Chương 13: No one wants to see a woman rule this Empire
"Someone tried to poison the Emperor," Grand Empress Dowager said with a worried look and asked Lee Shimin if he caught the unknown shooter.
"We are still searching for the shooter," Lee Shimin replied.
Jia Li found out that they all were acting as if they were not behind this attack. She chuckled to hear their conversation and gazed at her father, who looked worried. Someone wanted the Emperor to be dead, which never happened before in the history of their empire.
"I request everyone to leave the chamber this instantly," Jia Li stated, "except my mother."
Grand Empress Dowager annoyingly asked her not to overuse her power. "We are here for the Emperor. Don't tell me that the Crown Princess thinks that one among us tried to kill the Emperor," she pronounced.
"I never meant this, Grandmother," Jia Li affirmed. "However, today's incident has cleared one thing for us. Whoever tried to poison my father, is in the palace," she asserted.
"I agree with the Crown Princess' words," Wangjie stated. "It is impossible to break such high security and bring the poison. The palace eunuchs had their eyes open, yet such a thing happened. Someone who knows everything about the palace and its servant," he proclaimed.
Jia Li did not expect him to agree with her words. However, Wangjie wanted to be on the good side of the Emperor, so he did not hesitate to show his fake care toward the Emperor.
"Chief General Lee Shimin, I want you to find the shooter as soon as possible," Emperor Xiangwei commanded him. Lee Shimin bowed and assured the Emperor that he would soon bring the shooter before him. He left along with the few soldiers. Xiangwei asked everyone to leave and told his mother not to worry about him. Nothing happened to him as the Empress' bodyguard acted at the right time.
Everyone left the chamber except the Empress and the Crown Princess. "Jia Li, I would like to talk to you regarding your marriage," Xiangwei stated.
Jia Li did not expect her father to suddenly bring up the conversation about her marriage. "Father, we can talk about it tomorrow," she opined.
"No," Xiangwei refused, his brows furrowed together. "I chose a woman as the Crown Princess, which means you will be the next Empress. However, it will not be easy, Jia Li. You need a man, and I would like you to consider the marriage with the State Minister's son," he affirmed.
Mingxia gazed at her daughter and saw the upset look on her face. "Your Majesty, our daughter needs time to choose her groom," she humbly said.
"Cao Jun is a great person as I said before. His support to the Crown Princess will be beneficial to her position," Xiangwei declared.
"Father, I do not wish to marry a man whom my grandmother has chosen for me," Jia Li asserted. "I am well aware of my position. Today's incident depicted that we are surrounded by enemies and we cannot even trust the ministers. I will surely marry soon, Father. However, to do that, I need to find a man who cannot take advantage of my position when he becomes my husband. I hope Father understands what I want," she explained to her father.
"I understand my daughter completely. Do you know what will be the first topic of discussion in the court tomorrow?" Xiangwei inquired.
Jia Li shook her head.
"They will question the Crown Princess's abilities tomorrow in the court. I never considered my daughter lesser than any man, but they all are different," Xiangwei replied. " I am in a position where I will be forced to take action under my court ministers' pressure. In my eyes, you are capable to lead the Empire. But you need to prove it with your actions too," he advised Jia Li.
"Father, I will catch the shooter," Jia Li said in a firm tone.
"How?" Xiangwei questioned. "Let the General handle it," he asserted.
Jia Li turned quiet. She did not want to tell her father she had no trust in Lee Shimin because he might ask her more questions whose answers she would not be able to give.
"The Crown Princess should go back to her chamber," Xiangwei said.
Jia Li rose to her feet and bowed to her parents before leaving the chamber. She gazed at Chen Xin, who was waiting for her. "I will escort the Crown Princess to her manor," he said after Jia Li approached him.
"Forgive me for not being able to catch the shooter. I was careless," Chen Xin took responsibility for failing in finding the person, who was behind the attack.
"I am glad you prevented the mishap tonight, Chen Xin. So, you do not need to apologize to me," Jia Li said and told him she trusted him more than anyone.
"The Crown Princess was the one, who gave me the instructions and we both prevented the mishap," Chen Xin asserted. He was still curious how Jia Li found out that someone would attempt to poison the Emperor.
"Chen Xin, do you remember the man whom we encounter in the day?"
"The man, who was chasing the Crown Princess?" Chen Xin arched his eyebrow.
"Yes. I am suspicious of him. Can you find out about him?" Xiana asked for a favor.
"Sure, Your Royal Highness," Chen Xin accepted the request of the Crown Princess.
Shortly, they reached outside the Crown Princess' manor. Jia Li once again thanked Chen Xin and went inside. She entered her chamber where Court Lady Xuan came with two maidservants.
"The dinner is set, Your Royal Highness," Court Lady Xuan said.
"I do not have the appetite. Take the food back to the kitchen," Jia Li ordered and went to the dressing chamber to change. After removing the hair accessories, she removed the phoenix crown and looked at it.
"No one wants to see a woman rule this Empire. However, I will prove to them how powerful I am even without marrying someone," Jia Li murmured.
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