"Forgive me, Brother Sheng. Forgive me for treating you badly," Jian Guozhi finally apologized to Sheng Li, whose eyes widened a little upon hearing those words. He scoffed and grabbed the wineglass. 

Getting no response from Sheng Li, Jian Guozhi averted his gaze and brought the wineglass closer to his mouth. Sheng Li put the glass on the table after finishing the wine and turned to look back at Jian Guozhi. "Why did you apologize to me?" Sheng Li's sudden question bewildered him. 

Jian Guozhi put his hand down with which he was holding the wineglass. Looking back at Sheng Li he said, "I have to. I am guilty of many things. I am even guilty of having this life. As your Elder Brother, I should have supported you. My arrogance and jealousy never let me do that." 

It was unbelievable for Sheng Li, but he could see the penitent expression in Jian Guozhi's eyes. Sheng Li was in a dilemma: whether he should forgive his First Brother or not?! He recalled the day when he, by mistake, broke the wooden cart, which was made by the famous artisan of Han, on Jian Guozhi's birthday. He thrashed him brutally. But this was not the one instance that could be forgivable. On numerous occasions, Sheng Li was ill-treated by the First Prince. Jian Guozhi made fun of him for not having a mother.

Amidst all these thoughts, Sheng Li recalled the words of Ying Lili. Maybe Jian Guozhi did all this because of the upbringing he had! Maybe he had his insecurities and he was forced to do that! The other day, Brother Nianzu said that Jian Guozhi was the one who saved him from getting killed.

"I know you can't forgive me. I don't want it either. If I would be in your place, I would have done the same," Jian Guozhi pronounced, as he stared into the eyes of Sheng Li. 

"Why?" Sheng Li suddenly questioned. "You never cared about me then why now?" He asked. "Be truthful with me, First Brother," Sheng Li sternly said. 

The other brothers found them having some serious conversation between them. "Why is Brother Sheng glaring at Brother Jian?" Rong Zemin questioned. 

"Brother Sheng, please do not fight today. It is such a special occasion. Your two Elder Brothers are getting married," Yongzheng requested. 

"Second Brother, we are not fighting. We were having a serious conversation over the new administration matter," Jian Guozhi lied to them, thus burying the conversation between him and Sheng Li. 

"Let's watch the dance there. My friends are waiting there," Rong Zemin excitedly stated and stood up from the mattress. "Brother Yu, come with me. I will introduce you to my friends," Rong Zemin stated. 

Weng Yu was delighted to hear that. He stood up and left with Rong Zemin, followed by the other brothers except for Sheng Li and Jian Guozhi. Once they left, Sheng Li again went back to the same question. 

"You can answer me now. Why are you doing this, Brother Jian? I want the truth. I even found out that you killed the assassins in the forest and saved us from an attack. Lili told me that I shall work on my relationship with you. I am in confusion because of all this," Sheng Li proclaimed, furrowing his brows together. 

Jian Guozhi did his best in hiding about the assassin's attack. But it was not surprising for Jian Guozhi that Sheng Li would have found out about that with his spy network.

"Because I realized that I am not worthy of handling that position. Moreover, I am happy with my position as the Governor of the Capital. The day when you, Crown Princess, and I went to Shuanxi village, I got the meaning of the true sense of my duty. Furthermore, I realized that I am not doing anything which could give me happiness. There are many things for which I am guilty. Forgive me if it's possible for you," Jian Guozhi proclaimed. 

Sheng Li kept studying Jian Guozhi's eyes. "Brother Jian, I can keep everything aside, but there is one thing which stopped me all these years to give you enough respect. You insulted my mother. I still remember the words which you used for my mother. I was flogged for a day. You were laughing and were still using the same words for my mother. I will never forgive you for that!" Sheng Li announced. He was enraged recalling all those memories. 

Jian Guozhi recalled the day when he insulted Sheng Li's mother. 

'Your mother was not less than a whore.' 

Jian Guozhi was ashamed of saying those words to Sheng Li's late mother. He indeed had lost his mind that day. Why was he even laughing that day, he wondered. Han Wenji was in war those times so, no one could save Sheng Li. His mother, Weng Wei, told him how Sheng Li's mother snatched her rights from her. That's why they should do the same thing to Sheng Li. He was brainwashed. A young kid, who had no sense of right and wrong listened to whatever his mother told him. In the end, he ended up bullying Sheng Li until he left the Palace with their father after some time. 

Sheng Li snickered. "I will never forgive you, Brother Jian," Sheng Li pronounced. "It doesn't matter to me whether you were a young kid at that time or not! It doesn't matter to me whether you were influenced by the ideology of your mother. The only thing that matters to me is that I want to punish you all for the wrong you all did to me and my mother," Sheng Li blurted out. "Don't tell Lili anything related to us. Let this hatred persist between us. Unlike my late mother and Lili, I am not good at forgiving, neither am I kind," Sheng Li asserted. 

He stood up from the mattress when Jian Guozhi said, "I do not want you to forgive me either. From my side, I have ended this hatred between us. I want to serve you by being loyal. I know it will be hard for you to believe, but I will definitely show you, Crown Prince." 

Sheng Li, from the periphery of his eyes, looked at Jian Guozhi. "I am afraid, but I do not trust the words of the First Brother," saying that Sheng Li left the pavilion, leaving Jian Guozhi behind. 

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