Sheng Li called for a maidservant who came inside the room. "Is the bath ready?" Sheng Li questioned her.
"Yes, your highness. The bathhouse is this way," the maidservant replied, and went to the left side of the chamber. She put the hand on the latch on the sliding door and opened it. Turning to the Crown Prince, the maidservant replied, "Your highness, do you need some assistants to help?"
"No. You can go," Sheng Li replied. The maidservant bowed her head and left the chamber. Ying Lili went to the bathhouse when Sheng Li stopped her. "I need to take a bath. You can check in there later," Sheng Li told Ying Lili.
"Okay," Ying Lili replied. "But, where are your clothes?" She asked.
"Wang Hao will send the clothes for us. Do not worry about that," Sheng Li replied and opened the door by holding the latches on the sliding door. He walked in and closed the door behind him. Ying Lili came to bed and laid down.
"I do not think I will be able to sleep later in the night. Shall I ask Sheng Li to go out with me?" Ying Lili thought. A maidservant came there with the dresses in her hand.
"Your highness, I am keeping these clothes on the table here," the maidservant humbly said. Ying Lili gazed towards her and sat up on the bed.
"What's your name?" Ying Lili asked.
"This servant is called Zi Xin."
"Okay. You may leave," Ying Lili commanded her. Zi Xin bowed her head first and then with gradual steps moved backward till she reached the door where she turned and walked out of the door.
Ying Lili removed the overcoat and placed it on the bed. A maidservant came there with a tray in her hand. "Your highness, the master has sent tea for you and his highness. This will reduce the tiredness his and her highnesses have gotten after the journey," she briefed the Crown Princess.
"We will drink it later. Say thank you to the Governor," Ying Lili passed a message to the maidservant who nodded and left from there. Half an hour passed but Sheng Li did not come out of the bathhouse, so Ying Lili went towards its door and knocked at it.
"Sheng Li, come out quickly. I am getting itchy too. You are taking too much time," Ying Lili complained. Getting no response from Sheng Li, Ying Lili slightly opened it and peeked inside. Her eyes fell on Sheng Li's back, which was slightly visible.
"Why isn't he coming outside?" Ying Lili huffed and almost closed the door when Sheng Li spoke. "Lili, you shall not take glances of me. Now, come in and help me with washing." He tilted his head and found Ying Lili was stunned to hear that.
"A-Ask the servants," Ying Lili quickly closed the door and turned so that her back rested against the sliding door.
"If you don't come in, then I will come out," Sheng Li voiced. Ying Lili ignored that for a second, but she knew that Sheng Li would not hesitate a bit in coming out of the bathhouse.
Ying Lili went to the table, picked the dress that was for Sheng Li, and went inside the bathhouse. "Wear your pants first!" Ying Lili stood behind him, with her back towards him while her one hand was stretched out which was holding Sheng Li's pants. Sheng Li found Ying Lili's hand towards his left. "Wear this, first," Ying Lili said with a stutter.
Sheng Li ended up chuckling. He grasped Ying Lili's hand and pulled her into the bathtub. Ying Lili fell into the bathtub and the water splashed out of the bathtub. Ying Lili was completely drenched in the water from head to toe. Quickly, she got up when her foot slipped. She fell backward, but at the right time, Sheng Li caught her snaking his arm around her waist.
Ying Lili's both hands rested on Sheng Li's bare forearms. She was pulled up such that her face came closer to Sheng Li who was grinning at her. She took a deep breath and glared at Sheng Li.
"I have my pants on," Sheng Li said.
"Leave me," Ying Lili told Sheng Li who refused and wiped the water off Ying Lili's face. "You are looking charming in this state," Sheng Li whispered as his fingers moved over her cheeks.
His thumb moved over Ying Lili's lips. "Your heartbeats, I can hear them. Just accept that you have fallen for me. There is no use in hiding these feelings." Sheng Li's hand traveled from Ying Lili's waist to her nape and brought her face closer to his. "In the noon, we almost kissed, but your friend ruined that moment. Now, there is no one to disturb us, so shall we continue where we had left?" Sheng Li asked for Ying Lili's permission as his eyes moved up and down on her lips.
"Tell me first that you love me," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li lifted his eyes and bored his gaze into Ying Lili's eyes.
"Why? Is that important now?" Sheng Li searched for an answer.
"Indeed, it is important," Ying Lili replied. Her heart was thudding seeing their intimacy.
"It was not important earlier," Sheng Li reasoned. "You amuse me and confuse me," Sheng Li remarked, but he did not let her go. "I think we shall kiss." Sheng Li brought his lips closer to Ying Lili when a voice interrupted them.
"Crown Prince, Crown Princess, where are you? I brought these special fruits for you two. General Wang told me that the Crown Prince likes mandarins a lot," Hu Jingguo said loudly. Hu Jingguo stopped as he did not see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess there.
"We are bathing," Sheng Li angrily said as he took a step back. "How dare you come to our room?" Sheng Li had lost his temper by then. He got out of the bathtub, wore a silk bathrobe which was placed on a table there, and walked out of the bathhouse but Hu Jingguo was not there.
This was the second time Hu Jingguo interrupted them. Today Sheng Li would have won the bet and made Ying Lili confess that she had fallen for him but thanks to Hu Jingguo his plan was shattered. "I will kill this guy today," Sheng Li murmured in anger.