Sheng Li let go of Ying Lili and called for Court Lady Xu. Ying Lili took a breath of relief as she was close to confessing that her heart indeed fluttered when Sheng Li got close to her. Court Lady Xu came to the chamber and greeted them.
"Prepare for our dinner," Sheng Li ordered. Court Lady Xu bowed her head left from there. Sheng Li looked at Ying Lili and saw she was lost somewhere. He snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, which brought her out of her thoughts.
"What were you thinking?" Sheng Li asked.
"Nothing," Ying Lili lied and got down from the bed. She went towards the dining table and pulled a chair out. "Come," Ying Lili told Sheng Li who too came there, and the two sat on their respective sides. After the food was served to them, Sheng Li ordered everyone to leave.
As they were eating, Ying Lili started the conversation. "Sheng Li, what did you think of Hu Jingguo? How are you going to send him back to Juyan? He is my only friend and I do not want him to fall in danger because of me," Ying Lili pronounced and waited for Sheng Li's response.
Sheng Li did not reply to Ying Lili and continued eating. Bothering Sheng Li again did not seem good, so she quietly finished her food.
"Am I doing good by taking him on the journey? Lili will get happy to see him in the morning and the two will again start praising themselves. Wait! Is this Hu Jingguo's plan or Lei Wanxi is the one who is behind all this?! Lei Wanxi is close to Jingguo and Wanxi knows I do not like the presence of Jingguo because he is Lili's friend.
Ahh, how could I not think about this at that time? Wanxi did it intentionally so that I could get jealous of Jingguo. How can he play with his own brother? Now, I cannot even take my words back and even the Fourth Prince has advised me to take him on this journey," Sheng Li thought.
After they finished their meals, Sheng Li went to bed while Ying Lili was removing her jewelry. Sheng Li picked the book which Ying Lili was reading earlier and flipped the pages. "You were reading about Governance. Lili, women are not allowed to study, still, you studied. May I know how?" Sheng Li queried.
"I was interested in studies since a young age. My father hired a teacher for me then," Ying Lili replied. She put the Crown on the dressing table, followed by earrings and bangles.
"Most men oppose education, but my father did not do that. Even you did not oppose me in the morning when I asked his majesty to fulfill my wish. You helped me there, which is your biggest quality as a husband. You consider your wife's wishes and support her." Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li through the mirror who closed the book.
Ying Lili stood up and removed the overcoat. She blew off the candles except for one candle. She came to the bed and laid on it. "You are not afraid of me anymore," Sheng Li said as he looked at Ying Lili's face. He was resting his weight on his elbow left elbow and kept moving his eyes over Ying Lili's face.
Sheng Li's intense gaze made Ying Lili nervous. "Why don't you lay down? We have to leave early, so you shall sleep early," Ying Lili stated.
"Don't worry. Even if I sleep late, I will wake up early," Sheng Li replied. "Kiss me before sleeping. You have acknowledged me as your husband so, I can expect this from you," Sheng Li stated. 'Let's see how you will escape this?' He thought.
"I am waiting," Sheng Li asserted and smirked. Ying Lili slightly moved her body up and gave a peck on Sheng Li's cheek. She leaned back and turned her back toward Sheng Li who touched his cheek. "She did not hesitate means she is truly accepting me as her husband," Sheng Li thought and laid down. He pulled the blanket up and covered them both with it.
Ying Lili's hand was near her heart, which was pounding. Her cheeks were flushed red. "Why don't you look at me while sleeping?" She heard Sheng Li. She felt Sheng Li's breath was hitting on her nape, which meant he was lying closer to her.
She moved away when she was pulled back by Sheng Li. Her back hit the chest of Sheng Li. She glanced at him and caught his sight. "Glad to know that you are not running away from me," Sheng Li whispered and nuzzled her neck and softly kissed there.
Ying Lili widened her eyes. "You are not resisting me. It means only one thing that you like me, love me, doesn't it?" Sheng Li asked as he turned Ying Lili towards him so that he could look at her while talking.
He stroked Ying Lili's hair to make her feel relaxed. "I can feel and hear your heartbeats. You shall accept the truth that you are in love with this man," Sheng Li pronounced and observed how Ying Lili was gawking at him. 'Should I need to do more? This woman is so stubborn!'
"Anyone's heart will beat if someone will do that," Ying Lili opined.
"No, you are wrong. My heart won't beat if you do that to me," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili felt stuck now, unbeknownst to what she should do in such a situation when Sheng Li said, "Sleep," and closed his eyes but his grip was still intact on Ying Lili thus, not letting her go.
Ying Lili took a heave of relief. "I was almost caught and flustered by his acts. If this went on, then I might lose against him. It is not like I want to win, but if I will accept the feelings so easily, then he will push me away. After spending time, I have realized that he thinks whom he loved goes away from him, so I need to open his heart first and at the same time I have to overcome his fear of love," she pondered and closed her eyes.