Today was the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated every year on the fifteenth of the lunar month. Everyone had gotten ready early in the morning, as they had to go to the Buddhist shrine to give greetings to Lord Buddha.
All were waiting for the Emperor and the Empress at the Fu Imperial Gates. As soon as they came, everyone bowed their heads and greeted them.
Han Wenji got into the palanquin along with Empress Wei and took their seats. The palanquin was broad and semi-transparent red fabrics were hanging on both sides.
Sheng Li got into the second palanquin first and then gave a hand to Ying Lili, who gripped his hand and climbed up. Sheng Li snaked his arm around Ying Lili's waist and pulled her up, keeping in mind that her foot was injured. "What are you doing? I can walk," Ying Lili whispered when Sheng Li told her to be quiet.
The other princes were looking at the Crown Prince who was playing in front of everyone with the Crown Princess.
Sheng Li made Ying Lili sit on the chair and then sat beside her. "It isn't like I was making out with you openly that you were resisting," asserted Sheng Li.
"You have got no shame. You are the Crown Prince. How could you d-do that openly? What will people think about us?" Ying Lili queried Sheng Li.
Sheng Li chuckled and tilted his head. "You call that a shame. You are really amusing. I did not even show how shameless I can be. I do not care about people, don't you know?" Sheng Li noticed that Ying Lili's cheeks had ripened like a tomato. He wanted to tease her more, but then they were in the open, where many eyes were on them. Ying Lili might get angry at him, which he did not want.
Jian Guozhi was looking at Sheng Li. "That seat was mine but he is sitting on that too," Jian Guozhi thought when his wife, Zhilao Mi, said, "Your highness, what are you looking at?" She knew her husband was looking at the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, which was not soothing for her sight at all.
"Nothing. Get into the palanquin," Jian Guozhi told his wife, and the two got into the palanquin. Xue Yu-Yan had already got into the separate palanquin. The other princes hopped on their respective horses.
The bearers standing by each palanquin carried them up on their shoulders and started walking. General Wang and General Xiao were at the front, on their respective horses, with a few foot soldiers behind them.
"So, how will you take me out in the evening?" Ying Lili peered at Sheng Li.
"Why? Didn't you call me a shameless man? I have changed my thoughts. You can celebrate it in the Palace too. Why shall I take a risk with you?" Sheng Li muttered.
Ying Lili did not want Sheng Li to back off his words, so she said, "I did not call you shameless. I only said that you should look around before holding me like that. And, you cannot back off from your words. You told me that you would take me to the market. Now, you should keep your words."
"Can't you lower your voice? Do you want to tell the world how much you fight with me, still this man spares you for your scissors like tongue?" Ying Lili averted her gaze from Sheng Li after hearing those words.
"Just say that you are not capable enough to take me out," Ying Lili said in a low enough voice that it was audible to Sheng Li only.
"Are you doubting my capabilities?" Sheng Li muttered, keeping the smile on his lips.
"No. How can I doubt the abilities of the mighty Crown Prince?" Ying Lili said in a sarcastic tone.
"Stop taunting me." Sheng Li brought his face closer to Ying Lili and whispered in her ear.
"I did not taunt you," Ying Lili menacingly replied. Her gaze was fixated to the front and now they were outside the Palace. Ying Lili got the scent of the perfume that she had given to Sheng Li on his birthday. She looked at him and asked him why he used that perfume.
"Now, you have a problem with that too!" Sheng Li was astonished. "It was a gift, so I thought of using it. Is there something wrong with it?" Sheng Li pried into Ying Lili's eyes.
"I thought you would not use it," Ying Lili answered. Her crown had tiny silver chains hanging in front of her face. Sheng Li's eyes met her gaze and got lost in her eyes. "It was a gift from my wild cat so I must use it." Sheng Li's answer flustered Ying Lili, and she turned her head away immediately.
Ying Lili had turned calm and the rest of the journey to the shrine went quiet.
The Shrine was on a hill and one had to climb almost a hundred stairs to reach there. The soldiers were already deployed at the regular distance. Everyone got down the palanquin. Court Lady Xu helped Ying Lili and supported her in standing straight.
Three monks were waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. The Emperor and the Empress went towards the monks. They greeted them, followed by the noble consorts and the concubine.
Sheng Li stepped forward, along with Ying Lili. They joined their hands and greeted the Chief Monk, who placed his hands on their heads to give the blessings. They both lifted their heads when Sheng Li grabbed Ying Lili's hand and took her aside. Once the greetings to the monks were over, everyone was ready to visit the Shrine, where lanterns were to be lighted by the monks in the Emperor's presence.
"I am afraid but the Crown Princess cannot visit the temple and take blessings of Buddha," Jian Guozhi said.
"It is auspicious to go to the Shrine with your wife, especially when you are newly wedded. It seems the Crown Prince has to go alone," Yongzheng pronounced.
"I will help the Crown Princess in going upstairs," Zhilao Mi offered her help when Sheng Li stopped her.
"In my opinion, the Crown Princess must not go to the shrine. Her foot might get in a worse situation," Empress Wei proclaimed, who then turned to the Emperor.
"Your majesty, they have already taken the blessings of the Chief Monk so I do not think they need to come to the Shrine," Weng Wei politely said.
Han Wenji looked at the Chief Monk of the Shrine. "What do you say, Chief Monk?" Han Wenji asked for advice.
"This is the first time the Crown Princess's visit to the Shrine. On such an auspicious day both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess could have received Buddha's blessings, but because the Crown Princess is injured so, she did not need to go," Chief Monk advised.
"Why does it seem that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are not made for each other or was it done intentionally by the Crown Princess? Everyone knows now how the Crown Princess tried harming the Crown Prince. So, it is truly visible that their relationship is not going well, that's why the Crown Princess did this," Xue Yu-Yan remarked.
Ying Lili felt dejected hearing those words when she heard Sheng Li, "Respected first brother, I tried so hard not to punish your consort, but the way she insulted my Crown Princess in front of everyone makes me want to kill her right away."
"Son, calm down," Han Wenji intervened. Ying Lili found that the situation had gotten tense.
"Princess Consort, you cannot speak in this language with the Crown Princess. We will decide later your punishment for this. I do not want to ruin such an auspicious day just because of minor arguments," Han Wenji announced.
Jian Guozhi glanced at Xue Yu-Yan and glared at her. Turning to the Crown Prince, Jian Guozhi lowered his head, "Forgive my consort for speaking this way."
Weng Wei frowned, seeing her son's head lowered in front of Sheng Li.
Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li. "Don't be nosy in my life - feed this thing in your consort's mind, brother Jian," Sheng Li menacingly said. Jian Guozhi nodded and lifted his head.