Thank You for the response. I am choosing the "hard" way because, I really want to learn this in depth. Moreover, being an teacher, I need to understand this from every aspect. Ya, it was a typo. I meant 8 bits only. btw, I was able to simulate LWT condition and view the packets and analyze them in wireshark, which gave me much better idea.
I am doing this so that when my students ask why is MQTT lightweight or why is LWT is needed, i can show them packets and compare and contrast with other protocols, so that they understand it much better.
Anyways This Community is a great one.
Thanks