so she embraced Xue Yu-Yan in a hug. "Forgive me for requesting that kind of punishment. I have promised your father that I will take care of you, and I did the opposite." 

Ying Lili wanted to show Xue Yu-Yan that she was not alone in the Palace. She was downhearted at how they all were treating Xue Yu-Yan. Though it was the fault of Xue Yu-Yan that things turned this way for her. 

Oppositely, Xue Yu-Yan could not control her tears. She wanted to hold someone, but there was no one. Jian Guozhi did not come after that day while his first wife did not visit her. Even the Empress did not ask about her well-being. The person whom she wanted to kill today was embracing her and empathizing with her. She rested her forehead on Ying Lili's shoulder and cried profusely. 

Ying Lili patted her back lovingly and told her to cry her heart out. Indeed, Xue Yu-Yan did wrong to her from the beginning, but it was not her fault. It was the fault of the teachings and surroundings she had since childhood. 

After a few minutes, Xue Yu-Yan pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. Ying Lili wiped the tears that were on her cheek and took Xue Yu-Yan near the floor table. Making her sit on the floor chair, Ying Lili handed her a glass of water which Xue Yu-Yan drank. 

Ying Lili placed the glass on the table and sat on the other chair, facing her. 

"Crown Princess, I do not know how I can express my gratitude towards you. I am extremely guilty of whatever I did to you," Xue Yu-Yan stated. 

"That was in the past. I know that Sister Xue will never do this again. I have faith in the person whom I have considered my younger sister," Ying Lili said with a smile. 

Xue Yu-Yan sobbed and lowered her eyes. It was the nobility of Ying Lili that she forgave her. She was known for her kindness for a reason, Xue realized. 

"This is the letter from your father," Ying Lili forwarded a white folded paper towards Xue Yu-Yan on the table. Xue Yu-Yan picked it and unfolded it. She read the letter as tears formed in her eyes. 

She folded the paper and brought her hands closer. "Father, I am not happy," she cried again. Ying Lili curled her fingers and clutched her skirt. 

'A father always wants his daughter to be happy after marriage. But what if she does not remain happy? She has no other option and just accepts her fate. She cannot even tell her family about the mental turmoil she was going through in that period.' Xue Yu-Yan accepted the marriage because of her greed, and now she was suffering from all this. Even her father turned blind in front of power. He agreed with the Empress to marry her son to his daughter.

"Father wants me to be happy and stay away from the Empress. But is that even possible for me?" Xue Yu-Yan wiped the tears again from the back of her palm. "The Empress has already abandoned me so there is no way I would go too close to her. Sister Lili, you did a lot for me, so I want to do something for you too," Xue Yu-Yan proclaimed. 

"The Empress wants to kill you both. She did not tell me exactly about her plan, but I will try bringing the truth. I know you will not trust me, that is why this time I will prove myself," asserted Xue Yu-Yan. 

Ying Lili was stunned to hear that. Earlier, Xue Yu-Yan wanted to kill her, but now it was the opposite. She remembered Sheng Li's words - Not to trust anyone in the Palace, especially the people from the Wei Family. Xue's father betrayed Sheng Li's mother even though she saved him. So, should Ying Lili trust the words of Wei Zhang Yong's daughter? 

"Sister Xue, I cannot trust you because you also betrayed Sheng Li. He told me that he used to admire you a little, long time ago when you were kids, but then he was aware of what the Wei Family had done  to him. I believe in the words of Sheng Li and that is not to trust anyone in the Palace except a few people," Ying Lili pronounced. 

Xue Yu-Yan smiled a little. "I know, Sister Lili. That's why I told you that I will prove myself trustworthy through my actions. I have seen his highness  bearing the torture of the Empress when we were young. I know he befriended me because I was the daughter of the Wei Family. Even I was told the same - To keep a check on the Crown Prince but instead of doing that I felt pity for him. But, as we grew up, my main aim was to get the Crown because every single day I was taught this. I had lost my conscience and walked on the path which was already paved by the people around me. 

When the Crown Prince married you, my hopes to get the Crown ended. Later, I realized that the Crown Prince played with me. He wanted the information about the Wei Residence which I gave him. Vengeance surrounded my mind and I thought to kill him and you. Thank you, Sister Lili, for embracing me at the time when everyone left me. Xue will definitely return the kindness the Crown Princess has shown to her." 

There was a different kind of spark in Xue Yu-Yan's eyes. The Emperor had told Ying Lili that in the Palace everyone seemed close but were too far from each other. There was no connection of hearts. It was because of the greed for power. Hunger for Power destroyed many lives even in the earlier times and it was visible in the Royal Han Family as well. 

Ying Lili has to bring those hearts together and has to create the Palace into a beautiful place. All this was possible when the Empress would be removed and punished for her crimes, followed by the others! 

"Brother Nianzu advised me a few days ago not to let my greed overpower my mind. I will now walk on the path which I always wished for myself. You have given me the light and direction for the life which I will create from today onwards. Sister Lili, you are the most suitable woman to get the throne and lead this nation. And in that even if I can contribute a little, I will. It is the promise of Xue." 

Ying Lili nodded and stood up from the chair. "I am happy that Sister Xue understood her worth. I wish you a happy life. I shall leave. Do not cry ever," Ying Lili proclaimed and walked ahead. Xue Yu-Yan bowed her head until the Crown Princess left her sight. 

Ying Lili came out of the chamber and left for the Crown Prince's manor. "Believing a foe is tough, but what if that enemy wants to turn into your friend and wants to walk on the right path! Risk is there, but sometimes that risk can give you good results," Ying Lili thought. 

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